The Fleet Air Arm Association
FAAA Obituaries 2024 "Lest We Forget "
Howard (Dick) J. H. Richards LEM (A)
1941 - 2024
Served 1957 – 1968 in the Fleet Air Arm. Rank LEM(A)
HMS St Vincent 1957/58.
HMS Ariel 1958.
RNAS Culdrose 1958/60 807 Sqdn
HMS Ark Royal 1960 807 Sqdn
RNAS Lossiemouth 1960 807 Sqdn
HMS Ark Royal 1960/61 807 Sqdn
HMS Centaur 1961 807 Sqdn
RAF Boscombe Down 1961/62.
RNAS Culdrose 1963/64 848 Sqdn
HMS Ariel 1964.
RNAS Culdrose 1964 847 Sqdn
HMS Zulu 1964/65 829 Sqdn
RNAS Brawdy 1965/68
After leaving the RN he worked on the cross channel Hovercraft Service as an Electrical & Radio Hovercraft Technician at both Pegwell Bay and Dover Harbour
Known to his many friends as Dick, he was a loyal member of the FAAA Kent Branch.
“Crossed the Bar” 18th October 2024.
William John Davies Jones POAirman/TAG3 FX112705
18th February 1925 - 18th October 2024
Dates of service: 16 February 1943 to 22 May 1946
Served at/on;
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Initial training at Daedalus
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Trained as a Telegraphist Air Gunner in RCAF Yarmouth, Novia Scotia
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Joined HMS Indefatigable in 1944 to deploy to the Far East
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Operation Meridian – raids against Japanese-held oil refineries at Palembang, Sumatra
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Took part in Operation Iceberg II, as British Pacific Fleet – liquidation of aerodromes and other targets during American land operations during the invasion of Okinawa
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In Tokyo Bay for signing of the Armistice with Japan
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Took part in supply drop on unidentified POW camp in Yokkaichi
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Posted to 799 Communication Squadron in Wunsdorf, Germany
Bill was a regular attendee at the WO&CPOs Mess HMS Daedalus for the TAGs Memorial weekends and a past chairman of the TAGA.
Bill Crossed the Bar - 18th October 2024
The funeral service will take place 11.30 on Friday 08 November at Chichester Crematorium followed by a wake at the Walnut Tree, Runcton PO20 1QB
Christopher Joseph Knight POREA(A) 7132410A
29th September 1952 - 6th October 2024
Joined the Royal Navy as a Radio Electrical Artificer in 1968
Trained at HMS Daedalus
Stationed at RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey) for two years and then at RNAS Lossiemouth (HMS Fulmar) where he was a member of Milltown Gliding Club
Served on HMS Ark Royal 1974 in the Cyprus/Turkish incident
He was flown to Cairns in Australia January 1978, came back by ship.
Back to Portland on RFA Argus.
Last ship was HMS Illustrious
Left Royal Navy for four years around in 1981 and rejoined 1985 serving for roughly 18 years altogether.
He left the Royal Navy as a Petty Officer
On leaving the Royal Navy worked at Serco locally for a few years, at RNAS Culdrose.
His youngest son Matthew was christened at Culdrose in 1984.
Chris also joined the naval reserves, living at Boscombe Down in 1981, and went to sea for two weeks each year, and joined the RN Association with the Amesbury branch in Wiltshire.
Chris Crossed the Bar - 6th October 2024
The funeral took place at Treswithian Downs Crematorium, Puggis Hill, Camborne TR14 0BL, on Monday 28th October
Donations can be made to Marie Curie nurses, as they looked after Mr Knight before he was admitted to Poldhu Nursing Home.
Ron Sayce NAM1(AE) LFX784665 1927 - 2024
1927 Ron was born on the 9th October
1945 Ron enlisted 11th December
1945 Ron initially served at HMS Royal Arthur, a shore based training establishment of the Royal Navy at Ingoldmells near Skegness
1946 HMS Gosling 1 (Royal Naval Air Establishment, Risley, Warrington, Cheshire, was a collection of 5 camps responsible for various aspects of training FAA personnel).
HMS Gosling 2 (St Athan)
1946 HMS Daedalus
1946 HMS Peregrine, RNAS at Ford in Sussex – 778 NAS
1947 HMS Illustrious
1947 HMS Peregrine
1947/48 HMS Daedalus and was discharged on the 5th February 1948.
Ron joined the FAA Association around 2018 well known for his lively stories, humour and jokes he always looked on the bright side of life. We each have our memories of Ron and our thoughts go out to Julie and all of Ron’s family and friends.
The last verse from the poem - SEA FEVER by John Masefield
I must go down to the sea again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whales way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow rover,
And a quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trip’s over.
Rest in peace Ron.
Ron's funeral will be held on Thursday 4th July 2024 14:30 (2.30pm) at H D Tribe Chapel, 100 Eastern Avenue, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 6PE
Cdr Anthony (Tony) John Graham Hodgson 1936 – 2023
and his wife
WREN Lilian Wells (Hodgson) 1937 - 2024
A joint funeral service to be held at Torquay Crematorium at 10:30 on 26th January 2024
their ashes to be scattered at sea
Tony crossed the bar on 29th December 2023 and Lilian on 8th January 2024
Having joined as a rating at the age of 15 Tony had several duties, the most notable include Flight Deck Officer on HMS Hermes during the Falklands conflict and on HMS Ark Royal during the filming of the TV series ‘Sailor’. Other duties were
RNAS Lossiemouth - Gunnery and Air Ranges office 1970
BRNC Dartmouth – Staff Officer and Cdr’s Assistant 1971/72
HMS Ark Royal – Air Weapons Supply Officer 19737/4
DGW(N) Bath – Air Weapons Safety 1975/78
DGA(N) – Weapons Assembly Safety and Handling 1979
DGNAW - Air Weapons Procurement 1979/80
HMS Hermes – Flight Deck Officer (FDO) 1981/82
BRNC Dartmouth – First Lieutenant 1983 British Representative, British Indian Ocean Territory 1983/84
CNWSE Foxhill – Service Paper Writing 1984
SACLANT USA – Shipping Working Group 1985/87
HMS Invincible – Commanding Officer 1987/88
CINCNAVHOME – Management Study Team 1988
HMS Fearless – Commanding Officer 1989
May they Rest In Peace