Battle of Britain remembered

MAKING HISTORY: Air Marshal Gray with Candida Bourne and the President, Life Vice President and Chairman of the Aircrew Association with Wing Commander Hunt on the right. CREDIT: Aircrew Association

AIRFORCE veterans welcomed the most senior female officer in the history of the British Armed forces to commemorate the Battle of Britain.
On Wednesday September 18 the Aircrew Association Costa Blanca (ACACB) held its annual Celebration of the Battle of Britain in the presence of Air Marshall Susan Gray CB OBE FREng.
Air Marshall Gray, who is the Director General of The Defence Safety Authority, has served on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and held the prestigious appointment of Air Officer Commanding No 38 Group RAF.
She interrupted a personal visit to the area to accept the Association’s invitation as Guest of Honour at a celebration lunch held at Javea Golf Club.
The Chairman, Max Maxwell, gave a particularly warm welcome to Air Marshal Gray on her first attendance at an Aircrew Association function and also welcomed Wing Commander Bob Hunt MBE, the Chairman of The Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) Costa Blanca North.
Lunch was followed by a raffle organised by Jacqui Davies assisted by Barbara Power and two loyal toasts, to King Felipe and The Queen.
Peter Langley, one of the Association’s Life Vice Presidents, then gave a talk on ‘The Role of Servicewomen in The Battle’.
He focussed on former member of the Women’s Royal Air Force, Eileen Younghusband BEM, who served as a Filter Operator at HQ Fighter Command, RAF Bentley Priory, during The Battle of Britain and carried out other duties throughout the war.
Peter concluded his talk firstly by proposing the toast to ‘Those Who Gave So Much’ and then by presenting Eileen Younghusband’s Book, One Women’s War to Air Marshal Gray.
Proceeds from the raffle had been offered to the RAFA North Costa Blanca Branch to help to fund a Memorial to be unveiling on December 5 in memory of seven airmen who were killed when their Wellington Aircraft crashed into the Montgo Mountain on December 5 in 1950.
Further information on the memorial ceremony is available from Wing Commander Hunt on: 966197325. Information about the Aircrew Association is available from the secretary on: 966404123.

Written by

Linda Hall

Originally from the UK, Linda is based in Valenca and is a reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering local news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.

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