F/O Tom Moulson
This collection of photographs comes from F/O Tom Moulson's personal collection and photographs that were provided to him from other 601 Squadron members while he was writing "The Flying Sword". Although his book is out of print it can be found at www.abebooks.com and is a must read for anyone who has an interest in the history and the men of 601 Squadron. To see these photos click on the red flying sword at the bottom right hand of this page.

Tom Moulson was born on November 8th, 1930 in Manchester England, the son of an ex-army sergeant who saw service in Egypt during the Great War. As a child Tom was briefly evacuated to a suburb of Manchester during WW2 and then moved to London where he joined the Air Training Corps. From 1949 to 1950 Tom trained as a National Service pilot at Feltwell, Norfolk and converted to jets at Middleton- St-George, Co. Durham. Tom flew with 601 Squadron from 1950 till disbandment in 1957. After 601, Tom was a sales and marketing executive with Nestle and Ford Motor Company before becoming a partner in a consulting company. Tom is now retired in Newport Beach, California.

The Flying Sword: Tom was approached by Fred Tomlinson (News Editor of the London Observer) who was beginning to put together the history of 601 Squadron and needed help. Fred found this a daunting task and eventually gave up. Tom tried to keep it going, but when it was rejected by Wiedenfeld & Nicholson (at a time when interest in war books had waned) he temporarily gave up too. Tom's job took him to the US in 1959 where he found renewed energy and hit on the idea of discreet chapters without linkage and steadily shifting the mood from pre-war to war and then post-war. This made a big difference and the book was accepted by MacDonald & Co on its first offering and published in 1964.




601 Squadron in Malta




601 Squadron Vampires over Malta July 1952




601 Squadron Vampires over Malta July 1952




601 Squadron Vampires over Malta July 1952




601 Squadron Meteor over Malta July 1953




601 Squadron Vampires over Malta July 1952




601 Squadron Vampire VF327 taking off
Malta, July 1952




601 Squadron Vampire taking off Malta, July 1952




Malta, July 1952




Inspection of a target flag.
Coloured marks were added to the flag for each pilot who hit the flag with a 20mm shell from the guns of the Meteor.
?,?,? Emanuel Galitzine, Frank Winch, Tom Moulson, ?,? Malta, July 1953




Front L to R: F/O L. Brett, F/O M. Norman, F/Lt J. Bryant, P/O J. Evans, F/O C.Axford, F/O E. Galitzine, F/Lt P Vanneck, F/Lt P. Edelston, S/Ldr C. McCarthy-Jones, F/Lt G. Farley, F/Lt D. Smerdon, P/O H. Davidson, F/O T. Moulson, P/O D. Shrosbree, P/O F. Winch, P/O J. Spence, F/O D. Norman
Middle L to R: F/Lt J. Merton, F/Lt H. Harmer, F/lt K. Askins, F/Lt A. Button, P/O E. Goss, S/Ldr N. Leyton, F/Lt N. Nicholson, F/Lt T. Lanser, F/Lt F. Triptree
Back Left: Ground Crews, Regulars - Back Right: Ground Crews Auxiliary
Note: CO's Metor WK722 Malta 1953




John Bryant
Flew Typhoons during WW2




601 Squadron, Malta 1953
L to R: Harold Harmer, Peter Edelston, Clive Axford, John Hardie, Teddy Lanser, Emanuel Galitzine, Norman
Nicholson, Tim McElhaw, Jock Spence, Tom Moulson, ?




F/O Tom Moulson on Standby




601 Squadron 1950
Top L to R: Jerry Mulligan, Jock Spence, Frank Winch, Geoff ?, Jimmy Evans, Tom Moulson, ?, Bob Pilkington
Bottom L to R: Bob Large, Ronnie Clark, ? Wanbeck, Chris McCarthy-Jones, Paul Richey, George Farley, John Hardie, Peter Vanneck




601 Squadron 1950
During the change of CO from Paul Richey to Chris McCarthy-Jones




Denis Shrosbree




Clive Axford and Peter Edelston




Frank Winch




Peter Edelston




601 Squadron with AOC Sir Sholto Douglas 1950
L to R: Jimmy Evans, Bob Large, Ronnie Clarke, Tim McElhaw (Adjutant), Sir Sholto Douglas, Peter Edelston (later succeeded MaCarthy-Jones as CO), Paul Richey (CO), (Hidden), Clive Mason (Regular)




Al Deere
North Weald Station Commander and WW2 fighter Ace (7th from the left)

 


Courtesy call at North Weald by 601 Squadron's honorary Air Commadore Prince Philip




Ken Askins
Engineering Officer 601 Squadron and ex-bomber pilot




Jimmy Evans




Frank Winch and Jimmy Evans




601 Squadron at North Weald
S/Ldr MacCarthy-Jones running towards the camera




601 Squadron at North Weald - Open Day




601 Squadron "at the ready"




Bob Large and Patrick




Geoff Hancock and Patrick




Birds eye view of North Weald




In a Tiger Moth at North Weald




Peter Vanneck's Tiger Moth




601 Squadron's Auxilliary Ground Crew at the King's Head near North Weald




601 Squadron Officers at "The Swan", Epping
"The Swan" was one of the 601 Officer's local pubs and had a Flying Sword painted on the bars glass shutter.




601 Squadron at "The Swan", Epping
L to R: Chris McCarthy-Jones, DK, Peter Edleston, Tim McElhaw, Jock Spence, Frank Winch, Clive Mason




601 in Finger Four over Essex
By Tom Moulson




601 in P for Philip By Tom Moulson 1955
On September 12th 1954 Prince Philip visited 601 Squadron at North Weald,
the Squadron flew this special formation in his honor.