Last month we unveiled two road signs and an information panel to remember Peter Potter who was a Tail Gunner in 626 Squadron. He survived over 31 Operation's and lived to be 94 passing away in 2019. We had a short film made of the dedication by courtesy of Colchester Amateur Film Makers Club. We have leading member Paul Desmond to thank for this. It lasts about 30 minutes. Go to the last link below and in the text of the British Resistance Archive (Staybehinds.com) write up it is available on a link in the text. On line local press article below (with a few errors but at least we have this) In pictures: Road named after Second World War veteran formally unveiled On post 209 on this thread I start mention Peter Potter Brookwood Military Cemetery/Lytchett Minster Churchyard/Glasgow Western Necropolis/ LANCASTER CRASH | Page 11 | WW2Talk Peter Potter Way, Elmstead, Essex | British Resistance Archive (staybehinds.com)
Hugh Frostick, Peter's author put the article on the website which he helps to run about the GHQ Auxiliers. Peter Potter Way, Elmstead, Essex | British Resistance Archive (staybehinds.com)
As a further and final tribute to Peter we have arranged for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to carry out a Fly Past over 'Peter Potter Way' on Thursday 24th August at 13.53 hours. Location: Hunters Chase, Elmstead Market, C07 7BB. People with local knowledge should be able to see the aircraft without entering the small development where there will be limited parking. Early next week we should know what direction the aircraft will appear from which I'll add to this post. The BoBMF are due to display at the Clacton on Sea air show which in flying time is not far from Elmstead Market. The usual conditions apply: if the weather is bad or there are aircraft serviceability issues then the aircraft won't come over. But we have our fingers crossed. We should be informed prior to the time of the Fly Over that it is going ahead or not. 21.8.23 update: The BBMF will approach Hunters Chase from the North and come over the development before the Clacton on Sea Air Show slot.
A Wickenby airman rightly remembered. I have a friend who is involved in the Wickenby Register. I will drop him an e mail regarding this dedication.
Interview with Richard Turner on BBC Essex 22.8.23. Peter spent a lot of his time at the Boxted Airfield Museum near Colchester where Richard is the curator. In the link go to 2 hours 9 minutes to hear the interview: Ben Fryer - Emma Bullimore sits in (22/08/2023) - BBC Sounds
If anyone is planning to attend tomorrow, someone will be giving a brief introduction and talking about Peter's life at about 13.30 hours (1.30 p.m).
On Thursday (24.8.23) The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight appeared over Peter Potter Way precisely at the time they gave us and carried out several passes. Prior to this Richard Turner of the Boxted Airfield Historical Group gave a brief introduction and explained Peter's connection to the former American fighter base (Station 150). Peter served his one tour of Bombing Operations with 626 Squadron RAF Wickenby, Lincolnshire. As the war came to and end the RAF tried to post people closer to their homes. So Peter served at Boxted after it was handed back to the RAF and assisted with its' eventual closure. When the museum was built he would spend a lot of his time there on open days talking to visitors. On Thursday, after Richard Turner spoke, Sir Bob Russell our High Steward of Colchester came forward and presented Peter's eldest daughter Valerie with a similar panel as the one we had installed opposite Peter's road last October. Shortly afterwards the formation came over and circled before continuing onto the Clacton on Sea Air Show to carry out their display. On the second day of the airshow the BBMF again circled Peter Potter Way whilst they waited for their slot at the Air Show. This was a nice gesture by the members of the aircraft and Peter's family were very pleased to hear about this additional Fly Over. Peter has three daughters and they are rightly proud of their father. Peter was a very sociable man and was well liked. In WW2 serving as a Tail Gunner he was very lucky to survive. As many on this forum will know, this was an extremely vulnerable position on the aircraft and was usually attacked first by German fighters. Like many veterans who came through the war he led a very full and active life and lived to be 94. He had various jobs and interests later becoming a fireman where he became injured, and also a mental health nurse. In his twilight years he wrote a book about his life ‘Tales of Peter Potter.’ In 2017 he was awarded the ‘Legion d’ honneur’ by the French Government, their highest award for bravery. On receiving the award Peter commented the bombing of civilians always troubled him. His post war career paths were chosen to address these concerns to some extent. In the same year he was awarded the Legion d' honneur he was a guest of the BBMF at Coningsby and was flown there by volunteer light aircraft Pilots. These last tributes kindly carried out by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight were well deserved. Peter and many others of his age group were the generation that made a difference to the World. Casualty rates in Bomber Command in WW2 were significant. One stood a far better chance of survival of fighting in a WW1 trench rather than serving as air crew in a bomber during WW2. A lot of local people knew Peter and his wife Janet (who sadly now has also passed on). He was very modest and unassuming. He was a man who could see the goodness in others and he had a gentle manner. It was always a pleasure to be in his company. One of our group took a bit of video as the aircraft came over. (See the link). The local Colchester Film Makers Club also took footage which we hope to see when they have edited it. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/B60ybmWqrwI
Links here to both the 29.10 2022 road signs and information panel unveiling and the 24.8.2023 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Fly Over.
