617 Squadron
In recent years, the children from St Andrew's have taken part in the annual Remembrance Day Service in Woodhall Spa and they lay a wreath at the central War memorial. However, St Andrew's is now proud to be a "Friend of 617 Squadron Association". From 2014, the children will also carry its emblem at the annual Remembrance Day Service and lay a wreath at the Dambuster's Memorial.
617 Sqn has always had strong links to Lincolnshire and Woodhall Spa in particular, which has become its spiritual home, the Squadron having operated from there for most of World War II and having its Officers’ Mess in the Petwood Hotel. In the centre of the town stands a magnificent memorial in the form of a breached dam, which commemorates the names of those members of the Squadron who gave their lives during the Second World War in the service of their country, along with the Squadron’s battle honours.
The Association meets twice a year in Woodhall Spa; in May to commemorate the Dams Raid, and on the Remembrance Weekend in November to commemorate the sinking of the German battle cruiser Tirpitz and to join with the local community in honouring comrades who have passed away. However, since the end of that conflict, over 30 additional members of 617 Squadron have died serving their country either with the Squadron or other units. In addition, the Squadron has won two additional battle honours.
To commemorate these post World War II servicemen, the 617 Squadron Aircrew Association erected a second memorial on a site adjacent to its World War II memorial. The memorial has been created by Sylvia Waugh, a local Lincolnshire designer, winner of a competition organised for final year students by the University of Lincoln and will be constructed by a Lincolnshire-based monumental mason.
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