Personnel Index - Detail
In 1955, one Sunday morning at Waddington, the CO of 49 Squadron, S/Ldr Alan Newitt was in his married quarters when the doorbell rang. At the door he found two men dressed in what one could hardly call 'Sunday best', and an old van was parked at the kerb.
"Good morning, Sir", they said, “Squadron Leader Newitt?”
"Yes", said he. "We've brought the dog", said they.
"What dog", said he.
"The one we advertised", said they.
"Don't know anything about it", said he.
By now his curiosity was aroused so he asked for an explanation.
It seems they were joint owners of a greyhound dog which had served well during its racing life, but being no longer a match for the rest of the entrants on the racing circuit, it was time to part company. They were, however, softies at heart and, wanting to allow the animal to spend the rest of its life as a pet with a good family they placed an advert in the paper............'Offered free, with free delivery'.
They had received one very interesting reply from someone purporting to be S/Ldr Alan E. Newitt, who had said that he was CO of 49 Squadron Bomber Squadron and, since the squadron crest had a greyhound in full flight with the motto 'CAVE CANEM', he thought it appropriate that the dog should become the squadron mascot.
Rather liking the idea they had come over from the Worksop area to deliver it. The humour of all this was not lost on Newitt, so he agreed to accept the greyhound. But who could have been the perpetrator of this practical joke? (the name Wally Gill has been mentioned). The animal was duly taken to the squadron offices on the Monday morning and introduced to all personnel. He was renamed 'Skipper' and given the honorary rank of Sgt, and an officer navigator was appointed O/IC dog. (We're not sure whether 'Wee Mac' liked the idea but he seemed to accept his responsibility with good grace).
Many were the occasions when Sgt Skipper was seen disappearing at high speed into the morning mist across the airfield, chasing a hare, with the diminutive figure of Wee Mac running after him, shouting 'Come back'... there were also rumours that other things were shouted too!
Unfortunately , Skipper was killed by a lorry on the camp some months later.
"Posted out" 2006.