Burnham-On-Sea’s 290 Squadron Detached Flight Air Cadets have hosted a nostalgic return visit by a couple who initially gave an aircraft propeller to the group over 50 years ago.
John and Annette Rigler from Edington wanted to take pictures for their family history archives of the propeller, which John had donated to Burnham Air Cadets in 1964.
The group’s Training Officer Jeff Jackson told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “They were delighted to see the propeller still has pride of place in our hut and has been well cared for.”
“The propeller was made by Wolseley and was fitted to Wolseley Viper aircraft engines in SE5a and Spad aircraft of World War 1.”
“Walter inherited the propeller from his grandfather Walter, who enlisted as an Aircraft Mechanic Class 1 in the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1918.”
Walter Rigler, born in 1884 in Boscombe near Bournemouth is photographed below in 1917 on joining the Royal Flying Corps as ground crew.
Burnham Air Cadets still have vacancies for cadets. The minimum age to join us is 12 and they need to have started year 8. We meet every Thursday between 7.30pm-9.30pm.
