RAF News Edition 1561, 2nd June 2023

LAST of the UK’s Hercules crews paid an emotional tribute to the veteran transporter as the RAF prepares to say farewell after 57 years spearheading combat operations and humanitarian missions worldwide.

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Hercules swansong

Continued from front 47 SQUADRON – the last to operate the C-130J variant – will be stood down after more than 20 years of continuous operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

More than half of the squadron personnel are due to transfer to the Atlas A400 which will replace the veteran Lockheed Martin aircraft.

In what is likely to be its last major deployment, the Brize Norton-based squadron took part in the evacuation of thousands fleeing South Sudan as the country plunged into civil war.

Pilot Sqn Ldr Doug Hankin said: “The Hercules is the aircraft which will be there when you need it.

“It has been the workhorse of the RAF since its introduction. It is not a pretty thing to look at but it is beautiful in its simplicity.

“With a six-strong crew it is self sufficient anywhere in the world. In my career I’ve broken down a few times but the engineers have always got us up and running again.

“It’s always there in the background getting the job done. It was the first aircraft there on

Operation Shader and again during Operation Pitting, the mission to evacuate more than 15,000 UK nationals and Afghan families.

“It is not just one of the great RAF aircraft, it is THE great. There is no other aircraft that has delivered the same diversity of effect.”

During more than 20 years with the Hercules Force Sqn Ldr Chris Fairley has served on 30 Sqn and 47 Sqn, on operations in the Balkans, Africa, Afghanistan and Iraq.

He revealed his most memorable mission was flying in the first wave of UK troops and kit to Bagram airfield as the US-led coalition invaded Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

He said: “We were the first in and trying to deliver the effect required by the US and the UK in the war against terror.

“As a junior co-pilot I was the second Hercules to land at Bagram airfield under the cover of darkness with the initial cadre of UK troops. I don’t think anything will ever eclipse that experience.”

He was inspired to join the RAF after watching the Hercules in action in the Falklands, flying long-range missions from Ascension Island, and its humanitarian missions during

This Week In History

1990

Reds head east

the famine in Ethiopia. He added: “Watching the news reports from the Falklands and seeing it on the news delivering supplies in Ethiopia really got me into it.

“It is the unsung hero of operations. We are always there in

the background, getting on with business without any fuss.

“It can do strategic airlift, tactical airlift, drop paratroopers, supplies and evacuate those in need. It can drop boats and vehicles. It can land on a desert strip or on a beach. It is an iconic aircraft.”

“Operation Chastise remains a focal point of British history”

“You have to get the essence of the person

the art of being someone else

“It was tough to have the Lord’s fixture so early in the season this year”

THE THIRD and final nuclear weapon is dropped from a 49 Sqn Valiant, completing Britain’s first series of megaton weapons trials.

READY FOR ACTION: Soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade rest by the runway as the Hercules C-130 aircraft arrives during training in Akrotiri

The Red Arrows depart for a six-day tour of Russia and Hungary – the team’s first visit to countries of the former Warsaw Pact following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Typhoon strikes Daesh terror cell

TYPHOONS ON Operation

Shader blasted two Daesh targets with seven Paveway IV guided bombs in a series of precision strikes in north-eastern Iraq.

The terror group was spotted establishing bases in two remote locations in the Hamrin mountains, which were destroyed in sorties in support of Iraqi security forces according to a statement released last month.

Service honour for forgotten airman

Hundreds attend St Clement Danes funeral of Caribbean volunteer who fought in WWII

Andrew Keeley St Clement Danes

HUNDREDS OF people attended the funeral of one of the last known Caribbean airmen to fight for Britain during World War II.

Fundraiser Ken collects

MARATHON RUNNER Sgt Ken Ivory has been honoured by Forces charity SSAFA.

Ken was presented with the Sir James Gildea Award which recognises volunteers and employees for their exceptional contribution and commitment to SSAFA’s activities and values.

Despite deployments worldwide, the 54-year-old endurance runner, currently based at RAF High Wycombe, has held the role of branch treasurer for the charity continuously over 33 years. He has raised thousands of pounds for SSAFA since joining the RAF.

He said: “Receiving this award for doing something that I love is really humbling. It is a great honour, and I cannot think of a worthier charity to devote my time to.”

Former FS Peter Brown died alone at the age of 96 a week before Christmas and faced a sparse funeral at a local crematorium.

He was given a full military sendoff at the RAF Church St Clement Danes after news of his journey as a teenager in 1943 from Jamaica to the UK sparked an appeal for mourners.

Deputy Chaplain-in-Chief Rev (Gp Capt) Ruth Hake led a service at the RAF Central Church of St Clement Danes filled with 500 veterans and well-wishers who responded to an appeal to give him a proper send-off.

She said: “The service was incredibly moving.

“It was a real privilege to be with those who have travelled across the world to remember Peter and to meet friends and neighbours from his local community.”

FS Brown joined the RAF in September 1943 and flew on Lancasters as a wireless operator and air gunner, and continued to serve as a signaller and driver until

1950. He died at his home in Maida Vale, West London, just before Christmas but Westminster City Council were unable to find any of his family. However they were later inundated by friends and residents wanting to pay their respects. Organisers were also able to

trace distant relatives, some of whom flew across the Atlantic to attend the funeral.

