Navigator with Remarkable Flight Record
In a 30-year career with the Royal Air Force, Sqn Ldr George Honeyman, who has died aged 86 after a long illness, qualified as a night-fighter navigator in a remarkable 10 different planes.
Respected as one of the top navigators in the RAF, he was posted to Florida on a three-year mission to train the United States Air Force in night navigation techniques.
Born in Recife, Scotland, he was to spend most of his life in Norfolk, living latterly at Heacham and finally at Snettisham. After his RAF career, he joined the DHSS (Department of Health and Social Security), working as accommodation officer at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital and also Wayland.
It was inevitable that he would serve his country, given his father's record.
Aged 17, George, later nicknamed “Jock” by his RAF colleagues, walked into a recruiting office in Edinburgh. He was accepted for training as a navigator from June 1942 and posted to Canada.
His father, also George, had joined the colours and had taken part in Queen Victoria's state funeral in 1901. Then, serving in the Scots Guards, he was one of the “Old Contemptibles” fighting from the first day to the last in the First World War.
On his return, he was posted to Swannington, Norfolk. His first combat mission was on Christmas Eve, 1944 from Great Massingham because Swannington was being used to test the latest Mosquito.
He served for the duration in Norfolk and later qualified at Staff College with one of the highest marks ever recorded. He qualified in other planes including the Gloster Javelin, Vampire F3, Mustangs as well as several other USAF fighters.
He was promoted to Squadron Leader while serving at RAF West Raynham but was never promoted, partly because he was too outspoken. After retiring with 31 years' service in 1973, he retained his keen interest in aviation.
His wife, Jill, predeceased. He leaves two sons, Ian and Simon, who run Castle windows and Conservatories, and daughter, Georgina, and 5 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held at Mintlyn Crematorium on Wednesday, September 1, at 12.15pm.
**George Honeyman was a member of our Association until a few years ago.
This article is from the Winter 2010 issue of Confound and Destroy
