On 26 Oct 2021, Association member, and RAF Regiment founding member fmr Cpl Francis Allen Perry celebrated his 99th birthday. Allen joined as a Ground Gunner on 28 Aug 1941 and then transferred to RAF Regiment in 1942. He underwent training at Penarth (Wales) and Winton (Bournemouth). On completion of training, he was posted to RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Later Allen sailed from Liverpool and joined 251 Sqn based between Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt. During his service, he was deployed to Palestine, Trans Jordan, Syria, the Turkish border, Italy, Greece, and Austria. He was discharged on 31 Dec 1946.
Decorations: Africa Star / Italy Star / 1939 – 1945 Star / 1939 – 1945 Defence Medal / 1939 – 1945 War Medal / 1941 – 1945 Greece Medal.
Allen joined the Catterick Branch of the RAF Regiment Association in 1991 and then later transferred to the Somerset and Dorset Branch, (now called Somerset, Dorset, Bristol and Bath Branch) , where he and his wife Maisie are active members.
Per Ardua Allen!