FAAOA News Sheet - September 2020

351 919855 073 Richard MOODY 609 819 1359 [email protected] Jason BLACKWELL 646 637 8163 [email protected] Al HICKLING 703 650 5507 [email protected] 33 PERSONAL COLUMN Richard BURN is looking to make contact with Don operations, 846 NAS, the Joint Helicopter Force and the ROSS, his former SEA VIXEN observer in 890 Squadron Commando Helicopter Force. in 1960/61. Anyone with information please contact An Alumni of the Advanced Command and Staff Richard on [email protected] Course, Royal College of Defence Studies and Higher Niall GRIFFIN has taken the helm at RNAS Yeovilton Command and Staff Course, appointments at staff have having started his career on the Air Station 31 years been primarily in the Joint operational arena. He served ago! He was born in Lincoln in 1970, schooled in in the Joint Helicopter Force as an Operations Officer, Nottingham, and commissioned into the Royal Navy in as the pilot and ATC Appointer in Portsmouth, in MoD 1988. Following Britannia Royal Naval College and a Joint Capability and as Assistant Director Commitments brief spell at sea he joined Yeovilton for the first time in in the Joint Helicopter Command. Most recently, as 1989. He completed flying training in 1991. Assistant Head Defence Commitments in the MoD, he was responsible for providing advice to the Chief of A Commando helicopter pilot with over 3;000 flying Defence Staff and Ministers on the availability and hours, he has flown the majority on operations, and on deployment of all Defence capabilities on global embarkations in amphibious ships. In addition to commitments. He was appointed a Member of the Most specialising as a helicopter instructor, wider experience Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2007 includes deployments to the Arctic, desert and jungle. for services to capability development in 846 NAS He has commanded detachments at sea and on based RNAS Yeovilton and operations in Iraq. He lives in Somerset with his family. He is learning Spanish, enjoys playing golf (badly he says), avidly supports LEICESTER TIGERS, and frequently tests the inverse relationship between age and fitness! Mark SPARROW recently took command of 617 Squadronn at RAF Marham. Mark joined the Royal Navy in 1997 as a direct entry pilot. On completion of flying training he served with 801 NAS on the SEA HARRIER FA2 before taking the opportunity to be among the first RN pilots to convert to the HARRIER GR7 at RAF Cottesmore in 2003. His time on the GR7 saw him serve with IV(AC) Squadron, Naval Strike Wing (NSW) and 20 (R) Squadron (OCU) and he completed 5 operational tours of Afghanistan, various exercises from HMSs Illustrious and Invincible in the North Sea, Baltic and Arabian Sea. Having been selected as a Qualified Weapons Instructor (QWI) he served operationally with NSW and then moved to the OCU teaching both new pilots and the QWI course. In 2010 he was fortunate enough to complete a tour with the US Navy flying F/A-18 SUPER HORNETs in Operational Test with VX-9 on the west coast of the USA. On return to the UK he spent a year sharing his time between DSTL and Navy Command, working on development of UK F-35 tactics, before completing ACSC in the summer of 2015. Having spent 2 years as the F-35 desk officer within Air Command responsible for all aspects of platform capability and delivery, he was selected as the Fixed Wing Force Commander based at RNAS Culdrose. 44 James TAYLOR took command of 824 NAS in July. lieutenant playing a Top Gun video. It took her to He said, show me what I already had in Cornwall. Later I joined a boxing gym and my sparring partner was an ‘It is a real honour to take command of this fantastic observer in the navy, and it was then I knew what I Naval Air Squadron. The work that we do here in wanted to do.’ training the next generation of air and ground crews Duncan THOMAS has sent a photograph of himself is critical for defence – to protect the UK’s nuclear handing over 825 NAS to LIEUTENANT COMMANDER deterrent and aircraft carriers.’ Jim FRASER on 29 April 2020. Jim will be the Officer in Charge until the new Commanding Officer of 825 NAS joins on the 14th July (COMMANDER Scott ‘Stimpy’ SIMPSON.) From his office, James can look down on the airfield I leave command of 825 NAS after over 2 years to join where the squadron’s six MERLIN Mk2 helicopters the Fin Mil Cap team in the Ministry of Defence. prepare for daily training sorties. Around him, in the large office building, hangar and nearby MERLIN WINTER AT TANTORA Training Facility, are 350 men and women. BY There are around 30 trainee aircrew – either pilots, observers or aircrewmen ‒ and about 100 trainee John BEATTIE engineers. Running the squadron are an extra 150 The stranger on the phone said, engineering staff, 50 staff aircrew and 20 civil servants. He added, ‘Would you be interested in helping with some T6 flying in Saudi Arabia?’ ‘For some of the aircrew students, this is the It was to be over the winter months, I didn’t have much culmination of three years of flying training. The on and had never been there, so agreed that I could. The pilots, for example, spend a year at BRNC whole thing seemed a bit sketchy and not a huge amount Dartmouth, a year of elementary flying training and of information was coming my way, so it was a very then they come to us for their final year at the school pleasant surprise when I heard that the four aircraft of MERLIN. involved had been flown from the UK to Saudi, via Slovenia to have ferry tanks fitted and a very expensive As well as training with live helicopters, we’ve got stop in Egypt. The Egyptians also insisted that they seven simulators in the MERLIN Training Facility didn’t have ‘VFR’ in their airspace and the formation and we are pioneering the use of virtual reality. We would have to transit at 9,000 ft, the lowest IFR level pride ourselves as an academic environment for available. OK for the BEECH 18, STINSON RELIANT and learning, right up to an honours’ level degree. HARVARD, but the poor old STEARMAN struggled a bit in those temperatures. However, they made it and word The first half of their training here is learning how to filtered back that it was all going well. fly the aircraft. The second half is learning how to I tried doing some research on-line, but struggled to find use that aircraft to fight. Then they go to the front out much, even where the airfield was. This became line and after that, they come back again for more clear when I eventually discovered it was a new airport. training with us. Their learning never stops.’ The ‘work’ was for the Royal Commission for AL ULA (RCU) who were established to start a tourist industry in James, a former pupil of Truro’s Penair School and that region, hence the build of the airport. The Saudi’s student of Truro College, said that despite growing up had not had tourism in modern times, in fact quite the in Cornwall which has strong links to the navy, he did opposite, so it was a blank sheet of paper they were not initially think of a military career. working from. The first Tantora festival happened in the winter of 2018/19 and included mostly cultural ‘I remember seeing Royal Navy helicopters flying events, though did support a massed balloon launch. off the beach when I was surfing, but it wasn’t until I went away, to university at Cardiff, that I realised what Cornwall has to offer.’ He added that it took a hateful university careers’ fair to demonstrate to him all the jobs he did not wish to do – many of which involved talking jargon and sitting in front of a computer all day looking at spread sheets. ‘I hated that careers’ fair. I didn’t know what I wanted to do so I started to leave when I saw a navy 55 The region sits on a huge aquafer and grew to down to perhaps 200ft so the punter could take pictures prominence some 3,000 years ago as a watering hole in a and now and again we’d transit low down one of the very dry region, serving transiting merchants taking their lovely deep valleys. Speaking of pictures, I rarely saw a produce to distant markets. It was also featured on the camera, everyone used their phones, except one girl who OTTOMAN Empire railway running from Istanbul to couldn’t because she dropped it over the side whilst Jeddah, taking the faithful to the Hajj in nearby Mecca, opening the rear hood! She swore very professionally in which each member of the muslin faith should attend at English. I also flew the STINSON V77, a delightful 1942 least once in their life. Lawrence of Arabia put paid to and ex Royal Navy aircraft. Being dual controlled and that in 1917 when the railway was being used for more sat side by side I invariably asked the front seat pax if warlike activity until his intervention with dynamite. they’d like a go. One young girl said she wasn’t fussed, Because of the abundant water supply the valleys running but gave it a go for a minute then handed it back. I said, through beautiful rock formations support a citrus fruit and date growing industry. There didn’t seem to be too ‘Do you drive a car?’ much else in the way of industry to maintain the 5,500 To which she replied she knew how but has her own inhabitants of AL ULA, though I think that number has driver, so why would she want to? We all chipped in swelled since the tourist trail began. helping run the show, cleaning and replenishing the With that background, the cultural side includes a aircraft, carrying out oil changes, refilling the bowser number of exquisitely carved tomb entrances used by from drums (no Avgas in Saudi and ours was shipped in the Kings and Chiefs of the past, many dating back over from Romania!) and so on. Our one English engineer 2,500 years. The ‘old town’ was constructed around 700 was kept very busy indeed carrying out scheduled years ago from mostly mud brick and people were living maintenance and running repairs, he definitely didn‘t there as late as 1983. It is overseen by a fort on top of a have a 9 to 5 job. His supply chain was best achieved steeply rising hill. The houses are very close together, by getting a pilot in transit to bring needs out with him connected by narrow alleyways. However, the modern from the UK. infrastructure doesn’t include HILTONs or The postal/freight services were appallingly bad and INTERCONTINENTALs so a variety of up-market tented AOG items ended up being held for weeks in some and cabin accommodation has been constructed, customs domain. We worked roughly two weeks on and including restaurants, swimming pools and butler two off back in the UK so there was often a pilot service. Sadly, it still does most definitely not include travelling to and fro. All in all it was a very good any alcohol, but there is talk of this changing next year. experience, flying 30 hours in each of my 2 week They also built a magnificent Concert Hall and periods split about half and half between STINSON and conference facility, with outside walls of a mirror finish, HARVARD. The days were long, sometimes leaving the such that viewing it from the desert a mile away you just accommodation at 0630 and usually not getting back see more desert. One of the local valleys is given over until 1900 or so, but that said the social life wasn’t quite to Al Fresco modern art and many works are able to be like at home and mostly we would watch a movie and viewed from internationally renowned artists. Yet early to bed! We did get out in days off and roamed another valley boasts a zip wire and viewing area on top around the desert, got entertained in an Arab tent etc. of a mountain allowing views of Al Ulatown, ‘old town’ The people were very friendly indeed and of course the and the lush green of the valley. So how did we fit in? Saudi’s are generally well off, leaving the manual labour Our task was to do as the RCU bid us, which involved to immigrant workers. flying ‘punters’ around a set route lasting about 45 We had 4 young Saudi guys and a Saudi girl to help minutes, occasionally shortened or lengthened for with hosting, briefing, strapping in and so on. Very various reasons. useful with the odd punter who spoke no English or Now and again we would set off together and fly for a liaising with airport authorities and security. Air traffic while in close formation, or in the HARVARD and was a bit different, no radar and not really controlled STEARMAN carry out some aerobatics. Whilst the route though we did have a qualified man in the tower. was a little repetitive it didn’t bore me one little bit. The Having got clearance to taxi/take off we switched to a passengers appreciated their rides, not being used to any common frequency and told everyone what we were GA in Saudi, indeed I flew some folk who had never doing and then updated at turn points. It worked well, been in an aeroplane before. Many of the punters were though there were quite a lot of calls from airliners Saudi’s, usually from Riyadh but also a handful of leaving FL240 etc. which didn’t mean much to us. European or American tourists. We also flew a few staff On one occasion I was cleared by tower to land on 12 from the RCU and supporting organizations, who and at about 150 ft realised there was an exec jet on very seemed to have quite a few ‘consultants’ from various short final for 30! The jet had called final at about 20 parts of the world, especially England. It’s worth miles and saw no reason to assume he needed further pointing out that we didn’t sell tickets, the RCU covered clearance. No MOR or after action! The wind could be all costs and we assumed the flying was a ‘loss leader’. fickle, changing from right crosswind to left crosswind Our route involved flying past the Elephant rock, Lonely in a few minutes, but requests for the tower to pass the Castle tomb, Madein Salah tomb, a reconstructed 1917 actual wind often got ignored. After some time it railway station complete with engine of the period, became apparent they didn’t have an anemometer! We Mariah concert hall, the old town and of course take in tended to select our own runway as there was little other the beautiful scenery in general. The tomb entrances movements, just one commercial flight on most days were fabulous and hand carved over 2,000 years ago. and a sprinkling of exec jet or helicopter traffic. Overall Transit heights tended to be about 1,500ft, level with it was a very pleasant way to spend a month in the most of the hilltops but there was no minimum other winter and I will return next year if invited. than ‘don’t be stupid’! At the various sites we would be 66 FEEDBACK COMMANDER Nigel ANDERDON RN now a volunteer Explainer and Guide at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, but all is very quiet at the moment, with Nigel CARTER writes that he served in HMS all naval museums firmly closed for the COVID duration. Victorious from August 1964 until February 1965. Fred wonders if he was the last to carry out a deck During that time, Nigel ANDERDON was serving as a landing on board Eagle on 13 October 1978 prior to her Lieutenant Commander and as FDO ‒ a foil for the late tow from Devonport to Stranraer for breaking up. At Tom LEECE, who was Little F! A burly, bearded figure that time I was Senior Observer in 819 NAS, based at he looked a bit forbidding to a ‘wet behind the ears’ Prestwick, and preparing to join the RAF Staff Course in snottie, but proved to be a patient and genial instructor. the New Year. Some of us who had served in Eagle were invited to carry out a PHOTEX of the ship after her ************************ arrival at Cairnryan later that month. Having completed the task on a somewhat grey and overcast day, it seemed DID I CARRY OUT THE LAST EVER DECK churlish not to conduct a final landing on the deserted LANDING ON HMS EAGLE R05? deck, and so our SEA KING was landed for the final time on eight spot on 23 October 1978. It was a poignant John MADGWICK writes that he was fascinated by moment – but probably qualifies as the last time a Fred HATTON’s comprehensive piece about HMS military aircraft landed on Eagle’s flight deck. Eagle on pages 18 and 19 of the May 2020 Fly Navy However, I recall that one or two small civilian News Sheet. Eagle was a splendid ship, and it was most helicopters working with the media managed to land on unfortunate that, although in much better condition, the in later months to cover the demise of this great ship. politicians decided that she should be decommissioned As a matter of interest, during Eagle’s final deployment early, rather than the PHANTOM equipped Ark Royal. I to the Far East, 826 NAS was involved in the rescue of had the privilege of serving in her twice, once as a the crew of the SS Steel Vendor, which, following a Midshipman following the major refit in the 1960s, and series of unavoidable misfortunes became grounded on a again in 826 NAS during her final commission. I’m 77 coral reef near the Spratly Islands in the South China wartime footing and training and factory production Sea. With a general cargo, which included a great deal continued as no one could be sure that hostilities would of cement, she was supporting the United States’ war not open up elsewhere. After 6 weeks at Warrington we effort in Vietnam. A typhoon was raging through the were transferred to RNEC Manadon at Plymouth. area, and trapped over a reef of sharp coral, the crew had no method of getting off the ship. It was fortuitous that Eagle was within one hundred miles of the Steel Vendor. All exercises and flying operations had been cancelled with most aircraft secured in the two hangars; but notwithstanding the conditions, two SEA KINGs were launched initially, with a further two following once the scale of the rescue became clear. In the event, all forty American crew members were saved. An 800 NAS BUCCANEER photo-recce the following day indicated that the ship had broken her back and was sinking. This was arguably the first such long range rescue operation carried out by the Royal Navy, and was only possible due to the capability of the new SEA KING aircraft. The Squadron was awarded the BOYD Trophy for ‘the finest feat of naval aviation in 1971’. Sadly, this encouraging story attracted little interest back in the UK. Photograph showing survivor being recovered into one of the 826 NAS SEA KINGs, with the coral reef clearly indicated by the white water. The anchor had been lowered in a vain attempt to stop There we were given a 9 month air engineering course the ship striking the reef, but once wedged on the coral, designed to prepare us to keep the naval aircraft flying there was no escape. from carriers or shore based stations. As distinct from university we were subject to strict discipline and had to ************************ attend lectures throughout the day and from which there was no escape. In addition we played a great deal of SUB LIEUTENANT (A)(AE) Harold Vivian rugby and I travelled all over the West Country and JONES RNVR played with and against some very good teams. We had some notable parties in the mess and enjoyed the The notice of his death appeared in the January 2020 Officers Club in Plymouth. The whole centre of the News Sheet on page 42. The following account written town had been wiped out and it was just one great big by Harold has been forwarded by his wife Shelia: pile of rubble about half a mile across. The rest of the year went by quickly and successfully I enjoyed my time in Plymouth and learned a lot of and before I knew it I was on a train travelling first class things I should have learned in college, in addition to to HMS Goldcrest near Warrington for preliminary which we had good facilities for practical training and training. I was being paid 10 pounds a month and sports. After Plymouth we were sent to Loughborough thought it was great. When TRIMM and I arrived at college for more practical engineering work lathes and camp we were surprised to find everybody very happy welding etc. this was only for 6 weeks and then we were and free tots of rum being handed out. The reason was posted to St. Merryn in Cornwall for a course in that the Japanese had capitulated and my whole reason administration that also lasted about 6 weeks and then for joining up had disappeared before we even started. we were ready to take up our posts as Air Engineer However despite this unpromising beginning our training Officers. On completion of our training we were went ahead full steam because the country was on a full promoted to the rank of Sub Lieutenant (A)(AE) RNVR Temporary Acting. The MARQUESS OF MILFORD HAVEN was first Lieutenant at St. Merryn and PRINCE Philip later the DUKE OF EDINBURGH came down with fast cars and good looking girls. It might be more correct to say good looking cars and fast girls but I can’t be sure. 88 At this point I lost touch completely with my RED DEVILS ‒ 1957 companions and only recently did I make contact again with David TRIMM who now lives in the Cowbridge George WALLACE writes following receipt of the area of South Wales. My assignment was to the Royal latest May 2020 Fly Navy News Sheet. For background, Naval Air Station at Dale near Milford Haven, this my wife Anna (nee CASPERD) is the daughter of Jo would have been in the autumn of 1946. In my job I CASPERD (widow of Colin CASPERD). Jo pointed out didn’t have direct responsibility for the aircraft but was to my wife that the legend under the Red Devil’s - 1957 made Divisional Officer for the technical division photograph on Page 44 is not correct. The line up is ,which meant I had to look after some 1,500 men. It actually the reverse. When viewing the picture from left was an interesting job and taught me how to deal with to right the order is: all sorts of people and situations. As the government decided there were no more wars likely in the immediate BRIAN TOOMEY, COLIN CASPERD, SPIV LEAHY, TOMMY LEECE, future the demobilisation programme was accelerated BRIAN WILSON. and I left the FAA in May 1947. As Jo is very sure, having been there at the time, I ************************ believe she is an authority! She also wishes me to point out that Colin’s surname is spelled incorrectly; should LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Thomas read CASPERD. LEECE RN ************************ Brian TOOMEY writes that Tommy (more lives than the luckiest of cats) and I flew together in the 17 Air LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Peter Richard Displays given by the Navy’s Red Devils in 1957. I was SHEPPARD AFC RN the most junior member of the Team. Prior to that, Tommy who had been awarded his USN Wings in Roger CAESLEY writes that he was Heron Flight’s 1946, (mine were in 1952) and I had been students AEO and responsible for SEA FURY TF956’s rebuild. together on the FAA Air Warfare Instructors Course in During the rebuild one of the most frequent interruptions 1955. were the visits from Pete SHEPPARD to enquire when In 1957, we were both Instructors in the Operational his SEA FURY would be ready. By Christmas leave Flying School at Lossiemouth, when the CO Spiv Leahy 1971 we had completed the engine runs but the problem and the Senior Pilot, Tommy LEECE decided to form a was that the aircraft was not on naval charge and startling bright red SEA HAWK, Jet Fighter, Aerobatic therefore could not be flown. This was solved by Team, which was to be the main RN show stopper for HAWKER SIDDELEY agreeing to take it on charge and for that year’s SBAC Farnborough Display Week. The their test pilot to fly the aircraft to prove its RAF did not form the Red Arrows until 1964, and they serviceability. of course, are a brilliant professional Team, whose On 23 January 1972 the checks by the Inspectors from members stay for three years. We had to carry on our Dunsfold were completed; Duncan SIMPSON the Chief intensive Operational Flying Training for students, and Test Pilot arrived and the weather was set fare. For the then rehearse aerobatics in the evenings and at first flight Pete flew chase in one of Heron Flights weekends. Some Teams had smoke canisters but by HUNTER T8s and took me as his passenger. The checks injecting oil into the hot jet efflux, we were able to on the SEA FURY were carried out south of Portland. switch smoke on and off ‒ a world first! Spiv Leahy These must have gone well as on the way back to died at end of 2019, and I am now the sole surviving Yeovilton the two pilots engaged in some 1V1. This member of the Team. We kept in touch with each other proved that the SEA FURY could out turn the HUNTER. over the years, and continued to share the pride of being Following the flight there was an official handover and in a world-beating, part-time Team which was Pete then got his desire to fly a SEA FURY again. disbanded immediately after the SBAC Show. Tommy was a convivial messmate. I well recall him, with Deirdre’s help, in 1957 inviting us all to a Barbecue of a piglet, in the road outside his Married Quarter. Barbecues were few and far between in those days, but on Saturday morning Tommy did a deal with a local Pig Farmer, selected a live piglet, and somehow, single-handed0 produced a piglet on a spit that evening. It was not ready for eating until midnight, and typically we all rolled home in our cars, believing that the Police would turn a blind eye to a bunch of happy Aviators! All who knew Tommy, will miss this Ace Pilot who lived dangerously; he had lots of serious Flying incidents which he overcame by great airmanship and good fortune. He survived until age 93. *********************** 99 ADMIRAL FELL, FONAC RECEIVES TF956’S A700 FROM MR JOHN THANK YOU GLASSCOCK MD, HSA, KINGSTON, PRIOR TO PETE SHEPPARD’S FIRST David GORE writes that about 10 April 1962 and 845 FLIGHT IN TF956 NAS in Borneo. 