RAAF Pilot CP140 Aurora Exchange Program Ends
Lt. Col. Russell Frederick Hubley, DFC, CD, Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour of France, passed away at Camp Hill Veteran’s Memorial Hospital on November 11, 2022 just short of his 101st birthday. At his side were his daughter, Carolyn and his granddaughter, Karen, a nurse practitioner that he was proud to have as his designated primary medical caregiver. He was pre-deceased by his wife Bernice Evans and is survived by four children: Carolyn Withrow (John) of Halifax, Brian (Jill)of Alabama, Bruce (Kathy) of Dartmouth, Andrew (Cathy) of Calgary and eight grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Russell was a WWII and D-Day veteran serving with the RCAF as a mid-upper gunner on Halifax and Lancaster aircraft. He flew with 431 Squadron when his crew was involved in opening D-Day. Shortly after his crew transferred to 405 Pathfinder Squadron, the only Canadian pathfinder squadron flying with the RAF. His crew flew two full tours of operations, over sixty, twice that of any other crew. Upon returning to Halifax after the war he joined the army reserves with the Halifax Rifles Armored Corp and rose to the rank of Lt. Col., retiring as the Regiment’s last commanding officer when
it’s colours were retired in 1970. In his later years he was recognized by the President of France for his involvement in D-Day and the subsequent liberation of France by being awarded the rank of Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honour of France, the highest honour France can bestow upon a non-citizen. Russell and Bernice lived their married life in Halifax where he was employed as a civil engineer by the Department of Defense, becoming Dockyard Development Officer for HMCS Dockyard Halifax. His final years were spent as a resident of the veterans long-term care facility at Camp Hill Hospital in Halifax. Russell loved his home and family and was dedicated father and provider. He encouraged young people in their careers and endowed two education scholarships for deserving military cadets. He was a great father and husband, an exceptional man, a war hero and a great role model. Cremation has taken place
and there will be no visitation or service by his request.
We’ve put flowers in the church again in memory of the window dedication 1989.
We have a concert in the church tomorrow to begin the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. Party in the pews, John’s band are the first act on tomorrow afternoon.
Val & John Davison
This weekend in The Gransdens it’s the Little Gransden Air Show, the 30th one. Lots of money has been raised for the charity Children In Need along with other more local charities. The 405 squadron have been present at some of these shows and in the early days even Veterans. The Aurora was present on one occasion in the past and is returning today along with the Lancaster, 2 aspects of the life of 405 in the village.
This morning we had a service in the church where Squadron Leader Adam Podmore from Stategic Command at RAF Wyton and Major Marc Battram RCAF both laid wreaths at the 405 Memorial window. Provided by Val Davison
Uwe Beiborn
405 Squadron WWII Memorial Discovered
Our thanks to Uwe Beiborn for telling us about the monument in France.
A la Mémoire des Aviateurs du 405 Squadron � Royal Canadian Air Force
Wellington Z8527 LQ-L parti de Pocklington pour une mission sur Poissy.
Moneddeen A.G. HOWSAN R.A.A.F � FltSgt Pilot
Marun C. HOWE R.C.A.F � Flt Sgt Second Pilot
Raoul O.J. PAGE R.C.A.F � Flt Sgt First air Gunner
William P. ASHUN R.A.F � Sgt Second air Gunner
James G. MACKINON R.A.F � P.Off Rear Gunner
Tombés pour la Liberté le 2 avril 1942 dans le parc de Marly-le-Roi
et en hommage au seul survivant Laurel G. BURGOYNE R.C.A.F � P.Off Air Observer
The location of the monument is 48°51.840 N 2°4.885 E. The actual crash site is about 2 kilometers SE, I have not been able to locate it precisely.
The five crewmen killed have been buried at the cemetery at Versailles - Les Gosnards, a further 8km SE.
405 Veteran Ron Moyes Has Luncheon with
Princess Margriet of Netherlands
There were 3 of us WW2 vets invited to this Mayors luncheon for the Princess, a Navy , a Army and I represented the Airforce. I was asked to sit at the head table with the Princess, her husband and the Mayor. I was then asked to give a 5 min talk about my service, ,well I talked for 10min. As you know it was 405 Sqd that dropped the markers for the food drop at Rotterdam, her husband was on the ground waving at us, so he was very interested in what I had to say. Because I talked over time, the didn’t have time to talk afterwards. So this afternoon I got an e mail to come to the War Museum for coffee with them tomorrow at 9.45 am. The Princess was born in Ottawa, Her rooms were declared to be Netherland property so she wouldn’t be declared a Canadian.
After 22 years of 92wg pilots flying the CP140 Aurora in Canada, 2022 marks the end of the pilot exchange program. The RCAF continues to send CP140 pilots to fly the P-8A Poseidon with 11sqn, however the RAAF has transitioned their Canadian pilot exchange program to a different platform type. I have personally had an amazing time flying the Aurora for the past 4 years - and feel honoured to have been a part of this program as it comes to its end.
In order to commemorate this occasion - I spent the past couple of weeks making this presentation for 405 Sqn.
I really hope this exchange can be resurrected in the future - perhaps when (if) Canada join the P8 game……
Flight Lieutenant Andrew Bartlett, RAAF
2022
Philip Geffin was a navigator on 405 Squadron delivering food at the Hague on May 2nd and flying his last mission on 16th of May 1945 . Photos were provided by his son Harry Geffin.