After another very worthwhile and productive AGM, with plenty of interaction
from the members present, the more relaxing part of the weekend kicked
in. It was a short walk to the Station Briefing room for an update
this year with a different spin from the new OC XXIV, Wing Commander
Andy Bacon.
Andy
had decided to give the presentation a more personal flavour by asking
a Squadron co-pilot, air loadmaster and an ex OC XXIV to complement
his own views.
Andy
took over from Don Turnbull in May 2008 having previously flown C17's
out of Brize Norton. He started off his qualified flying career from
Lyneham and was pleased to be back on the base. He was very proud
of all that a squadron badge means, the need to support and sustain
the squadron and look after the members and families.
The
Squadron are operating 5 x C130J model aircraft at the Al Udeid Air
Base in Qatar as part of Op Telic and carrying a mixture of passengers
and freight. In Afghanistan, 4 x C130Js are based at Kandahar for
in country re supply of water ammunition and food as part of Op Herrick.
It is this operation that is the most challenging with unpaved landings
in adverse weather conditions at high altitudes in hostile threat
zones. Crews have been completing up to 108 sorties a week, which
is at the top limit of possibility in the circumstances.
Meanwhile,
back at home a landmark event took place on the 9th May 2008 with
the presentation of a new Squadron Standard by the Princess Royal.
This was the second time the Princess had carried out this duty, the
previous occasion was 25 years ago. (see also the Issue 15 Newsletter).
No time for idle hands as those left holding the fort managed to complete
the transformation of a "spare" room in the building into
a Squadron History Centre". The Squadron are very proud of the
finished results, as now all the memorabilia has a permanent home.
A request was made by Andy for additional artefacts and items to add
to this important part of the Squadron's heritage, with the assurance
they would be well looked after.
A
new charity has been adopted by the Squadron now that The Burton Hill
House School has closed in Malmesbury. CALM is the Children's Cancer
and Leukaemia Movement It is an independent local charity, caring
for the needs of families within the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust,
who have and had children or young persons dealing with Cancer or
Leukaemia. The Association is also pleased to be able to support this
charity with its yearly donation. A Squadron family's day was also
organised and enjoyed by all which put the finishing touches to a
very good years work.
Next
up was co pilot Flt Lt Steve Galley-Tonks with his perspective of
life on XXIV. Steve would say that life was non stop with task after
task coming along. Although "Harmony" guidelines set out
ideally how many days maximum personnel should be away in any 20 month
period; (its 125 days actually), they appear to be ONLY guidelines.
Crews would expect around 4 detachments in any one year plus secondary
duties. So all in all - BUSY.
Now
the aircraft crew is down to 3, sorry all you ex Navigators and Flight
Engineers, it is the turn of the Air Loadmaster to give us a picture
of what is going on. Sgt Gavin Livingstone only joined the RAF in
2005 and progressed from civilian to operational Air Crew in less
than three years. That involved passing through RAF Halton for Ab
initio training, RAF Cranwell for leadership skills, 55 Reserve Squadron
for the flying training and airmanship on a Dominie aircraft as the
pilot's assistant.
It
was not until that point they were streamed as either suitable for
ALM or AEOP training. In Gavin's case it was then on to the C130J
conversion course. This was quickly followed by being assigned to
shadow a fully qualified ALM on Op Telic in Iraq. Having to use night
vision goggles, land on desert strips carrying out these brand new
found skills brought home the value of the highly professional training
he had received.
Last
but by no means least; Group Captain Richard Bates related his experience
of being OC XXIV in the early 1970's. Richard took over from John
Tetley at a stage when the Hastings piston engine aircraft was destined
for the scrap yard and a quantum leap in technology was now to be
a familiar sight parked on the dispersal in the shape of the Hercules
C130K.
The
pattern of flying still had a familiar Transport Command feel to it
with slip patterns operating to Singapore and Cyprus, schedules and
detachments in support of military exercises. Timescales for these
trips were compressed from the slower and lower Hastings and Argosy
aircraft, allowing greater utilisation of crews and airframes.
