Royal Air Force, 2720 Squadron, Service no. 1086655
Born: 18th November 1920.
Story
Reg’s parents were Harold Land (1901-1994) and Elizabeth Adams (1901-1971) who married in Kippax on 12th June 1920. In his youth, Reg was a keen football player, and was part of the Kippax junior side which won the Wetherby and District league, the Armitage cup, and the Dodsworth cup, all in 1934. Reg is in the middle of the back row, stood next to the coach, Mr Norton:
Reg, pictured left, was 20 years-old, when he was asked to report to 3 RC (Recruiting Centre) at Padgate, Warrington, Cheshire on 17th January 1941 as a reserve in the RAF, starting as a Second Class Aircraftsman, on general duties. After basic training, he was posted to the RAF base at Linton-On-Ouse in North Yorkshire, until 15th April 1941, when he joined 2720 D Squadron, which was RAF Merston and Friston in East Sussex. Whilst serving with the 2720 squadron, Reg trained as a gunner to defend the air bases, and was promoted to Aircraftsman First Class on 30th December 1941. On 10th March 1942, Reg was posted to Compton Bassett in Wiltshire, and was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman on 1st August 1942. He took two training courses in 1943, getting B class in Signaling and in Mechanical (Motor) Transport, and he stayed in Wiltshire until moving back North on 11th August 1943, when he arrived at RAF Weeton in Blackpool. Between August 1940 and August 1942, a total of 41,863 personnel had successfully passed out from RAF Weeton, including Mechanics, Blacksmiths, Motor-cyclists, Drivers, Crane Operators and Cooks. On 24th March 1944, Reg attended a two week Motor Cycling Course, and was awarded another B Class. Reg is pictured below on the middle row, third on the right:
On 29th January 1945, Reg was posted to Squadron 2872, which had converted to an Anti-Aircraft role within 2nd Tactical Air Force in April 1944 and moved to the continent in August 1944. Initially deployed to Villon, the Squadron had later moved to Lille, Grimbergen and was based at Woerndrecht during Operation ‘Bodenplatte’, which was the Luftwaffe attack on Allied airfields on 1 January 1945, so Reg was sent there as a Gunner in case of further attacks. His new Squadron then moved to Twente and Ahlhorn in the Netherlands, where it disbanded in December 1945, so he subsequently joined No. 1300 (Meteorological) Flight Wing, until he was discharged.
Whilst on leave in Kippax on 7th July 1945, Reg married Alice Cockerham. He was 24 years-old, living at 6 Sandgate Terrace, Kippax and gave his profession as a Leading Aircraftman in the RAF. Pictured below on the left are Reg’s parents Harold and Elizabeth. Reg’s grandfather, Arthur Land (1875-1949) who was a farmer at Ash Tree Farm, Kippax High Street is third left on the back row:
After the War, Reg and Alice moved to 9 Lime Tree Crescent, where Reg was sent his War Medals, which came in the box below.
Reg received three Medals. Firstly the 1939-45 War Medal, which was awarded to all full time personnel of the armed forces wherever they had served, provided their length of service was at least 28 days between September 1939 and 2nd September 1945 (middle medal below). He won the 1939-1945 Defence Medal, which was awarded for non-operational service, so included those service personnel working in headquarters, on training bases, airfields and members of the Home Guard. 1,080 days service was required to qualify for this medal (pictured right). Reg was also awarded the France & Germany Star (below left) which was awarded for one or more days’ service in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands or Germany between 1944 and 1945.
After the War, Reg followed his father’s profession and joined Smith & Robinsons of Rothwell, as a Tanker driver. He drove orange Volvo N10s (pictured below).
Reg, pictured below left in uniform, with his brother Fred, who also served in the War effort, had a son Stuart in 1947, and a daughter Hilary in 1952, who both still live in Kippax. Reg and Alice themselves remained in Kippax, but went abroad on regular holidays in the 1960s to countries Reg visited during the War, including France, Netherlands and Germany. They moved to 26 Birch Drive, then 17 Birch Drive, and on to 40 Park Avenue, Kippax, where Alice ran a shop. Reg and Alice are pictured below right with all five of their grandchildren, in the side garden of 40 Park Avenue:
In 1986, Reg and Alice retired, and moved to 202 Leeds Road, Kippax. Alice passed away the following year, and Reg died at St. James’ Hospital, Leeds on 1st July 1995 at the age of 75.
Kippax Roll of Honour 