845 (especially its commander Alan HENSHER) had a close relationship in the UK with us That year TF956 went to the Farnborough Air Show, when they carried out tests on lifting my Battery’s where Pete gave one of his impressive displays. newly purchased 105mm Italian Howitzers. One gun was dropped onto Salisbury Plain from a great height ************************ and expense by the commander himself in the process. Fast forward to the Brunei Revolt 1962-63: Serious floods stopped operations for population rescue. Returning from a distant patrol at night and camped in village huts on stilts by the Temburong River, I was with some ten Commando Gunners overcome by an overnight flash flood rise of about 22 feet. The huts were shaking from passing debris when in the dawn light came the commander of 845 Squadron to rescue us! They were with us in the subsequent 3 Cdo Bde operations when we (a Battery of 29 Cdo Regiment RA) deployed in Sarawak for Indonesian Confrontation 1963-64. Your pilots were all brilliant to a man and we invited them all to a party in our jungle lair during ops! I just want to get my thanks off my chest, now in my 90th year. ************************ 1100 REPORTS 1833 SQUADRON LUNCH 65 years later, apart from Bertie VIGRASS (who will be 100 in January 2021) we think that Peter RAINBIRD Bob NEIL writes that this picture was taken on 27 June (who flew with 1834) are the last of the 1952 intake still by John MARRIOTT at a most splendid lunch organized around! by John and Helen at their house in Bedfordshire. ************************ 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF VJ DAY The anniversary of victory over Imperial Japan and the end of the Second World War has special significance for one Royal Navy helicopter pilot. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Mark BARBER’s grandad Peter BARBER was just 18 years old when he served as a British infantry officer in the Indian Army in what was then Burma. Left to Right He said his grandfather, who passed away in July 2008, BOB NEILL, JILL NEILL, PETER RAINBIRD, rarely spoke of what he witnessed – such as the atrocities uncovered as they advanced on the retreating JOHN MARRIOTT (reflection), DAVID EDWARDS, HELEN MARRIOTT. Japanese army at the end of the war. Mark, a pilot with 824 NAS, the MERLIN Mk2 helicopter training unit at BACKGROUND RNAS Culdrose, said, The Midland Air Division (MAD) RNVR was born in 1953 when 1833 NAS, which had flown from HMS ‘My grandad Peter was the middle of three brothers Gamecock nr Nuneaton since 1947, was joined by 1844 who all served in the war. His eldest brother Jack flying FIREFLY AS aircraft. was a warrant officer pilot in the RAF. He was lost with his aircraft over the Bay of Biscay on an anti- In 1954 1833 NAS, which had flown SEAFIRE 17s, submarine patrol in 1944. SEAFIRE 47s (the only RNVR unit to fly the ultimate ‘SPITFIRE’), began operating the much loved SEA FURY FB11. In 1955 we converted to the rather less appreciated ATTACKER FB2 which we flew from RAF Honiley, the base of 605 Squadron (County of Warwick Royal Auxiliary Air Force) who flew VAMPIRE 5s. For a number of years, following the political slaughter of the RNVR and RAAF in March 1957, the MAD enjoyed the hospitality of the Army who were based at GAMECOCK barracks (ex HMS Gamecock) for their annual dinner. However, when the MAD was disbanded in 1957 we made a commitment to continue an annual dinner. This is now an annual lunch. 1111 Leo, the youngest, was an RAF aircraft maintainer It is unlikely you will have heard of the Onagawa Wan, who later became a fast jet pilot and then a search a large bay on the east coast of Japan’s main island and rescue helicopter commander. Honshu, some 250 miles north of Tokyo. Beyond a The family were descended from a line of railway small town/port there’s little of significance here, except workers from the Midlands, including his father and a nuclear power station. But it was in such bays that the grandfather. At the start of the war, becoming an Japanese Navy was preparing to make its last stand, officer in the army depended a lot on your sacrificing what surface ships it still had left to defend background but that had changed by the end of the the mother islands at all costs. For despite the atomic war. My grandad was very academic and the bomb dropped on Hiroshima three days earlier, there has changes in society meant that this allowed him to been no word from Tokyo that it was willing to become commissioned as an officer, despite his capitulate. The war would go on. US President Harry working-class background. TRUMAN warned the Japanese if they refused to He said Peter was 18 years old in 1945 and became surrender they should prepare for, commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Sherwood Foresters. He was promptly sent to Burma, modern-day ‘A rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has Myanmar, to take command of a platoon of some 35 never been seen on this earth. Behind this air attack Indian soldiers as part of the 19th Hyderabad Regiment. will follow sea and land forces in such numbers and Mark added, power as they have not yet seen and with the ‘At his funeral, I found out that he and my fighting skill of which they are already well aware.’ grandmother had donated to a Christian charity in support of poverty in India for their entire adult Among them, the British Pacific Fleet – the largest and, lives. Clearly working with the Indian Army in arguably most effective, fighting force the Royal Navy 1945 had a great effect on him. He certainly spoke has ever mustered: four battle ships, over 20 fleet light highly of his regard for the Indian soldiers he and escort carriers, 11 cruisers, 35 destroyers, 31 worked alongside. submarines, more than a dozen frigates and scores of He was a stern man at times and he didn’t talk about minesweepers, sloops, auxiliaries and escorts. After the the war. From what little he did speak about it, I terrible defeats of 1941 and 1942, when the RN’s know he was involved in an amphibious assault presence east of Suez was all but eliminated, the against the Japanese. It’s hard to think he was there crushing of the German and Italian Navies had allowed as an 18-year-old. the Admiralty to increasingly refocus its efforts in the This was before the surrender, but the landing was final year of World War 2, concentrating on Japan. It unopposed. The Japanese lined up at the back of the was outnumbered by the US Navy’s formidable Pacific beach and laid down their weapons. They then Fleet to which it was assigned. turned around to show their backs, by which they meant to say they surrendered but did not respect But this was no token effort. In July and August 1945 their opponents. I don’t suppose my granddad and alone, British carriers accounted for one quarter of the his men were that bothered by the gesture. enemy shipping sunk or damaged by air power – Most of his time was not spent fighting but actively 356,000tons of Japanese shipping. British submarines following the retreat through Burma and uncovering accounted for 34 Japanese vessels – two out of five of the atrocities in the villages left behind by the them enemy warships including the cruiser Ashigara, Japanese scorched-earth policy. As a young child I dispatched by HMS Trenchant in the Banka Strait off could never really understand why he wouldn’t talk Sumatra. Trenchant’s skipper COMMANDER Arthur about it. But I suppose that’s the realities of facing a HAZLET recalled, war as a young man, having lost a brother, versus the Hollywood myths that were perpetuated in the ‘We learnt later that we had drowned 800 of the decades that followed. enemy, but this horror did not cause us to lose any I remember, when I was training for an operational sleep at all. We thought of the Exeter, whose deployment to an area of conflict, I’d visit him in his destruction had been wrought mainly by the care home. He talked about it all just a little more Ashigara. We also remembered Prince of Wales and then. He told me to never volunteer for anything! Repulse, the Dorsetshire, Cornwall and Hermes – all He passed away shortly before I deployed. After I victims of the Imperial Japanese Navy.’ came back, I had a better understanding about why he didn’t talk about his experiences of war. I’m glad At 13,000 tons, Ashigara was the largest Japanese I never pressed him for more and we spent our time warship to fall victim to the Silent Service. While the speaking about happier things. Silent Service gnawed at what was left of the once mighty Imperial Japanese Navy and merchant marine, ROYAL NAVY’S LAST VC WINNER the Fleet Air Arm inflicted death by a thousand cuts on Japan’s ability to wage war. Having begun the war with biplanes, naval aviators entered the showdown with Japan with the best carrier based aircraft British and American fighters such as the SEAFIRE (the navalized SPITFIRE) and HELLCAT, the pre-eminent interceptor in the second half of the Pacific War, the GRUMMAN AVENGER torpedo bomber, the FAIREY BARRACUDA dive/torpedo bomber, and the superb VOUGHT CORSAIR, the epitome of a strike fighter. 1122 Three dozen CORSAIRs provided the core striking power possibility that war with Japan might end, the Soviet of HMS Formidable, flagship of the 1st Aircraft Carrier Union had that morning attacked Japanese forces in Squadron. Formidable had survived KAMIKAZE strikes Manchuria to compound the empire’s misery – but when off Okinawa in May, but had been enforced to head to he sighted five enemy ships in harbour, GRAY pressed Sydney for repairs, before re-entering the fray. She did home the attack with vigour. Coming in as low as 50ft so with a vengeance. Her aircraft struck at airfields and leading the attack, GRAY drew the bulk of enemy around Tokyo, merchant shipping, seaplane bases and fire – so ferocious was it that it shot away one of his one destroyer. The latter was dispatched by 27 year old 500lb bombs. The second however he hurled into the Canadian LIEUTENANT Robert Hampton GRAY, coastal defence ship Amakusa, which exploded in the known as Hammy, a man with boyish good looks and engine room and detonated the magazine. But as captivating smile – but ruthless and fearless in the GRAY’s CORSAIR passed over his crippled foe, it was cockpit engulfed in flame and corkscrewed into the sea. From attacks against HITLER’s flagship Tirpitz in the Norwegian fjords to strikes against Japan, Robert Hampton GRAY had, ‘Consistently shown a brilliant fighting spirit and most inspiring leadership.’ His final act, sinking the Amakusa, earned him the Victoria Cross. It was the final VC of 182 awarded in World War 2 and to date, the last earned by the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Navy. For all his valour, it is doubtful Hampton GRAY’s actions had any impact on Tokyo. But around the same time as his comrades landed back on Formidable, the second nuclear bomb dropped in anger, FAT BOY, exploded over Nagasaki. ************************ FLEET AIR ARM MEMORIAL On Sunday 17 May, Arnold THOMPSON and Ben Worship (both FAAA) placed wreaths at the Fleet Air Arm Memorial, Lee on the Solent. This would have been the day of the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Service/Parade (formerly the TAGs Memorial Service/Parade), had it not been for COVID 19 and Lockdown. At 8.35 on the morning of 9 August, GRAY climbed into However, in true Fleet Air Arm spirit and style, Arnold the cockpit of his CORSAIR for another strike mission; and Ben continued the tradition (obviously staying the attack against an airbase at Matsushima had been strictly within Government social distancing cancelled – GRAY was to seek targets in Onagawa Wan guidelines!) on behalf of everyone. where enemy shipping had been sighted. He had been told not to take unnecessary risks – there was a ‘It is great to see that acts of Remembrance continue, despite these incredibly unusual and difficult times, and that the spirit of the Fleet Air Arm, past and present, is strong.’ 1133 A heart felt Thank you from the Federation to Arnold ‘I was absolutely delighted to welcome Honorary and Ben, and from the Chairman, COMMODORE Jock CAPTAIN GOLDING back to the Naval Regional HQ ALEXANDER. today and to introduce representatives from across the Naval family in the Bristol area. ************************ Peaches has visited us many times in her role as Lord Lieutenant of Bristol and it was wonderful to LORD LIEUTENANT OF BRISTOL see her for the first time in her Royal Navy uniform. She has been a tremendous supporter of the Royal Peaches GOLDING OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Bristol has Navy and Royal Marines for many years and we are been appointed by Her Majesty the Queen as an thrilled with her recent appointment. Honorary Captain Royal Naval Reserve. As Lord I know that she will be a passionate advocate for the Lieutenant (LL) of Bristol, Peaches has been a whole Naval family, including our Bristol affiliated consistent supporter of the armed forces in the City and ship HMS Prince of Wales, and will provide the the Royal Navy in particular. Her appointment as an wisest of counsel to my colleagues and her in her honorary officer is seen as an endorsement of her wide- new role. ranging effect with the region, from the corporate business community right through to the general public. ************************ Visiting HMS Flying Fox and hosted by Royal Marines BRIGADIER Jock FRASER, Naval Regional Commander FIRST SEA LORD VISITS Wales and Western England, the LL was briefed by LIGHTNING FORCE local Naval commanders, key personnel and affiliated supporters of the Royal Navy, enhancing her local and First Sea Lord ADMIRAL Tony RADAKIN’s visit to RAF broader service knowledge. Peaches said, Marham came after COMMANDER Mark SPARROW became the first Royal Navy officer to command the ‘As President for the affiliation between the City of historic 617 Squadron, the first of two F-35B squadrons. Bristol and HMS Prince of Wales, I am a keen ADMIRAL RADAKIN was joined by Chief of the Air supporter of all that the strong bond with the aircraft Staff, Mike WIGSTON, as he toured the Norfolk base carrier brings for both parties. and met the RN and RAF personnel who make up the I hope to translate my enthusiasm into a programme LIGHTNING Force. of events and activities that ensures she is at the The two Service Chiefs visited the Integrated Training heart of our City wherever in the world she may be Centre to see where pilots are trained to fly the and that all who serve on her feel welcomed in LIGHTNING using the Full Mission Simulators and Bristol, their second home. engineers are trained on the maintenance of the aircraft. I have a brilliant team drawn from all sectors of the City’s diverse communities to achieve this goal. Affiliation activities involve civic, ceremonial and religious events as well as a focus on developing links with social and community organizations, corporate and educational institutions and young people. I am thrilled, humbled and honoured to be appointed by Her Majesty the Queen to be Honorary Captain RNR, particularly as Bristol has such a strong maritime history. I look forward to supporting the units in the region and to strengthening their links with our communities.’ Royal Marines BRIGADIER Jock FRASER, Naval After this they moved to 207 Squadron to see where the Regional Commander Wales and Western England said, training continues with the pilots flying the jet for the first time. They were also briefed on how 207 have been supporting 617 Squadron in the build up to their deployment to the carrier. ADMIRAL RADAKIN said, ‘It was a pleasure and a privilege to be invited to join CAS for the day at RAF Marham. LIGHTNING is a truly game-changing fifth-generation aircraft that will transform our abilities in the air. But what is even more important is the way that the Royal Navy and RAF have been working together, alongside industry and our international partners, to deliver this. It is an enormous honour that the RAF have given command of 617 Squadron to a Royal Navy aviator, and really underpins the extent to 1144 which we are completely integrated on this joint HORNET squadron based out of NAS Lemoore, endeavour. This is one LIGHTNING force, delivering California. Flying a SUPER HORNET off the ship is on behalf of Defence and the UK.’ certainly different to a K-13 glider out of Lee but the COMMANDER SPARROW, who took over the fundamentals I learnt all those years ago (2007) Dambusters from WING COMMANDER John BUTCHER, certainly put me in a great position to get me where I said, am today. I have to say, a winch launch is probably ‘I am delighted to be commanding 617 Squadron the closest thing in aviation that can compare to a and extremely proud to be the first Royal Navy Cat shot from a US carrier, though still not quite the officer to be selected to the position in its illustrious same level. A night landing on the other hand is history. incomparable The next two years will see the potent combination I have completely skipped the F-35 due to a lack of of LIGHTNING and the QUEEN ELIZABETH class jets. During my TUCANO training they requested carriers become jointly operational. I look forward volunteers to go to the US to eventually fly SUPER to us playing a key part in the generation of both the HORNET ‒ of which I couldn’t say no to. I have now LIGHTNING Force and Carrier Strike Group’s been stateside for 4 years; I have even married an capabilities.’ American is this time, though this was a quiet ceremony prior to a surprise early deployment due to ************************ COVID. With approximately another two and a half years left with VFA 137, I will likely transition to GLIDING SUCCESS F35, hopefully in the first FAA squadron. Corona virus in the US sounds exactly the same as in the UK BY ‒ it’s getting out of control. I hate to say that the PHIL MOORE Nimitz is still on full Corona prevention measures whereby we wear masks everywhere. Also, this Recent email from LIEUTENANT Thomas WARNER means absolutely no port visits in the normal sense. Royal Navy, one of my protégés reporting he is We did stop in Guam recently where they fenced off currently 2 months into a very long deployment aboard the pier and trucked in thousands of beers (a nice the USS Nimitz. treat). I did hear of PNGC’s eviction from Lee ‒ very sad. ‘We are currently somewhere in the South China I am disappointed in the RN for not getting involved Sea which is extremely hot and humid. I recently, (3 more to prevent this. However I am glad the gliding months ago) joined VFA 137, a F/A-18E SUPER club lives on, (at Middle Wallop). I certainly would love to see the setup once I eventually get back to the UK. I am also pleased to hear that the scholarships continue. Again, they work! I could never have dreamt that my scholarship would have led to this path that I am on’ Tom, who lived in Gosport, was a very enthusiastic member of PNGC and a shining example of how well the FAAOA Gliding Scholarship scheme works at recruiting good quality youngsters to naval aviation. ************************ HELICOPTER LAUNCHES NEW MISSILE TO PROTECT CARRIERS Royal Navy helicopter crews have proved their ability to protect the UK’s aircraft carriers with a new missile system. Launching from a WILDCAT helicopter, the new MARTLET missile was tested on a range off the coast of Wales. In 0.3 seconds, the missile detached from the WILDCAT HMA Mk2 helicopter, accelerating to one and a half times the speed of sound. The trials mark an important milestone in the testing of the new system which will arm the WILDCAT helicopters that deploy as part of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s maiden operational deployment next year. 1155 COMMANDER Matt BOULIND, the WILDCAT Maritime significant deterrent to anyone wishing to interfere Force Commander, said, with UK interests.’ Nick WHITNEY, Managing Director of LEONARDO ‘This test firing shows the WILDCAT helicopter will HELICOPTERS, added, be ready to help defend our QUEEN ELIZABETH class ‘This major milestone demonstrates that the carriers and their strike groups for years to come. combination of the AW159 WILDCAT and MARTLET The Royal Navy and Army introduced WILDCAT missile will be a flexible and effective tool for the helicopters into service five years ago and the firing Royal Navy. Next year the WILDCAT fleet will of the MARTLET this week is a very significant embark on Carrier Strike Group missions with HMS milestone and represents a huge success for the joint Queen Elizabeth on its maiden operational industry and MoD team. deployment. As the only British company to design This firing underpins future Royal Navy offensive and manufacture helicopters on-shore, we’re capability and the defence of the surface fleet.’ extremely proud to be equipping the UK Armed Forces with world-beating sovereign capabilities.’ Managed by the LIGHTWEIGHT AND MEDIUM ATTACK The Royal Navy is transforming into a force centred SYSTEMS AND WILDCAT delivery teams at DE&S, and around carrier strike – supporting the ships as they manufactured by THALES, the laser-sensor missile can conduct carrier strike missions, enforce no-fly zones, be used against stationary and moving targets. deploy Royal Marine Commandos, deliver humanitarian CAPTAIN Mark LANGRILL, DE&S WILDCAT Delivery aid, and build international partnerships with our allies. Team Leader, said it was important these trials went ahead. ************************ ‘These firings mark a vital step forward in the ROYAL NAVY AVIATORS SAVE THE LIFE OF integration of the uniquely flexible MARTLET missile MISSING KAYAKERS into what is already an outstanding helicopter to provide the Royal Navy with a world-class The aviators from Yeovilton based 845 NAS were capability. returning to RFA Argus after a long day of sorties in their Commando MERLIN Mk4 helicopter when they I am grateful to all those, across industry and the responded to reports of a capsized kayak and missing Ministry of Defence, who have worked so hard to people off the south coast of Grand Cayman. achieve this milestone.’ The aircrew acted rapidly, making contact with the local port authority and the nearby Royal Cayman Islands The preparation for the firing was conducted in line with Police Service air base who directed the helicopter to the current government social distancing rules due to the location near SPOTTS Beach. coronavirus, adding an unexpected hurdle for the teams involved to overcome. MERLIN CREW MARTLET, also known as the Lightweight Multirole LEFT TO RIGHT Missile, has already been successfully launched off the PO AIRCREW LEE NIALL, LT STEVE DOUGHTY, LT CDR GAZ WARDLE, frigate HMS Sutherland so the latest firing was to test it in its primary role. SGT TOM GOY RM The firing was captured with high resolution cameras so the teams from both THALES and the WILDCAT lead Within minutes they had found the stricken kayakers LEONARDO HELICOPTERS can analyse the system in and their craft near a reef and called in rescue boats to minute detail. move in on the location. Philip MCBRIDE, General Manager of Integrated The MERLIN stayed on the scene until the boat teams had Airspace-protection Systems at THALES UK, said, picked up the three kayakers and safely returned them to shore. PETTY OFFICER AIRCREWMAN Lee NIALL, said, ‘MARTLET will ensure the WILDCAT has the best-in- class offensive capability to protect the carrier strike group. With each helicopter capable of carrying up to 20 missiles, the WILDCATs deployed will be a 1166 ‘We were the first on the scene and working together In a celebration tailored to adhere to social distancing with the local police we were ready to help if there direction, Commanding Officer 825 NAS, COMMANDER was danger. We were able to get there quickly and Scott ‘Stimpy’ SIMPSON, welcomed the instructors in help the local boat find the kayakers right away. attendance and the families of the graduates and before Search and rescue is something we can assist with, handing over to the Admiral he had the following words even though we were on other tasking. We can react of wisdom for the students and the audience, fast, so we are ready to help with rescues if needed.’ The Commando MERLIN helicopter is one of three ‘I would like to extend my thanks to all the family attached to the air group on board support and friends of Course 5, I know your loved ones ship/helicopter carrier Argus. They are part of a Royal have relied on your love and support, especially as Navy task group in the Caribbean to support island this journey has taken several years. You should be communities during the hurricane season and to carry very proud of their achievements that we recognize out counter-narcotics operations. Minister for the today. Armed Forces James HEAPPEY said, ‘Our Armed Forces play an important role not just in Today is the pinnacle of these young aviators’ the security of our Overseas Territories, but also in career. Having recently Commanded 815 NAS I supporting those communities at times of crisis. The know first-hand how important today is, not only to crew of RFA Argus have spent the last few months ensure we can support Frontline operations but also supporting countries in the Caribbean in their efforts so we can guarantee the bright future ahead of the to tackle coronavirus, and now they’re on station to Fleet Air Arm.’ provide relief in case of hurricanes. It’s no surprise that they were able to react so After awarding the newly qualified aviators their quickly and successfully to find and assist with the ‘Wings’, REAR ADMIRAL CONNELL said, rescue of the lost kayakers.’ LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Gaz WARDLE, the Air ‘What a great day this is. To finish on time is Group Commander, said, remarkable and in these extraordinary times a ‘This was an excellent opportunity to showcase the testament to 825 NAS. Getting your Wings in the flexibility of the Commando MERLIN, demonstrating Fleet Air Arm is a pivotal moment in your career. one of the many key roles in which it is capable of operating.’ You will almost immediately be operational, a frontline Naval Aviator. At just a moment’s notice ************************ required to switch from a training exercise to operations. Most if not all of you will be working WINGS PARADE with the Carrier Strike Task Group and Carrier Strike Navy at the end of this year. The four On 825 NAS, eight aircrew graduated with their Wings, destroyers deployed next year will each have a awarded to them by Guest of Honour, REAR ADMIRAL WILDCAT embarked. Martin CONNELL CBE, Director Force Generation and Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm. Wear those ‘Wings’ with pride. Well done!’ The eight will now proceed onto front-line operations and deployments with 815 NAS as part of the trained- AWARDS strength of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm at RNAS THE ADAM CAWTHORNE TROPHY Yeovilton, Somerset. Presented to the Ab-initio Observer who has LEFT TO RIGHT performed to the highest standard throughout the LEO BUSCOMBE, SAM SEATON, MAX VANEEGHEM FRENCH NAVY, WAYNE HENAGHEN, ANNA COVENEY, GEORGE LUNN, course. STEVEN EDWARDS, ROSS GALLAGHER LIEUTENANT Ross GALLAGHER RN THE MARTLET TROPHY Presented to the Ab-initio student who has performed to the highest standard during the embarked phase of the course. LIEUTENANT Max VANEEGHEM FN THE AGUSTA WESTLAND TROPHY Presented to the Ab-initio Pilot who has performed to the highest standard throughout the course. LIEUTENANT George LUNN RN AUSTRALIA SHIELD Awarded to the Front-Line Squadron achieving the highest degree of Operational Capability over the year 815 Naval Air Squadron TOBY BEALE PRIZE Presented annually to the best WILDCAT HMA O2 or P2 completing Certificate of Competence in the reporting year. LIEUTENANT Scott CAMPBELL RN 1177 FLIGHT DECK YARNS A LIFE OF FLIGHT In 1982, Andy completed Commando Operational flying training on 707 NAS at RNAS Yeovilton. The Andy VANES was born in Tipton in the West Midlands period during and after the Falklands conflict resulted in but grew up in Gloucester before he left in 1970 aged a number of short notice appointments to 772 ‘A’ Flight sixteen to join the Royal Navy. He initially trained as a on board HMS Illustrious, 771 Search and Rescue flight chef before transferring to the Aircrewman branch in at RNAS Culdrose and 845 NAS on Ascension Island. 1977. Eventually returning to Yeovilton for the SEA KING HC Mk4 conversion course and subsequently 846 NAS. After training at Lee on the Solent and basic flying This was followed by an appointment as the Senior training at RNAS Culdrose, Andy was streamed to the Aircrewman based at RNoAF Bardufoss in Norway and WASP HAS Mk 1 and completed his operational flying 707 NAS. training as a Missile Aimer at 703 NAS at RNAS Andy left the Royal Navy in 1993 and joined the RNR Portland. Appointments to HMSs Naiad and Ashanti Air Branch the following year. As a reservist, in 1998 followed before he qualified as a WESSEX HU Mk5 he joined Heron Flight (the Royal Navy’s SAR crewman on 772 NAS. Further appointments to communication flight) as one of the operations team and WASPs followed with the training team at 829 NAS and subsequently flew as a qualified right hand seat crew as the ships flight crewman on board HMS Euryalus. member in the JETSTREAM T3 aircraft until the demise of the unit in 2008. He joined AGUSTA WESTLANDS in 2010 on contract to teach foreign students based in Vergiate in Italy and returned in 2012 to 848 NAS. After a stint with 845 NAS in their Operations room he joined 825 NAS as their Chief Aircrewman. He has amassed a total of over 9,200 flying hours, of which over 100 have been achieved in the SWORDFISH. He joined the Royal Navy Historic Flight as a volunteer SWORDFISH crewman in 2012 and is one of the team that regularly occupies either the Observer or the Telegraphist Air Gunners (TAG) cockpit in the SWORDFISH when she is travelling around the country. Outside of aviation he is a very keen chef, other hobbies include photography and live sports. He was awarded the Queens Volunteer Reserves Medal in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list. He received the award from HRH Prince William at a Buckingham Palace Investiture. ******************* HMS ‘KENT’ While many Armed Forces personnel remain in the UK supporting the current national fight against COVID-19, the ship’s company of HMS Kent are focused on ensuring we are prepared for future global threats. 1188 HMS Kent joined two American destroyers, a nuclear to conduct operations. Being able to work with US submarine, support ship and long-range maritime patrol Navy ships, submarines and aircraft is an excellent aircraft above the Arctic Circle to hone skills in opportunity to further hone our skills in a challenging environmental conditions. challenging environment.’ The Portsmouth-based frigate, plus her MERLIN The waters are no warmer than 4 degrees Celsius; sea helicopter from 814 NAS, is designed to help protect the temperature, as well as salinity and various temperature UK’s nuclear deterrent and keep Britain safe. layers play key roles in how effective sonar is. For the exercise, HMS Kent linked up with ARLEIGH HMS Kent’s operations play a key role in the defence of BURKE class destroyers USSs Donald Cook and Porter, the United Kingdom. The Royal Navy continues to fast combat support ship USNS Supply, an American conduct essential training ashore and at sea in order to P8-A POSEIDON maritime patrol aircraft, and a US fulfil its critical outputs now and in the future. nuclear-powered submarine. Update More than 1,200 military personnel from the two nations Updated on 4 May 2020 were involved – conducting key training in support of HMS Kent arrived in the icy Barents Sea this weekend the UK’s Defence even while the UK Armed Forces are conducting operations alongside US allies to ensure supporting the fight against COVID-19. security and stability. The Royal Navy warship continued working with ships COMMANDER Matt SYKES, the Commanding Officer of from the US Navy to demonstrate our commitment to HMS Kent, said, freedom of navigation in the challenging conditions above the Arctic Circle. ‘I am delighted for HMS Kent to have this It is the first opportunity for many of the sailors serving opportunity to work with our US allies. Conducting in HMS Kent to enter the Arctic Circle, where there is an exercise in the Arctic Circle is a new challenge constant daylight amid the freezing temperatures. HMS for the ship’s company whose dedication and Kent’s Operations Officer, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER professionalism in preparing for this exercise have Paul WHITE, said, been impressive. ‘The Royal Navy is committed to maintaining long- The challenges of working in this extreme term stability within the high north. HMS Kent, environment should not be underestimated but HMS working with US allies, has demonstrated our Kent’s presence here continues to demonstrate the commitment to global security and freedom of UK’s commitment to the north Atlantic and high navigation while operating in a multi-national task north. Finally, I would like to thank the friends and group in an open and transparent manner.’ families of HMS Kent for their unswerving support HMS Kent has experienced the full spectrum of throughout this period.’ challenging conditions in the past year, having operated Both the UK and the US are committed to ensuring no in the high temperatures of the Gulf last year before nation dominates the Arctic region, which is assuming taking up her tasking in the north Atlantic and high growing importance in the face of increased activity and north. melting polar ice. The Arctic exercise came on the back of Anglo-US anti- ******************* submarine warfare training in UK waters just a few weeks previous, when the two allies linked up to help HMS ‘QUEEN ELIZABETH’ train future boat commanders undertaking the Royal Navy’s world-renowned Submarine Command Course – COMMANDO WILDCAT DEBUTS ON HMS ‘QUEEN also known as PERISHER. ELIZABETH’ Lieutenant Georgia HARDING, HMS Kent’s Principal Warfare Officer for underwater warfare, said, The ‘flying eyes’ of the Royal Marines have touched ‘This exercise was the culmination of a high down on Britain’s biggest warship – clearing them to intensity period of anti-submarine warfare training join the carrier on front-line operations. A Commando that has seen a step change in HMS Kent’s readiness WILDCAT from 847 NAS landed repeatedly on the vast deck of the Portsmouth carrier in the Channel. The multi-role helicopter with its three crew is typically found over land, performing tasks as varied as reconnaissance, close air support – directing air and artillery strikes on enemy forces – evacuating casualties, troop protection with its heavy machine-gun, and ferrying troops and equipment around. But as the marines are the nation’s elite amphibious force, the Commando Helicopter Force WILDCATs must be expected to operate seamlessly at sea (something the Army version of the WILDCAT, also based at Yeovilton, cannot do). 1199 a quick stop in Portsmouth for supplies before the aircraft themselves landed on board. Pilots and a crewman from the Yeovilton based squadron It marks the first time 617 Squadron has fully joined joined the carrier to ensure they remained qualified for HMS Queen Elizabeth as the UK prepares to deploy the operating at sea – requiring 24 safe landings by day and next generation squadron of fighter aircraft to operate night, the latter with the aid of night vision goggles – from the sea. The F-35 jets that landed on board will be and to ensure they’re ready for immediate operations if the same aircraft that will sail next year with the ship for called upon. her maiden Global Carrier Strike Group 21 deployment. They’d already performed a number of training ‘sorties’ COMMANDER Mark SPARROW, the Commanding in at the state-of-the-art simulators at their home base Officer of 617 Squadron, said, before heading out over the Channel to join the future flagship. ‘We are excited to be on board the carrier and we While landing a WILDCAT safely on HMS Queen have been training hard to be here. This is the first Elizabeth with a flight deck the size of three football time the ship’s operational squadron has embarked pitches is considerably easier than on a much-smaller and worked together. frigate or destroyer, there are other considerations to The F-35 brings next generation capability to UK bear in mind for the crew. PETTY OFFICER Defence through its ability to find, destroy or avoid AIRCREWMAN Arron TOBIN explained, enemy air defences and enemy aircraft whilst gathering intelligence data.’ ‘The massive flight deck of the Queen Elizabeth COMMANDER Ed PHILLIPS, Wings on board HMS gives us lots of space to manoeuvre the aircraft. But Queen Elizabeth said, it can also get very busy with lots of activity and so ‘Today is a significant day for HMS Queen proves excellent training. Elizabeth on the road to delivering carrier strike We have made considerable gains in our knowledge operations for the Royal Navy. and experience of operating at sea and it has been We are at the heart of a world-leading capability for great to see everyone, engineers and aircrew alike, the UK and will soon have on our decks two working together to achieve the qualification.’ squadrons of F-35s – from the UK and US – plus the QHI LIEUTENANT COMMANDER David WESTLEY protection of a strike group made up of destroyers, added, frigates and support ships.’ ‘It was hugely rewarding to be part of the first HMS Queen Elizabeth will now enter an intense period Commando WILDCAT crew to conduct night vision of flying having just successfully completed four weeks deck landings on the QUEEN ELIZABETH class.’ of basic sea training. The aim is to demonstrate that the The squadron continues to train from its home in the jets can successfully defend the aircraft carrier by South West to maintain its ability to deploy anywhere in delivering combat air patrols – launching from the ship the world at short notice. to conduct strike missions against a target – and being ready to take off at short notice. UK’S OPERATIONAL F-35 JETS MARK FIRST After the initial qualification period, 617 Squadron will LANDING ON HMS ‘QUEEN ELIZABETH’ test their ability to work with Portsmouth-based HMS Queen Elizabeth and MERLIN helicopters of Culdrose On 9 June 2020 the F-35 LIGHTNING jets of the famous based 820 NAS by conducting a number of complex Dambusters squadron landed on the aircraft carrier for training missions. the first time today. This is all in preparation for their second embarkation Pilots, engineers, cyberspace and mission support staff later in the year when the squadron will join the carrier from 617 Squadron, the UK’s operational strike and her task group for a large multinational training squadron, embarked the carrier over the weekend during exercise with US, European and NATO partners. The Royal Navy is transforming into a force centred around carrier strike – supporting the ships as they conduct carrier strike missions, enforce no-fly zones, deploy Royal Marine Commandos, deliver 2200 humanitarian aid, and build international partnerships Team of specialist naval reservists was mobilized to join with our allies. Queen Elizabeth for the exercise, bolstering the carrier’s staff and providing additional expertise and experience. HMS ‘KENT’ HELPS DEAL WITH ANY FOE COMMANDER Ben HORNER from the team explained, The seas around Britain’s biggest warship churned red as the Navy developed tactics to protect HMS Queen ‘This marks an important milestone – the beginning Elizabeth from all manner of attacks. For five days, the of a 50-year partnership. Today’s Submarine Portsmouth based carrier worked side-by-side with the Advisory Team watch keepers are leading the way frigate HMS Kent and her MERLIN helicopter as every for those who will support the carrier for many perceivable threat – air attack, submarine, surface fleet decades to come, supported by our specialist and terrorist strike – to ready the future flagship for her communicators who train and deploy alongside us.’ maiden deployment on Exercise CRIMSON OCEAN. HMS Queen Elizabeth was undergoing a concerted Among the team dispatched to Queen Elizabeth was work-up for her maiden deployment, conducting LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Mark DRISCOLL, whose extensive training with the F-35 stealth fighters of 617 job involves controlling both British and NATO Squadron. When she sails on front-line duties next year, submarines, who said, she’ll be at the heart of a task group of British and allied warships charged with supporting and protecting her, ‘The tasking ranges from protecting the strike group including a destroyer to fend off air and missile attack and defending the aircraft carrier to land attack (and also direct the F-35s on to their targets) and an anti- missile operations and gathering intelligence.’ submarine frigate, such as Kent, to keep the enemy below at bay. At the end of the exercise, the ships conducted a final sail past with Kent paying her respects to Queen Elizabeth and the embarked Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group – COMMODORE Steve MOORHOUSE. The frigate then broke away for a short port visit to Reykjavik in Iceland before she headed to Norway to join her sister HMS Westminster. The two ships were taking part in the second of NATO’s annual anti-submarine exercises, DYNAMIC MONGOOSE, testing the ability of the alliance to find and hunt down hostile underwater threats in the cool waters of northern Europe. Kent had just finished taking part in NATO’s biggest ON THE CUSP OF OPERATIONS AFTER 70-DAY workout of 2020 in the Baltic – with many of the TEST scenarios she dealt with there replicated in company with HMS Queen Elizabeth. The frigate’s sailors were When Britain’s biggest warship returned home to also treated to a morning witnessing F-35 LIGHTNING Portsmouth it was for the first time as a fully-trained strike fighters operating from the carrier’s flight deck aircraft carrier. Future flagship has cleared her and a regular helicopter service was also run between penultimate hurdle for front-line duties after ten hugely- the ships, allowing some members of the ship’s demanding weeks around the UK, preparing for her company to visit the aircraft carrier for briefings. 20- maiden deployment in the New Year. year-old Engineering Technician Nicolas GILROY said. A final package of training in the autumn – working alongside NATO and US allies – will confirm her ability ‘It was amazing to be able to see the F-35s taking off to act as a task group flagship, so that she can lead a from HMS Queen Elizabeth from so close. I just potent carrier strike force on front-line operations couldn’t believe how loud they were – it was a good anywhere in the world. job we had been told to wear ear protection is all I can say!’ A hunter-killer submarine may also be assigned to the carrier group – part of the defensive ring against hostile submarines and surface ships, but armed with cruise missiles able to strike at strategic targets hundreds of miles away. For the first time a Submarine Advisory 2211 Minister for the Armed Forces James HEAPPEY said, CAPTAIN Angus ESSENHIGH, HMS Queen Elizabeth’s ‘HMS Queen Elizabeth is an extraordinary ship Commanding Officer said, crewed by extraordinary people from both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. ‘The ship’s company have worked incredibly hard over the past 70 days, making every effort to surpass They deployed at the height of the COVID-19 the high standards set by our assessors. outbreak and have remained at sea for over 10 weeks They have come through with flying colours which so that they could complete their operational training means Her Majesty’s Ship Queen Elizabeth has with the minimal risk of infection. taken a huge step towards sailing on her maiden deployment, flying the flag for the United Kingdom They’ve put their duty to our country ahead of and demonstrating that we are a global naval power spending time with their families during the with global ambitions.’ pandemic and in the process, they’ve taken us a step HMS Queen Elizabeth will now enjoy planned closer to, once again, having a carrier strike maintenance in Portsmouth before task group training capability with the capacity to project British later in September, which will also see the ship work influence across the globe.’ with two F-35 squadrons for the first time. In view of the size and complexity of the carrier, she ******************* received a dedicated training package, initially off the south coast, to test the ability of all 1,100 men and ROYAL NAVY JOINED MAJOR NATO women on board to deal with everything they might SUB-HUNT EXERCISE IN ICELAND expect to face in peace and war. Royal Navy warships, helicopters and a submarine have The training package reached its climax with 18 taken part in a 14-day battle in Icelandic waters. More fictional fire and flood incidents raging simultaneously – than 500 British submariners, sailors and aviators were with the ship expected to continue flying operations locking horns for NATO’s annual test of anti-submarine while damage control teams toiled in the carrier’s forces in cooler climes. depths. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Si BAILEY, one of Exercise DYNAMIC MONGOOSE, which began in the 46-strong team of assessors on board said, Reykjavik, involved around a dozen warships and submarines – nuclear, such as Royal Navy hunter-killer ‘Given the sheer size of the ship, Operational Sea HMS Trenchant, and diesel-powered submarines – and Training has been a learning curve for all involved. around 2,000 military personnel drawn from Canada, It’s been a challenging time for HMS Queen France, Germany, Norway, the UK and US. Elizabeth, but the ship’s company and embarked Leading the charge above the waves were Portsmouth personnel have been receptive to the training and based frigates HMSs Kent and Westminster, each advice – and have done so with a smile.’ dedicated submarine hunters, and each with a specialist submarine-hunting MERLIN Mk2 helicopter embarked. Having passed that assessment, the carrier shifted to the A 14-strong team of aviators and engineers from 814 North Sea to welcome F-35 LIGHTNINGs from 617 NAS from Culdrose provided the helicopter for both Squadron. ships. It’s the first time operational UK F-35s have worked Kent took part in DYNAMIC MONGOOSE having spent with Queen Elizabeth and they faced a punishing the spring focusing on tracking submarines in the Arctic, schedule once aboard, completing a record number of Baltic and working with carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth landings on the flight deck. in home waters. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Sid SHAW, in charge of Mohawk Flight on Kent said, The future of Carrier Strike is a truly joint effort and the Royal Navy has worked closely with the RAF ‘The exercise saw the combined team of HMS Kent throughout the development of the carrier. 617 and her MERLIN pitted against other nations’ squadron – based at RAF Marham and comprising both submarines playing ‘the enemy’, a complex game of Royal Air Force and Royal Navy personnel – progressed from qualifying pilots in the art of landing on and taking off from a moving warship by day and night all the way up to the first ‘four-ship package’: launching four F-35s on a combat sortie in rapid succession. The fighters shared the flight deck with submarine hunting MERLIN helicopters of 820 NAS from RNAS Culdrose. In all the fast jets and helicopters touch down on Queen Elizabeth 830 times in all weathers, at all times of day. The collective training ended with a five-day test of the ship to defend against threats in the air, on the sea and beneath the waves, herself using F-35s, MERLINs and the frigate HMS Kent. In the 70 days since leaving Portsmouth at the end of April, the carrier has been almost exclusively at sea and clocked up 11,500 miles – the equivalent of the distance from her home base to Auckland, New Zealand. 2222 cat and mouse which everyone prides themselves in operating from overseas ports and bases under the Royal winning. Navy’s growing Forward Presence programme. To date Preparation involves every member of the Flight. the four ships in Royal Navy hands have worked The team are experienced operating from a small exclusively with the smaller, nimble WILDCAT. flight deck and hangar. It’s a harsh environment but MERLIN is more than twice the weight, can carry 16 one Mohawk Flight pride themselves in operating commandos/troops, casualties on stretchers and safely in.’ substantial loads both in the back of the cab and slung The engineers contended with choppy seas of four to beneath the 14 tonne helicopter in huge net sacks. five metres to prepare the MERLINs as the frigates crossed the North Atlantic. Each helicopter was expected to be flying for up to eight hours a day – operating in a harsh environment and using sensitive, hi-tech equipment including a ‘dipping’ sonar, lowered from the MERLIN, or a sonobuoy, dropped in the ocean to listen for the presence of submarines. ******************* MERLIN MAKES DEBUT ON ‘MEDWAY’ The Navy’s largest helicopter has debuted on its global patrol ships for the first time, during three days of intensive training in the Caribbean. Commando carrying MERLIN Mk4 s touched down on HMS Medway during a concerted period of aviation training for the new patrol ship in preparation for the imminent hurricane season Medway is currently working side-by-side with the support ship RFA Argus which has been deployed to the Caribbean to provide vital aid and assistance to British – and other – citizens in the region should their islands be hit by a severe tropical storm. Embarked on Argus are specialist Royal Marines and soldiers, equipment and aid, plus one WILDCAT and three MERLIN helicopters to move personnel and kit around any disaster zone. There’s no helicopter assigned to HMS Medway, but As well as landing MERLIN and WILDCAT, Medway there is a flight deck, allowing the ship to serve as a conducted ‘vertical replenishment’ drills – transferring ‘lilypad’ – hosting helicopters temporarily, refuelling loads between the ship and Argus – and also practised them, and giving crews a break, transferring personnel the response of the bridge and flight deck teams to and equipment. The ship is the second of five RIVER helicopter emergencies in what was a hugely successful class patrol ships built for long-term operations around three days of flying. The flight deck team guiding the the globe, deploying from the UK for years on end and aircraft safely onto Medway’s deck hadn’t worked with a live helicopter since the ship underwent training in the UK last year, when conditions were neither so sweltering or challenging. ABLE SEAMAN Claire WALKER said, ‘It’s been really interesting being involved in the flying operations over the past few days. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I had never done it on board before, however it was a really enjoyable experience. Especially getting the experience of both WILDCAT and MERLIN. Adding a vertical replenishment as well. I managed to gain a lot of experience from all the different training serials’ Medway’s Commanding Officer LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Jim BLYTHE was proud of his crew’s efforts – and for laying the ground work for the ship’s four sisters, and said, 2233 ‘The first landing of a MERLIN Mk 4 on a Batch 2 The WILDCAT from Yeovilton-based 815 Naval Air Offshore Patrol Vessel is a momentous day for both Squadron has left her mother ship, RFA Argus, to work the ship and 845 NAS and enhances our operational on maritime security patrols alongside the Royal Turks capability.’ and Caicos Islands Police Service (RTCIPS). ******************* 203 Flight, which has already had a jam-packed deployment in the region since arriving in April, has WILDCAT IS THE EYES IN THE SKY gone ashore for a few weeks for scheduled maintenance ahead of potential hurricane season missions, but also to OVER complement the local police’s operations. TURKS AND CAICOS 203 Flight Commander and pilot, LIEUTENANT Jim CARVER, said, ‘We will be disembarking the aircraft into the Turks and Caicos Islands to conduct routine maintenance prior to the hurricane season while also conducting scheduled flying and mandated flying currencies (staying up-to-date on training and flying hours) in direct support to maritime security operations for the RTCIPS. We’re here in the Caribbean to support British Overseas Territories as part of the enduring Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North), which is supporting UK Overseas Territories during the core hurricane season and other nations with maritime security.’ 2244 OBITUARIES LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Martin Scobell promoted to Personnel Director in 1976 and when BOISSIER RN AITONS became part of the WHESSOE Group, became Group Personnel Controller in 1980. This required him Memories compiled by Susan BOISSIER. to stay several nights a week in Darlington where to Martin will be remembered as representing the very occupy himself whilst away from home, he took up best of his generation; a man who served his King, ‘tatting’ again having originally taken it up whilst in the Queen, country and county of Derby. Born at number navy. Many of his needlework creations were entered four Vernon Street, Derby, he was the second son of into the Turnditch & Windley show and he often won Ernest Gabriel BOISSIER and his wife Doris. Their first prize. third son, Roger, like Martin, became a High Sheriff of His local business life included directorships at Derbyshire. The BOISSIER family is notable in that SILKOLENE in Belper, ATV (Midlands) and Central TV three of the family became High Sheriffs of the county, Eastern Region. He served as chairman of the as Martin’s wife Margaret also served as High Sheriff Derbyshire FHSA, of both the Derby and Derbyshire in 2000. Chambers of Commerce, the Derby Lifeboat committee, Martin knew from the age of seven that he wanted to the Derby Sea Cadets, Derbyshire District Manpower join the Navy, so after having attended prep school at committee and the ARKWRIGHT Society. He was Bramcote in Scarborough, he entered the Royal Naval President of the Derby Royal School of the Deaf and of College Dartmouth in January 1940. His first the Derby and District Engineering Employers assignment was as a midshipman aboard HMS Federation. In 1977 he became a Deputy Lieutenant and Birmingham which was deployed to Greenock to collect deputy Chairman of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Appeal. £2m worth of gold for onward transportation to In 1978 he served as High Sheriff and as Vice Lord Alexandria. He went on to serve on HMS Isis on mid- Lieutenant from 1992 ‒ 2001 during which time many Atlantic convoy duties and was on board HMS Orion as royal visits were made to the county. an 18 year old on D-Day, 6 June 1944 as part of Operation OVERLORD off the Normandy beaches, where he saw his eldest brother John aboard his Motor Torpedo Boat which sped by, close enough for them to recognize each other (through another coincidence that day, both John and Martin also saw their cousin Peter, a Lieutenant serving in HMS Jervis). Tragically John was killed on 13 May 1945, when the mine sweeper MGB 2002 on which he was serving struck a mine in the Skaggerak, with all but two on board being killed. The tragedy was further compounded when Doris BOISSIER suffered another shock; a few days after hearing that her eldest son had been killed, she came across two severely wounded sailors lying in Derbyshire Royal Infirmary where she did voluntary work. They were the two survivors of MGB 2002. In 1947 Martin qualified as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm A great family man, Martin was a born raconteur, and saw service on four aircraft carriers, Triumph, always with amusing tales to tell, had a twinkle in his Thesis, Ocean and Eagle. He was part of 810 NAS that eye and was generous with his time to those who asked provided ground support for the army during the Korean for his advice. His mantra was always to treat others as War. In 1955, urged on by his mother ‘to get on with one would wish to be treated and he enjoyed talking to it’, he married Margaret, the daughter of a family anyone and everyone from all generations. He was friend and local GP. Not long after they were married, Martin was stationed out in Malta where Margaret joined him for six months. In 1958 he finally retired from the Fleet Air Arm with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and entered civilian business life in Derby. By the end of his naval career, Martin had undertaken 366 deck landings, flown 1,961 hours fixed wing single aircraft, 250 hours twin-engine aircraft and 50 hours in helicopters ‒ the types of aircraft flown included the TIGER MOTH, HARVARD 2B & 3, FIREFLY I, 4, 5 & 6, OXFORD, SEA FURY, SEA BALLIOL and GANNET, and a HILLER helicopter. Martin joined AITON & Co. Ltd in Derby which his father, an electrical engineer, had helped to build up alongside Sir Arthur AITON and where his brother Roger was later Managing Director. Martin was 2255 widely read, loved art and history and from the time he Air Fighter School, Lossiemouth, to fly SEA HAWK had first heard Beniamino GIGLI singing at the opera ground-attack jets, and embarked in the carrier Eagle in house in Naples in 1944, had a huge interest in opera 1959. Next he volunteered for a conversion course to and music. A keen cricket fan, Martin was a member fly helicopters, and in 1960 he joined 848 NAS, a of Lord’s for many years, and was renowned for hosting commando helicopter squadron in Bulwark, the Royal a large picnic party on the Nursery Lawn ‒ complete Navy’s first commando carrier, and flew in both the with a choice of Port or Madeira. He even introduced Kuwait Crisis in 1961 (when an Iraqi invasion was Debo, Duchess of Devonshire to Madeira when she deterred), and during the Communist insurgency in popped round to lunch one day ‒ she wrote later to say Malaya. she had never ever tasted it before and by then she was in her 80’s. He adored his garden in Idridgehay where In 1961 he reverted to supply duties, joining the depot he took great pride in his camellias ‒ often competing ship Narvik, based in Malta for the 5th Submarine with Andrew, Duke of Devonshire at various county Squadron and 108th Minesweeping Squadron. When shows ‒ and had an extensive wine cellar! his talent as a first-class staff officer was recognized, he Derby-born with a French surname that could be joined the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, directly traced back to a Huguenot French family who Mediterranean, to help plan the rundown of the Naval reached England in 1740 by way of Geneva, Gaspard base. BOISSIER having originally fled to Geneva at the time of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Next, he was Assistant Secretary to the First Sea Lord, Martin passed away on 16 April through complications ADMIRAL Sir David LUCE. Lessons learnt from the attributed to coronavirus at the age of 93, on what was failure of the Naval Staff leading to the cancellation in his 65th wedding anniversary and one month short of his 1966 of the aircraft carrier, CVA01, and the decision of 94th birthday. He leaves behind his wife Margaret, LUCE to resign, were seared into his mind. daughter Susan, son John, and three grandchildren, Hannah, Sophie and James. From 1966 until 1978 he served successfully at sea and shore: ADMIRAL Sir Brian BROWN, KCB, CBE Brian Thomas BROWN died on 27 April 2020 aged 85, • HM Royal Yacht Britannia. born in Portsmouth and educated at PETER SYMONDS’ • RNAS Yeovilton. School in Winchester. He was destined to read Classics • Secretary to Flag Officer Carriers and at Oxford and then become a barrister, but one murky morning in December 1951, as his Greek master droned Amphibious Ships. on, he realized that he could not listen to any more about • A desk officer in Whitehall. THEMISTOCLES, and decided upon a former, childhood • The helicopter cruiser Tiger on deployment to the ambition to go to sea. Already within a few weeks of the naval college entry Far East. examinations, with too little time to learn the • Secretary to the Vice Chief of Naval Staff. mathematics and physics which were a prerequisite for • Chief Staff Officer (Personnel and becoming a seaman officer, he chose the only specialisation open to him, which was Supply and Administration) to Flag Officer Naval Air Secretariat. Command. He first went to sea in the training cruiser Devonshire, in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, and the maintenance He returned to Whitehall (1979-82) as secretary to the carrier Unicorn during the Korean War. His intellect new First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Henry LEACH, years and flair were recognized during his professional which were important for the future of carrier-borne training (1954-55), a course in logistics training at HMS naval aviation. When LEACH contemplated resignation Ceres, Wetherby, and the Junior Officers’ War Course over the misguided NOTT defence review, BROWN and Naval legal training at Greenwich. argued strongly against, using his experience of LUCE’s His first logistics appointment was as cash officer in the resignation to help convince his chief to stay and fight cruiser Kenya, flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, his corner. America and West Indies: there his leadership was recognized by being made sub-lieutenant of the When the Argentinians invaded the Falklands, BROWN gunroom, a responsible but difficult job for a young drew on his immense experience to put LEACH’s office officer in charge of the discipline of other junior on a war footing and, afterwards, astutely ensured that officers. no opportunity was missed in making the naval case and During the Suez Crisis Kenya spent several weeks clawing back the losses from the NOTT Review. patrolling the Red Sea, when, as a cryptographic watch keeper, BROWN’s reading of top-secret signals gave him He became Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval his first insight in the higher management of war. Personnel and from 1986 onwards he was at the centre At risk of becoming bored again, he volunteered for of the debate about whether Wrens should serve at sea. flying. Awarded his wings in 1958, he joined the Naval His primary reservations about ‘women-at-sea’ was that it would be his responsibility to make an unpopular policy work. He also doubted the morality of employing women in combat roles while men might be in safe jobs ashore; and, remembering media coverage of the Falklands War, he recoiled from the thought of female burns victims appearing on television. Nor was he persuaded that Wrens’ career prospects were inadequate: rather there was a queue of high-class volunteers for the WRNS. 2266 He was abroad in January 1990 shortly before the Board BROWN was a master of detail with an amazing of Admiralty were to discuss the subject and to make memory, and a hard taskmaster, but always fair in his recommendations to Archie HAMILTON, Minister for dealings with all. An unassuming man, he had no airs or the Armed Forces. Warned via a long-distance call that graces and was as comfortable with the most junior HAMILTON and the Prime Minister Margaret sailor, the office cleaner or royalty. Motivated by his THATCHER were strongly in favour of woman at sea, faith, he was churchwarden of St. Peter’s, Froxfield, for BROWN crafted a paper to ensure that its conclusions several years. were acceptable politically. In 1959 he married Veronica ‘Ronnie’ BIRD, who That was the easiest task, but BROWN also understood survives him with their two sons. the many benefits of having women in seagoing appointments and in harnessing their talents. In his Lieutenant Richard ‘Dick’ M. GRAVESTOCK remaining months in office he meticulously drew RN together all the strands and complexities for the full integration of women at sea. Dick passed away in May 2020. He joined in 1960 and became a SEA VIXEN observer, doing his entire time on the VIXEN. Gordon DOBBIE was his first squadron pilot and they ejected in the Gulf of Aden in November 1962, following a double generator failure at night. He was a passionate cricketer, and throughout his time DICK (FAR LEFT) WITH HIS PILOT GORDON DOBBIE AND GROUND CREW in office the television was always switched on to cricket, the 1981 BOTHAM Ashes vying with NOTT’s He then became the youngest ever instructor (as a Sub defence review for his attention. Lieutenant) on 766, followed by further front-line He was awarded the CBE in 1983, studied at the Royal service, two tours with 893 on Victorious, 892 briefly, College of Defence Studies, commanded the new-entry and finally 766 again. He also qualified as an Electronic training establishment HMS Raleigh, (1984-86), and Warfare Instructor. was promoted to flag-rank in 1986. After leaving the Navy he was chairman of CRAY He wrote two fascinating pages about his Fleet Air Arm ELECTRONICS (1991-96) and of P-E International, the career (pages 157-158) for Tony BUTTLER's UK’s oldest management consultancy company (1995- encyclopaedic book about the SEA VIXEN. His early 98). He was also much in demand to chair charities interest in Radar helped his technical and operational including KING GEORGE’S FUND FOR SAILORS (1993- skills, and he recounts helping to develop some 2003) and the MICHAEL MAY YOUNG CRICKETERS interesting intercept tactics for use against BUCCANEERs FOUNDATION (1992-2004). and LIGHTNINGs. Looking back, he noted that he had A countryman at heart, when he could no longer play flown with 126 different pilots. cricket, he took up fly-fishing and Beagling, was a liveryman of the WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF Outside his Navy contacts, he was always known as GARDENERS, and chaired the Hampshire branch of Richard. After a second career in something or other, CPRE 2008-13. he turned his hand to crafting exquisite boxes and other wooden artifacts (such as chests of drawers and bobbins) for lace makers. This he described as, ‘The longest, the least rewarding financially but by far the most rewarding for the soul.’ He finally retired in 2008 but his legacy remains. It is understood that part of this enterprise included 2277 continuing to grow his own fine timber on his ‘estate’ recount all the tales of jolly japes that he participated in near Worcester. His widow, Annette, survives him. over those years. Perhaps suffice to say that at his leaving party in the Prince of Wales in Newton St. His boxes are well-known and much prized world-wide Martin he chopped down the wooden support in the bar as GRAVESTOCK BOXES and a simple internet search that held up the upper floor with 14 swipes of an axe, will bring up numerous examples of his craft. too much encouragement by all, including the landlord. A pit prop had to be hurriedly fitted to prevent the From References collapse of the building! 7 February 1962 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA On return to Canada he settled in Stewiake, Nova Scotia VIXEN FAW1 XJ556 of 890 NAS aircraft swung off and continued his flying career with AIR ATLANTIC, runway onto grass. (LIEUTENANT G.P. DOBBIE, SUB CANADA 3000 and finally as a check airman with LIEUTENANT R.M. GRAVESTOCK). CANJET. Before leaving for the UK he had been a piper with the 3rd Battalion Black Watch (RHR) of Canada 29 November 1962 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA and never lost his love of bagpipes and so it was no VIXEN FAW1 XJ562 of 890 NAS Port engine failed to surprise that he joined the OLD SCOTIA and relight following a double generator failure at night, subsequently the COLCHESTER LEGION PIPE Bands, from Ark Royal. Crew ejected near Aden and were once again supported by Beverley who played in the picked up by WESSEX. (LIEUTENANT G.P. DOBBIE, drum corps. SUB LIEUTENANT R.M. GRAVESTOCK). LIEUTENANT A.R.M. ‘Tony’ HAYWARD RN 2 October 1964 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN Tony died on 14 February 2020. He served from 1956 FAW1 XN655 of 893 NAS door panel lost while at 100 to 1968 beginning with St. Vincent and Ocean, the feet, 60 miles WNW of Cubi Point. (SUB LIEUTENANT training carrier, then 31 (O) course at RNAS Culdrose. G.W. WRIGLEY, LIEUTENANT R.M. GRAVESTOCK). 8 July 1965 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN FAW1 XN705 of 893 NAS panel lost in flight. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER R. KING, LIEUTENANT R.M. GRAVESTOCK). 3 February 1966 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN FAW2 XS580 of 893 NAS hydraulic pressure loss after take off, landed safely at Yeovilton. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER S.G. PARKES, LIEUTENANT R.M. GRAVESTOCK). 28 April 1966 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN FAW2 XS587 of 893 NAS after take off canopy fell off and landed in field beside Ilchester Primary School. (SUB LIEUTENANT A.N. BURNSIDE, LIEUTENANT R.M. GRAVESTOCK) LIEUTENANT Andrew ‘Andy’ Charles HALLIDAY His first front-line squadron was 894 SEA VENOMs RN 1958-59 followed by SEA VIXENS with 890. In 1962 he joined 831 and was part of the Ark Royal detachment of Don SUTHERLAND writes that Andy passed away on 1 two ECM GANNETs on a Far East cruise. September after a long battle with cancer. He was born in Montreal, the son of Arthur and Doris HALLIDAY, and is survived by his wife of 48 years, Beverley, his son Richard, brother Ray and several nieces and nephews. Soon after leaving school he decided that he wanted to fly at sea and, because that was not easy to accomplish in his native Canada, he left for the UK and joined the Royal Navy at BRNC Dartmouth. During a career spanning some 18 years he served as a commando pilot flying the WESSEX Mk5 and as a search and rescue pilot flying the WESSEX Mk1 before switching to fixed wing flying as a QFI and on 750 Squadron Observer Training School flying the JETSTREAM Mk2. Throughout this time, he was supported by his wife Beverley who he had returned to Canada to marry very soon after his arrival in the UK, and his son Richard who was born in Truro Cornwall. To say that he was a social animal would be an understatement and it would take an entire book to 2288 He then converted to BUCCANEERs (Mk 1) and joined 1 October 1963 whilst flying BLACKBURN BUCCANEER 801 in the Far East on Victorious in 1964. Following S.1. XN962 of 809 NAS trim problem in dive at 20,000 this it was back to VIXENs and further front line service feet, landed safely. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER H.L. with 892 and 899. Later he wangled some light aircraft TURK USN, LIEUTENANT A.R.M HAYWARD). time and like many observers who could see how easy 16 April 1964 whilst flying BLACKBURN BUCCANEER their pilots made it look, took to piloting and got a CPL. S.1. XN928 of 801 NAS bird strike on canopy at 250 After leaving the Navy, he moved to Nigeria and feet. (LIEUTENANT N.S. TRISTRAM, LIEUTENANT became Chief Flying Instructor of the LAGOS FLYING A.R.M HAYWARD). CLUB. He ended up with over 5,000 hours ‒ more driver 2 November 1965 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA than looker. During this time he developed a further VIXEN FAW2 XS582 of 766 NAS Oxygen leak, landed career in the aerospace industry and it was in Nigeria safely. (LIEUTENANT P.S. BUCKLEY, LIEUTENANT that he met and married Pat, who survives him. A.R.M HAYWARD). Back in the UK he joined BRITISH AEROSPACE with 31 May 1966 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN whom he worked on and off for many years, including FAW1 XJ610 of 892 NAS night flight, port brake on HAWK sales to Indonesia, and outside BAe, on problem landed into SPRAG. (LIEUTENANT P.S. helicopter sales in the Philippines. BUCKLEY, LIEUTENANT A.R.M HAYWARD). Eventual retirement saw him retraining as a Financial 10 June 1966 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN Adviser which he continued until very recently. He had FAW1 XJ571 of 892 NAS burning smell and smoke in interests in South Africa, won medals for target shooting the cockpit, landed safely. (SUB LIEUTENANT D.J. and enjoyed jazz, and was adding to his flying hours COTTRILL, LIEUTENANT A.R.M HAYWARD). until recently. Latterly he was self-appointed chief whip 16 November 1966 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA for the AWF group attendances at the FAAOA annual VIXEN FAW1 XJ607 of 892 NAS panel lost, diverted to lunch at Phyllis Court. Luqa. (LIEUTENANT P.S. BUCKLEY, LIEUTENANT His funeral in Wallingford was one of the last ‘proper’ A.R.M HAYWARD). funerals before the wretched COVID restrictions and it was well attended by Navy colleagues and many others. LIEUTENANT Thomas ‘Tom’ MCGHEE RN From References Tom died at home on 6 August 2020 aged 75 whilst 4 September 1962 whilst flying FAIREY GANNET AS4 of waiting for a heart operation. He was born in 831C Flt the aircraft struck round-down on approach to Motherwell on 17 October 1944 and joined the Royal Ark Royal. Port oleo collapsed aircraft swung to port Navy as a junior Radio Operator (S) in 1961. Following side and struck the projector sight. The aircraft split just training at HMSs Ganges and Mercury he was drafted to forward of the tail plane with the remainder of the the Fleet Electronic Warfare Unit at Kranji in Singapore. aircraft going over the side upside down. He spent the next two years Far East on detachment to various ships including HMS Chawton during which he Tony was in the TAG's rear facing seat so he got a fine saw active service during the Malaysian/Indonesian view of where they had just been, as the fuselage confrontation including the transfer of prisoners separated just aft of him. They were quickly picked up ‘collected’ by the Royal Marines. with only minor injuries, by the plane guard frigate, He also spent time in HMNZS Royalist off the HMS Eastbourne. (LIEUTENANT D.A. PICKLES, Indonesian coast collecting intelligence. LIEUTENANT J.S. STURGEON, LIEUTENANT A.R.M Tom returned to the UK at the end of 1963 and served in HAYWARD). HMS Cochrane/MHQ Pitreavie, HMS Laymoor and 30 August 1961 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA HMS Berwick during which time he studied for more VIXEN FAW1 XN653 of 890 NAS night flying from GCEs so he could apply for a commission. Hermes, difficulty in lowering flaps. (LIEUTENANT D.S. Having passed officer selection, he was invited to join GREEN, LIEUTENANT A.R.M HAYWARD). BRNC Dartmouth as a Supplementary List aircrew officer cadet in January 1966. After graduating from Dartmouth he was appointed to RNAS Lossiemouth for Basic Observer Flying Training in the venerable SEA PRINCE as an Acting Sub Lieutenant. Six hectic months later he completed the basic course and was on his way to 849 NAS at RNAS Brawdy for Operational Flying Training (OFT) in the GANNET AEW3 – not a thing of beauty but highly effective in its day. Seven months later, on completion of OFT, Tom was appointed to 849D Flight in HMS Eagle and set off (once again) for the Far East. 849D was responsible for compiling the air/sea picture for the ship, controlling 2299 SEA VIXENs on Combat Air Patrol (CAP) and providing ‘Rank is but the guinea stamp, a man’s a man for a’ strike direction for the BUCCANEERs. At last he felt he that’ etc.’ was doing something really useful and something he However, good times don’t last forever and on return to was really good at! Life was grand! UK, Tom was appointed to 360 RN/RAF Squadron as an Electronic Warfare Officer/Navigator which he By Peter FLUTTER, endured for two years until his return to the 849 fold to ‘There are a few people you meet who, although you be reprogrammed and rejoin D Flight in HMS Eagle. only know them for a relatively short time, leave a This time it wasn’t just the Far East but also Australia deep impression. Tom was one of those for me. I and New Zealand. Enroute to Wellington during got to know Tom well as I was crewed up with him passage flying, he had to divert to RNZAF Ohakeo during this Far East cruise. He was an excellent because of a problem onboard but, unfortunately, the observer and taught me a lot! More than that, I ship was not where it said it was (surprise!) resulting in admired his slightly surrealistic approach to life. a much longer diversion and a GANNET almost running We were the MONTY PYTHON generation and Tom out of fuel. took it to an art form in the military environment. Tom had a great time in Wellington and rode a horse for His mind was constantly on the move and you had to the first and last time! On return to the UK, HMS Eagle be very sharp to keep up with him. A truly lovely was, sadly, decommissioned and scrapped. man whom I trusted implicitly – even when it led By now the Aircrew Appointer realised that Tom was occasionally to slightly precarious situations! I will having a good time and decided to do something about it always remember Tom with great fondness'. so he sent him to 8 Squadron RAF at Lossiemouth to teach Crabs the art of AEW and Control in the ancient By Des HUGHES, SHACKLETON. Tom was not a fan of the SHACKLETON ‘I was a young SEA VIXEN observer on 899 NAS or the Crabs but he did a good job and managed to retain during this time and, when flying low level at night, his sanity until he was released and returned to 849 once I needed all the help I could get in order to intercept again. the ‘bad guys’. Fortunately, 849D was blessed with This time it was 849B Flight embarked in HMS Ark a batch of excellent observers of whom Tom was Royal for exercises in the Arctic, the Med, the one! I was always reassured when I heard his dulcet Caribbean and South America before operating with the tones on the radio as I knew I was in good hands.’ USN and cross decking with the USS Independence. In this demanding environment there was no room for Tom was enjoying life and somewhere along the line he complacency. was promoted Lieutenant not that he really cared about rank, By Des HUGHES, ‘I renewed my friendship with Tom during this period and gained more insights into his complex character. Tom did not suffer fools gladly and he would fix you with his infamous glare and add a few choice words if you didn’t meet his expectations. He would also (uninvited) regale us with many verses of Mc Pherson's Lament in the bar late at night. ‘He sang a toon and he danced aroon below the gallows tree.’ The squadron officers often enjoyed the cabaret but it was not always appreciated by the ship’s officers!’ Adrian TUITE recalls, ‘Tom (not entirely sober) also gave a rendition of the Lament on the Admiral’s barge following a CTP in Rio ‒ apparently the Admiral recognized the tune but was not entirely happy with the volume with which Tom delivered it!’ By Martin ROTHERAM, ‘Tom was a redoubtable 849 observer – capable in the air, good company and always in the middle of any party. He received a HERBERT LOTT Award in 1975 for a proposal to improve the APX7 IFF System in the GANNET AEW3. A sad loss.’ By Doug MILLER, ‘Tom was brilliant in the air – he could sort out a situation faster than anyone I ever flew with and tactically he was excellent.’ 3300 In July 1975 Tom was transferred to 849 HQ as the pitch perfection: each pilot sometimes flew 3 and even Operations, Intelligence and Training officer. That was 4 sorties a day, serviceability was extremely high, and the good news; the bad news was that they were now aircraft landed on and took off at half minute intervals. based at what had become RAF Lossiemouth – he NORMAND was rated as an exceptional pilot and when started his flying career at RNAS Lossiemouth and Glory was relieved after two more patrols, he was one of ended it at RAF Lossiemouth. Time to move on! the pilots selected to take his experience to the carrier Tom said goodbye to the GANNET on 21 October 1977 Ocean and 802 NAS. Between March and November and to the RN on 6 January 1978 – after being awarded 1952 he flew 150 sorties over North Korea against the Queen’s Jubilee Medal. bridges, tanks, and artillery positions. On 22 April, on After leaving the RN, he embarked on a career in the his afternoon sortie, NORMAND lost power but nursed cement industry working for several companies his aircraft to a safe landing on an offshore island: one including CASTLE CEMENT where he was Operations of the Navy’s highly skilled Air Engineers, he noted Manager before being selected as UK agent for professionally in his flying logbook, CALUCEM. He then formed his own company and became very ‘Fuel starvation.’ successful importing and distributing cement products. He refused to retire and continued working until the end. Tom had a great innings and can now proudly take his own advice, ‘Lay aft and get yer heid doon.’ Tom is survived by his wife, Jenny, and his children Alexander, Jane and Sarah.. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Patrick Ian After Korea, in 1953-55 he learned to fly in the DE NORMAND AFC RN HAVILLAND VAMPIRE and HAWKER SEA HAWK and, as a Maintenance Test Pilot, he took delivery of new Ian NORMAND died 28 June 28, 2020 aged 92. He aircraft from the manufacturer. Then, after a three- always claimed that he was born in prison: in fact, he month helicopter course, joined the 15th course at the was born at Fort House, Johannesburg where his father Empire Test Pilot School (ETPS), based at the Royal was governor of prisons for the Transvaal. NORMAND Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. On graduation he senior had ridden with the MATABELELAND MOUNTED worked on armaments and flight testing, then tested POLICE on the Jameson Raid of 1896 and had been catapults and arrester gear for aircraft carriers, before awarded the DSO at the Siege of Ladysmith, but when beginning a study of reheat orifices in supersonic he was forced out of office by the Afrikaner government aircraft. Much of this later work was done in the of South Africa, the family returned to Scotland. Apart FAIREY DELTA 2, which with its revolutionary drop- from a few years when his mother escaped the bitter nose and swept-back wing was a forerunner of weather to convalesce in South Africa, young CONCORDE. Only three years before, LIEUTENANT NORMAND was educated in Britain. COMMANDER Peter TWISS had smashed the world air In 1944, when the Admiralty still enjoyed a vision of speed record in the FD2, and a casual entry, ‘famil’ immortality and was the only service recruiting (familiarisation), in his logbook on 22 July 1959 permanent career officers, NORMAND passed the revealed that he became one of the first half dozen men examination for special entry into the Navy. After a to follow TWISS and fly at more than 1,000 mph. spell at the naval college at its wartime home at Eaton Hall, in 1945 he started studies at the RNEC at KEYHAM, Devonport to specialise as an engineer. His four-year degree course included several months at sea in the carriers Illustrious and Victorious where he gained his Auxiliary Watchkeeping Certificate on steam plants, before subspecialising in aero engineering. He took on his first flight on 24 July 1950 and flew solo after just five hours and 40 minutes’ training. NORMAND was flying the SEAFIRE Mark 47, the ultimate and definitive version of the famous SPITFIRE, at the Navy’s Operational Flying School when the Korean War broke out. Progressing to the HAWKER SEA FURY, the last propeller-driven fighter-bomber in the Navy and one of the fastest production single reciprocating engine aircraft ever built, NORMAND learned aerial combat, bombing and deck landing in the carrier Triumph in the English Channel. He joined 804 NAS in the carrier Glory when she was on her third patrol off Korea. There the Fleet Air Arm had reached 3311 Contemporaries regarded NORMAND’s flying skills as He completed the QFI Course in early 1969 where he ‘amazing’, especially after he demonstrated inverted won the coveted CLARKSON Trophy for the best all- spins in HAWKER HUNTERs. round pilot. He returned to Lossiemouth on being Other appointments in his thirty-year naval career appointed as QFI to 764 NAS and finished his Naval included Senior Air Engineer and maintenance testing at Service with 360 Squadron based at RAF Cottesmore. RNASs Brawdy and Abbotsinch, Senior Air Engineer on In civilian life, he flew the CL-44 for TRADEWINDS for the teaching staff at RNEC Manadon. In 1966-69, he a number of years before joining BRITANNIA on the returned to RAE Farnborough as a tutor at the Empire BOEING 737. He was forced to retire from flying in Test Pilot School, and in 1969-71 he served on 1985 when he was diagnosed with MENIERES Disease. exchange at the US Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent Now grounded, Biggles followed his second passion, River as head of flight testing. His final appointment photography, and set up his own professional studio. He was at Boscombe Down where he wrote and amended and his wife, Lynda, also entered the hostellery pilots’ notes, the essential guides on how to fly each business, which included his final establishment, a type of aircraft. superb B&B near Immingham in Norfolk. Biggles He was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1970, which was continued to pursue a further passion for steam trains presented to him by John FREEMAN, then UK and he had had two books published with a third Ambassador, the British Embassy in Washington DC. underway at the time of his untimely death. On leaving the Navy, in 1975-76 he worked briefly for CHEMRING GROUP, best known at the time for the EMBARKED WITH BIGGLES manufacture of ‘chaff’, a defence against radar-guided I joined 809 NAS in October 1967 having just missile threats to aircraft, where his father-in-law, was a completed a short but eventful tour on 736 NAS as a non-executive director. However, commercial life did gash looker (but that’s another story!). This period not suit him and soon he joined the Civil Aviation ashore had followed two years on 800 NAS including Authority There initially he was responsible for the some 16 months embarked on HMS Eagle. issue of licences to operators, but in 1980 he became a flight operations inspector, ensuring operational compliance with procedures and the continuing competence of aircraft operators. Required to maintain his pilot’s licence, he would invite friends and family to join him on flights which were often jaunts to Calais or Le Touquet for lunch, returning with duty-free alcohol, or helicopter flights along the Thames. When he retired from the CAA in 1989 after a 40 year flying career, he had flown more than 3,000 accident-free hours in 124 different types of aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary. NORMAND was a keen rough shooter who often developed lasting friendships with farmers and landowners, and an eager gardener who left a succession of married quarters with beautiful gardens. As a glider pilot he gave much time to teaching others, and, until electronics made home servicing impossible, he would never engage a third party to maintain or repair his cars. In 1951, he married Mary BISHOP, elder daughter of Sir Harold BISHOP. She died in 2001 and he married Christine HOUSELEY (née TRY). He is survived by two sons and two daughters. LIEUTENANT Gerald Anthony ‘Biggles’ On joining 809, I crewed-up with Biggles, who had just RICHARDSON RN completed the OFT on 736 and, as I discovered with everything he did, was looking forward to deploying on David THOMPSON writes that Tony RICHARDSON, HMS Hermes with enormous enthusiasm. We duly affectionately known as Biggles, died on 21 August 2019 embarked aboard Hermes at the beginning of November aged 77, after a long and painful battle with cancer. at the third attempt after a G/S Hydraulics failure forced He joined BRNC Dartmouth in January 1965 as a a return to Lossiemouth and an engine overheat light Seaman but, given his passion for flying (he had already obliged us to divert to RNAS Yeovilton. Successfully passed his PPL), he rapidly trasferred to Aircrew. After embarked with Biggles with his first deck landing under Basic Flying Training at RAF Linton-on-Ouse and his belt, we carried out flying operations on our transit Advance Training at RNAS Brawdy, he joined 736 NAS at RNAS Lossiemouth for Operational Flying Training on the BUCCANNEER. On completion, he joined 809 NAS in October 1967 and embarked on HMS Hermes before returning to Lossiemouth. 