So, the Association had had ‘Life on 208’ for the previous ten years from all of the Chapters. They had been marvellous stories of banter and spirit. There was one last story to tell. But, before the President introduced the Guest of Honour, he wished to pay recognition in terms of the history of the Squadron to Freddie Nicoll, who was present at the Reunion, who would be 96 in two weeks’ time, and who had flown Hurricanes in El Alamein. If that did not sum up the spirit of 208, he didn’t know what would.


As a final point of reflection, the President asked all present to think about their fallen comrades, and asked everyone to join him in a toast to those members of 208 who had fallen in their Squadron duties over the many years.



“Fallen Comrades”



There was one last tale to tell in the context of ‘Life on 208’, and the President was very pleased to introduce David Southwood, who was known on the Squadron as ‘The Boy’ when he arrived as the only first-tourist Buccaneer pilot at that time. Having spent his early years on the Buccaneer, he went on to become one of the UK’s most eminent, and clearly successful, test pilots. Highly regarded, he had flown all of the aeroplanes that everyone present had flown over the Squadron’s history, including the Hurricane.


The President recounted that, as the Detachment Commander on Maple Flag (the Exercise in North Canada) in 1980, he had authorised Dave to fly at 100 feet above ground level, and off he went, successfully. He hadn’t realised at the time that Dave had failed his driving test 4 times. It would seem that the problem that he couldn’t go ‘solo’ in a car had been solved by giving him a navigator, which apparently balanced things out.


Dave would close the series of ‘Life on 208’, which was very appropriate on the Squadron’s 100th Anniversary.



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