A new book about unsung heroes of the Royal Air Force took to the skies in fine form when it was launched by its two authors.
A crowd of more than 50 people were at Hurst Cricket Club last week for the launch of To Force the Enemy off the Sea – the Story of the RAF’s North Coates Strike Wing.
Among the crowd was Ken Fostekew of the Museum of Berkshire Aviation in Woodley. The museum is selling copies of the book written by John Vimpany and David Boyd who both live in Hurst.
John’s father Dick was a navigator in a Beaufighter plane which sank and damaged enemy ships in the North Sea during the Second World War. He flew from RAF North Coates near Grimsby.
He later worked in civil aviation at Woodley Aerodrome, living at Wargrave Road, Twyford.
After the launch Mr Fostekew welcomed the book, saying: “It’s good to have this history collated.”
He was interested in finding out more about Dick Vimpany’s role at Woodley.
John Vimpany said: “We had over 50 at the launch, it was a really good evening. David and I talked about the story in the book and showed some slides.
“We sold copies of the book. It’s the story of how three squadrons of Beaufighter aircraft succeeded in clearing the North Sea of German convoys that were attempting to supply iron ore from Sweden to the armament factories of the Ruhr in Germany. This was between 1943 and 1945.”
The authors are taking the book ‘home’ to promote it at North Coates Airfield, now a flying club. They will be at the airfield’s air day event which is from July 15-17.
On the evening of Friday, July 15 they will talk about the book at the Royal Air Force Association club at Cleethorpes where there is a memorial to North Coates Strike Wing.
The book costing £19.95 Including UK delivery is also available from Helion Books by visiting https://www.helion.co.uk
The Museum of Berkshire Aviation is at the historic site of Woodley Airfield, once the centre of a thriving aircraft industry. Its summer opening times are Wednesdays and weekends, 10.30am-5pm. Visit its website at https://museumofberkshireaviation.co.uk/
