The Avro Heritage Museum Podcast Avro Heritage Museum

On 13th December 2023 Wing Commander Martine Verhulst, Air Force Attaché at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in London awarded John Monaghan the  "Thank you Liberators" medal.

John joined 166 Sqn at RAF Kirmington in Feb 1945 as a wireless operator on the Lancaster.

He flew on 18 operations from March to May and participated in several Operation Manna missions, and humanitarian food drops to relieve a famine in the German-occupied Netherlands.

This is a recording of that moving ceremony honouring John’s service held at the Avro Heritage Museum attended by his family, many friends, and the museum staff.

If you want to hear more about John’s service listen to our interview with him here. https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/e0lD4ivcvFb

John Monaghan joined 166 Sqn at RAF Kirmington in Feb 1945 as
a wireless operator on the Lancaster.



He flew on 18 operations from March to May including Heligoland, Berchtesgaden, and Berlin. He also participated in several Operation Manna missions, humanitarian food drops to relieve a famine in the German-occupied Netherlands, as well as several Operation Exodus missions to repatriate Allied prisoners of war (POW)s from Europe to Britain.



The voices you hear are of author and blogger Frank Pleszak, John’s son Andy, and myself Ian Sanders.



We start the chat with John looking through his log book and
photos.

Welcome to the Avro Heritage Museum podcast. The museum is located at Woodford near Manchester in the UK and you can find more details at https://www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk/

The English Electric Canberra was designed as a direct replacement for the wartime de Havilland Mosquito and entered service with the RAF in 1951.  In total, Avro built 75 Canberras at Woodford during the 1950s

We speak with Squadron Leader John Robinson AFC (retd) was an RAF pilot who was tasked to fly Canberras into the mushroom clouds of nuclear bomb tests to capture samples at Operation Buffalo at Maralinga in 1956, and Operation Grapple, at Christmas Island in 1957.

He tells of his recruitment into RAF, initial training and his cloud sampling missions his experiences as well as watching the tests from as little as five miles away.

I was honoured that the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association (BNVTA) invited me to their annual reunion and enabled me to capture John’s story.

I’m delighted to welcome Squadron Leader John Robinson AFC to the Avro Heritage Museum Podcast…

Welcome to the Avro Heritage Museum podcast. The museum is located near Manchester in the UK and you can find more details at https://www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk/

We continue our chat with Trevor Jackson, a former Vulcan pilot who recalls his career after flying the Vulcan.

Trevor went on to train the members of the Manchester University Air Squadron on the De Havilland Chipmunk and the Scottish Aviation Bulldog.

From there Trevor is transferred to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm flying the Fairey Gannet, the largest aircraft operated by the Royal Navy off an aircraft carrier.

We hear details of some very perilous deck landings...

In 1981 Trevor retires from the RAF and we continue his story into civil aviation and the incredible story of how he became connected with the Avro Heritage Museum.

I’m delighted to welcome back Trevor Jackson to the Avro Heritage Museum Podcast…

Welcome to the Avro Heritage Museum podcast. The museum is located near Manchester in the UK and you can find more details at avroheritagemuseum.co.uk

This episode is with Trevor Jackson, a former Vulcan  pilot who recalls his path into the RAF from school cadet in the 1950s to flying the nuclear armed Avro Vulcan.

Trevor shares the story of his RAF career via the BAC Jet Provost, Folland Gnat and onto the Avro Vulcan.

We talk in detail about his Vulcan career including being part of the nuclear quick reaction alert and how he and his crew handled their huge responsibility.

Make sure you follow us in your podcast app to make sure you do not miss out on future episodes.

I’m delighted to welcome Trevor Jackson to the Avro Heritage Museum Podcast…

Richard Jones is a former VC10 pilot who recalls his path into the RAF in the 1960s, via a pleasure flight company at Manchester’s Ringway Airport.

Richard shares the story of his RAF career via the de Havilland Chipmunk, BAC Jet Provost, and onto transport aircraft such as the Vickers Valetta, Blackburn Beverley, de Havilland Comet and onto the Vickers VC10, his favourite aircraft.

Make sure you follow us in your podcast app to make sure you do not miss out on future episodes.

I’m delighted to welcome Richard Jones…

The Avro Heritage Museum is located near Manchester in the UK and you can find more details at avroheritagemuseum.co.uk