Association
has agreed to work with VPI to coordinate the reception, which will occur in the
VPI building. REUNION 2011
This is the first in what will become
regular updates on planning activities related to the Seventieth Anniversary of
the formation of 415 Squadron. As 415 Squadron will be celebrating this
important milestone with 404, 405 and 413 Squadrons, as well as VPI, the 415
Squadron Association has been working with the Rendezvous 2011 Committee to plan
the Reunion weekend. It is now confirmed that the Reunion will occur on the
weekend of 10-12 June 2011 at 14 Wing Greenwood. While the event will be
conducted at Greenwood, it will not be a Base Reunion. As such, the Units
celebrating their respective anniversaries are solely responsible for the
planning, funding and execution of the Reunion. You are directed to the RV 2011
website
www.rv2011.ca to learn more about the global reunion
planning and pre-register for the Reunion. It is important to note that each of
the participating Units will oversee one of the major activities which will take
place: Reception, Meet and Greet, Main Event and Dinner & Dance. The 415
Squadron
Association
has agreed to work with VPI to coordinate the reception, which will occur in the
VPI building.
On the 24th of June the 415 Association Committee met at 14 Wing Greenwood to initiate planning activities. It is clear at this point that in addition to the commitment related to the RV2011 Reception, there will be a substantial effort required to develop a Squadron Display for the Main Event. For the Main Event it can be expected that the Squadron Albums will need to be refurbished, displays will need to be developed and many of our artefacts brought out of storage. Rick Anscomb has agreed to coordinate this activity and is looking for both ideas and volunteers to help build a truly memorable Swordfish show piece. In due course a volunteer will also be required to work with VPI on the development of the Reception program.
Equally important will be a program to notify as many Swordfish as possible of the upcoming Reunion. To this end it is requested that all 415 Squadron Association Alumni make an effort to contact their old Swordfish friends and refer them to both the Association website, and the RV2011 website. In the near term letters will be sent to former COs, CWOs and Honoured Colonels to solicit their participation. Also as individuals pre-register for RV2011, they will be asked to identify their primary unit affiliation. Our goal is to have at least one hundred Swordfish at the Reunion.
It can be expected that the next update on planning activities will be provided by mid September. In the interim, you are more than welcome to contribute your talents in one way or another to help ensure this Reunion is a success. Over the next two months the display for the Main Event will be designed, meetings with VPI will take place, memorabilia will be proposed and advertisements will be issued. Any and all offers to assist the 415 Squadron Association will of course be gratefully welcomed.
Chris Henneberry
