Monday 22nd May - ‘Like Father Like Son – the story of a WW2 Spitfire Ace and the son who followed in his footsteps’ presented by Air Marshal Graeme ‘Black’ Robertson CBE, BA, FRAeS, FRSA, RAF (ret’d) an illustrious and famous former RAF pilot, who flew front line fast jets.
‘Black’s father was a decorated Spitfire ace, whose brief wartime career was ended by injury, and ‘Black’ himself was a Cold War flier who retired in 1998.
Illustrated with stories of their shared experiences, the Air Marshal will reflect, not just on parallels a generation apart, but also on the changing face of the RAF.
Monday 26th June - ‘Chaos & Comedy: A Summer on the Somme, with No 11 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps’ - presented by Ms Jill Bush.
“If it goes on like now,” wrote Major Hugh Trenchard, in the summer of 1916 on the Somme, “God help us when we get the Huns on the run”.
May to September 1916, the first phase of the infamous battle of the Somme, was a key period for the development of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC).
The admiralty of the skies was in their hands for a few short but significant months, and this talk by Jill Bush, will focus on the desperate attempts of No 11 Squadron to battle not just the enemy, but machines which often fell apart, and a supply chain that was woefully inadequate
AirACES is an aviation talk society, providing its members with regular talks, given by experts in many different fields related to the world of aviation, held at the Chichester Park Hotel, Westhampnett Rd, Chichester 7pm for 7.30 start. Members £5, visitors £7 and under 16s FREE.
Doors open at 6.45 no pre-booking, no reserved seating. For further information see www.airaces.org.uk or call David Batcock on 01243 823007