Welcome to the 92 Squadron Association website. This website has been designed primarily for those current and past members of 92 Squadron, and of course their families, who can claim to be Cobras just as easily as those who donned uniforms. It is a platform of remembrance and respect but also a site for fun and communication of the history and tales of those who served. The site is however, open to anyone and everyone and we very much hope that every person who visits this site enjoys it. 92 Squadron, The Special One Everyone who has ever served on 92 Squadron knows how special it is to be a “Cobra”. Many members of other RAF Squadrons might say the same but as Cobras we believe that being a part of 92 makes us unique. There is a pride in our history, in those famous fighter crews that served in the past with such distinction, and a camaraderie amongst those band of brothers past and present that is worthy of note and indeed, commemoration. There is a list, which is as complete as we have been able to make it, of everyone who has served as aircrew on 92 Squadron. We would warmly welcome a similar list for our fantastic ground crew who served if anyone can provide one. Biographies There are biographies of many Cobras, some you will know and others not as famous but equally as referred for their service. There are biographies of King Cobras, an elite group of extraordinary men who even by the high standards of 92 truly excelled in their service. If we have missed someone out, or you wish us to include a biography you have written about yourself or a fellow Cobra then please do let us know. Library of Books There is a record of books either written by a Cobra or about 92 Squadron. They are all highly recommended. Photographic Galleries There are galleries of photos of all the Aircraft flown by 92 Squadron. If you have rights to any others and wish us to include them, then again, please do let us know. A Cobra in the Sky Within the site you will also find a book in 3 volumes called “A Cobra in the Sky” written by Simon Morris, a member of 92 Squadron when the Squadron flew Lightnings, the iconic British made Mach 2 fighter jet. A Cobra in the Sky has been transferred into flip book form and is an absolutely superb history of 92 Squadron from its creation. The detail in this book is born of access Simon gained to the Squadron diaries, official squadron documents such as the Squadron 540 (the 540 is an official RAF form that records a "summary of events" on the unit) and personal interviews by Simon with key characters. The foreword was written by none other than Bob Stanford Tuck himself. The book is highly recommended. For any Cobra it honestly is a must read; for anyone else with the vaguest interest in aviation, especially the war years, it is also, a must read. Have a browse. You won’t be disappointed. Thank you Much of the content of this website is down to Simon. Everyone who has ever served on our Squadron (and many others besides who have enjoyed his website to date) will be forever grateful to Simon for the time, effort and love he put into creating the original site. We have used almost all of his original content in the updated website, as well as creating and adding more that we think might be of interest to you. Thank you to everyone who shared in the making of these Squadron histories, especially Simon and Kevin Hutchinson. Kevin was a huge help to Pete Curtis in the re-editing and re-ordering of some of the text. We hope you enjoy A Cobra in the Sky, and we hope generations to come enjoy it too! Longevity of comradeship It never ceases to amaze us that we can meet up with old Cobras whom we may not have seen for many years, and pick up the conversation as if they had just popped back to the bar after having had a wee break. It is not for us to comment on the military of today, save to say, the generations that came before them probably overdid the "revelry" which often careered into mighty excess, but in hindsight we believe it was tolerated (and indeed quietly encouraged) for a good and valid reason, and boy was it fun. Modern military pilots I think today, in a world where we rightly strive for equality, perhaps the balance has shifted too far away from the example of the past at the expense of the ability to forge those unbreakable bonds of which we speak. What is not in doubt is what the legendary Cobra Brian Kingcome said in his forward to the book "Biggin on the Bump"; "I walk with ghosts when I visit my old station, but they are friendly ones. I mourn them, but they had counted the cost and they died with regret but without surprise. They were typical of their generation and their generation was typical of all others. The young of all generations are the same. They may dress differently and have different rites and rituals, but give them a crisis and they are all the same. I salute them.” Brian was right. The systems and politics that surround the current generation may be different, they may not focus on what WE think is important, those systems and the politics that goes with them may not even be what we agree with. The culture may even turn out to be detrimental to fighting efficiency and forging morale, but what is not different is the people themselves, "they are all the same, and we salute them" too. Corrections amendments and additions We intend this website to be dynamic, to be constantly updated and improved. We would welcome any suggestions or corrections and amendments or any new relevant additions. We should, however, leave the final words to a true 92 Squadron legend, Brian Kingcome. There can be no doubt that no one could put it better; The last word "To my mind 92 Squadron always had that special ingredient which sets certain people or groups apart from the rest – a small indefinable quality in the alchemy that gives an edge, a uniqueness. This quality can never be duplicated or planned for, but somehow it comes into being and is aptly called “spirit”. It always begins at the top and 92’s exceptionally spirit undoubtedly had its origins in the outstanding personalities of the original squadron and flight commanders. It then continued to flourish in the fertile soil of the rich mix of characters who made up this exceptional fighting unit: determined, committed young men intent on squeezing the last drop of living from whatever life might left to them at the same time as they refused to take themselves or their existences too seriously."