Chief of the Air Staff ACM

Sir Mike Wigston said: “FS Peter Brown epitomised the selfless commitment of the generation who fought for our freedom in the Second World War. Their courage

and resilience are an inspiration to us all. We mourn his passing, but I am proud the RAF has been able to provide a fitting tribute to one of our own.”

Westminster City Council’s Lord Mayor Cllr Patricia McAllister who attended the funeral said: “Mr Brown was one of the last Caribbean RAF volunteers to fight for the UK at a time of its greatest need and played such a significant role in our nation’s story.

“We owe Peter – and the many others like him – a huge debt of gratitude.

“As the first citizen of Westminster, it was an honour to represent its residents and communities, many of whom played a crucial role in ensuring Mr Brown’s life was marked in a manner befitting his sacrifice.”

After the service, his coffin, draped in a Union flag and bearing his medals and a Service cap, was carried by a bearer party of RAF Regiment Gunners from the King’s Colour Squadron down an avenue of Standards.

The Resident Chaplain of the RAF’s Church, Rev (Sqn Ldr) Mark Perry, said: “Although obviously a modest man, he has undoubtedly had an impact on many people, and it was a privilege to preside over his funeral service.”

AWARD: Sgt Ken Ivory was presented with the SSAFA award for his long service to the Forces charity

TRIBUTE: Members of the RAF Regt carry the coffin of FS Peter Brown from St Clement Danes Church in London. Below, relatives join hundreds of military personnel and veterans for the service

Heroes of WWII’s Mission

80 years on and none of the elite 617 Sqn Dambusters are left to join in the events marking

anniversary

Simon Mander OPERATION CHASTISE still stands as the most audacious and celebrated bombing mission in aviation history.

An elite squadron of 133 handpicked airmen led by Wg Cdr Guy Gibson took off in 19 speciallyadapted Lancaster bombers from RAF Scampton armed with a revolutionary new weapon and flew into history.

The operation to strike at the heart of the enemy by destroying dams in the Ruhr Valley supplying power to the Nazi war machine was not only a military hammer blow to the Germans, it was a huge morale boost to Allied forces and to the nation.

Flying at 65ft above the water, crews were able to drop Barnes Wallis’ ingenious bouncing bombs – designed to evade torpedo nets by skimming the surface to reach their targets.

It took exceptional flying skill, pinpoint accuracy and extreme courage. Bomb aimer Johnny Johnson ordered his crew to make 10 passes, braving barrages of enemy fire before he was sure he had the target in his sights and released his bombs to devastating effect.

Described as ‘The bravest of the brave’ the Dambusters’ courage defined the defiant fighting spirit of the nation in the darkest days of the conflict.

The two primary targets, the Möhne and the Eder dams, were breached but eight of the 19 Lancasters failed to return, with the loss of 53 aircrew.

There were many gallantry awards for the crews including the Victoria Cross for Wg Cdr Guy Gibson, a DSO for American Flt Lt Joe McCarthy and the DFM for Johnson.

As the nation marked the 80th anniversary of the Dam raids, crowds gathered across Bomber County, Lincolnshire, to watch as the world’s last flying Lancaster, piloted by the BBMF, performed a flypast over 28 former Bomber Command airfields.

In London, serving members of today’s 617 Sqn joined squadron veterans for a service of commemoration at the RAF’s Central Church, St Clement Danes. The date was also marked with a service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

It is the first anniversary of the epic raid without the presence of a single member of the legendary WWII crew. The last surviving veteran of the mission, George ‘Johnny’ Johnson, passed away in December last year, at the age of 101.

RAF News is proud to publish some of the many tributes paid to the Dambusters. Truly the bravest of the brave.

‘Raids gone down in history’

“

THE DAMS raid has gone down in the annals of history as one of the greatest feats of arms achieved by the RAF.

Through dedicated training, enormous courage and great flying skill, an elite force of 133 airmen in 19 specially modified aircraft carrying a new and unique weapon, achieved enormous physical effect, as well as morale and political effect on friends and allies and foe alike.

It embodies all the elements of planning, training and execution which remain essential for today’s operations.

That includes an understanding of enemy defences and use of intelligence, acquired through

dedicated aerial reconnaissance.

Wg Cdr Gibson had only eight weeks from formation of 617 Squadron to the day of the raid. He recruited and trained air crew to peak performance, building on existing high-level skills, but cooperated closely with Barnes Wallis to develop the weapon and means of delivery.

The Dambusters were a coalition of British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and American airmen. Many were reservists, in addition to regulars like Gibson.

Each Lancaster’s seven crew had to work as a team, not only to get to reach and return from the target, but also during the attack”

Dr Robert Owen, official historian of No. 617 Sqn Association

HEROES: Wg Cdr Guy Gibson VC, Flt Lt Joe McCarthy DSO, Johnny Johnson DFM (far left) and crew

BOMBER COUNTY: BBMF Lanc flypast over Lincoln

OFFICER COMMANDING: Wg Cdr Guy Gibson boards ED932

Mission Impossible

Lethal Air Power’

THE DAMBUSTERS’ raid was one of the finest examples of exceptionalism in the history of the RAF and continues to provide inspiration to aviators around the world.

The attack demonstrated to the enemy the reach and lethality of Air Power and gave a significant morale boost to the people of Britain during a difficult period.