It
was during Richards's tour as OC that the Pisa disaster unfolded on
the 9th November 1971 when XV216 crashed into sea at night with the
loss of 6 crew and 44 Italian paratroopers. Richard had always kept
a diary over the years and the reading of the events surrounding the
tragedy as it unfolded put other routine entries into context.
Richard
paid tribute to all the succeeding OC XXIV Squadron for maintaining
the strong links and bond between the families of the 6 crew and the
Italian Paratroop Brigade in Livorno. This has cumulated in the very
significant gesture of lodging the previous Squadron Standard in the
local Italian church on Remembrance Day 2008.
A
surprise ending to this years briefing was the presentation by Keith
Chapman to W/C Andy Bacon of a real killer boomerang sent over by
Air Commodore Dave Hitchins AFC. Dave, who is now 85 was in charge
of XXIV Commonwealth Squadron on exchange during 1957. The Association
are making a modest donation to have a small brass plaque made stating
its provenance.
For
the first time in years, the weather was not quite good enough to
allow us to spread out onto the patio area for lunch but this did
not detract from the chance to catch up with everyone for a really
good chin wag. Some good raffle prizes and enthusiastic selling via
Mike Long helped to increase the Association funds.
The
three main attractions on offer this year were the C130J simulator
experience, a look over a real one and for the first time a guided
tour around 47 Air Dispatch Squadron. 47 AD are situated on the opposite
side of the road from the main Lyneham site with their own Dakota
as a gate guard. They are part of the Royal Logistic Corps, around
140 strong and a usual mix of cap badges.
Our
host was Staff Sergeant Dave Jelly who has been based at Lyneham for
20 years. Long tours are quite common as the Hercules is the only
aircraft at the moment dropping a quite extensive range of airborne
stores. That does not mean they are away from the battle zone. Far
from it, with 47 AD teams out in theatre on a continuous basis flying
on most of the air drop sorties using the latest Container Delivery
System (CDS). This is easier to install and load and coupled with
the aircrafts GPS system allows pin point precision on the Drop Zone,
even from height through cloud which is in effect, dropping "blind".
The
old way of dropping was from ever lower heights to avoid radar detection
but has now changed to higher release heights well away from the threat
from small arms fire. Ariel delivery has been practiced and refined
right back from WW1 and WW2 days. Another aspect of thinking that
has changed is the mass overhead drop scenario carried out in the
early days of the C130.
We
were shown one of the largest loads to take off out the back of the
Herc, namely an inflatable boat for Special Forces which is some 8.5
metres long. If that load does not exit in a straight line, its curtains
for all. Some of the other groups leaving by parachute are Submarine
Parachute Assistance Group, Rece Forces and lots of one tone containers
filled with water and food using the CDS system to troops in forward
outposts.
One
final job was to stand in front of the DC3 with our hair blowing in
the wind, (if only we had some) for a group photo, kindly taken by
F/L Si Hulme, who was our escort for the afternoon. All the groups
who went off to the different afternoon's itinerary reported back
best pleased and appreciative for the time and effort put in by our
hosts. Now its away to scrub up for the highlight of the day, the
Reunion Guest Night in the mess.
A
lone piper in full regalia, with an uncanny resemblance to the Deputy
Chairman, was nervously waiting for the coach party to turn up on
time from the hotel run with its precious cargo. It did arrive on
cue and from that moment on, the evening swung along at a great tempo
with more music from the Chippenham Silver Band during the meal and
our own contribution as a finale.
For
the first time we can remember at a guest night, an impromptu sing-along
was organized by Sgt ALM Gavin Livingstone. This was not as casual
affair as it may have looked with the words and chorus to "The
Wild Rover" conveniently taped to the underside of our place
mats and a guitar conveniently placed next to the seat of Mr. Vice.
A
fitting end to what was voted by top table and side tables alike a
thoroughly first class evening. This was the new OC XXIV's first dinner
engagement with the Association and met with approval in everyway.
IN
OMNIA PARATI
Read
all of the Issue 16 Newsletter
by clicking the link
