He shouldn't slip away unremarked

By: Moggy C - 7th February 2003 at 15:13

Extracted from the EADT this week. I thought you might all like to spare him a thought.

FIGHTER ACE WHO ALSO SERVED THE COMMUNITY

TRIBUTES have been paid to a decorated Second World War fighter ace who saw action in the skies over Burma and India.

Wing commander Gordon Conway's funeral service is being held next week in Bury St Edmunds after his death at the age of 79. During the war he flew Hurricanes and Spitfires with 136 and 155 Squadrons in India and Burma, becoming an accredited "ace" by destroying seven Japanese aircraft, together with one probable and four damaged..

He was a very young squadron leader, only 21, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

At the end of the war he was commanding No 155 Squadron and led them down through Rangoon to Singapore in September 1945.

After the war he stayed in the RAF He flew Meteors at RAF Thorney Island and then commanded 92 Squadron at RAF Linton on Ouse from 1949 to 1952. He attended the RAF Staff College and then became a wing commander, flying at RAF Horsham St Faith, just outside Norwich. Afteranother posting to the staff college, this time as a member of the directing staff, and a, tour at the Ministry of Defence, he was posted to RAF Gutersloh. in Germany as wing commander, operations, from 1961 to 1964.

After some time at Biggin Hill, where among other things he ran a training course, he returned to the Ministry of Defence and then went to Belgium in 1969 to join the Nato staff. In 1973 he returned to England, to his final posting as officer commanding the administration wing at Wattisham's military base, near Stowmarket.

When he retired from the RAF he was towed out of Wattisham in a Spitfire the aircraft in which he had. won so many victories, to commemorate his departure from the air force. The pilot even saw his squadron receive a congratulatory telegram from Sir Winston Churchill for the role they played in Burma.

Wing commander Conway was born in, London on March 18, 1923, and brought up. in north London. He attended University College School and then joined Kodak, with the intention of becoming a chemist.

However, with war looming, he answered the call to arms and joined the RAFVR as a pilot, eventually transferring to the regular RAF Having backdated his age, he, eventually had to leave the RAF at the age of 54, one year earlier than the normal retirement age.

He met his wife Enid when they were in their teens and they married in October 1941 a year after he joined the RAF

After his retirement, he and Enid settled in Haughley where they took an active part in local life. Wing commander Conway helped to organise and run the nearby Stowmarket branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), and was honorary chairman for the past few years.

He had two daughters, Jackie and Wendy. His daughter Jackie Gould said yesterday: "He was always very enthusiastic about things that interested him. He loved the RAF, the CAB, jazz and, golf, although sadly he was not able to fulfil his ambition to spend his retirement playing golf after his war wounds caught up with him.

"He was very loyal to comrades and colleagues, both senior and junior to himself. He was witty, hospitable and, until recently, very active."He was very sad following Enid's death four years ago, they had been married .for over 57 years. He was chivalrous and had a great sense of, duty and loyalty. He inspired great affection. We will miss him.

At the Stowmarket branch of CAB he was remembered with great affection for his commitment to the organisation.

EADT 2003 By John Howard