The personnel involved had the vision, determination and skill to overcome a complex challenge and come up with a novel solution to an intractable problem.

This spirit of innovation and ability to challenge convention is something we should all aspire towards. Many of the crews paid the ultimate price; of the 133 aircrew who took part in the raid, 53 were

killed. A stark reminder of the dangers of war and the bravery of our predecessors.

Today we live in an uncertain world and the spectre of conflict looms again over Europe. As aviators our role is as important now as it was in 1943 and it is vital that we continue to look to the events of that night 80 years ago as one of the finest examples of engineering excellence, inspirational leadership, teamwork and heroism.”

AVM Phil Robinson, AOC 11 Gp

NONE OF the 133 airmen who took part in the Dambusters Raid remain with us. The last two surviving veterans, Canadian Fred Sutherland and Brit George Leonard Johnson, sadly passed in January 2019 and December 2022 respectively.

This is the first Dambusters anniversary we have celebrated without a single participant. Now, more than ever, it is important that we remember their heroism, tenacity, immense skill, and, above all else, bravery.

We should remember the sheer ingenuity of Barnes Wallis and the wider RAF. Few other singular operations have managed to capture the public’s attention quite so powerfully as Operation Chastise.

The raid itself is historically significant, not only for its distinct cultural legacy but also given its unique operational characteristics.

Bomber Command’s central doctrine during World War II largely focused on imprecise area bombing with dumb munitions.

Here was this operation, conducted by hand-selected airmen, piloting 19 specialised Lancasters, carrying newly devised bouncing bombs, to be dropped on three precisely selected targets after extensive testing and training. It is no wonder that Operation Chastise remains a focal point of British history.”

Maggie Appleton, RAF Museum CEO

AS A C-130K Flight Engineer I have deployed on operations, including a couple of esoteric actions, and we step up to the plate, but why volunteer or be selected when you don’t know what’s coming?

The RAF is ready to fight and give the ultimate sacrifice. As the a flight engineer on the BBMF Lancaster I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with Bomber Command vets who are all awesome but very much downplay their part. Gentleman all of them.

With odds stacked against them, worse than the Somme, they climbed aboard every night, wondering if they would be lucky and come home to bacon and eggs.

But 617 Sqn was formed for a specific task, the cream of the crews and personnel who, with effective wartime leadership, were trained at night, low-level without GPS, NVGs or EO cameras. It is unbelievable.

When the order came to launch they did, scared no doubt but confident in their training and each other – teamwork, trust, belief and resilience.

They excelled at the task, often in the face of the odds against them they aborted ‘as it was not right’, diving once more into the maelstrom to take the fight to the enemy.

This bravery and belief in greater good was a huge morale boost to the country and a big hit to the enemy.

The loss of life was immense for Bomber Command, let alone the squadron, but new guys volunteered to join quickly, to continue the fight and ultimately sacrifice much.

This spirit should be remembered and must remain at the core of what the RAF is about. Per Ardua Ad Astra.”

Flt Lt Nigel Painter

“

THE ACTIONS of the Dambusters on the night of May 16-17 80 years ago was an inspiration to many of us who flew combat missions during our time in the RAF.

I was lucky to meet a number of the survivors of that raid and regard it as a privilege to have been able to talk to them about their experiences, what they did in combat and their reflections on the reality of war.

Eighty years on the legend of the Dambusters is still as relevant today as it was to that wartime generation.”

Author and former RAF Navigator John Nichol

‘They volunteered for the unknown’

‘An inspiration’

‘Unique operational nature’

LANCASTER: Bombers were adapted for the dam raid

Cops hit the beat

Tracey Allen

RAF ROCKERS Gallaher’s Green have released their second album – featuring a track dedicated to an Air Force pal seriously injured by an IED in Afghanistan.

The new album, Dare To Dream, includes the song Memphis, inspired by retired RAF Police dog handler Cpl Mick McConnell, a close friend of the band’s frontman, former Air Force cop Jon Oliphant.

Mick’s left foot had to be amputated after he stepped on the IED while serving in Afghanistan in 2011 with spaniel Memphis, who

suffered severe hearing loss.

The duo were given a Canine Partner Award, part of the Soldiering On Awards for the Armed Forces community.

Bass player Sgt Ian Gallagher said: “We dedicated the song to Mick and to all Service personnel who have been killed or injured in the line of duty.”

Jon added: “Mick and I served together as police dog handlers at Honington and in Cyprus. He said he is humbled by the song we wrote about him; Mick and Memphis had a great bond.”

Ian, currently based at RAF Halton,

and Jon, now an explosives detection dog handler at Belfast Airport, served together in Iraq in 2008.

They formed Gallaher’s Green, named after an old brand of cigarettes made by the Gallaher Tobacco Company in Northern Ireland, in 2017.

The four-piece band’s debut album, Lucky 13, released in 2022, has amassed more than 100,000 listeners on Spotify and attracted a world-wide audience.

l Gallaher’s Green will be performing in Manchester on June 17 and at Pickfest, Cheshire on August 26. Go to: gallahersgreen.com.

UK CHINOOKS are flying the flag across the South of France on a mission to support airborne forces.

Two patriotically painted Odiham-based 27 Sqn aircraft are based with the 1st Regiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes to help train French forces on Exercise Tusker Raptor.

