Etched Windows - St. Andrew - Andreas, Isle of Man
Posted by: 
Mike_bjm
N 54° 21.847 W 004° 26.471
30U E 406360 N 6024991
Two internal etched-windows at the back of St. Andrew Church in Andreas.
Waymark Code: WMX2NC
Location: Isle of Man
Date Posted: 11/18/2017
Views: 1
Two internal etched-windows at the back of St. Andrew Church in Andreas were installed by ex-members of No. 11 Air Gunnery School Andreas. To mark those who were posted to the School between 1943 and 1946.
At the Gunnery School gunners underwent an intensive 10-week course before being passed on to operational training units in RAF Bomber Command.
In September 1946 the Gunnery School transferred to RAF Jurby but just over a year later in October 1947 the School was finally disbanded.
One of the Windows has a circular engraving with crossed guns at its centre and the words 'No. 11 Air Gunnery School' above and R.A.F Andreas below to the left and the right are the years '1943' & '1946'.
The other Window feature the heraldic badge of the RAF:
"In front of a circle inscribed with the motto 'Per Ardua Ad Astra' and ensigned by the Imperial Crown an eagle volant and affrontly head lowered and to the sinister.'
Below the windows is brass plaque inscribed as follows:
'THESE WINDOWS WERE INSTALLED
BY EX-MEMBERS OF
NO.11 AIR GUNNERY SCHOOL ANDREAS
1943-1946
AND WERE DECICATED
AT THEIR REUNION SERVICE
ON SUNDAY 8TH AUGUST 1993
----------------------------
WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM
The windows are dedicated to the air gunners trained at the Gunnery School who were lost on bombing misssions.
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source: A Gazetteer of the Isle of Man by Leslie Quiliam RBV (ISBN: 0-9514539-1-2)