3322 to the Arabian Sea where Hermes was to provide air we would grind to a shuddering halt. After that, it was cover for the withdrawal from Aden. Our intial just a question a disentangling from the wire and experiences deploying to the ship rather set the tone for carefully following the marshal’s directions, normally our sorties together: diversion to Ascension Island with into Fly One at the bow of the ship. an engine failure and to RAF Masirah for the same On the day Biggles bolted for the first time, he just problem where we had to politely request that the tower didn’t expect it! All was normal as we hit the deck, we clear the runway of two donkeys and a camel during our just missed the wires! As we hit the deck, I duly yelled single-engined approach. We almost diverted into ‘Power, Power, and Airbrakes In’. However, Biggles Durban with another hydraulics failure but were finally was so surprised, he did neither! As we trundled off the recovered on board after a lengthy debate! front of the angle nose down, I distinctly remember Hermes duly relieved Eagle off of the coast of the Aden looking to starboard and seeing the deck of the ship at in mid-December after the requisite ADEX and we my eye line. As I reached for the bottom handle, I began flying to cover the withdrawal of UK forces from finally heard the power coming on (it seemed to take the Protectorate. The flying was excellent and the ages for the Two SPEYs to wind up!). As I was about to recovery back on board interesting as the Maximum eject, there was a screeching cry from the front seat Hook-On Weight (MHOW) was often below the fuel yelling ‘I’ve got it, I’ve got it’! Instant dilema. I saw the state required to divert to RAF Khormaksar (this meant nose coming up and decided, in that split second, to stay that, effectively, we were non-diversion flying for much with it! We gradually climbed away (Airbrakes Still of the time)! It also meant playing tunes on the FNA Out!), turned starboard onto the recovery course, before valves to ensure that we kept as much fuel on board as turning downwind and landing on-board at the next possible to the last moment, often jettisoning fuel attempt. Biggles never bolted again! downwind to arrive at MHOW over the back end! After Christmas anchored off the coast of Oman, we recommenced flying in early January. Biggles was a very competent pilot and fun to fly with. It was not until I saw the stills from the deck-landing He relished the challenge of deck operations and had no ciné camera used to record all deck landings that I problems operating from the deck until the day we realised just how close we had come to ‘buying the bolted having missed all four arrester wires. Bolting farm’. I’m pretty sure that everyone who ever flew in was not an uncommon occurrence, particularly with the the aircraft can recall similar instances when a split- small deck of Hermes, hot ambient temperatures and second decision was needed. Well, this was one of little natural wind over the deck. Just being a little high mine! or low, or a little fast or flaring or a combination of all And the tale of the left-handed chopsticks? Well, we the above could cause the phenomenon. From a departed Aden at the beginning of February and made a ‘looker’s’ perspective, my first thought during any welcome port call to Mombasa on our return home. A approach to the deck was to expect a bolter and then be number of us, including Biggles, accepted the offer from pleasantly surprised when we didn’t! So when we were the MOMBASA COUNTRY CLUB to have dinner there. downwind, I would put my seat up so I could see as Fully ‘booted and spurred’ we sat down to eat in this old much as possible, checked the fuel against the MHOW colonial establishment with the waiters in their white and All Up Weight and called the landing speed, before mess jackets, dark trousers and bow ties and ordered a looking for the Mirror Landing Sight as we rolled out Chinese meal, which duly arrived. We all began eating onto the approach having crossed the ship’s wake to line using the chopsticks provided when one of our group up with the angle of the deck. Then, it was a question of (possibly Iggy MILNE) asked Biggles whether he was locating the bottom handle, listening to the dulcet tones having difficulty operating the two pieces of wood. of the Landing Signals Officer and the ADD music, ‘Yes,’ replied Biggles and Iggy suggested that (you’ve combined with the commentary and breathing of the guessed it) as he was left-handed he should ask the Guy in the Front before crossing the round-down and waiter for a set of left-handed chopsticks. Biggles, with anticipating the expected thump onto the deck. As we an amused glint of fun in his eyes and much aplomb, hit, I would call ‘Power, Power and Airbrakes In’ in duly called then waiter over. The waiter thought he was expectation of a bolter and, almost instantly, feel the joking. We thought he was joking but, was he? violent retardation when the power would come off and We disembarked to RNAS Lossiemouth in mid- February and discovered, soon after, that we had lost our ship to 801 NAS. They had lost their ship, HMS 3333 Victorious, to a serious on board fire. The squadron set The other Biggles story which comes straight to mind, about forming an aerobatics display team (the PHOENIX was his TIGER MOTH adventure. Lossiemouth had a FIVE) to carry out a combined display with SEA VIXENs station TIGER MOTH which was available for those from 892 NAS (SIMON’S CIRCUS) at that year’s interested in a little weekend recreational flying. FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW (but that’s another story!). Biggles was all set one Saturday to go for a spin in the Biggles designed the crest that became the squadron TIGER being ably supported by a competent Petty Office crest until we disbanded at the end of 1978. Biggles aircrewman. was one of a kind! I will miss him. On this particular morning, the PO was having a little trouble swinging the prop and getting the engine started. *********** Biggles in his ever enthusiastic manner, shouted down, let me have a go, I’ll do it for you. Out he jumped, Robin COX writes: swung the prop and bang the engine started. Success; In a follow up to David THOMPSON’s bolter with though unfortunately, the aircraft was not chocked, no Biggles, I remember it well. I was there. Having parking break to set and off it trundled across recovered on board and parked our machine in Fly One, Lossiemouth airfield, with Biggles in hot pursuit. He we, (myself and the my great looker, Norman was no match for the taxying TIGER, and was unable to Trenchard ROBERSON, who always egged me on, and catch it up as it headed off towards the fire station. at the same time kept me out of trouble), were walking Luckily there was only little damage and no one was back down the deck watching the next planned hook-on. hurt. Not to be, it was Biggles and David almost going for a There were times when we thought maybe accident swim. I vividly remember the bolter, the aircraft prone was a distinct possibility. He was a lovely man disappearing over the angle deck, totally out of sight who will be sorely missed. Thinking of him always puts below Hermes 44 foot high deck. a smile on your face. What a great epitaph. I rushed over fully expecting to see a double MARTIN BAKER recovery. It was like time standing still, it PETTY OFFICER Norman ‘Dickie’ E. seemed forever, nothing was happening, until the RICHARDSON DSM mighty sound of two ROLLS-ROYCE SPEYs could be heard winding up to full power. As I got to the edge of Dickie RICHARDSON died 19 March 2020 aged 96. His the flight deck I saw two massive vortexes of sea water father was a veteran of the Royal Naval Air Service in piralling up from the jet pipes of the mighty SPEYS. the First World War, and on his 18th birthday, Dickie They were that close to a swim. volunteered for the Navy, joining No 32 Telegraphist When one of us leaves this world and flies up to the Air Gunners’ course at Worthy Down. next, one instantly thinks of the happy and amusing Among the pilots were the actors Ralph RICHARDSON stories associated with them. With Biggles there were and Laurence OLIVIER, known respectively by their many. I was on 809 squadron with Biggles for a couple reputations for crashing aircraft as ‘Pranger’ and of years on that 67/68 tour on board Hermes, and had ‘Super Pranger’. the privilege of participating in the PHOENIX FIVE In 1942 he was sent to the US to train on the GRUMMAN aerobatic team for the 1968 Naval contribution to the AVENGER torpedo-bomber, joining 832 NAS in the Farnborough Air Display, where 809 co-ordinated with British carrier Victorious, which was temporarily 892 NAS. renamed USS Robin and sent through the Panama Canal The squadron had purchased a four litre VANDEN PLAS to replace losses in the US Navy’s Pacific fleet. ambulance as a squadron run around vehicle for our Returning to Britain in August 1943, he joined the detachment to RNAS Yeovilton for the duration of the newly formed 849 NAS, which after a spell in Air Display. It was a fine vehicle easily accommodating Katakuranda, Ceylon, embarked in Victorious for the whole squadron. One of the unusual features of this operations against the Japanese. vehicle was having at each corner a hydraulic lifting At first light on 24 January 1945 RICHARDSON, now a system, presumably allowing a steady and stable PETTY OFFICER TELEGRAPHIST AIR GUNNER, launched platform to perform a medical operation, if required. as rear-gunner in LIEUTENANT ‘Gus’ HALLIDAY’s Biggles was the allocated driver of the vehicle; a natural aircraft from the carrier Victorious, in Operation choice as he was the fill in pilot for the display being the MERIDIAN I, one of the Fleet Air Arm’s raids on newest member on the squadron; allowing the rest of us Japanese-held oil refineries at Pladjoe, near Palembang to drink a little more in preparation for the following on Sumatra. He recalled, day flying programme! One night at a country Somerset pub where we were all ‘I had eaten an early, hearty breakfast because I was wining and dining, a few of us thought it would be a a seasoned sailor, but nerves had prevented many good jape, to sneak out and raise the ambulance on its others from tucking in. We flew in formation low hydraulic jacks prior to Biggles driving us back to across the sea to avoid radar, climbed over the Yeovilton. The departure scene was hilarious, with mountains at 14,000ft and sped across the jungle Biggles selecting all gears in succession revving the towards the refineries. When we got near, we saw engine which produced nothing but a thunderous wheel that barrage balloons were up, which we did not spin. When we eventually told Biggles, he laughed as expect and if you hit a cable it would take your only Biggles could. He was a great sport and always wings off”. took everything so well. 3344 As HALLIDAY dived through the balloons and intense overseeing a change from migrant to settled workers and anti-aircraft fire, RICHARDSON said, the development of the African township at Luanshya, which became known as the Garden town of the ‘He had no recollection of being frightened because Copperbelt. Returning to England, he and his wife ran I was busy firing back at attacking aircraft … some MAYFAIR PICNIC BOX in London’s Shepherd Market. of our planes went down, but we caught them on the An effective networker, RICHARDSON campaigned for a hop.’ Memorial to the Palembang Nine, the British and New It was different in Operation MERIDIAN II when the Zealand naval airmen who were shot down over operation was repeated on 29 January against refineries Sumatra and taken prisoner during the war but were at Sungai Gerong, southern Sumatra. Richardson knew murdered by the Japanese after the war. that that they would ready for us. Again, HALLIDAY He married Marion BAKER in 1949 and is survived by dived through the balloons, but the aircraft was hit, his two sons and a daughter. caught fire and the bomb doors jammed open. Petrol leaked everywhere as RICHARDSON used bursts LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Paul Auberon of machine-gun fire to ward off an enemy fighter. WATERHOUSE RN HALLIDAY kept the aircraft flying, but they were forced to ditch in the sea. Paul died on 24 June 2020. He joined the Royal Navy in 1958 as an observer he flew in SEA VENOMs, SEA HMS WHELP VIXENs and PHANTOMs operating off Victorious, Centaur, Eagle and Ark Royal. After two operational While the aircraft filled with water, RICHARDSON tours in SEA VIXENs he flew PHANTOMS on a two year hauled a dinghy out of a wing bay, but it did not inflate. exchange with the US Navy in Miramar California and As HALLIDAY, RICHARDSON and the third crew embarked in the USS Forrestal. Later he helped form the member, Austin WEBSTER, were clinging together in PHANTOM Intensive Flying Trials Unit 700P NAS at the heaving seas, there was, RICHARDSON later Yeovilton in 1968. In May 1969 he was the first in the admitted, Royal Navy’s team of three 892 NAS PHANTOMs to beat the world speed record for flying across the Atlantic ‘Some degree of apprehension, even panic, as every during the Daily Mail Transatlantic Air Race. The Head wave hit us over the head.’ of the Team was the then CAPTAIN Ray LYGO. After about 20 minutes they were rescued by the Paul was a well-respected instructor, the last SOBs on destroyer Whelp, whose first lieutenant was Prince 899 and a good friend to many. He will be much missed Philip of Greece: RICHARDSON always thought the and it is very sad that current restrictions will preclude pyjamas he was given belonged to the Prince. many from paying appropriate respects at this time. The result of OPERATIONS MERIDIAN I and II was the PAUL WITH HIS PILOT ‘DOUG’ BORROWMAN DURING THE RACE reduction by 75 per cent in refined fuel for the Japanese war effort. From References 24 May1962 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN On 9 February HALLIDAY and his crew resumed flying, FAW1 XJ482 of 766 NAS, port engine damaged in and subsequently took part in operations in support of flight by foreign bodies. (LIEUTENANT P.A.T the American landings on Okinawa and strikes against RANDALL, LIEUTENANT P.A. WATERHOUSE). airfields used by Japanese KAMIKAZE aircraft on the Sakishima Islands, and on Formosa. In July, they attacked targets on the mainland and shipping in the inland seas of Japan, including the Japanese carrier Kaiyo. RICHARDSON was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for gallantry, skill and marked devotion to duty in air strikes in the Far East. Post war, he emigrated to Australia, where he worked as an engineer and a sheep farmer. He moved again, to Northern Rhodesia, where from 1957 to 1969 he worked for ROAN ANTELOPE Mines as welfare officer 3355 7 February 1963 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA Mark THOMSON, VIXEN FAW1 XN690 of 893 NAS on Centaur heavy Paul was a special friend of over 50 years, we landing on pitching deck, stbd oleo collapsed. served together in 893 NAS, he was a wonderful (LIEUTENANT D.A. BORROMAN, LIEUTENANT P.A. gentle giant who was loved by everyone. His FAA WATERHOUSE). flying record was second to none, but he was always modest with a wonderfully dry sense of humour 28 February 1964 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA about his many ridiculous flying achievements. VIXEN FAW1 XJ517 of 766 NAS Stbd pitot head broke off in turn at 40,000 ft. (LIEUTENANT M.A. MAUGHAN, The Commanding Officer VF-121 Squadron, Miramar, LIEUTENANT P.A. WATERHOUSE). Paul was a splendid Airman in all respects, extremely proficient in air combat intercept and 16 March 1964 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA conventional weapons delivery. He proved to be an VIXEN FAW1 XJ477 of 766 NAS, flap problem landing exceptionally valuable instructor. on GCA recovery. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER E.J. TROUNSON, LIEUTENANT P.A. WATERHOUSE). Paul CHAPLIN, I have flown and worked with your father often, he 17 February 1965 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA being my Senior Observer on both the Sea Vixen VIXEN FAW1 XJ483 of 890 NAS port brake binding, and Phantom squadrons when I was a junior pilot. aircraft swung to port onto grass after landing at In my opinion the ultimate pilot’s observer ‒ skillful, Lossiemouth. (LIEUTENANT M.A. MAUGHAN, helpful, and unselfish and a compassionate leader. LIEUTENANT P.A. WATERHOUSE). Malcolm HAGAN, 8 February 1965 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA Paul and I flew together on several occasions and it VIXEN FAW1 XJ521 of 890 NAS port tyre burst on was always greatly reassuring for a junior pilot like cross wind landing on wet runway Lossiemouth. me to be working with such a professional and (LIEUTENANT R.S. LORD, LIEUTENANT P.A. relaxed observer as Paul. He flew his last Navy WATERHOUSE). flight with me, and it is recorded in my logbook as a ‘low level air interception’ which would have been a 10 September 1965 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA lot of fun. VIXEN FAW1 XJ520 of 890 NAS on Ark Royal undercarriage collapsed on night landing. (LIEUTENANT Also, with us today is Jonathan KEMPSTER from the R.S. LORD, LIEUTENANT P.A. WATERHOUSE). Imperial War Museum. Thanks to Jonathan we have an incredible audio archive of dad’s FAA career. 9 December 1965 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA Jonathan recorded over 7 hours with dad. It is a VIXEN FAW1 XN688 of 890 NAS on Ark Royal panels testament to dad’s modesty that we are only now finding lost in low level bombing run, China Rock. out fully, his achievements. Thank you, Jonathan, and (LIEUTENANT R.S. LORD, LIEUTENANT P.A. if you don’t mind, I’d like to read out a short excerpt WATERHOUSE). from the email that you sent me which made me smile: 4 May 1969whilst flying MCDONNELL DOUGLAS F- ‘Your father always went out of his way to help me 4K PHANTOM FG.1 XT860 of 892 NAS. Daily Mail achieve work of the highest standard and then he Transatlantic Air Race flown to Wisley in runway to would drive me back to the railway station after each runway time 5hrs, 30 mins 21 sec. Both main tyres recording session. Initially I was nervous about burst on landing. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER D.A. accepting a lift with a gentleman in his 80s but then BORROMAN, LIEUTENANT P.A. WATERHOUSE). when I thought about how he had described the landing of a jet aircraft on mid-ocean carriers at The following is an extract from the Eulogy given by his night without navigation lights I realised that son John: Windsor road traffic was not much of a challenge for I stand here today with a heavy heart. Four months ago, him.’ Dad stood in this same situation the difference being Having left the Navy he went on to have a successful that he was in extremely poor health. He spoke career as Sales Director for a well-known computer eloquently about his wife, Jane and showed incredible printing company. Always thinking of other people, he strength and determination to pay his final respects to would often pick up my grandfather and take him on his his beloved wife. sales calls. It was not unknown for dad to pitch up at a customer’s office with the family dog in the back of the Paul was a multi-talented human being. He led a life car as he couldn’t bear the thought of Beth being left that all young people should aspire to. He studied hard home alone as my mother, Nancy was also out working at school excelling at sciences and languages and as a Teacher. remained an active member of the Old Ealonians He finally finished work almost 20 years ago and had an Association. When he left school, he initially followed extremely active retirement travelling the world with his a career in industry/pharmacy but eventually his success second wife, Jane, often visiting their favourite island in in the Air Training Corps learning to fly at an early age Greece, Spetses and his stepson Andrew in the Far East. took him down the path of military aviation. He had an Andrew would have been with us today if it were not exemplary Naval career including participating in the for the fact that he lives in Melbourne which has now Daily Mail Transatlantic Air Race in 1969. He was also gone into another lockdown scenario for 6 weeks due to one of the MIRAMAR 8 who spent two years in a COVID-19 spike. Andrew has asked me to read the California instructing the Americans in the art of air following: warfare made famous by the film Top Gun. I have received numerous messages highlighting father’s attributes and if I may I would like to share a few of these with you. 3366 ‘Paul was a very kind, patient and considerate man, LIEUTENANT Gareth John ‘Dally’ MANKELLOW he and mum were very happy together throughout RN their 32 years of marriage and clearly loved each other very much. I have many many happy Gareth died on 27 March 2020. memories of our previous times spent together during holidays in Greece, their visits with me in COMMANDER David Peter MEARS LVO, OBE, various countries in the Asia Pacific region and my RN trips back home to Windsor. I loved Paul very much and will miss him immensely.” David died at the beginning of the year aged 84. Others His wife Julia has sent the following: Since the last News Sheet, the Association has been 1956 – Suez Carried out low-level bombing of made aware of the following deaths. It is hoped that airfields from HMS Ark Royal. obituaries may be written up in the next News Sheet. In Returned to deck with palm some cases our information on the deceased is very leaves in intake! sparse, so any details known by members would be very welcome. References are from The Squadrons and 1963 Ejected into North Sea whilst at Units of the Fleet Air Arm by Theo BALLANCE, Lee Lossiemouth. HOWARD and Ray STURTIVANT 1964 Staff at Dartmouth giving cadets a LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Peter CALDERLEY taste of flying. RN 1967 Torrey Canyon disaster. Took Peter died 11 July 2020 aged 75. Specialist AEO and P. part in bombing raids and Left the Service in 1977 and flew helicopters for apparently had a direct hit. BRISTOW in Singapore and Nigeria. (Online footage shows the ship on fire and a BUCCANEER landing. COMMANDER Terrence ‘Terry’ CARTER RN Apparently this is David climbing Terry died 18 April 2020 aged 90. out of the cockpit). LIEUTENANT John Selby COTGROVE RN 1969 Led the fly past for the launch of John died on 31 August 2020. He joined the Royal the new QE2 liner Navy in 1949 and served as a pilot on 812 and 703 Squadrons. 1970 National Defence College lecturer. IRA bomb blast whilst SUB LIEUTENANT (A) Eric A. DEAN RNVR there but fortunately David Pilot 825, 836, 748 Squadrons. suffered only bruises. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER (A) Sam DOWLE 1977 – 79 Australia. David was ‘running’ RNVR HMAS Cerberus. Sam died on 31 March 2020 aged 94. He took part in 1983 – 85 Defence Attaché British Embassy the 2013 TV programme The Battle of the Atlantic: Lisbon, Portugal. Royal visit by Remembered. HMY Britannia – hosted the Queen and PRINCE Philip for 5 LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN TREVOR days. David was given his LVO GREEN RN by the Queen on board. Julia received a signed photograph of John died on 26 March 2020. He leaves a widow, PRINCE Philip! Kathie. He was an Air Engineer. 1986 Awarded OBE CAPTAIN John E. FELICE VRD* RN John died on 29 April 2020. 