Operating out of Pamiers, the Wokkas are flying to various

Allied forces war games test Asian defences

Staff Reporter Malaysia

RAF PERSONNEL joined Allied forces in Southeast Asia for a training drill to boost air defences in Malaysia and Singapore.

A total of 20 fighter jets, seven support aircraft, a helicopter, four ships and up to 1,130 personnel from five nations combined to take part in the latest Exercise Bersama Shield.

Operating from the Integrated Area Defence System HQ at Royal Malaysian Air Force Air Base Butterworth, RAF experts planned warfighting drills to evaluate the tactics of ground units, squadrons and ships taking part.

Flt Lt Ben Heywood said: “The Exercise provided the opportunity to use Malaysia and Singapore’s ground-based air defence systems for the first time since before the pandemic.

“A particular highlight for me was the opportunity to visit air bases and share information on air defence systems.’’

The training mission is part of a programme agreed by the UK, Australia and New Zealand under Asia’s most enduring multilateral defence agreement – The Five Powers Defence Arrangements, established in 1971.

Exercise Director Singapore Air Force Colonel Lau Mun Leng said: “Activities were designed to strengthen professional relationships amongst Five Powers’ nations, such as the execution of combined air operations, cyber security training, and the integration of information operations.”

Further training is planned on Exercise Bersama Lima 23 in October, hosted in Malaysia, and Exercise Suman Warrior, to be hosted in Australia in November.

locations so the soldiers can practise insertion drills and experience trooping, mountain and mixed formation flying. The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment is the oldest and among the most decorated French Army units and traces its roots to the French Air Force where it was formed in 1937 – an event marked by a golden Hawk on the troop’s rank insignia.

Tanks a lot

BRIZE NORTON-BASED Sqn Ldr Gordon Parry has been presented with an Exceptional Service award by an international Aerial Refuelling Group. During more than 40 years with the RAF he has served on Nimrods and VC10s before working with the Air Tanker Group and helping to bring the Voyager into service and developing a standardised system of signal lights for probe and drogue refuelling.

FUELLING THE FIGHT: Sqn Ldr Gordon Parry receives his award from Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group chief Lt Gen John Sams

CHART BID: RAF Rockers Gallaher’s Green on stage. Inset, injured RAF Police veteran Cpl Mick McConnell and bomb dog Memphis

EVALUATION: RAF team at briefing in Malaysia during Exercise Bersama Shield

First Blood

PATHFINDER TROOPS put their motto ‘First In,’ to the test by jumping from an RAF C-17 Globemaster as part of Exercise Swift Response.

The 16 Air Assault Brigade advance reconnaissance force flew direct from Brize to covertly drop into Estonia from 12,000ft under freefall canopies.

Working on the ground alongside their Polish 6th Airborne Brigade counterparts they identified and marked a drop zone for the main body of troops.

They were followed by 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment soldiers who jumped in darkness in two separate waves, exiting aircraft at around 900ft.

On the ground troops secured the airfield from a simulated enemy threat, provided by the Estonian Territorial Defence Force.

Simon Mander

THE LAST Atlas ordered by UK Defence under an initial contract with Airbus arrived at Brize as the aircraft prepares to become the RAF’s only fixed-wing mediumlift transporter when the Hercules C-130J retires.

Atlas arrival lifts UK air transport Gold plated

The twenty-second four-engine turboprop A400M touched down after flying in from Seville where it is assembled.

1 Group chief Air Vice-Marshal Mark Flewin said: “Recent events in Sudan have illustrated the importance of tactical air mobility. Operating from an austere airfield Atlas helped evacuate 2,200 entitled personnel and fly them to safety.

“The latest aircraft therefore joins a fleet which is already proven on operations.”

Atlas has a full glass cockpit and can carry a 37-tonne payload over 2,000nm to established and remote civilian and military airfields.

It can also land on short unprepared and semi-prepared strips using night vision goggles.

The aircraft will continue to be developed to bring its capabilities in line with those of other A400M operators France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Benelux, and Malaysia.

In parallel, its tactical uses will expand to include the full range of support to UK airborne forces.

Earlier this month, Chief of the Air Staff Designate Air Chief

Marshal Sir Richard Knighton told the House of Commons Defence Committee that the A400M can already perform most of the tasks now undertaken by the soon-tobe-retired Hercules, and that this process will be complete by 2025.

Since entering RAF service in

2014, Atlas has conducted relief operations in the Caribbean and transported patients, equipment and vaccines during the pandemic. It helped evacuate personnel from Afghanistan and Sudan and currently backs up Nato’s Air Policing mission in the Baltic.

In the UK, Atlas has supported the UK Border Force with maritime radar reconnaissance in the Channel, long range search and rescue, and overwatch. A Falklands-based A400M has also airdropped supplies to polar scientists in Antarctica.

Justin Collings Falklands

CPL PAUL Wood will be urning up the heat on rivals in the forthcoming Forces wide Joint Caterer cook-off - after scopping the Falklands title.

The talented chef lifted Mount Pleasant’s Cartright Award for his mouth watering menu of world food during the recent kitchen showdown. Joining him at the top table were Honington’s AS1 Hannah Scott, who won two awards for her chicken dish and sweet course, and Leeming’s Cpl Nick Saunders who took the street food prize.

