Please scroll down below the event details to read testimonialsabout our “In the Company of Heroes” sell-out event on 17th January. These events are unique in the world. If you join us you will know what these people below are referring to.
If you live in the UK and have yet to attend one of our events, you really are missing out on something very special – probably a chance in a lifetime to hear these men relive some of their WW2 experiences. Truly amazing.
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STOP PRESS! Also joining us this memorable day will be
Flt. Lt. Ken Fillingham DFC, Lancaster pilot, 101 Special Duties Squadron, who will be reunited on this day with Rusty Waughman, fellow 101 Sqn pilot who flew on some of the same raids as Ken but have not seen one another for 65 years!
Also: Capt. Ron Johnson, former Horsa Glider pilot at Arnhem and subsequently a POW and Edward Leslie, a Dakota pilot who, amongst other things, towed Gliders to Arnhem.
Your one chance to meet these seven WW2 aircrew veterans in one place. It will never happen again. |
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Early booking of tickets strongly recommended.
NEW DATE!
Sunday 18th April
In the Company of Heroes
Eric Brown, who has joined us twice previously, has at your request (on those survey forms we gave out last year!) kindly agreed to return and amaze us with his knowledge and unique insight into flying.
In his test-flying career Eric has flown a world record 487 basic types of aircraft including any German WW2 plane you can think of, and made a world record 2,407 aircraft carrier landings in fixed-wing aircraft. To listen and watch Eric’s presentation is one of those unforgettable moments. Trust me – you won’t regret meeting and listening to Eric!
Joining Eric in giving a talk will be Mosquito Navigator Flight Lieutenant Des Curtis DFC. Author of “A Most Secret Squadron” – copies will be available on the day.
and also Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC AE Bob Foster is a well known figure at book and print signings in many parts of the UK. Although recognized as a Battle of Britain veteran, little is known of his life, or the details of his war service with the RAF.
We hope to soon be announcing a further guest speaker and other WW2 aircrew who will be signing prints and books.
Why not join us at the Hilton Hotel, Bagshot Road, Bracknell,
Berks. RG12 0QJ tel: 01344 424801 on Sunday 18th April.
Doors open at 11.00am and the last talk will end at about 3.30pm.
What a great chance for you to meet these brave men, shake their hands and even have them personally sign a book or print for you? There will also be photo opportunities.
Only £7.50 for a whole day of fascinating and enjoyable entertainment. Bring along your books and prints to be signed, meet and chat with these brave men.
All our events are suitable for a family day out.
On display will be a range of our prints, original paintings and books.
Attendance of WW2 guests is subject to their good health. A print or book can be signed for just £10. Anything bought on the day for £30 or more can be signed free of charge.
Either book now online (please see below) or telephone us at 01225 444929.
Tickets will be sent to you one week before the event.
Further details about our guest speakers.
| Captain Eric Brown R.N. had a 31-year career in the Royal Navy, and is the Fleet Air Arm’s most decorated pilot. After a distinguished operational tour flying from Britain’s first escort carrier, he was selected as a test pilot in 1942 and then served at A&AEE Boscombe Down before being appointed as Chief Naval Test Pilot at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, where he remained for six years. During that time he commanded the Enemy Aircraft Flight, the High Speed Flight and finally the prestigious Aerodynamics Flight. |
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During the Korean War he served as a test pilot at the US Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River for two years. While in his appointment as Head of the British Naval Air Mission to Germany from 1957-60 he was seconded to the Focke-Wulf Co. for a spell as their test pilot.
In his test-flying career he has flown a world record 487 basic types of aircraft, and made a world record 2,407 aircraft carrier landings in fixed-wing aircraft. He is a past President of the Royal Aeronautical Society, an Honorary Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and a Master Pilot of Russia. In 1995 he was inducted into the US Navy’s Carrier Aviation Test Pilot Hall of Honor, the only non-American to have received this accolade.
Flight Lieutenant, Des Curtis DFC
Des Curtis was one of the founder members of 618 Squadron.
