October

Monday 23rd

With very great regret the Association (FAAOA) records the death at the weekend of TUGG (Tugg Willson), cartoonist extraordinaire.

HM Armed Forces Veterans Lapel Badge

If you served in the UK's Armed Forces

Your ENTITLED!

Click on the Lapel Badge to find out MORE!

2007

The Future of the Royal Navy

You will have seen the news about the Government threat to reduce the number of operational units in the Royal Navy's surface fleet to 22 out of 44 and close another naval base.

If not, see this link to the Daily Telegraph Website.

An Online Petition to stop the destruction of the Royal Navy has been started on the No.10 website.

While I have no illusions about the effectiveness of such gestures, I've signed it because it would be a shame if the number of signatures gives an impression of general apathy.

A far more effective course of action is to write to your MP, but do sign the petition.

Ray "Happy" Day
The FAAA Webmaster

Can You Help?

I run a small publishing company specialising in pictorial books about the Fleet Air Arm, and the object is to preserve a bit of FAA history and at the same time involve the experts, the 'men who were there'. Two of these books are already published, on the Wyvern and the Scimitar, and both are crammed with anecdotes, etc., -- mainly by pilots! I'd like to get many more people with first-hand knowledge involved, and I wonder if I can tempt you.
 
At the moment I'm working on books about the Sea Hornet and the Firefly, but there are plans for, eventually, books on practically ALL the front-line FAA aircraft of the post war era.
 
I'd be most appreciative if you could contact me. I cannot run to paying fees (it's a ship with a one-man crew here!), but of course everybody who takes part gets a free copy of 'their' book, with full credits and effusive compliments!
 
You can see details of these books at http://www.adhocpublications.com click 'From the Cockpit' on the menu on the left.
 
Hope to hear from You!
 
Kind Regards

Roger Chesneau
AD HOC PUBLICATIONS
Cedars
Wattisham Road
Ringshall
Stowmarket
Suffolk
IP14 2HX

E-Mail. adhocpub@aol.com

Tel. 07776 134277

Lt (A) David G Ffiske RNVR

Lt (A) Robert M “Stumpy” Gunther RNVR

On the 9^th February 2007, David Ffiske of New Zealand wrote to an address in Nottingham, United Kingdom, this address was the last know address of Robert Gunther who was believed to be living there with his sister Miss K M Gunther in 1945, in the hope that he would be able to discover anything about his fellow officer and good friend. Both David and Robert were FAA Observers serving with 810 Squadron (Barracuda Aircraft) on HMS Illustrious during WWII.

Problem was that this Nottingham address was over 60 years old!

On the 13^th February 2007 the current resident at this address contacted the FAAA Webmaster via the Fleet Air Arm Web Site ( http://www.faaa.org.uk ) asking if anything could be done to help.

The Search was ON!

The FAAA Webmaster started to trawl the internet and finally found a photograph of Sub. Lt. Robert M. Gunther, (Observer) RNVR (first left) on his rescue from the Aomori (correctly Omori) POW Camp, in the Tokyo area of Japan in September 1945 also shown in the picture is Lt Basil W. Aldwell, (Pilot) RNVR (second left).

see http://www.npswapa.org/gallery/album79/78_JP_britpows

David Ffiske had mentioned in his original letter that Lt (A) Robert M “Stumpy”Gunther RNVR had been held by the Japanese in a POW Camp.

The FAAA Webmaster then contacted Jim Kimpton, a friend and ex-shipmate who has a web site called Gentracers Family History Group at http://www.gentracers.co.uk using his expert knowledge and facilities Jim came up with an address in Hampshire.

The FAAA Webmaster armed with this information, contacted the address to discover that Robert Gunther had, but no longer lived at that address. Thankfully the new owner of the Hampshire address had the contact information of the previous owner who was Robert Gunther’s sister, and provided a telephone number for Robert Gunther.

On the 16^th February 2007 the FAAA Webmaster called the telephone number of this Robert Gunther to discover that this was Ex-Lt (A) Robert M “Stumpy” Gunther RNVR and Ex-Lt (A) David G Ffiske RNVR was informed.

The Search was OVER!

David Ffiske and Robert Gunther (both aged 84) are once again in touch after more than 60 years.

UPDATE: 3^rd July 2009

I have to report Robert Gunther passed away on the 23rd of June 2009. The funeral will take place on the 15th of July 2009. Further information from the family contact John Ind (Nephew) on 07947736249 or 01273553372.

The Gurkhas Petition

The Government promised citizenship rights to retired Gurkhas following a major campaign in 2004, but hundreds of retired Gurkhas who should have the right to citizenship are having their applications unfairly held up by the Home Office.

The Gurkhas are also fighting the Government decision to only allow Gurkhas who retired after 1st July 1997 to become citizens - discriminating against hundreds of Gurkhas who served loyally but retired before this artificial cut-off date.

Gurkha campaigners are also calling for a fairer deal on pensions - Gurkha pensions are currently between 1/8th and 1/6th of the equivalent UK Service person.

Sign the Petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/gurkha/

March

Monday 5th March

 

Dave Clark is looking for any FAA personnel who served on any Buccaneer Squadron or associated workshops to join our ever growing Association, visit our website at http://www.faaba.org.uk for reunion details.

 

Also looking for any ex HMS Fulmar people with a view to forming a Fulmar Association.

 

Dave Clark

daclark@faaba.org.uk

Monday 5th March

 

Malaysia Presents UK Veterans New Medal

UK Service personnel who served in Malaya, Singapore and Borneo in the 1950’s and 60’s have been awarded a new medal by the current Malaysian government. more.......

Do You Qualify? see the Web Site

Mayday……. Mayday……. Mayday…….

The Royal Navy have recently removed the specially trained search and rescue divers from operational duties, putting your life and my life at risk. These highly motivated professional people have been part of the search and rescue team for more than forty-five years but in March of this year their duties were suspended indefinitely. The Navy has not publicly announced a reason for their decision which may directly impact on the local fishermen, marine users and thousands of tourists who visit the Devon and Cornwall coasts every year.

Royal Navy divers are exceptional people, their intensive training allows them to extend the operational capabilities of the search and rescue team by some considerable margin. They can be deployed immediately as soon as the aircraft is on scene allowing them to exit with full diving gear from heights of up to forty feet, delivering aid to a casualty in a matter of seconds rather than minutes. Time that is invaluable for the successful resuscitation of marine accident victims. Their equipment allows them to dive up to and beyond 30 meters, reaching people trapped in overturned vessels and bringing relief to victims trapped in air pockets after a ship has fully submerged. The Royal Navy search and rescue crews operate up to a 200 Nautical mile range from RNAS Culdrose and provide hope for those in difficulties. Their capabilities in rescue are inexhaustible as is their motivation and selflessness.

This is a service that we can ill afford to lose.

Please help us to fight back by signing our petition