NATO SUPPORT: 16 Air Assualt Brigade troops jump from the ramp of a RAF C-17 during exercises in Estonia, inset left, crew close in on drop zone. PHOTOS CPL LEE MATTHEWS

CATERING CHAMP: Falklands catering competition winner Cpl Paul Wood

CPL SAUNDERS

DELIVERY: 206 Sqn flew ithe RAF’s latest Atlas transporter frpom Seville in Spain to RAF Brize Norton

Stealth service

Lightning joins US and RAAF F-35s for Alaska war games

Dylan Eklund

Alaska UK LIGHTNINGS deployed more than 4,000 miles to Alaska to take part in one of the largest US exercises of the year.

617 (Dambusters) Sqn jets were among the first overseas units ever invited to Eielson Air Force Base to hone their skills with US and Australian counterparts.

Commanding Officer Wg Cdr Stew Campbell said: “617 leaves Alaska fighting fit.

“The opportunity to employ the Lightning’s full suite of capabilities and immerse pilots in highly realistic, and often extremely challenging, scenarios have proven invaluable.

“We have sharpened our skills, improved command and control, and developed cooperative plans with our Allies.”

Dubbed Exercise Northern Edge 23, the manoeuvres were the first

major land-based combat readiness training for RAF F-35s since 2020.

More than 200 aircraft and 10,000 personnel took advantage of the huge swathes of sparsely populated and unfettered airspace across the US Indo-Pacific Command’s largest air-to-ground bombing range.

Its 65,000 square miles contains a network of training areas scattered around the 49th state and 42,000 square nautical miles offshore.

Stealth fighters taking part were British, American and Australian F-35 Lightnings and USAF F-22 Raptors.

The largest gathering of fifth generation stealth fighters on an exercise to date in conditions not available in Europe enabled 617 Sqn to practise operating a long way from their Norfolk home and without the support of a Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier.

A Brize Norton-based Voyager

operated from Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson near Anchorage, flying daily sorties to refuel RAF and US aircraft,

while C-17 and Atlas transports delivered support equipment as colleagues evacuated entitled personnel from Sudan.

Waddington’s 51 Sqn crews worked alongside 2 Sqn RAAF, providing support to the exercise.

NORTHERN FLIGHTS: Multi-national combat exercise at Eielson air base is one of the biggest in the US calendar PHOTOS: ASI CRAIG WILLIAMS

Helping hand for Forces families

CHILDCARE EXPERTS have launched a drive to help Forces parents abroad cope with raising toddlers.

Military charity SSAFA’s community health teams have been working with families on bases across the world, including Canada and Brunei, offering tips to take the stress out of life overseas.

SSAFA health visitor Ceri Henderson said: “We know that being a parent overseas as part of the military community comes with a unique set of challenges, people are away from their families, usual support networks and friends.”

Rescue aces mark 80th

INTREPID CLIMBERS from across Britain returned to their roots to mark the 80th anniversary of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service.

Volunteers from Defence’s only emergency service for downed aircrew and military personnel lost in remote locations gathered at Caernarfon Airport in Gwynedd, Wales, where it was founded in 1943.

Then called RAF Llandwrog, its station medical officer Flt Lt George Graham realised existing ad hoc arrangements for locating and treating aircraft crash victims in Snowdonia were inadequate.

He set up three teams to

Swim star’s cash splash

FORMER BAHAMIAN Olympic swimmer and business boss Nick Rees caused a splash with the RAF Benevolent Fund by making a large donation to honour his grandfather, WWI Ace Gp Capt Lionel Rees.

Nick handed over an undisclosed sum on a trip to the UK during the Coronation of King Charles III.

His pioneering forbear signed up with the Royal Flying Corps in 1914 and gained a reputation for daring and deadly accurate marksmanship, claiming eight aerial victories against German pilots.

Nick said: “My grandfather donated his military pension to veterans’ causes, so I am pleased that I am able to make a contribution to such a great organisation in the same spirit.”

coordinate rescues and, despite 571 deaths in 220 aircraft crashes in that year, founded the ‘blue light’ volunteer group. Since then, RAF

mountaineering units have been based in Cyprus, Hong Kong and the Middle East, and have deployed overseas to Borneo, Albania and Alaska.

Today there are three UK teams at Valley, Leeming and Lossiemouth.

In the early years, many of the teams consisted of fell and hill walkers rather than climbers and were not trained for rescues on crags.

Now, rock and winter climbing skills are on the training syllabus and in 2001, FS Dan Carroll and Cpl ‘Rusty’ Bale even reached the summit of Everest by its North Ridge during the Service’s millennium expedition.

In 2021 Leeming introduced the Service’s first Remotely Piloted Aircraft System which has become essential in providing thermal imaging capabilities and 3D mapping of aircraft incident sites.

Typhoons guard Baltic Commando drill

Simon Mander

TYPHOONS PROVIDED armed overwatch for Royal Marines launching an amphibious beach raid in Estonia as part of a major Nato exercise.

RAF jets swooped over one of HMS Albion’s landing craft as around 100 Royal Marines manoeuvred their high-speed inflatables to close in on the coast north of Tallinn.

The 45 Commando personnel were part of a 900-strong British force deployed to the Baltic state for Exercise Spring Storm 2023 – the country’s largest annual training mission involving around 14,000 personnel from 11 Nato Allies.

It is the first time the UK has demonstrated the reinforcement of the British-led enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup in Estonia to Brigade-sized strength.

