Sunday 17 May 2015

END OF AN ERA, 'Dona Ferens' RIP

CCXXI DONA FERENS (216 Bearing Gifts) Love the humour

The Royal Air Force was formed in 1918 by an amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps and the flying squadrons of the Royal Navy. 

Naval squadrons had their origins preserved by placing a 2 in front of their original number, hence No 16 Squadron Royal Navy became 216 Squadron. Always pronounced 'Two Sixteen.'

I was fortunate enough to join the squadron at a young age, in 1963. We were flying the very first military pure jet transport in the world, the Comet. Whilst we cruised at 40,000 feet and 600 miles per hour the rest of the world trundled along below. Boeing was still designing the 707.


We mainly flew in the passenger role along the routes to Singapore and Hong Kong, Aden Cyprus and Australia with a regular schedule to Washington DC. 

Our Other roles were Aero-medical and Casualty evacuation, where we carried two doctors three nursing sisters and a nursing team. Here we carried 12 stretcher cases and 60 sitting cases. Often from nasty places that didn't like us very much, Aden, Yemen, Iran etc.

I left the Squadron in 1967 for three years on 10 Squadron but returned in 1970 until 1975. In this period we were flew purely in the VVIP role and carried the Royal Family, Heads of States, Ministers of State and 'anybody who was somebody'. We only flew long range and we went everywhere. For example: The Queen around Africa, Princess Alexander to Brazil, Princess Margaret to Nepal, Prince Charles to Australia and Canada. We were the envy of every other Squadron in the RAF and were know, sarcastically, as 'the flying club'. 

"You could always tell 216 Squadron aircrew," it was said, "they were always dressed immaculately   and would, to a man, stand when a lady entered the room."

I accumulated a little over 5000 flying hours with Two Sixteen... and last week they 'laid up the colours' in the village church at Brize Norton. The end of an era. Most of my pals from those early days have slipped the bonds of earth but would be pleased to have never seen the laying up of the Squadron Standard (the Colours) with Battle Honours embroidered on it! 
RIP DONA FERENS   




16 comments:

  1. Wonderful Squadron.
    Wonderful Story.
    Wonderful Comrades.

    Well done, John, and Thank You.

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  2. This story is beautifully written. I was truly moved by your words. You have had an interesting life...one with honor.
    Beautiful photos.

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  3. Not sure about the honor, Julie ... more a life of undetected crime :0)

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  4. You've lived an amazing life, John. I'm saddened for this end to era for you. It sounds like it was an amazing series of experiences for you.

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    1. Thanks Sherry, it's another person's life now ... i'm a different person now:0)

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  5. A beautiful and moving story, John. It is a sad end of an era.

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  6. Saying goodbye is always difficult ... a part of life is over, and this flag will not be passed down to younger generations.
    I understand the meaning of your membership and I understand your pride to have been part.
    Life is loss at times, as in this case, life is also continuity, as in the case of your beautiful family. Here your memories will be roots, for ever and for all.

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    1. You write like you paint, Rita: poetically.

      Thank you for your kind thoughts

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  7. Wow! such a beautiful post...SO impressive! and such amazing photos...
    I'm proud to know you John!

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  8. Thank you for sharing this.

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  9. I am sorry for this solemn end to a history of Glory. Life is a series of losses I've heard and am realizing the truth firsthand now. I hate it! Memories like this however are priceless. You're quite the guy John Simlett and so is this post. So, what was Princess Di really like? 😄

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    1. HRH Princess Di came long after my time :0). The Squadron managed without me from 1975 to 2015. It's spent most of its last years in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan where, as expected, it served with distinction.

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