Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - btx-alpha

Pages: [1]
1
World War Two / Re: 652 AOP Squadron RAF * RA
« on: Friday 11 December 15 16:51 GMT (UK)  »
5 years later.... Hello again to Bobsy I must say that I am very happy to re find this conversation still running. A bit late but Mr PHLarris, I was very happy and interested to see the cover 'liberation' and am intrigued to see what else you have. As written earlier in this blog R R Cobley was my uncle. We have read about the AOP and some of its exploits as suggested by Bobsy and are interested to know more. We followed my uncle and his story until his probable demise in Indonesia with the independance movement flying catalinas to help them against the dutch and have a mixture of history and legend on that side.... However, we have never had anything, apart from a few photos and references on the AOP side so if you are in a position to put them on the blog or 'share' them it would be really interesting.

2
World War Two / Re: 652 AOP Squadron RAF * RA
« on: Monday 04 January 10 16:46 GMT (UK)  »
Hi Dee,
It sounds to me like I should try again to get his service records. We tried once before some time ago and got a not so polite letter. Unfortunately i can not find the letter to jog my memory as to why they refused. It seemed strange at the time as we are his closest remaining relatives. Thanks again for your advice.
atb
Charles

3
World War Two / Re: 652 AOP Squadron RAF * RA
« on: Monday 04 January 10 16:42 GMT (UK)  »
Dear Bob,
It is funny that he should have used those names above all others as my grandmother, his mother used the expression 'Heath Robinson' all the time. I have replied to your em earlier and I hope it explains a bit. I would like to expand a bit on your time with Ralph. You are probably the only people who could tell me what kind of person he was. Dynamic / Boreing / etc. There is noone left in my family who can give me any information they are all gone. He, Ralph, had no wife nor children and died very young. Whatever recollections you have put colour to the image that we have of him. We know that he was a bit of a tearaway at sandhurst and had an outrageous sense of humour when young. He was nearly thrown out of the force but somehow was miraculously saved by an air vice marshall but I dont remember which one. I hope that the questions are not boreing but finding someone who knew him even a bit is a little light at the end of the tunnel.
all the best
Charles

4
World War Two / Re: 652 AOP Squadron RAF * RA
« on: Monday 04 January 10 13:46 GMT (UK)  »
Hi Dee,
thank you for your info. I have contacted the museum and they are willing to help 'dig' if I give them the basic information.
They were very positive. I am trying to put together a profile of the man major Ralph Cobley both during and after the war.
Anything that anyone can give me would be gratefully received. We do not even have any photos of him while in 652 AOP squadron. It is very difficult for non service people to put together any kind of accurate picture without help. So thank you in advance for anything
at all!!
Charles

5
World War Two / Re: 652 AOP Squadron RAF * RA
« on: Monday 04 January 10 08:47 GMT (UK)  »
Dear Bob,
I found one of your old blog messages and it refers to  'Cobley's flying Circus'
I would love to know more about him if you knew him. R R Cobley that is.
He was my uncle and I have been doing some research on his war and post war exploits.
I have ordered the book 'unarmed  into battle' as a stating point for his war
environment but as I have no idea as to what is in it I dont know if he is mentioned.
If you knew him and have any photos I would be very happy to see them.  If it is  of any
interest to you I can tell you his post war history. It is somewhat amazing. There is a
museum built to immortalise his last action.
Even if it is not interesting to you please do let me know, however, anything
that you have got will be interesting to me
regards
Charles Cobley

Pages: [1]