Acknowledgements

David Amlôt, Philip Barak, Darren Bloomfield, Gavin Bosher, Tony Bourne, Peter Capon, Andy Cash, John Charteris, Sir Gary Coward, Neil Dalton, Dickie Dawes, Tim Deane, John Dicksee, Laura Dimmock-Jones, Sam Drennan, Malcolm Fleming, Simon Fogden, Héloise Goodley, John Greenhalgh, Richard Grevatte-Ball, Paul Hayhurst, Chris Hearn, John Heyes, Sylvia Heyes, Michael Hickey, Spencer Holtom, Jeff Jefford, David Joyce, Sarah Joyce, Valerie Joyce, Garry Key, Jonathan Knowles, Sir John Learmont, Piers Lewis, Susan Lindsay, Crispin Lockhart, Tim Lynch, Dame Vera Lynn, Jim Lyons, Iain Mackie, Simon Marsh, Steven Marshall, Ted Maslen-Jones, Ken Mattocks, Tony McMahon, Mark Meaton, Graham Mehaffy for the splendid maps, Wayne Middlemiss, Keith Millsom, Bill Morgan, Giovanni Morini, Johnny Moss, Stephen Nathan, Mike Neville, Jack Nicholas, Mike Painter, Chris Pickup, Philip Piper, Bernard Redshaw, Matthew Rogers, Martin Sawyer, Tim Sharp, Marcus Sharpe, Peter Short, Colin Sibun, Andrew Simkins, Ross Skingley, Donald Smith, John Stirk, Mike Subritzky, David Swan, Alex Tucker, Derek Walker, Ron Ward, David Westley, Dick Whidborne, Peter Wilson, Lee Wright.

I am very grateful to all those named above who have assisted me with this most enjoyable, though, at times, daunting and challenging task. In particular I would like to thank Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Simkins OBE, the President of 656 Squadron Association, who asked me if I would like to write the history of the Squadron and who has been a constant source of advice and encouragement. Other members of the Association’s committee whose help has been invaluable include Mark Meaton, for his exhaustive research in the archives at the Museum of Army Flying, Ron Ward, for his work on the Roll of Honour and Honours and Awards appendices and Major Derek Walker for his view from the REME perspective. All four have also been diligent proof readers and have also been of immense help with regard to the selection of appropriate photographs from the many thousands held within the Association’s archive, which is also held at the Museum. All illustrations, except where attributed otherwise, are from this collection. Major Piers Lewis AAC, the OC of 656 Squadron, has been of tremendous help, as have many other past and present members of the Squadron, whose names are included in the list above. Finally, sincere thanks to my editor Ken Patterson and to all the staff at Pen & Sword, especially Laura Hirst and Charles Hewitt.