Formed within days of the illustrious 617, 618’s primary objective was to mount a daylight low-level attack by Mosquitos on the German battleship Tirpitz within hours of the attack on the Ruhr dams. |
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The operation, codenamed Operation Servant, was given top securityclassification, to the point where the subject was excluded from the minutes of the meetings of the Chiefs of Staff of the air and naval forces. The author reveals the dilemmas and conflicting priorities existing to the highest levels, setting out in detail the technicalities of developing the ‘bouncing bomb’. He also writes first hand about the tactical problems of getting to and from the target; and the tensions and strains endured by the Mosquito crews themselves, as they took the war to the German U-Boats within the sight and safety of their bases.
| Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC AE. Persuaded to tell his story to air historian and well established aviation author Norman Franks, the result is a very readable account of his flying years. These began shortly before WW2, when he learnt to fly with the RAFVR. Called up for war service in September 1939, he completed his training and was posted to 605 Squadron, equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. By early September 1940 he and his Squadron were in the thick of the air fighting over southern England, operating from Croydon during the Battle of Britain. |
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Surviving the Battle, he later became an instructor, but shortly after joining 54 Squadron, which had Spitfires, he and this unit became part of a group sent out to Australia to help defend the Darwin area. Bob's squadron and two others, 452 and 457, engaged the Japanese incursions throughout 1943. Awarded the DFC for his efforts, he returned to the UK and was given an assignment with a RAF public relations outfit, ending up in Normandy within three weeks of the invasion of 1944. Often serving right up in the front lines, Bob saw the war at very close hand, and then quite by chance became one of the first, if not the first RAF officer to enter Paris with the liberating French army, and again, by chance, was in General de Gaulle's triumphant procession down the Champs-Élysées
His memoir is an entertaining collection of stories and reminiscences of two distinct areas of WW2, which also shows how luck often shaped the lives of the fighter pilots involved.
In the Company of Heroes” Testimonials
Hello
I just wanted to drop you a line to say how much I enjoyed yesterdays 'In the Company of Heroes' event. All the talks were excellent and it was nice to hear such a varied range of subjects being discussed. In particular I thought that Geoffrey Wellum's talk did a great deal towards putting the trials and tribulations of modern life into perspective.
I'm very much looking forward to the next event.
Many thanks
Paul Gates
Hello
Writing to say how much I enjoyed the talks given at Bracknell on the 17th January. This is the second such event I have attended, and as before, the speakers were fascinating to listen to. I was particularly taken by the emotive talk given by Geoff Wellum.
Little did I know when listening to Geoff, that within a few hours of leaving the event, I was to receive news that a close friend of mine, a commercial pilot, had been killed in an aircrash. As always at such times, I experienced that shock and disbelief, followed by immense sadness. It gave me all the more reason to admire the dignity that Geoff displayed in talking about what for him were such awful times. I was grieving for one pilot and friend. How many did he have to endure? My respect for him, and the many others knows no bounds.
Please keep up the excellent work of organising these events.
Thank you.
Steve Holmes
Hi Sean
Great day on Sunday.
many thanks
Regards Colin
Hello,
I'd just like to pass on how much I enjoyed the talks yesterday. Geoffrey Wellums speech was phenomenal, and I can honestly say that if I was 18, I'd have immediately attempted to join the RAF! Thank you very much for hosting such an enjoyable event, and I wish you all the success possible for the future.
Mark Aslett
re: In the Company of Heroes.
Dear Sean, Many thanks for information. I will attend on the 18th April '10. Without doubt. 'Thanks' should go to you and your team for ensuring an enjoyable and successful day in January.
Faultless organisation, the 'heroes' inspirational.
Kind regards
John
Speakers at our event in January


Geoffrey Wellum (Spitfire pilot)


Rusty Waughman (Special Duties Lancaster pilot)


Don Briggs (Lancaster F/E and post-war Vulcan pilot)
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