MILITARIA

[SteveH]

ABOUT 30 blind veterans who were facing the prospect of spending Christmas Day alone will come together to enjoy traditional festivities in Llandudno.

The veterans will unite at the Blind Veterans UK Centre of Wellbeing in Llandudno to enjoy a lunch with all the trimmings before watching the King?s Christmas Day speech.

During their stay the veterans, who are from across the UK, will have to opportunity to take part in a host of festive activities from Christmas crafting and games to festive food tasting. There will also be carol singing and a visit to a Christmas fair.

Read the full article ........... https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24005087.llandudnos-wellbeing-centre-offers-comfort-joy-blind-veterans/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Five brave men lost in plane crash to be remembered on anniversary of tragedy
Memorial service planned 80 years on from Conwy disaster

Everyone on board perished on the dreadful afternoon of February 15, 1944. The servicemen's fate has been marked periodically in the intervening years. But people will gather 80 years on for a service next month.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/five-brave-men-lost-plane-28526593

[SteveH]

The Great Escape: Welshman inspired Steve McQueen role

It is the part that cemented Steve McQueen in the pantheon of Hollywood cool.

But how many know the American icon's role as a daredevil POW in the 1963 World War Two film The Great Escape is supposedly based on a Welshman?

Ken Rees, from Anglesey, was the bomber pilot who fought back against his Nazi captors to break free of an infamous Polish prison camp.

That heroic effort celebrates its 80th anniversary this weekend.

Having joined the RAF in 1939 at a tender 18, Flt Lt Rees was shot down over Norway on a secret mine-laying mission three years later.

cont  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68625578

[SteveH]

FANS of the Red Arrows may have an unexpected chance to catch the famous jets in action.

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team are set to come to RAF Valley on Anglesey prior to Isle of Man TT (IOM TT) races on June 7 and then return to Waddington.

Squadron Leader Graeme Muscat said: "We are indeed coming to Valley on June 7 for the IOM TT display that evening.

"We cannot guarantee anything in terms of an arrival. It will depends on several factors, one of which is the weather, both on the arrival at Valley beforehand and after the display at IOM circa 8pm (local time)."

cont https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/24262209.chance-see-world-famous-raf-red-arrows-anglesey/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

D-Day 80: Servicemen silhouettes assembled near Gold Beach

Silhouettes representing almost 1,500 servicemen who died on D-Day have been assembled at a French museum.

To commemorate 80 years since the Normandy landings, the figures travelled from a workshop in Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, to the British Normandy Museum.

The figures overlook Gold Beach, one of the key landing points.

They were transported via Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire and Fort Nelson, near Fareham in Hampshire.

The 80th anniversary of D-Day falls on 6 June.

cont plus photos https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-68853855

[SteveH]

pilot has died after a Spitfire crashed in a field close to an RAF station in Lincolnshire, officials said.

Emergency services were called to the field off Langrick Road, Coningsby shortly before 13:20 BST on Saturday.

The World War Two-era plane belonged to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby, the RAF said.

It said a "comprehensive investigation" would be completed and it would not speculate on the cause of the crash.

The RAF statement reads: "It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-69056052

[SteveH]

ON SATURDAY morning (May 25), civic leaders joined veterans and cadets at Llandudno war memorial gardens for the unveiling of two metal poppies made by car giant, Jaguar Land Rover.

The poppies were fabricated at Jaguar Land Rover’s Castle Bromwich site, where a significant proportion of the 22,000 Spitfires were built between 1940 and 1946.

In addition, more than 300 Lancaster bombers were also constructed there.

Jaguar Land Rover has committed to re-training and employing former military personnel and, in the last 10 years, has helped more than 1,000 veterans transition from service to civilian life.

Full article https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24354488.unveiling-metal-poppies-llandudno-war-memorial-gardens/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Top-secret D-Day mission that changed World War II unearthed by North Wales 'mud fanatic'
Wetland scientist Christian Dunn re-enacted the daring foray for a BBC documentary

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/top-secret-d-day-mission-29267509

[SteveH]

The events of D-Day and the spirit of the war effort are best told by those who lived through it.

With each passing year such first-hand accounts become more precious to record as photographs, mementos and stories are passed on for future generations.

To mark the upcoming 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, BBC News NI has spoken to two veterans with different experiences to share, at home and overseas.

George Horner is one of the last surviving Royal Ulster Rifles veterans from D-Day.

Ada Chell followed events from a barracks in County Antrim and lost someone special to her.
Ada, from Bangor, joined the women's branch of the Army, the Auxiliary Territorial Service, when she was 17 in 1941.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp33x0ykrkno?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Two surviving members of the Second World War Glider Pilot Regiment (GPR) have stressed the importance of the wooden aircraft on D-Day, saying “it couldn’t have been done another way”.

Gliders, used to transport troops and supplies, were towed by bombers over northern France before gliding into the landing zone in Normandy.

Soldiers were then able to capture bridges over the river and canal at Benouville, hampering the movement of enemy troops and allowing Allied forces to press forward from the beaches.

cont https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/national/24361048.it-like-flying-brick---crucial-glider-pilots-d-day/?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

The Red Arrows will be in North Wales this weekend gracing the skies above places like Wrexham and Gwynedd while also stopping over at RAF Valley on Anglesey.

Those hoping to catch a glimpse of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team in North Wales are in luck, with the Red Arrows set to make their way to RAF Valley, on Anglesey, on Friday (June 7).

This will see the team fly over parts of North Wales on Friday before setting up overnight at the RAF base located near Rhosneigr on Anglesey.

More info....... https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24370066.red-arrows-visit-north-wales-weekend---see/

[SteveH]

                            SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE 80th ANNIVERSARY OF THE D-DAY LANDINGS

The Llandudno branch of the Royal British Legion have organised a remembrance service marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on Saturday, 8 June.

The service will also include a parade and is set to start at the War Memorial on the Promenade at 11:00.  Click below for further information from the Royal British Legion's Facebook page. 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=871412151695202&set=pcb.871412705028480

[SteveH]

Video of Red Arrows over Anglesey shows RAF pilots' amazing skill
World famous team in the skies over North Wales this weekend

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/video-red-arrows-over-anglesey-29317370

[SteveH]

Veterans, cadets, civic leaders, and the public attended a service at Llandudno War Memorial to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy.

Among the ex-service personnel present were two Second World War veterans both whom laid wreaths in memory of fallen comrades.

Organised by the Llandudno branch Royal British Legion ,the service was led by The Reverend Canon Philip Barratt with prayers including those written by Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, eighty years ago.

cont plus photos https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24377261.veterans-attend-d-day-service-llandudno-war-memorial/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

The routes the Red Arrows are set to fly over Wales across two days next week
The display team is coming to Anglesey and will also fly up the country on its way to an event in England

The Red Arrows are set to fly over Wales across two days next week. The world famous display team will be in the skies above the country on Thursday August 8 and Friday August 9.

The first event is next Thursday when RAF Valley hosts its Families Day Display event. The actual display at the Anglesey base will take place from 2.55pm to 3.30pm.

This will offer people a proper chance to get to see the daring team in action. But it will also mean the team will flyover parts of north and mid Wales for those hoping to catch a glimpse.

more details  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/routes-red-arrows-set-fly-29653652