British Pathe

Biggin Hill.

Documentation contains a brochure for 615 (county of Surrey) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

LS. R.A.F. on parade, pan to cars arrival, Sir Winston Churchill alights and mounts dais.
LS parade presenting arms LS. Churchill inspecting airmen. MS. Churchill handing...

Biggin Hill.

Documentation contains a brochure for 615 (county of Surrey) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

LS. R.A.F. on parade, pan to cars arrival, Sir Winston Churchill alights and mounts dais.
LS parade presenting arms LS. Churchill inspecting airmen. MS. Churchill handing over trophy and addresses the ceremony:- (nat.snd.) "Officers and airmen of 615 Squadron, ladies and gentlemen, I am proud that 615 Squadron of which I have been honorary Air Commodore for 15 years should have the won the Esher Trophy and that the honour of presenting it should have fallen to me. There are twenty Auxiliary Squadrons formed by the efforts and personal sacrifice of a highly patriotic body of volunteers who are earning their living actively in civil life give up their weekends and holidays to the vital cause of maintaining Britain's fame and prowess in the air. Marks are allotted to the total hours flown to the quality of performance and the regularity of attendance and marks are deducted for avoidable accidents. It is obvious that the achievement that we celebrate today would never have been won in both the officers and the airmen of 615 Squadron had not given very much of their time and attention, than the legal minimum required. Much credit falls to Squadron Ldr. Sowrey with us today and who was in command of the Squadron during the whole of 1953 and credit also belongs to Squadron Ldr Eeles who has now succeeded him. Before the late war it seemed a very odd idea to try to produce such highly technical forces on a voluntary and spare time basis, but we made the experiment and in the crisis of out fate in 1940 the twenty Auxilary Air Force Squadrons were counted on exactly as if they had been regulars, and twenty Squadrons..........I'm convinced however, that the faithful and generous service you are rendering to out country by your hard unremitting and voluntary devotion adds not only to the security of our Island but is a feature in the moral characteristics of our Island life'. LS. March past pan to MS. of Churchill saluting. LS. Churchill talking to guests then enters car. MS. Meteor parked.

(Comb.Orig.Neg.)