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THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
No 10 SQUADRON ASSOCIATION
With great sadness, we join the Nation in sending our condolences to
Her Majesty The Queen
and all the Royal Family on learning of the death of
His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
RIP
9 April 2021
Membership of the 10 Squadron Association is open to those who are serving or have served on the Squadron in the past, as well as their relatives. Whilst the majority of the sections on the website require a Username and Password to view and hence may only be visited by paid-up Members, a limited number are nevertheless available to all. We hope that you enjoy your visit here. Association joining details may be found in the Top Menu.
AIMS OF THE 10 SQUADRON ASSOCIATION
• To preserve the spirit of comradeship formed during service with 10 Squadron
• To sustain a close relationship between the Squadron and the Association
• To provide a focus for contact with other former Squadron colleagues, by promoting attendance at Annual
Reunions and Remembrance Day Services at the 10 Squadron Memorial
• To encourage the collection and preservation of documents, photographs, anecdotes and memorabilia
with which the Squadron’s history may be enhanced
• To encourage Squadron and Association members to contribute to the Association website
• To encourage members of the Squadron to join the Association
STOP PRESS: -
Research has recently been carried out by Association Member Chris Eve, into the lives of two former squadron commanders; Wg Cdr Arthur Thomas Whitelock (OC10 1929-30) and his predecessor, Wg Cdr Franks Lubbock Robinson DSO, MC, DFC, ADC (OC10 1928-29).
As many will know, Whitelock is usually accredited with having designed the ‘Winged Arrow’ 10 Squadron Badge during his tour when the Squadron was based at RAF Upper Heyford. Yet, on the original design, there are two sets of initials A.T.W. [Whitelock] and another G.L.R. – [?]. Hitherto it has been assumed that the second set were those of Franks Robinson but further investigation indicates that they may well be those of a Rev George Leonard Robinson DSO. He [G.L.R.] had been an Army Wesleyan chaplain during WW1, after which he joined the RAF as a Service chaplain in 1921 until leaving the Service in 1928 to practice in Devon and later Wolverhampton, where he died in 1958. Research is ongoing to find a link that he might have had with 10 Sqn thus confirming the initials are his so that due credit may be given to him also.
The Original 1929-30 Design for The 10 Sqn Badge
Meanwhile, after his short 10 Sqn tour, Franks Robinson was promoted to group captain rank and later became the first Station Commander of RAF Brize Norton when the base opened in 1937: - the dual positions of both OC10 and later CO of Brize Norton, not being achieved again until 2018 by Gp Cpt Dan James.
In 2012 ‘The Group Captain F. L. Robinson, DSO, MC, DFC, Memorial Award’ was created at Brize Norton for Service personnel. Since then it has been awarded annually to the Service individual who has ’displayed excellent strength of character, hard work and dedication to the Service, positively raising the profile of RAF Brize Norton and the Royal Air Force’. Nominees are elected by their colleagues.
We are keen to obtain a photograph of Gp Cpt Franks Robinson which Chris Eve can add to his recently completed biography of the former OC10 and if any reader can assist, we would be most pleased.
Similarly, we want to positively identify a link between the Rev George Robinson DSO and the 10 Sqn Badge design. Please ask around if anyone knows of relatives or former colleagues of either of the above who might have photos or greater knowledge.
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
A warm welcome to the 10 Squadron Association website. The Association was created in 1984 with the aims of preserving the spirit and comradeship formed during service on the unit and a close relationship is maintained with the present day Squadron. Membership is open to all who have served, or continue to serve, on 10 Squadron and also to relatives and friends of former Squadron members.
Our membership includes those from the Whitley and Halifax days, through the Dakota, Canberra, Victor and VC10 eras and now the Airbus A330 Voyager.
