Association President, wef 1 Feb 2004
Air Commodore Dick Gould

Dick Gould joined the RAF through Oxford UAS in 1966 and completed his first 2 tours with XXIV as a co-pilot, captain and deputy flight commander. Subsequent flying tours were in maritime as a flight, squadron and station commander. On the ground he filled various NATO appointments and served at the RAF Staff College as a DS and Deputy Commandant. He also completed the GD Aerosystems and National Defence College courses and spent a year as a Defence Fellow at the University of York.

He retired from the Service in 2000 after a final tour as Special Adviser to the Czech Chief of Defence and now manages the defence business for a software company. When not working he enjoys hill walking, skiing and most things to do with computers.

Chairman : Group Captain Keith Chapman Keith is another ex OC 24 who commanded the Sqn during 1978 - 80 at Lyneham on Hercules. Keith served in the Royal Air Force from 1960 to 1994. His flying career as a navigator included tours on 233 Sqn (Khormaksar) 267 Sqn (Benson) and 84 Sqn (Sharjah). In 1976, he was posted to 24 Sqn as a flight commander and, unusually, he continued on the Sqn as Officer Commanding when he was promoted to the rank of Wg Cdr two years later. After leaving Lyneham in 1980, he attended Cambridge University where he became the first RAF officer to obtain an MPhil in International Relations. Subsequent appointments included tours on the directing staff at the Army Staff College, Deputy Director of Air Transport Operations in MOD and Airlift Commander for the ACE Mobile Force. His final post was Chief of Arms Control in the International Military Staff at NATO HQ. He still holds a PPL and regularly flies a Piper Cherokee.

Deputy Chair : Sam Wright joined the RAF in 1961 as a Halton Apprentice. After ground tours at Benson and Changi as an Airframe fitter, he was selected for pilot training and posted to XXIV Squadron at Lyneham as a copilot for 3 years, then a captain on 47 Sqn for 3 years before completing his final tour as OC Hercules Test Flight. A varied civil flying career with such companies as Colt Cars, Distillers Corp, Shell before retiring from flying in 1994. Swimming, Skiing and cycling are his current time wasters as well as voluntary work for the local community.

Treasurer : Keith Rayner served as the Navigator Leader during 1972 - 74 at Lyneham before taking articles to practice law in Chippenham, Wilts. Keith is a keen walker and skier in between running his own business and the Association accounts.

Secretary : David Burgin

Joined RAF as a Halton apprentice then to Colerne and Lyneham as ground crew before selection and training as Flight Engineer. With 24 Squadron Oct 73 - Sep 77 prior to leaving RAF to work in the Wiltshire area. Currently employed by the MoD in Corsham.

David is the focal point for all admin, correspondence, new membership applications and Newsletter articles.

W/C Tim Jones the current OC 24 Sqn wef Feb 2011 having taken over from W/C Peter Cochrane who was in the post between Nov 10 - Jan 11. Tim and the Sqn fully support the activities of the Association and they extend a warm welcome to all members at our annual Reunions.

Wing Commander Tim Jones is currently Officer Commanding XXIV Squadron, the Hercules Operational Conversion Unit. A graduate in physics from Edinburgh University, he joined the RAF in 1995, having also spent 4 years on East Lowlands Universities Air Squadron at RAF Turnhouse. After a brief hold with 10 Sqn, RAF Brize Norton and 111(F) Sqn, RAF Leuchars, he completed flying training on the Jetstream T1 in 1998. Posted to RAF Lyneham, he spent the next 9 years on the Hercules Force flying both the C-130K and C-130J.

This period saw his involvement in a number of operations across world, including East Timor, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. Specialising in Low Flying, NVG and Airdrop, Jones was promoted to Squadron Leader in 2006 to run the Hercules Tactical Training Flight. For its work delivering training for Op HERRICK in 2007, the Flight was awarded a C-in-C’s Commendation and the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators’ Brackley Memorial Trophy. Jones was posted to the Ministry of Defence in late 2007 to the Capability Sponsor (Expeditionary Logistics and Support), with responsibilities for C-130, A-400M and C-17.

In 2009, he joined ACSC 13 at JSCSC Shrivenham, graduating in July 2010. His current tour began on 31 Jan 2011. He is married to Susie (Maths graduate – Edinburgh) and has a daughter (aged 5) and a son (aged 3). His interests include keeping fit, running his local village hall and playing the piano.