Spread across tough and varied terrain, troops will be tested on realistic trench assaults, reconnaissance missions, and

armoured vehicle manoeuvres while RAF jets conduct reconnaissance and air-land integration training exercises. The Battlegroup provides a

continuous Nato presence along its eastern border to deter aggression, while RAF fighters on Baltic Air Policing duties conduct air intercepts of Russian aircraft.

DONATION: Mr Rees and RAFBF chief Chris Elliot pose with a biography of WWI Ace Gp Capt Lionel Rees (pictured inset)

Simon Mander

BALTIC FIRE POWER:

A Queen’s Royal Hussars Challenger 2 tank during training in Estonia

PHOTOS: CPL DANNY HOUGHTON

SERVICE: Mountain Rescue veterans commemorate the landmark anniversary, below

Who dares trims

Robo-Chop unleashed at Northolt

AIR CHIEFS at Northolt have brought in a cutting-edge robotic mower to keep the airfield areas trim.

The GPS-guided machine made its debut at the station after a 12-month trial with manufacturer AMS Robotics and proved it could cut it at the busy station.

Weighing just 80kg, the mower can operate on solar power or batteries and can reach parts normal tractor-led grass cutting kits can’t.

The project is the brainchild of Sqn Ldr Tom Bates, who saw it being used during a mission to Stavanger with 32 (The Royal) Sqn. He joined Station Commander Gp Capt Toria McPhaden for the launch.

Quake escape

EARTHQUAKE-PROOF

QUARTERS for RAF families in Cyprus have been handed over under a £20m project.

A total of 34 properties with reinforced concrete frames were completed at Akrotiri five months ahead of schedule.

The new homes are a joint venture between the DIO and contractors Ramboll UK and have solar panels, heat pumps, electric car chargers, new drainage, water, and power supplies.

There are plans for quake-proof schools, blue light services, technical infrastructure and family homes across the island’s UK base areas.

Meanwhile in the UK 310 brand new homes have been bought in the last 12 months in areas including Brize Norton and Lossiemouth, due to be occupied by the end of the year as the MOD seeks to replace ageing properties.

Museum honour for WWII bomber heroes

Ajay Srivastava

MARKING THE 80th anniversary of the Dambusters raid, the RAF Museum in London has unveiled a new permanent exhibition dedicated to Bomber Command.

Featured for the first time will be the Victoria Cross awarded to Blenheim pilot Sqn Ldr Arthur Scarf, killed during a solo bombing mission on Japanese airfields in Burma.

The medal – the only one to be presented to the RAF in the Far East – was bought by the museum following a £660,000 fundraising campaign to stop it being sold at auction.

Around 125,000 aircrew from 60 nations served with Bomber Command during World War II, volunteering from Britain, the Commonwealth and Dominions, occupied and neutral countries as well as Germans fleeing persecution.

The survival rate for airmen, whose average age was just 23, was lower than in the trenches in WWI and more than 55,000 died during the conflict.

The exhibition shares the Bomber Command story through the first-hand experiences of those who served.

Throughout it, silhouettes depict the stories of individuals like

Barnes Wallis, the genius inventor of the ‘bouncing bomb’ and the Vickers Wellington bomber; Wg Cdr Raymond Hilton, the first operational captain of Lancaster ‘S for Sugar,’ currently on display at the museum; and Cpl Lilian Bader, one of the first black women to join the British Armed Forces.

Also on display are the Handley Page Halifax and the tail section of the Short Stirling Mk III surrounded by new hi-tech interpretations.

New showcases have enabled the museum to exhibit personal objects taken from storage such as the fire-damaged flying helmet, jacket and goggles belonging to Sgt John Hannah, the wireless op/air gunner awarded the VC for extinguishing an on-board fire with his bare hands. Also featured are some of the innovative technical developments that supported missions, including a replica 9,250lb cylindrical anti-dam mine (also known as the bouncing bomb), the 22,000lb Grand Slam bomb, and a Rose Brothers Type R gun turret.

The exhibition’s themes cover training, tech and tactics, precision raids, and experience and loss, with a timeline detailing key events in Bomber Command’s history and aircraft development, and augmented-reality displays.

SAFETY FIRST: Akrotiri chief Gp Capt Simon Cloke (centre) opens new houses

CUTTING

EDGE: Gp Capt McPhaden and Sqn Ldr Bates with the robo-mower tech team

EXHIBITION: Display includes the stories of Bomber Command crews from across the Commonwealth, including Sqn Ldr Ulrich Cross, awarded the DSC and DFC

Feature Exercise Northern Edge

DAMBUSTERS F-35s swapped the flight deck of a Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier for the Polar conditions of ranges at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska as they made their debut on the largest training mission by stealth bombers to date.

The RAF is no stranger to the 49th state as exercises in the 1990s such as Distant Frontier and Cope Thunder regularly saw British jets fly in to the ‘last frontier,’ but this was the first time any overseas participants had been invited to Exercise Northern Edge, which is designed to improve joint combat readiness across all domains.

The squadron’s Lightnings left Marham on a 4,000-mile trail which saw them route via the Azores, Halifax and Washington State supported by a pair of

Voyager tankers and an A400M Atlas carrying a team of engineers to clear any snags encountered en route.