Based at RAF Brize Norton, as part of the AirTanker Hub, 10 Squadron operates the magnificent Voyager aircraft in the AT (Air Transport), AAR (Air-to-Air Refuelling) and VVIP roles and is co-located with the second unit to fly the type, No 101 Squadron. The two squadrons employ a joint manning strategy on flying tasks, without losing a strong sense of individual unit identity. This close relationship between the squadrons can be traced back to 1984 when 101 Squadron reformed at Brize Norton to fly VC10 tankers alongside 10 Squadron's VC10 transport aircraft. Between 2005 and 2011, whilst 10 Squadron was disbanded, 101 Squadron was still operating the VC10 and the Association was privileged to be hosted by the unit during our annual visits to the station.
The Association organizes two main events during the year. We hold a reunion at Brize Norton held each May, to promote a strong fellowship amongst our members. In November a Remembrance Day Service takes place at the 10 Squadron Memorial located near the entrance to the former RAF Melbourne in Yorkshire, where the Squadron was based in WW2. The ceremony preserves the memory of the personnel who sacrificed their lives when serving on the Squadron. All are welcome to attend.
10 Squadron was formed at Farnborough on 1 January 1915 and the comprehensive Centenary celebrations in 2015 included a parade at RAF Brize Norton on 30 January, during which HRH The Princess Royal presented the Squadron with a new Standard.
Please browse through our website which is administered by Dick King, a former VC10 captain on the Squadron. As a potential Association member, the committee hopes you enjoy reading the information on this site. After joining the Association, access to the Members' Area, where many past records and other items of interest await and will then be made available to you.
Michael Westwood
Chairman The 10 Squadron Association
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THE 10 SQUADRON MEMORIAL
Imperial War Museum Register of Memorials - http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/conMemorial.31016/fromUkniwmSearch/1
The Memorial was designed by Norman Applleton
A REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
Service is held each year at the 10 Sqn War Memorial, Melbourne, Yorks
A short 15 - 20 minute service by the Memorial is usually followed by coffee and bickies nearby after which we hold an informal lunch at the Plough Inn at Allerthoirpe..
We are grateful to Mr John Rowbottom, owner of Melrose Farm, for his continued support of the 10 Squadron Association, for his care and maintenace of the Memorial and for allowing us to hold our Annual Remembrance Service here.
As space is limited, lunch at the Plough Inn, Allerthorpe is only available for those for have made prior place/table reservations with the Pub on Tel: 01759 302349 or by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at least a week beforehand.
An Order of Service booklet will be available at Melbourne for those attending the Remembrance Sunday Service. However, in the event that insufficient copies are available on the day at Melbourne, it would be prudent to download a copy from the link below. (You need only print the pages 3 - 6 which are pertinent to the Remembrance Service itself.)
Remembrance Sunday 'Order of Service' booklet
Directions to the memorial situated at the entrance to Melrose Farm, Melbourne, North Yorks. YO42 4SS are given below:-
Note : If coming from York on Remembrance Sunday, the B1228 road is closed in Elvington between 1100 – 1200 hrs for the Elvington Village Remembrance Day service and parade. Through traffic is not allowed through Elvington to Sutton on Derwent and Melbourne.
FOLLOW THIS ROUTE INSTEAD (below)
From the A64 York ring road take the exit for the A1079 signed for Beverley & Hull. At 9.3 miles from the A64, opposite Barmby Moor Industrial Estate, take a right turn at the new roundabout, signed to Melbourne & Allerthorpe. (Road sign points to Pocklington Gliding Club to the left.) Pass through Allerthorpe, passing the Plough Inn, where we have lunch, on your right and take no exits from this lane until reaching Melbourne village from the east.
Turn left (south) into Campey Lane and left at the next T-junction. - sign post shows Seaton Ross 2 miles and Mkt Weighton 9 miles. Travelling east towards Seaton Ross, the Memorial is on the right after 1 mile adjacent to a large sign marked Melrose Farm. Adequate parking is available up the side tarmac, farm lane by the Memorial. Total journey distance from leaving the A1079 at Barmby Moor roundabout is 5.4 miles.
For Sat Nav users, the Memorial is at the entrance to Melrose Farm : Postcode = YO42 4SS