Framlinghamian 2022 - Flipbook - Page 288
SOF | OBITUARIES
day and night. By June 1949, American,
British and French aircraft had brought
nearly two million tons of goods into the
cut-off West Berlin. In 1950, Peter was
posted on an exchange between the RAF
and Australian Air Force, and joined 34
Squadron as Flight Commander of the
Royal Australian Air Force VIP Squadron
based at RAAF Richmond near Sydney.
Peter was born on 28 March 1922 and left
He flew many dignitaries including
the College at 17. He spent a year in the
Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert
City so he could join the RAF aged 18 in
Menzies. He returned to the UK in 1953
January 1941 as a cadet pilot. He received
and worked as a Staff Officer in the Air
his ‘wings’ in Canada in April 1942 where
Ministry Intelligence Branch. In 1955,
he worked for a year as an instructor. He
Peter was selected to be OC 89 Squadron
then transferred to Bomber Command
and worked at RAF Germany on photo-
where he flew Wellingtons before
reconnaissance work until 1958. He was
transferring to 233 Squadron Transport
awarded the Queen’s Commendation
Command prior to D Day operations
for Valuable Service in the Air before
in Normandy. He became a glider tug
returning to join Operations Staff at the
pilot and towed Bryan Hebblethwaite
MOD from 1959-61. In 1963, Peter became
(34-39) on D-Night. Bryan returned and
OC of the RAF VIP Squadron based at
Peter towed him again over Arnhem
RAF Northolt. Between 1963 and 1964,
where sadly Bryan was killed. Peter then
he flew many VIPs including Sir Winston
transferred to 234 Squadron in the Pacific
Churchill, Lord Mountbatten and HM
working in New Guinea, Borneo and the
Queen Elizabeth II (VIP Squadron helped
Philippines. After WW2 he was, as a
out when the Queen’s flight needed back-
pilot, involved in the Berlin Airlift, which
up). He also flew Sir Dermot Boyle, then
lasted from June 1948 to June 1949. With
Marshal of the RAF, to the College on
a Dakota he flew 250 times to Berlin and
Speech Day 1959 to present the prizes.
back. On the 53rd anniversary of the
ending of the Berlin Airlift, Peter attended
After flying VIPs, Peter returned to Europe
a ceremony that was reported in the Berlin
one more time as Wing Commander
Morning Post of 13 May 2002. Peter is
Operations, RAF Germany and finally as
quoted as saying “At the beginning of
Wing Commander Flying/Operations at
the air lift the living conditions were very
RAF Wyton in the UK, operating Victors,
chaotic around the airport, but the longer
Canberras and Comets. Peter retired from
the airlift lasted, the better it became.”
the RAF in 1970 and emigrated to South
Africa to run a game farm.
During the blockade, airplanes landed
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