Conrad Southey 'Peter' John
Colin Davison is looking for information on Conrad Southey
'Peter' John, born Jahn in Surbiton on 30th April 1905.
He joined Hawkers as an engineering apprentice around
December 1922 and was a junior draughtsman from December 1925 to
January 1926. In 1926 he joined the RAF rising to Flight Lieutenant on
a short service commission.
He rejoined Hawkers
around February 1931, possibly as a test pilot, and probably flew in an
aerobatic display for the King George V Jubilee celebrations in 1935.
He may later have taken up an engineering role.
Probably in August or September 1941 he moved to Glosters as
contracts manager and was certainly in that post by February 1942.
If
any Members can add to this story please e-mail
, copy to the Editor, or if you don't have
e-mail write to the Editor who will pass your information on.
Joint Force Harrier
A 'must read' for all Harrier enthusiasts is
Commander Adrian Orchard's recently published account of operations in
Afghanistan entitled "Joint Force Harrier", published by Michael
Joseph. Members will remember Cdr Orchard for his talk to the
Association in July 2007 (NL.18).
In this
excellent and well-illustrated book Cdr Orchard explains the demise of
the Sea Harrier, the origins of the Joint Force Harrier (JFH) concept,
and in considerable operational detail, the story of 800 Naval Air
Squadron (of which he was Commanding Officer at the time) operations in
Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Cdr Orchard is currently
Deputy Force Commander of JFH at RAF Cottesmore and was appointed
OBE in the 2008 New Year Honours List.
He is
donating his income from the book equally to Combat Stress, the
Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society, and to the Royal Navy Historic
Flight, whose Sea Fury he so enjoys flying; another good reason for
buying the book.
