John (Jimmy) Ingle

Jimmy made a valuable contribution to the Squadron during his time working in the Safety Equipment section between 1971 to 1976. Jimmy also was a keen rugby player and fan but succumbed to cancer earlier this year(2009). His brother-in-law contacted us to say they were making a donation to the nominated Squadron charity CALM.

Flt Lt Jim “Zeberdee” Grey

We have just heard from the daughter of Flt Lt Jim Grey that he died on September 15th 2009 aged 86.

He had 3 tours as a 24 Squadron pilot during his RAF career;
1) at Colerne on Hastings from 1959 – 1962
2) at Colerne on Hastings from 1964 – 1967
3) at Lyneham on Hercules from 1968 – 1971

He was nicknamed ‘Zebedee’ because of his moustache, and the popularity of Magic Roundabout at the time. When his tour finished in 1971 he was 48 and had reached the limit of his flying career so he left the RAF and took up various other jobs and interests before retiring to Northumberland with his wife Joan, who died earlier this year.

Len Hagon

It is with great sadness that we have to report that Len Hagon passed away on Saturday 8th October 2008.  He had been ill for many months hence the absence from recent events.  Len and Norma always looked forward to the annual reunions.   Norma would like to wish the squadron every success in the future.    Len is to be buried Thursday 20th November at 2.30 in the local village church. The family are donating half the money raised to the RAF Benevolent Fund.

IVOR LEONARD “Len” HAGON RAF 1946 – 1956

Served as Flight Engineer – Hastings; crew member on first landing on Christmas Island alongside “BLUEY” the Navigator.  Recent photos supplied by him show them both unloading a piano from the Hastings to keep the troops entertained by the American Pacific Fleet band.  The crew were interviewed by Hawaiian TV around this time.

Richard Peach

We have only just been informed that a former OC of XXIV Squadron passed away in April 2008. His funeral was on the 12th April at the Church of Scotland, Plockton. The Highland Hospice in Inverness provided the most miraculous care for Richard in recent weeks, giving him sufficient strength to be able to come home for his last days.

The service was given by the minister Roddy Rankin. Richard always used to joke that Roddy ”does a fine funeral – I’d like him to do mine”. He once, while en route as a navigator, made a bet with his pilot, Dickie Burdon, that he could successfully bring their aircraft to destination across the Pacific Ocean without a single alteration of course during the journey, and that he won the bet.

David Davis

David Davis spent his retirement years in Coventry and kept in touch with the Association. He sent a letter & 6 old photos taken at Bassingbourn 1946 used in one of our earlier Newsletters. He was with the Squadron in 1946  stationed at Bassingbourn and worked with Dakotas and Yorks as fitter mechanic.

Dennis Keogh

Dennis passed away on the 21st July 2008 after quite a long period of suffering from dementia. Dennis was a regular at our reunions while he was able drive to Lyneham and looked forward to event as one of the highlights of the year. He was also a regular member of the Maidstone branch of the RAFA.

Dave Carter

We have just heard via Patrick Tootal that Dave Carter, one of Patrick’s long-standing friends and contemporaries who served on XXIV Sqn as a pilot at Colerne between 1965-67, died about a week ago (21 Mar 2008).  The funeral took place at Crawley crematorium before we received the sad news.  Dave Carter was a member of our Association and has occasionally attended reunions.

John Hayley

The Association was informed just this week the sad news that John Hayley of Ripon an ex Sig/AEO and Sqn Leader who served on XXIV in the years 1951 to 1956 on Hastings at Topcliffe and Abingdon had died on the 6th March 2008. His funeral is on the 20th March. No other details at the moment.

Alfred Sydney Drew

We have been informed by the daughter of the late Sqn Ldr Alfred Sydney Drew retired navigator that he passed away on December 30^th 2006 at the age of 92 in New Zealand.

He had kept in regular contact with many of his RNZAF and wartime buddies right up until the time of his death and she has the privilege of now caring for his extensive diaries and records that he meticulously kept.

While he was in hospital care she would take the 24 Newsletter in to him and read many of the stories published.

Martin Tuck

This years mail shot announcing the Reunion has brought a spate of notifications about Members passing on. This one via a solicitor is regarding ex Flt Lt Martin Tuck, a pilot on the Squadron between Nov 1944 to Sep 1945 and again Sep 1945 to 20 Jun 1946. Aged 86 and living in Essex he was stationed at Hendon Prestwick Bassingbourn and flew Dakotas.