On 11th November, 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron – the only Royal Auxiliary Air Force)  Squadron in Wales – paid a special Armistice Day tribute to its fallen when it launched an exhibition at the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay telling the story of this unique Welsh military unit in war and peace. The event was  hosted by the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) .

Formed in 1937 at Pengam Moors in Cardiff on the site of what was then Cardiff Airport, the part-time members of the Squadron from across South-East Wales marched to war in 1939. They went on to defend the east coast against German invasion before deploying to North Africa and then Italy flying as a bomber and Pathfinder unit. Their fallen lie in cemeteries in Tunisia, Italy, Romania and Hungary which indicates how widely spread their wartime service was.

Among those remembered in the exhibition are Cwmbran man Bill Irving. He flew dangerous missions over Europe and North Africa with 614, later winning the Distinguished Flying Cross, before taking command of the squadron when it returned to Wales after the war. He was killed in March 1950 in what was then the world’s worst air disaster. Then, 80 of the 83 rugby fans returning from a Five Nations game in Ireland were killed when their airliner crashed at Llandow in the Vale of Glamorgan. The squadron was also based there and its airmen were shocked, when rushing to the scene of the crash, to find the body of their Commanding Officer among the dead.

Norman Merrett, from just outside Cardiff, joined as a part-time member in 1937. He was killed in a training accident in August 1940 after the unit was posted to Scotland to guard against possible German invasion from Norway. He was brought back to his home village of Michaelston-le-Pit and was buried at the local church of St Michael’s . His heart-broken father led villagers in raising £5,000 to buy a Spitfire as part of the Spitfire Fund which was named in his honour. To mark the special relationship between the church and the Squadron, St Michael’s adopted 614 earlier this year, and the Standard of the Squadron Association was placed in the church with a plaque.

Flight Lieutenant Merrett is among the members of 614 Squadron remembered at the exhibition being staged by the Senedd at the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay which runs until 4 January 2025.

The display of photographs and artefacts is being held to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force in 1924 and is free of charge.

Executive Officer, 614 Squadron, Squadron Leader Lee Matthews said: ‘I’m very grateful to Members of the Senedd, Dr Hefin David and Darren Millar for sponsoring this exhibition. It will allow people to learn more about Wales’ only Royal Auxiliary Ai Force Squadron and in turn understand and honour the sacrifices of our members in war and peace over the years. I very much hope the people of Cardiff, South Wales and beyond will come and take a look at this fascinating display of photographs and artefacts.’