The Guest of Honour was Air Chief Marshall Sir Peter Squire KCB DFC AFC ADC FRAes, RAF.Chief of the Air Staff.

Members of the Fleet Air Arm Officers Association and Squadron members gathered at Duxford,the famous Battle of Britain fighter station five miles south of Cambridge, to commemorate the 58 naval pilots who were loaned to the RAF at that desperate time in the summer of 1940. 14 of these pilots lost their lives in the struggle for supremacy over the fields of southern England.

All Squadron aircraft were requested to be on the ground by 1030. Fortunately the weather was fairly reasonable and the following members were able to make it :- Tony and Jill Ashmead (Pulsar G-BYJL), Jeremy Holland with Jim Iveson (PA28 G-BOJW), Peter Love-grove (Beech 76 Duchess G-BGRG), Sir Ray Lygo (Cessna 421C G-RLMC), Bernard Maslin (AA5B G-DAVO with Wing/Cmdr Leslie Banks),Gregory Moore (Streak Shadow G-MEOW), Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork (Cessna 140 G-BPKO), Arthur Record (Mistral G-MVSJ), Roger Richardson-Bunbury (Cessna 172M G-BZZD), Richard Roberts (Mistral G-MVXN), Michael Ryan (Archer 2 G-FBRN), Derrick Brook (Fuji-200 G-KARY), Ron Dobrée-Carey thumbed a lift with Michael Bonham Cozens (Bonanza B36 G-MAPR) from Henstridge.

Michael had a slightly anxious time with a dicky PTT switch whilst threading his way through various control zones to RAF Northolt where he picked up Sir Peter Squire and his wife Lady Carolyn, and thence to Duxford. Leo Baker with Susan Willoughby, John Eatwell and Kevin Crumplin came by other means.

Members gathered in the Control Tower for coffee and biscuits and a welcome by Ted Inman the Director of the Imperial War Museum (Duxford), followed by a group photograph in front of the tower and in front of a Spitfire 14.

Duxford Guides then took groups of members to inspect Naval Aviation exhibits in one of the many museum hangar displays. The Duxford museum which includes the American Air Museum is very large and to see it all in detail would take at least a whole day.

A walk over the Bailey bridge to the Officers Mess was next on the agenda for drinks and buffet lunch, after which Sir Peter Squire gave a most interesting talk on joint service co-operation during the Battle of Britain and more " jointery " in the future - referring of course to the forthcoming formation of the RAF's GR7 Harriers and the RN's FA2 Sea Harriers into Joint Force Harrier based at Wittering (training) and Cottesmore (front line). They will be under operational control of 3 Group RAF Strike Command at High Wycombe. Flag Officer Naval Aviation, Rear Admiral Iain Henderson CBE RN has been appointed as Air Officer Commanding 3 Group.

Sir Peter is no stranger to the Royal Navy having attended the Royal Naval Staff College at Greenwich after which he took command of No.1 Squadron flying Harriers at Wittering. Following the outbreak of the Falklands war he found himself in Atlantic Conveyor with six GR Mk 3 Harriers before transferring to HMS Hermes for their first deck landing. He took part in the many hazardous operations conducted by the Harrier squadrons over the Falklands. After this Sir Peter returned to UK to do a tour of duty at Headquarters Strike Command.

At the end of a most entertaining day members dispersed to their various destinations. On his flight back to Henstridge via Goodwood (to drop off Sir Peter and Lady Squire who were attending a Battle of Britain event at Tangmere) Michael Bonham Cozens had the unusual honour of having the Chief of the Air Staff of the RAF fly his aeroplane for him whilst he concentrated on the radio….and….on the approach to land at Goodwood Michael did not reclaim control of the aircraft……… the passengers in the back who were facing aft had no need for their crossed fingers !!