This year marks the 100th birthday of the RAF when the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were amalgamated on the 1st April 2018 to form the Royal Air Force in response to growing pressure from German bombing raids during WW1. There are many events to celebrate this birthday including a temporary exhibition at Tangmere Military Aviation Museum which ends this Sunday, 15th April. As part of the “RAF 100” programme, I attended a memorial service to three airmen from 92 Squadron RAF who were tragically killed in a flying accident all those years ago. On 7th April 1918, just a week after the formation of the RAF, two aircraft, a single seat Sopwith Pup fighter and a two-seat Avro trainer collided in mid-air over the flying station at Tangmere. The three pilots were killed instantly. This, unfortunately, was not unusual in World War 1 where more than half of the RAF fatalities occurred in training which was statistically more dangerous than conflict.
The Sopwith Pup was being flown by an American pilot, 2nd Lt Victor Raleigh Craigie from Boston, Massachusetts. The Revd Brian Shersby read out his last letter to his mother dated 30th March 1918 where he described his training routine and said he couldn’t wait to join the war for real and meet the Hun over France. Such spirit and bravery is very humbling as I could never imagine feeling that brave in the same circumstances. He is now buried in St Andrew’s churchyard in Oving alongside Captain Norman England from Streatham in London. The third pilot 2nd Lt Clifford Hackman is buried near to his home in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. It is wonderful to know that they are not forgotten and their bravery is still commemorated 100 years later.
In an amazing feat of planning and precision timing a flypast of representative WW1 aircraft flown by the 92 Squadron came overhead within a minute of the service ending. It was very special to see an SE5a biplane and a Sopwith triplane in our skies again and a fitting tribute to three brave airmen who lost their lives whilst training to defend our country.