OC 617 Sqn, Wg Cdr Stew Campbell, said: “To train to the highest level you have to travel, and the size of the training ranges here allows us to test the fifthgeneration aircraft to the max extent.

“There’s a lot of challenges with operating so far away from home but it’s something we need to train to do if we’re called upon to fight the aircraft at range.”

A fifth of the size of continental USA, Alaska has 65,000 square miles of airspace above the Joint Pacific Range Complex and 42,000 square nautical miles offshore, mostly unfettered by civilian air traffic.

“Deploying as far as Alaska and being able to operate with the US within 48 hours of landing was a

real key milestone to achieve,” said Wg Cdr Campbell.

“And then the ability to get spares for F-35 no matter where we are in the world has enabled us to continue to operate at a very high level while we’re so far from our home unit.”

617 SQN

A typical sortie saw 617 Sqn fly with 30 to 40 fighters supported by E-7 Wedgetail command and control aircraft, air-air refuellers and electronic attack jets.

“Each day we’re performing

different missions, planning beforehand, executing it, and then spend at least half a day debriefing even though each sortie is only 60 minutes long,” said Wg Cdr Campbell.

The exercise was the largest gathering of stealth fighters to date, with RAF, RAAF, US Marine and US Navy F-35s joining USAF F-35s and F-22s based in Alaska.

“Here we’re flying alongside US and Australian F-35s and increasing our force footprint 10-fold,” added Wg Cdr Campbell.

A surprise appearance was also

NORTHERN

COMMUNICATIONS EXPERTS: 90 Signals unit personnel PHOTO: AS1 CRAIG WILLIAMS

made by a pair of veteran F-117 Nighthawks, providing an adversary 15 years after its official retirement.

The focus on peer-to-peer combat, including cyber and space domains, could have proved daunting for even experienced pilots. But Wg Cdr Campbell was clear on the training value.

He said: “We are exercising at the pinnacle of combat air in the Western world. Every person here is developing in their own way. For the junior pilots, just being involved in such a big exercise is huge, and our lead

tacticians are taking their knowledge to another level.”

The deployment was made possible by a range of support personnel including Leeming’s 90 Signals Unit.

Their CO, Gp Capt Paul Jennings, said: “The engineering support systems which back the F-35 contain a lot of data which needs to synchronise with the main servers back in the UK. That is one of the things we are here to provide, resilient reach back, without which the jets are unsafe to fly.”

The 90SU personnel provide assured communications systems and a secure digital backbone by setting up satellite communications to reach back to the UK and the network infrastructure vital to enable computers and telephones to work in austere environments. And increasingly the unit’s cyber security specialists focus on ensuring systems remain safe from

threats. “From a communications perspective, wherever the RAF needs to go 90SU are there to enable them to do so, and in a deployed environment the jets can’t fly without us,” said Gp Capt Jennings.

The deployment required a complex logistics operation led by Marham’s Materiel Management Flight to transport ground support equipment by sea, rail and road, and thereafter by Brize Norton-based

C-17 Globemaster, Atlas and Voyager aircraft.

Also dispatched for the exercise was a Voyager that operated from Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson near Anchorage, flying daily sorties with US tankers and refuelling RAF, US Navy and US Marine Corps F-35s, Super Hornets and Growlers.

Established in 1944, Eielson Air Force Base is home to the USAF 354th Fighter Wing responsible for providing fifth-generation air power to the US Indo-Pacific Command.

Located 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks, it was named after Arctic aviation pioneer Carl Ben Eielson, has the Command’s largest air-to-ground bombing range and conducts the large force training Exercise Red Flag Alaska.

EXPOSURE

Dylan Eklund

FILL HER UP: RAF Voyager refuels US Navy F-35C Lightning II of Strike Fighter Sqn 147 LONG WAY FROM HOME: Leeming-based 90 SU personnel help keep RAF F-35s flying

By Tracey Allen

IT IS arguably the world’s most famous fighter station and in the modern age stands as a temple to The Few and the RAF’s fighting spirit.

More than 1,000 sorties were flown from Biggin Hill in the epic battle for Britain’s skies in 1940.

At the height of the fight to repel the Nazi air assault and planned invasion, three squadrons were scrambled three or four times a day. But there was a high price to pay – 454 Allied aircrew never returned. They are commemorated at the station’s St George’s Memorial Chapel.

Established in 1917, Biggin Hill became home to the Wireless Testing Park, later renamed the Wireless Experimental Establishment. It became an operational fighter station on December 1, 1917 and the RAF was formally established on April 1, 1918.

The first aeroplane to land at the legendary station was an RE7, flown by Lieutenant Dickie, with Air Mechanic Chadwick as his passenger, on January 2, 1917. The RAF stopped flying from Biggin Hill in 1959. As the postwar rebuilding of Britain gathered speed, the station, like so many of the hastily-built World War II bases around the country, was swiftly marked for closure.

PHOTOS: AIR HISTORICAL BRANCH (RAF)

Biggin-ing of a legend

It was saved by World War II fighter pilot Jock Maitland, who set up the Biggin Hill International Air Fair in the early 1960s, and its survival was guaranteed when ex-Army helicopter pilot Andrew Walters turned it into a private airport.

Author Alex Martin, who grew up near the Kent airfield, has written Nine Lives, The Story of Biggin Hill (unicornpublishing.org, rrp £40), the first illustrated history of the airfield.

