posted 11-24- 03:18 PM               

I have been in regular contact with the real 429 sqn here in Canada while doing my research on 429 sqn during WWII. The people at the sqn no nothing about their war record, go figure! I talk on a weekly basis with the CO's secretary about the research and giving her names of vets I have found. When I called them the first time their list of vets was only 30 names, it has 75 now. In this time I have never spoken to the CO.

For those who don't know the story my uncle, a Navigator, was with 429 sqn and was killed on his second mission returning from Krefeld, Germany on 22 June 1943. For details see my site at http://free.prohosting.com/~kopper/

Well, the CO of 429 sqn is having a reunion of the WWII vets at the Sqn, in Trenton Ontario, at the end of April. I asked the secretary, big balls here, if I could get an invite. The CO approved me for the invite list.

A couple of hours ago the CO's secretary called me and said the CO wanted to know if I would be willing to be the guest speaker at the reunion dinner! They would probably be able to swing one of there Herc's to come out and pick me up in Edmonton if I attend! I have jumped out of a Herc 27 times, never landed in one.

Going from, them not knowing my name, (they didn't even have a Roll of Honour of the Sqn casualties) to speaking at their dinner! What an honour and I only have 5 months to plan what the hell I am going to say!

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Kopper

Fortunae Nihil
(Nothing to Chance)
OPPs Making SDOE a Dangerous place.
One plane at a time.

posted 11-26- 08:58 PM               

I won't be at a loss for words once I figure out the right topic. The topic is critical.

Here's the dilemma: I'm I going to get up there and tell these guys how they won the war? I will get about 30 seconds into it and they will either tell me to shutup and sit down and they will tell me how they won the war or they will head to the bar!

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Kopper

Fortunae Nihil
(Nothing to Chance)
OPPs Making SDOE a Dangerous place.
One plane at a time.

posted 11-26- 11:41 PM               

and rember, if you get nervous, picture everyone naked.................. unless there are childern present..... you can go to jail for that.

So, I hope I have been of help to you.

Good luck man. Enjoy the Herc ride!

BTW, do they serve peanuts on that flight?

posted 11-27- 05:52 AM               

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Cheers
Kat out

posted 11-27- 08:17 AM               

Seriously though, that's pretty neat. From what I know of you, you'll do a fine job. We expect pictures, a full report, and some leftover food if possible.

posted 11-27- 12:08 PM               

Kat just don't tell my wife! I am not worried about speaking in front of a crowd I have been doing that for 24 yrs (geez I'm getting old).

I talked to 3 of the BC vets in town yesterday, one is from 429, and posed the following question: 'If you were at your squadron's reunion what who you want to know about your sqn and WWII.' 2 of them couldn't think of anything, the 1 said stories about what happened to people in the sqn.

I was thinking of talking about my personal connection to 429 via my uncle and mixing the presentation with some information about 429, eg. patterns I saw, how difficult it is to actually find any details about the sqn and WWII and how many other people I have found on the internet doing research about relatives lost in BC during the war and about guys like I have met in the SDOE community.

I guess I better check and see how much time I have to speak. I could go on for hours however the key is to grab everyones interest and keep it.

I did a presentation a few months ago at the local chapter of the Ex-POW RCAF Association. I talked about how difficult it is to find any real information about what the Cdns did in BC during the war and how important it was for the vets to tell us what happened so we don't repeat the mistakes of the past with more wars. I really whipped the crowd up, they were asking me questions during my talk and afterwards many crowded around me to talk some more. It was great!

I want to do the same this time. Plus I want to get them motivated enought to provide information to be to put it together for the Sqn history. The real details not the BS.

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Kopper

Fortunae Nihil
(Nothing to Chance)
OPPs Making SDOE a Dangerous place.
One plane at a time.