1988 Retired from RN and takes over the running of a group of SUB LIEUTENANT Ivor J. FOGG solicitors until aged 65. SURGEON LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Donald M. There is a recording for the IWM sound archive. HOLMES RN From References Donald died 22 September 2019. 28 October 958 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND DH115 SEA VAMPIRE T.22 XG746 of 736 NAS the undercarriage was inadvertently lowered during a high speed run, stbd brake U/S on landing, ran off end of runway. (LIEUTENANT D.P. MEARS, LIEUTENANT J. WORTH). 10 October 1963 whilst flying BLACKBURN BUCCANEER S.1. XK533 of 809 NAS on approach to Lossiemouth both engines flamed out due to fuel system defect, crew ejected safely and the aircraft crashed in Moray Firth 1 mile North of the airfield. (LIEUTENANT D.P. MEARS, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER C.A.J. WHITE picked up unhurt by helicopter). 37 30 August 1964 whilst flying BLACKBURN BUCCANEER 13 November 1964, whilst flying HAWKER HUNTER T8 S.1. XK534 of 809 NAS port engine hydraulic pump XF994 of 759 NAS bird strike at 500ft on low level failue 3 minutes after Take Off. (LIEUTENANT D.P. NAVEX. (LIEUTENANT M.J. SPINKS, SUB LIEUTENANT MEARS, LIEUTENANT J.R.L. INGHAM). M. HOLLOWAY). 2 October 1964 whilst flying BLACKBURN BUCCANEER S.1. XN967 of 809 NAS fuel flow problem, normal 7 MAY 1963 whilst starting FAIREY GANNET AS4 landing. (LIEUTENANT D.P. MEARS, LIEUTENANT XA459 of 837 NAS Cartridge exploded and Starter T.G. HOMAN). disintegrated injuring A/LEM(A) J.F. TONER. 17 February 1967 whilst flying BLACKBURN (LIEUTENANT M.J. SPINKS). BUCCANEER S.2. XT288 of 800 NAS bird strike stbd engine. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER D.P. MEARS, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Geoff D. VARLEY RN LIEUTENANT R. PATTERSON). 26 March 1967 whilst flying BLACKBURN BUCCANEER Geoff died on 11 May 2020. S.2. XV159 of 800 NAS port engine LP compressor pm low, aircraft landed safely at night Lossiemouth. From References (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER D.P. MEARS, 9 May 1955 whilst flying HAWKER SEA HAWK F1 LIEUTENANT R. PATTERSON). WF176 of 767 NAS hydraulic failure, emergency 8 March 1969 whilst flying BLACKBURN BUCCANEER system used, Starboard undercarriage collapsed on S.2. XT286 of 800 NAS control problems aircraft landing. (Sub LIEUTENANT G.D. VARLEY). landed safely. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER D.P. MEARS, LIEUTENANT R. PATTERSON). 24 July 1961 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN 21 April 1969 whilst flying BLACKBURN BUCCANEER FAW1 XJ523 of 893 NAS double generator failure, S.1. XN965 of 736 NAS nose wheel problem, successful single engine night deck landing Centaur off precautionary landing. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Aden. (LIEUTENANT G.D. VARLEY, LIEUTENANT E.J. D.P. MEARS, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER P.H. BEADSMORE). CUMMUSKEY). 9 March 1970 whilst flying BLACKBURN BUCCANEER 13 December 1961 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA S.2. XT286 of 809 NAS stbd engine failure, single VIXEN FAW1 XJ523 of 893 NAS door lost in flight, engine landing at Lossiemouth. (LIEUTENANT Centaur, 100 miles North of Mombasa. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER D.P. MEARS). G.D. VARLEY). BRIGADIER Mark NOBLE OBE RM 2 August 1963 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN Mark died suddenly died on 22 July 2020. FAW1 XJ580 of 893 NAS Wing Lock warning on He joined the Royal Marines in 1978 and subsequently Victorious catapult launch, observer ejected and specialised as a helicopter pilot. Whilst spending much recovered uninjured, landed safely Yeovilton. of his service within 3BAS and the wider Fleet Air Arm (LIEUTENANT G.D. VARLEY, LIEUTENANT J.L. (including an attachment to the USMC). SPEAR). Mark also returned regularly to the main body of the Corps, serving in 45 Cdo, CTCRM (OTW) and 23 November 1963 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA COMACCHIO Group. As CO COMACCHIO Group, he VIXEN FAW1 XN651 of 893 NAS Firestreak practice was responsible for the move of the unit from RM round dropped off on catapult launch. (LIEUTENANT Condor to Faslane and the renaming of the unit to G.D. VARLEY, LIEUTENANT W. ADAMS). FPGRM. He went on to become the first Deputy CGRM and his 14 October 1964 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA final appointment was as Commanding Officer RNAS VIXEN FAW1 XP925 of 899 NAS Port generator failure, Yeovilton. On retirement, he became the first CE of the landed safely. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER G.D. Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund. VARLEY, LIEUTENANT W. ADAMS). LIEUTENANT Mike J. SPINKS RN 26 January 1967 11 May 1967 whilst flying DE From References HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN FAW1 XN691 of 899 NAS 11 FEBRURY 1960 whilst flying HAWKER SEA HAWK Starboard wing hit by RP ricochet pulling out of dive, FGA4 WV903 of 801 NAS hit by spent cartridge case Lilstock range. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER G.D. from aircraft ahead during strafing attack, Singapore. VARLEY, LIEUTENANT C.R.W. GRIFFIN). (SUB LIEUTENANT M.J. SPINKS). 11 May 1967 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN 29 October 1964, whilst flying HAWKER HUNTER T8 FAW1 XN691 of 899 NAS FR hose would not wind in, XF983 of 759 NAS bird strike on take-off. jettisoned alongside runway. (LIEUTENANT (LIEUTENANT M.J. SPINKS). COMMANDER G.D. VARLEY LIEUTENANT COMMANDER R.D. MCCULLOCH). 15 March 1968 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN FAW1 XJ579 of 899 NAS port engine failure, single engine landing, Eagle. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER G.D. VARLEY, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER R.D. MCCULLOCH). 9 August 1967 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN FAW2 XS578 of 899 NAS PR probe broke whilst refuelling from VICTOR. (LIEUTENANT COMMANDER G.D. VARLEY, FLIGHT LIEUTENANT J.D. CHAPPELL RAF). 3388 LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Chris G T WILSON and commanding four warships and latterly, as the Clerk RN to the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, not only a job he loved but a hobby he loved too. Chris died 24 April 2020. From References CO 815. COS to SNONI. 24 July 1964 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA Caicos Police Force. VIXEN XN656 the aircraft had a hydraulic failure Heron as Little F. and diverted to Boscombe Down precautionary COMMANDER Robert ‘Rob’ WOOLGAR OBE RN. landing. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER S.G. PARKES, LIEUTENANT R.E. WOOLGAR. Died on 5 May 2020 in Cambridgeshire after a four-year 16 January 1969 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA battle with Alzheimer. Despite his illness he remained VIXEN XJ570 Hook bounced during demonstration character fully cheerful to the end. A wonderful and PUGA fly in on wet runway, both tyres burst. supportive husband to Jacqui for 54 years, father to LIEUTENANT D.L. HENRY, LIEUTENANT R.E. Janie and Nick and grandfather to Freddie and Islay. WOOLGAR. 27 January 1969 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA He had a very happy and full life; growing up in VIXEN XJ584 the Wingfold Warning Light Petersfield, in the Royal Navy as a SEA VIXEN aviator illuminated in test flight, landed safely. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER R.Q.F. EVANS, LIEUTENANT R.E. WOOLGAR. 11 February 1969 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN FAW2 XP921 hydraulic warning returned to base. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER M.J, BATEMAN, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER R.E. WOOLGAR. 9 December 1969 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN XJ571 ricochet damage after R.P. attack. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER J.J. BOLT, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER R.E. WOOLGAR. 11 JANUARY 1970 XS 578 whilst flying DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN FAW2 Nose Oleo sheared on landing on Hermes. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER J.J. BOLT, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER R.E. WOOLGAR. 3399 TAIL PIECES 820 NAS JOINS HMS ‘QUEEN ELIZABETH’ AT SEA RNAS Culdrose based 820 NAS, the ‘Carrier Squadron’, has rejoined HMS Queen Elizabeth to take part in Basic Sea Training and Carrier Sea Training in preparation for the carrier task group’s maiden operational deployment next year. Aircrew, engineers, survival equipment technicians and logistics personnel have embarked with their MERLIN Mk 2 helicopters as the ship is put through its paces by the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation ‒ a rigorous test of the ship’s safety, capability and readiness to deploy. COMMANDER Ian ‘Reg’ VARLEY said, ‘I have recently taken over Command of 820 NAS and I am hugely excited and privileged to be going to sea with my team. We were recently on call supporting the nation’s emergency services and we have just handed that over to another Culdrose squadron so that we can focus on our more traditional purpose which is to defend the UK’s aircraft carrier Task Group. In supporting our ships to operate anywhere they are required in the world. 820 NAS is trained and equipped to counter threats from submarines, warships and aircraft, skills that we call Anti-Submarine Warfare and Airborne Surveillance and Control. This training period on 4400 board HMS Queen Elizabeth is a valuable part of of the helicopter’s fuselage earning the nickname sharpening our prowess and getting our people and “baggers”). ‘Reg’ VARLEY said, equipment further integrated within the aircraft carrier.’ ‘Combining warfare expertise in anti-submarine and Keeping the sophisticated MERLIN helicopter flying is airborne surveillance and control under one single no small task and is very much a team effort. LEADING squadron badge will give the Fleet Air Arm the best AIR ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN Danielle King who is possible deploying unit to take carrier strike forward one of the squadron’s aircraft engineers said, into the next generation. ‘The run up to a major training exercise is a busy I look forward to seeing waves of Pingers and period for us. The aim is to keep these aircraft Baggers launching together from the deck of HMS capable of flying around the clock ensuring we can Queen Elizabeth under the single identity of 820 always keep an asset on station hunting the enemy NAS.’ submarine. Our number one priority is to keep the aircraft and its crew safe and that means we need to ******************** be meticulous in our aircraft maintenance as any mistakes could be costly. It’s hard work but a job I 1700 SQUADRON really enjoy doing.’ THE VITAL TEAM KEY TO THE NAVY’S NAMED FLEET AIR ARM’S SAFETY CHAMPIONS CARIBBEAN RELIEF MISSION All Fleet Air Arm squadrons pride themselves on exemplary safety records in peace and war, but naval Sailors from RNAS Culdrose are playing a key role in aviation’s senior officers decided 820 NAS stood out the flagship of the Royal Navy’s Caribbean task force. especially. The Aviation training/support ship RFA Argus – The squadron is permanently assigned to the carrier carrying four military helicopters and elite Royal HMS Queen Elizabeth, acting as her shield against Marines – is likely to be the UK’s first response to a submarine attack as well as scouting threats on the devastating hurricane should it strike the region during surface and performing general duties. the impending hurricane season. Home is not just the biggest flight deck in the Navy, but also the busiest; the squadron shares it (and the hangar The ship has joined forces with the UK’s Caribbean and surrounding airspace) with F-35 LIGHTNING jets, patrol ship, the new RIVER class vessel HMS Medway, troop-carrying MERLINs and, frequently, RAF which arrived on station earlier this year and will remain CHINOOKs, and Navy WILDCAT helicopters… plus in the region long-term under the Royal Navy’s Forward visiting aircraft from allied nations. Presence programme. That they have done so seamlessly earned the Culdrose- The helicopters – three-troop carrying MERLINs and a based squadron the BAMBARA Flight Safety Shield, smaller, agile maritime WILDCAT – plus a specialist awarded for developing, detachment of Royal Marines Commandos and Royal Engineers will be at the vanguard of any relief effort. ‘A robust safety management system and good relationship with command during the numerous embarkations on HMS Queen Elizabeth, whilst never losing sight of the hazards inherent in aviation.’ The shield was presented on board in the middle of Exercise CRIMSON OCEAN, a five-day operational test of Queen Elizabeth, HMS Kent, a hunter-killer submarine and the carrier air group in the North Sea. GROUPEX this autumn builds on what participants learned during CRIMSON with half a dozen MERLINs embarking on the carrier for a large-scale exercise designed to fully integrate the entire strike group ahead of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s maiden deployment in the New Year. As well as acting as the carrier’s eyes and ears against submarine threats, 820 will take on the additional responsibility of her eyes in the sky too, merging with 849 NAS to take on Airborne Surveillance and Control, watching for airborne threats and helping to direct carrier air power on to targets courtesy of the CROWSNEST variant of the MERLIN (like the SEA KING version before it, a radar in large black sack sticking out 4411 But none would land or take-off on Argus without CHINOOKs, using a former ammunition and armaments trained aircraft handlers who guide the helicopters on to depot near Chepstow as their testing ground. and off the flight deck safely, oversee refuelling, fire Planners used their experiences of relief missions in the fighting in the event of an accident, and the safe transfer Philippines in 2013 (Operation PATWIN) and, more of loads slung beneath the aircraft, under the direction of recently, in the Caribbean after a succession of storms in Flying Control, the ship’s aviation officer. All come the autumn of 2017 (Operation RUMAN) to prepare the from 1700 Squadron. two week workout. The key test of MERLIN STORM was LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Neil HARRIS, in charge of as much about the helicopter force’s ground support as the Culdrose team explained, the aircraft themselves. On a devastated island, the force will be expected to look after itself – fuel, food, ‘Operating the third largest flight deck in the Royal clean water, maintenance and medical support – and Navy is only as good as the embarked flight deck help the local populace. teams. Both the aircraft engineers and the aircraft handlers are out in all weathers, day and night.’ It meant personnel living in the field in rudimentary The unique squadron – which, despite its name, conditions, Navy chefs running field kitchens, sailors possesses no aircraft – provides ships across the Royal testing portable reverse osmosis/desalination plants to Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary with specialist teams of provide fresh water – far more practical than shipping in sailors to carry out their mission. bottled water – and teams setting up small refuelling At any one time, two thirds of the squadron is deployed; posts around the Caerwent range as they would around right now, there are 53 men and women from Culdrose outlying islands. on Argus even though no helicopters from the Cornish For the second week of the exercise, planners introduced air station are embarked. something new: criminal groups moving into the area They make up an eclectic team of aircraft handlers, and filling the gap left by the decimated legal engineers, naval police officers, medics and others authorities. This led to fighting on the ground, helicopter ensure not just the smooth running of the busy flight assaults involving Royal Marines from 40 Commando, deck. based near Taunton, and threats to the CHF outposts Since Argus left Plymouth in March, the 1700 team has peppered around the range. trained extensively to ensure they are ready for any It allowed CHF to test its Mobility Troop, charged with situation they might encounter – set against the providing force protection in all terrain, all backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic which meant environments, all weathers. In temperate climes, that personnel had to isolate/maintain a safe social distance means RWMIK LAND ROVERs and JACKAL armoured from colleagues and family members ashore. vehicles crewed by commandos and armed with Royal With serious casualties always likely in a hurricane, Marines who live, work and fight from their vehicles for medics from 1700 Squadron have practiced carefully up to five days at a time around the refuelling posts – moving critically-ill patients quickly and comfortably automated sensors (infrared, seismic, acoustic and from a disaster zone to the ship, either by using the intelligent motion cameras) which report any movement MERLINs and WILDCAT or by boat. to give the troops forewarning. In addition, for the first time the Royal Navy’s dedicated ******************** drone squadron, 700X from Culdrose, provided additional surveillance for CHF, scouting buildings for COMMANDO AVIATORS PREPARED troops to pave the way for troops moving in – or to help them avoid ambushes – and giving the boots on the FOR THE ground an unparalleled 360-degree view and understanding of the world around them. CARIBBEAN AFTER WALES WORKOUT The results were hailed as ‘impressive’ as was the overall outcome of the exercise. LIEUTENANT The wings of the Royal Marines hit South East Wales COMMANDER Chris MARSDEN, in charge of the for a fortnight to prepare them should a major hurricane Combat Service Support Squadron said, strike the Caribbean. The Commando Helicopter Force was on standby to head to the region, bolstering a Royal Navy led task group already on patrol. RFA Argus was dispatched with MERLINs, a WILDCAT, and a specialist emergency relief team with supplies back in April, to work with the RN’s permanent presence around its overseas territories, HMS Medway. Should they require assistance in the wake of Nature’s fury, the MoD will activate Operation CARIBBEAN. Caerwent doubled for the Caribbean as the Yeovilton based force dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane DAVE – the scenario set not just aircrews, but also the substantial logistical team needed to support the helicopters in the field. Exercise MERLIN STORM saw Royal Marine MERLIN and WILDCAT helicopters share Monmouthshire skies with the RAF’s heavy lifting 42 ‘MERLIN STORM allowed the Mobility Troop to ‘On behalf of everyone at RNAS Culdrose, I’d like prepare for Operation CARIBBEAN and to wish Mr TAYLOR a very happy 100th birthday humanitarian/disaster relief operations, while also and I hope he has enjoyed this special day with his providing the opportunity to remain at the top of family and friends. their game with ‘green skills’ soldiering.’ In this year, as we remember the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, it is truly ******************* remarkable to think that Mr TAYLOR was 25 years old on VE Day. He is a direct link back to a time in HELSTON 100TH BIRTHDAY OF DUNKIRK our history that should never be forgotten. While his war-time story is one of survival as a VETERAN prisoner in impossibly difficult circumstances, he Sailors from RNAS Culdrose were delighted to wish did come through that ordeal and enjoyed a long and Dunkirk veteran Eric TAYLOR a happy 100th birthday. happy life here in Cornwall with his wife Florrie, A small group from the Air Station made the short his children, grand-children and great grand- journey into Helston to stand in the street outside Mr children. TAYLOR’s home. As he used to play the bugle while in captivity and They presented him with an aerial photograph of sailors was heavily involved with St Keverne Band in later marking out the number 100 while four members of the years, I was extremely pleased that members of our HMS Seahawk Band played Happy Birthday. Another own HMS Seahawk Band were able to play Happy sailor, CHIEF PETTY OFFICER MAITLAND played The Birthday for him. Heroes of St Valery on the bagpipes, a tribute to Mr It was also a real poignant moment when CPO TAYLOR’s service with the Royal Norfolk Regiment MAITLAND played The Heroes of St Valery to mark and the 51st Highland Division in the defence of the debt we owe to him and his comrades for their Dunkirk in June 1940. bravery defending the evacuation at Dunkirk.’ Mr TAYLOR served as a private with the Royal Norfolk A pair of HAWK jets, on their way back to Culdrose Regiment in the early days of the Second World War. from a training exercise, then flew over the street as an Falling back on Dunkirk in June 1940, his unit held off additional treat for Mr TAYLOR and his family. the enemy for as long as possible but were captured a COMMANDER Martin BARLOW said, week later on the beaches. Along with 10,000 French and British prisoners of war, he aged then 19, was marched to Germany where they were loaded into cattle wagons and transported to Nazi- occupied Poland. He spent the rest of the war in a number of labour camps, doing manual labour such as repairing railway lines. Mr TAYLOR spoke of seeing trainloads of prisoners passing on the tracks ‒ many which would have been transports of Jews – not realising at the time that they were bound for the Nazi’s death camps. In the bitter winter of 1944, he joined thousands of other prisoners on the march back into Germany, ahead of the advancing Russian Army. Many died in the freezing temperatures as they trudged with little food, no adequate clothing or shelter. Near Hamburg, he was liberated by the Americans and brought back to Britain shortly before the end of the war. Afterwards, Mr TAYLOR travelled to London to meet his close friend, a man he had helped on the march back to Germany, where he chanced to meet a girl from Cornwall. He married Florrie May PETERS at St Keverne Church and the couple moved to Porthallow, on the Lizard peninsula, Cornwall. Inspired by his love of music, Mr TAYLOR joined ST KEVERNE Brass Band in the 1950s and has spent 70 years associated with the band. In 1982, they moved to nearby Helston. Mrs TAYLOR passed away in 2003. ******************** 4433 ‘MAGPIE’ FLIES AS SURVEY VESSEL At the helm of Magpie was her Commanding Officer LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Mark WHITE, who deftly PRACTISES FIRST AERIAL RESCUE manoeuvred his vessel in the face of a very powerful Naval aviators practised a rescue from one of the downwash from the rotors of the 14tonne helicopter. smallest vessels in the Fleet when they dropped in on He said, the survey ship HMS Magpie in the Solent. ‘This was absolutely a Magpie first. It definitely Observer LIEUTENANT COMMANDER ‘AJ’ PEARSON gave us a salty wash down but we were able to hold was carefully lowered on to the tiny open deck area of course no problem despite the impressive Magpie by his fellow 824 NAS aircrew – the first time downwash.’ winching to and from the 18-metre-long craft had been After an extensive refit earlier this year in Cornwall, the attempted. Devonport based Magpie is conducting survey work in Magpie’s quarterdeck is little larger than the cockpit of a home waters. yacht – making it ideal for practising winching a Her size and the fact that she’s packed from bow to stern casualty from a confined space. with leading-edge sonar and scanning equipment means This type of training is essential for our aviators – Royal she can survey inshore waters larger vessels in the Royal Navy helicopter crews must maintain the ability to Navy’s Hydrographic and Survey Flotilla cannot – and conduct rescues at sea, whether it involves saving a in unparalleled detail, providing the most accurate casualty from one of our warships such as an injured mapping of ports, harbours and shipping lanes in home crew member aboard Magpie, plucking downed aviators out of the ocean, or responding to MAYDAYs from ******************** civilian mariners wherever a British warship might be on patrol in the world. MERLIN TEAM GETS TO GRIPS WITH Culdrose based 824 NAS trains the Fleet Air Arm’s WILDCAT ON ‘WESTMINSTER’ front-line MERLIN Mk2 personnel in the art of flying, operating and maintaining the world’s leading Fresh from submarine hunting in the Denmark Strait on submarine-hunting helicopter. 824’s Commanding a NATO exercise, the Portsmouth based frigate HMS Officer COMMANDER Martin ‘Leathers’ RUSSELL Westminster helped train the naval aviators of tomorrow said, from 825 NAS. 825 feeds the front-line WILDCAT squadron 815, with fully trained air and ground crew so ‘It’s testament to the hard work of our engineers and they can deploy on operations around the world, aircrew that we can achieve essential training typically with Royal Navy destroyers or frigates such as opportunities like this whilst simultaneously being at Westminster. readiness to support local authorities in the South The extensive training for the aviators includes key sea West, and train the next generation of MERLIN Mk2 time – such as deck landings by day and night, winching aircrew for the Royal Navy.’ personnel or loads from the flight deck, and refuelling without landing. Which is where the ‘capital ship’ came in. As one of the RN’s eight dedicated anti-submarine frigates, she typically carries a MERLIN Mk2 helicopter specifically designed for hunting underwater threats, provided by 814 NAS’s Tungsten Flight. And as one of the RN’s high-readiness units, Westminster was on short notice to respond to events in home waters – and due to the pandemic, she’s operated a ‘closed gangway’ since the beginning of May to ensure all 200 souls aboard remain healthy. That’s ruled her sailors out from going ashore in the UK. Flight 4444 Commander LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Chris LUKE The fact that we are on the brink of achieving it explained, despite the recent challenges is truly outstanding. You represent the vanguard of this new capability, ‘Normally we’d look to disembark and let the which I have no doubt will expand over the coming WILDCAT use the deck with their own team, but we years and I congratulate you all.’ can’t stay ready for tasking and leave the ship due to The work and training by 700X NAS comes as the the COVID-19 situation.’ Royal Navy commits to investing in and embracing new So instead of making way for dedicated WILDCAT technology. The navy aims to put the latest equipment engineers from 825 NAS, the MERLIN mechanics and on the frontline of operations and into the hands of its technicians have remained aboard to help maintain the sailors and Royal Marines. nimble helicopter. AIR ENGINEER TECHNICIAN Karl Drones and other autonomous systems are one of the LOWLES said, areas the service is looking into. A recent day on HMS ‘A lot of things are the same, but there are little Prince of Wales brought together experts from the navy, differences that we’ve had to learn at very short MoD and industry to meet and discuss the vision for notice. It’s not something most flights get the drone operations. chance to do.’ LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Justin MATTHEWS, the commanding officer of 700X NAS, said, ******************** ‘It is great to be able to say that we have now completed the many months of training to take this NAVY’S DRONE EXPERTS 700X NAS remotely piloted system to sea. We have two flights READY TO DEPLOY ON WARSHIPS ready to deploy and a third to follow later in the year. This is all about Royal Navy sailors flying from The Royal Navy’s experts in remotely piloted air Royal Navy ships. The instructors and everyone at systems have created three new flights ready to deploy the squadron should be really proud of what we have to sea. 700X NAS is now ready to deploy on warships ‒ all achieved as we move forward with this new marking a new phase in the technological development technology. This is a new and exciting chapter for of aviation at sea. the Royal Navy.’ ******************** PILOTS OF THE FUTURE 2nd Maritime Air Wing has been formally commissioned at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire to oversee the training of Naval, RAF and Army Air Corps helicopter pilots – turning men and women with a basic knowledge of flight into skilled aviators ready to handle front line machines. Having completed months of training on various The Wing has been operating since 2018, but only systems, eight sailors at the squadron, based at RNAS formally commissioned now which saw a blessing for Culdrose, have now come together to form the three the new formation by the RIGHT REVEREND SQUADRON flights, known as Phantom Flights A, B and C. One LEADER JOHN HARRISON and a formal pennant raising extra member will join the team later in the year. Each in the presence of CAPTAIN Roger WYNESS, Assistant flight consists of a commander as well as an air Director of Flying Training 22 Group who said, engineering technician and naval airman who each serve as remote pilots. ‘There is no doubt that the world class training that the Wing delivers on behalf of Defence will ensure The system they will take to sea, known as PUMA, can be launched directly from a ship. It consists of a light- weight airframe but has sophisticated cameras and flight system. COMMANDER Tim FLATMAN, the commander of the fixed-wing force at Culdrose, handed over certificates to the members of the new flights on the completion of their training. Speaking to the assembled sailors, he said, ‘This represents the end of a lot of hard work by you all and you are now ready to take this capability to sea. It was just over a year ago that the gauntlet was laid down to send a deployable capability to sea. 4455 that the front line is supplied with well trained and warning, anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue. highly motivated rotary wing aviators. I am He said, delighted that 2 Maritime Air Wing is undeniably ‘Everyone calls me Tank. I actually have a tank ‘Underway, Making Way’.’ driving licence ‒ but mostly I get the name because I 2nd Maritime Air Wing traces its history back to the am a big lad. As far as I am aware, I’m the only first days of the Great War and 2nd Squadron, Royal regular in the Royal Navy with this many hours. I Naval Air Service – forerunner of today’s Fleet Air Arm just love flying helicopters. It’s like having your – formed at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey on the own rollercoaster, as you’ve got that freedom in orders of Winston CHURCHILL, the political head of three dimensions.’ the Navy at the time. In its 2020 incarnation, the Wing must provide the Fleet He joined the Royal Navy as a pilot just before his 21st Air Arm, RAF and Army Air Corps with 106 fresh birthday and has spent the bulk of his career in SEA pilots every year as one of two training wings under No. KINGs, having only recently converted to MERLIN Mk2 1 Flying Training School (the other is 9 Regiment Army helicopters. He is a qualified instructor and now works Air Corps), encompassing 705 NAS, 660 Squadron as a staff pilot at 824 NAS, the training unit at RNAS AAC and 202 Squadron RAF. Culdrose, where he shares his experience with the new Students fly state-of-the-art AIRBUS H135 JUNO (also generation of aircrew. He said, operated by the police) and the larger AIRBUS H145 JUPITER for live training. Both helicopters have two ‘When you compare them, they are different aircraft. engines, ‘glass’ – i.e. fully digital – cockpits, kitted out In a SEA KING, you’re much more involved in flying with the latest navigation equipment, fully compatible whereas you are more managing the MERLIN. The with night vision devices, and with capability for load SEA KING is better in the hover but not as good at lifting, winching and surveillance operations. speed. My first love will always be the SEA KING. The trainee pilots often arrive at Shawbury, near I’ve spent enough time in it that it’s like a favourite Shrewsbury, with no previous experience of flying pair of slippers. The MERLIN is more like a pair of helicopters, but leave as skilled fliers, able to fly low- new shoes.’ level, in poor weather frequently encountered at sea and Of all his time in the air, Tank said his years spent in around naval/air bases, in tactical formations, operating search and rescue were the most challenging and day or at night with night-vision devices. rewarding. He has flown 406 rescue missions over five The training is intensive and demanding, but the trainees years with the red and grey SEA KINGs of 771 NAS in have exceptional facilities to help them from hi-tech full Cornwall and three years flying from HMS Gannet all flight simulators, to mission planning devices, over Scotland. He said, computer-based learning packages and traditional ‘I miss search and rescue. That was the best job I’ve ground school lessons. A mixture of highly-experienced done. It’s almost like being in a war, but not being serving and ex-military instructors, with deep expertise in a war obviously. We’d be at Culdrose on duty in training and front line operations provide instruction and usually we’d have 15 minutes to get airborne in the air and on the ground. from the call – and we never took that long. Then Successful Fleet Air Arm students move on to: we’d set off with the most basic information about an emergency. • 824 NAS (MERLIN Mk2). Then you’d get there and it’s not what you expect • 825 NAS (WILDCAT HMA2). and you’d have to improvise. It’s like a captaincy • 847 NAS (WILDCAT AH1). check where they just keep throwing problem after • 846 NAS (MERLIN Mk4). problem at you. No matter the weather, you always go and do the best you can. I lot of the worst jobs, ******************** as a pilot, were those in blizzards, again usually in Scotland. ROYAL NAVY HELICOPTER PILOT I remember once, we’d picked up a woman who’d had a brain haemorrhage. We were flying down the WITH MORE THAN AN ENTIRE YEAR valleys towards Glasgow and a sudden snow storm OF FLYING HOURS IN MILITARY AIRCRAFT blew up – I couldn’t see more than 40-feet and I LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Andrew ‘Tank’ MURRAY couldn’t see the cliffs. I couldn’t go up as there was has clocked in excess of a staggering 8,760 hours in the air – more than any other regular member of the navy. The 54-year-old’s service includes eight years flying search and rescue helicopters around Scotland and Cornwall – including the Boscastle disaster ‒ five tours of Afghanistan, tours in Iraq and Sierra Leone, as well as deployments around the world, from the Caribbean to Japan to the Arctic. His list of Naval Air Squadrons includes 814, 706, 810, 820, 849, 771 and 857 with roles in airborne early 4466 a danger of icing-up. We just had to hover for about The WILDCAT left mother ship RFA Argus to work ten minutes until it cleared. The nurse we’d picked alongside the Turks and Caicos police and make use of up said the woman was going to die if she didn’t get the helicopter’s cutting-edge sensors and radars, making to hospital and I said, it a world-class aircraft for reconnaissance and patrol sorties. ‘If we fly anywhere in this, we’re all going to The advanced sensors make the aircraft adept at die.’ searching and finding any targets on land or at sea, and Tank also flew the fourth helicopter to arrive at this is particularly useful at night, when illicit drug Boscastle in Cornwall, which was devasted by a flash trafficking is known to take place in the region. flood in 2004. He said, Flight Observer LIEUTENANT SMITH, and Pilot ‘I was at home and was watching all this happening Lieutenant Jim CARVER demonstrated how the aircraft on TV. I rang in to Culdrose and asked if we were sensors work and how they are used for counter illicit going and we got an extra crew together. When we trafficking operations. got over the village, we checked some of the cars The 203 Flight team were in turn given a tour of the that were washed out to sea and we helped take a Provo Radar station that they had liaised with on their woman to hospital.’ patrols by local Radar operator Rodman JOHNSON. He said his flying time has not been without its share of Jim CARVER said, trouble in the air, adding. ‘I’ve been on fire and I’ve had to make emergency ‘We are here in the Caribbean to support British landing after a gearbox oil dump – twice actually. It Overseas Territories as part of the enduring Atlantic happened once in the United Arab Emirates in 2018 Patrol Tasking (North) during the core hurricane and we were forced to suddenly put down in the car season, and supporting other nations with maritime park of a five-star hotel. The other time it happened, security. we managed to land at short notice in a pub car park We have disembarked into Turks and Caicos Islands on the Isle of Arran. to conduct scheduled maintenance and to conduct We caught fire once in the Indian Ocean. We were flying in direct support to maritime security working off Invincible at Diego Garcia and I was operations.’ doing circuits of the airfield when the control tower As well as assisting police with patrols, scheduled came on and said maintenance will prepare the WILDCAT for hurricane You do know you’re on fire?’ season. We had to land quickly. I’ve had every problem you The UK Task Group in the Caribbean is ready to could think of in the SEA KING. The only thing I respond with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief haven’t done is ditch at sea, and I don’t want to be in the event of a natural disaster, and the WILDCAT is an part of that club thank you very much.’ important part of a wider Tailored Air Group (TAG) that Tank will continue to serve in the Royal Navy until just also has three MERLIN helicopters embarked on RFA before his 60th birthday. He lives in Helston with his Argus. They form a formidable team which also wife Tania and their three children. includes 3 Commando Brigade’s Crisis Response Troop from 24 Commando Royal Engineers and fast boat ******************** operators from 47 Commando Raiding Group. There is also a land-based element of the task group – ROYAL NAVY AVIATORS THANKED along with patrol ship HMS Medway – with Security Assistance Teams from 30 Commando Information FOR Exploitation Group working from the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos. WORK IN CARIBBEAN ******************** The Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) has thanked Royal Navy aviators for supporting security patrols. Personnel from 815 NAS’s 203 Flight met Nigel DAKIN following a number of night time patrols in their WILDCAT helicopter supporting the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Service. Along with members of the TCI government, they were shown the advanced surveillance equipment on board, and taught how the helicopter is manned and maintained. In a meeting with the whole team, all took precautions to protect themselves by maintaining social distancing and wearing face coverings. The Governor was joined by Vaden WILLIAMS, Minister for Immigration and Labour, and Desmond WILSON, the Permanent Secretary for Border Control and Employment, and they were then taken for a flight around Provo, North, Middle and East Caicos Islands. 4477 HMS ‘WESTMINSTER’ MAINTAINS It’s also exposed to the elements, the hose is heavy and PRESSURE ON ENEMY BELOW IN ICELAND above all there’s an almighty downwash from the helicopter; the refuelling team can be battered by wind SUB-HUNT speeds in excess of 200mph generated by MERLIN in a hover. An army marches on its stomach. A helicopter-led DYNAMIC MONGOOSE, which has been staged off the submarine hunt needs black gold to sustain it. Under the coast of Iceland and involved ships, submarines and air direction of Flight Deck Officer PETTY OFFICER power from six Allied nations, tested NATO’s ability to Amanda DRAKE, HMS Westminster refuelled her hunt diesel and nuclear-powered submarines in the cool MERLIN helicopter – without the 14½ tonne aircraft waters of the High North. having to touch down on deck – to maintain the pressure on the ‘enemy below’. ******************** This is Helicopter In-Flight Refuelling (HIFR), performed by the frigate’s flight deck team – who all A BRIEF HISTORY OF 849 NAS have ‘day jobs’ aboard the Portsmouth-based warship, PART 1 such as Amanda DRAKE who’s Westminster’s senior police officer, and volunteer for the demanding job of THE FIXED WING ERA ensuring helicopter operations (MERLIN or the smaller WILDCAT) are conducted safely. With the 849 NAS ASaC capability now transferred to They’ve all gone through training and assessment at the 820 NAS, Serena DAVIDSON looks back at the history RN School of Flight Deck Operations at RNAS of the Squadron and in particular its contribution as the Culdrose which is also the home of 814 NAS’s Tungsten Royal Navy’s organic AEW capability from 1952 to Flight, currently assigned to Westminster. 1978. The ship and helicopter were engaged in NATO’s Once We Were Bombers. DYNAMIC MONGOOSE anti-submarine exercise, Before the requirement of the Airborne Early Warning alongside sister frigate HMS Kent (also based in capability, 849 NAS was stood up as a wartime torpedo Portsmouth), and another 814 Merlin Mk2, plus hunter- bombing squadron with AVENGER aircraft and was killer submarine HMS Trenchant and, for the first time, formed at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island in 1943. an RAF P8 POSEIDON maritime patrol aircraft. Embarked on HMS Khedive the Squadron made their MERLIN anti-submarine patrols can last several hours ‒ way to the UK, initially based at RNAS Grimsetter and for a sustained hunt several helicopters operate in (HMS Robin) before being seconded to 19 Group rotation around the clock to never give the underwater Coastal Command at RAF Perranporth where the threat a breather. Squadron conducted anti E-boat patrol reconnaissance missions during the Normandy Campaign in 1944. Later that year the 849 was sent to Ceylon and embarked on HMS Victorious where it was to play a significant part in the British Pacific Fleet’s battle against the Japanese. Most notably the Squadron took part in the strikes at Pangkalan Brandan (Op LENTIL) and Palembang (Op MERIDAN) in January 1945, in support of the US invasion of Okinawa from March to May and raids against the Japanese Home islands in July 1945. HIFR allows the MERLIN to top up without the rigmarole OPERTATION LENTIL (and time) of landing on deck and shutting down. NO LOSSES TO 849. ONE AIRCRAFT FLOWN BY THE SENIOR PILOT The helicopter uses around 800 kilogrammes of fuel LIEUTENANT JUDD DITCHED 5 MILES OFFSHORE ON THE WAY TO THE every hour it’s airborne – but that can rise to one tonne TARGET. ALL THREE OF THE CREW PICKED UP BY A DESTROYER. of fuel for 60 minutes in the hover, when the helicopter has its dipping sonar lowered in the ocean as it closes in on its submarine foe. That’s because in the hover it’s purely engine power keeping the weight of the aircraft in the air; forward flight creates aerodynamic lift which lowers the rate of fuel consumption. Refuelling isn’t quick – it depends on how good the ship’s pump pressure is; ideally, 1 to 1.2 tonnes should enter the MERLIN’s tanks every hour (it can be as low as 800kg if the fuel pressure’s low). 4488 849 NAS was disbanded for the first time after the war LIEUTENANT John TREACHER and Senior Pilot on 31 October 1945 LIEUTENANT Peter HILES The birth of the AEW capability TREACHER AND HILES IN FORMATION DECEMBER 1951, SHORTLY AFTER 778 NAS RECEIVED THEIR NEW AIRCRAFT. During the war in the Pacific, low flying KAMIKAZE aircraft were inflicting a heavy toll on the task groups Peter HILES, being a keen artist, designed the Squadron highlighting the inadequacies of the Fleet’s radar to crest and the Eyes of the Fleet was born. detect these low flying aircraft. A British Staff requirement written as early as December 1943 suggested the use of airborne radar but there was no developmental avenue at the time. In mid-1944 the Anglo-US committee decided to pass the design and manufacture of the equipment to the US which became known as the CADILLAC PROJECT. By May 1945 35 USN AEW AVENGERs were flying in the Pacific although unfortunately none reached the operational areas before VJ Day. By 1947 the US had also developed the SKYRAIDER aircraft with the AD-3W variant embarked in their Fleet Carriers in the AEW role. The Dawn of the RN AEW Era. In 1950 the USN ordered 168 DOUGLAS AD-4W SKYRAIDERs with 50 aircraft assigned to the RN under the Mutual Defence Assistance Programme. The first four SKYRAIDERs arrived at the King George V Dock, Glasgow, on 9 November 1951. The following day an official handover was conducted on the quayside where REAR ADMIRAL W.F. BOONE USN Deputy C-in-C Eastern Atlantic, formally handed over the aircraft to REAR ADMIRAL W.T. COUCHMAN, Flag Officer Flying Training. THE FIRST OF 4 SKYRAIDERS ARRIVING AT KING GEORGE V DOCK IN THE SUBMISSION TO THE ADMIRALTY IN JULY 1952 WHICH WAS 1951. SUBSEQUENTLY APPROVED IN MAY 1953. The aircraft were delivered to 778 NAS at RNAS With its powerful APS-20 radar the SKYRAIDER AEW1 Culdrose who had been commissioned in 1 October primary’s role was indeed AEW but the versatile aircraft 1951 as the trials unit under the command of could conduct submarine search, tactical direction of LIEUTENANT John TREACHER. As the aircraft had ASW aircraft and weather reconnaissance. The already been in USN service for some years it was SKYRAIDER also had a sizeable fuselage capacity and deemed unnecessary to carry out protracted trials and on during the Suez Campaign it was discovered that by 7 July 1952 778 NAS was re-designated as a frontline removing one of the observer’s seats, it was possible to unit and so 849 NAS was reborn, under the command of