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. |
