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Letter Recieved From John P Campbell.
Edinburgh
23 February 1989.
Dear Sir,
I was very interested
to read your letter in the Evening News. During the war I had a spell at
RAF station Banff, prior to VE Day where I was in charge of the orderly
room of 235 (Mosquito) Squadron RAF. Another three Squadrons were
based at Banff, their main objective was to attack German Shipping in
Norwegian waters. The aircrews, many of whom did not return from these
strikes, were very courageous. I remember one Mosquito returning from a
strike with a piece of mast from a German ship embedded in its wing. Our
Commanding Officer was a Wing Commander Simmons and our Station
Commander was Group Captain Max Aitken son of the then Lord Beaverbrook,
owner of the Daily Express.
When Victory in Europe
was announced, Max Aitken called all the RAF personnel to the Station
Cinema where he invited suggestions for celebrations. I remember a
couple of airmen playing accordions whilst sailing on a rubber raft in a
static water tank. During his tour of the celebrations, Max Aitken was
invited to join them and he was eventually pushed into the water.
I spent a lot of my
time off duty at Macduff and I trust that this piece of local history
may be of some use to you. May I wish you every success in your efforts.
Yours Sincerely,
John P Campbell. |