Martin said: “By the end of the war, Biggin Hill was an enormous establishment, fully equipped and staffed both as a research and fighter station.”

At the end of August 1940 most

HISTORY: (Above, from left) A 79 Sqn Hurricane at RAF Biggin Hill. The squadron operated from the airfield during the Battle of Britain

The last three Supermarine Spitfires in service with the Temperature and Humidity Flight at Hooton Park, Liverpool, that flew to Biggin Hill, on July 11, 1957 for honourable retirement, flying in the future on ceremonial occasions as part of the RAF Historic Aircraft Flight (the forerunner of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight). They were piloted by Gp Capt JE ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, Gp Capt J Rankin and Wg Cdr PD Thompson. After landing at Biggin Hill, the Spitfires were joined by the last Hawker Hurricane, LF363, as well as Javelins of 46 Squadron and Hunters of 41 Squadron. Gloster Grebe IIIDC dual control training aircraft, J7535, of 56 Squadron pictured after overturning on landing in August 1926 at Biggin Hill

followed the end of Biggin’s Air Force flying days it was home to the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre, processing candidates for the RAF, Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Corps.

More than 200,000 recruits went through Biggin Hill between April 1962 and July 1992, when Cranwell took over the role. But its rightful place in history, as a monument to the raw courage and resilience of the RAF, was assured.

of the buildings were flattened and pilots billeted in the Kent countryside.

Illustrated history of legendary fighter station Win!

92 Sqn moved to a country house ‘Southwood,’ which they ran like a nightclub, said Martin, with a resident jazz band and regular parties.

Biggin’s role in the vanguard of national defences faded as Allied forces landed in Italy in 1943 and France in 1944, and the RAF turned to intensive bombing missions.

Yet its fame remained, and even grew. VE Day was celebrated at Biggin Hill with a thanksgiving service at St George’s Chapel, an afternoon of sporting contests and an evening dance in the Sergeants’ Mess, said Martin.

He added: “So ended six years of war in Europe. Biggin Hill had

been in the front line, its name immortalised in the life and death struggle of 1940.”

On June 27, the station was transferred from Fighter Command to Transport Command.

Biggin’s place as a shrine to

the bravery of Churchill’s Few was consolidated when the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was formed and its first four aircraft, a Hurricane and three Spitfires, arrived on July 11, 1957.

In the three decades which

In the late 1960s, the famous station had an unexpected claim to fame – the back cover photograph from Pink Floyd’s fourth album, Ummagumma, released in 1969, was taken on a taxiway at Biggin Hill. It shows road crew Peter Watts and Alan Styles standing among the band’s equipment, laid out neatly around them.

Martin explained: “The idea came from Nick Mason, Pink Floyd’s drummer, who had seen a picture of an F-4 Phantom fighterbomber with all its weapons displayed. The photo is by Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosis, designers of many famous album covers in the 60s and 70s.

“Both Nick Mason and David Gilmour, Pink Floyd’s guitarist, learned to fly at Biggin Hill, as did Aubrey Powell.”

SAVIOUR: Sqn Ldr Jock Maitland DFC receives MBE at Buckingham Palace in 2007

GRAND DAY: Sqn Ldr Edward 'Jack' Charles, Commanding Officer 611 Squadron, chalks up the Biggin Hill sector's 1,000th 'kill' following a successful sweep over Normandy on May 15, 1943. That afternoon, Charles shot down two Focke Wulf FW190 fighters, while the CO of 341

Honouring those who took part in the D-Day landings

By Martin Wade

RESERVISTS WITH Cardiffbased 614 Sqn paid tribute to the Allied heroes of the D-Day landings, visiting the Normandy beaches as the Armed Forces marked the anniversary of the biggest military operation in history.

AS1 Jack Pritchard, 27, from Cwmbran, is a driver in civilian life and with the RAF. His grandfather was part of the 3rd Infantry

Division for the landings.

He said: “It’s an extremely humbling experience to stand where my grandfather landed on D-Day. To think that he was almost 10 years younger than me at the time, it’s incredible really.”

AS1 Terence Cadogan, 38, from Cardiff, has as strong engineering connection to the landings. His company grew as a result of the development of the famous Bailey Bridges used in the operation.

He said: “The firm I work for

in Cardiff was heavily involved with these special combat bridges – Bailey Bridges. It was fascinating to see one used in the landings preserved here.” Also on the anniversary trip was Flt Lt Jude Simpson. She added: “The research uncovered some powerful stories. It was truly humbling and reminded us of the

huge sacrifices people made.”

Led by MACr Tom Lee, Reservists explored the military tactics used during the Normandy campaign, including the daring airborne raid to take Pegasus Bridge and the brutal fight for Omaha Beach.

614 Sqn Commanding Officer Wg Cdr Olly Walker added: “I’m

Luke Bluer

A GROUP of 20 RAF personnel joined colleagues from across Defence and 40 other nations to attend the International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes, in Southern France.

Now in its 60th year, the event started as an act of reconciliation between the German and French nations after World War II.

Lourdes, a place of Christian pilgrimage in the foothills of the Pyrenees, plays host to thousands of military personnel who take part in a series of events and services which aim to break down barriers between former enemies.

The RAF contingent was led by Sqn Ldr (Rev) Dave Skillen, RAF Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain. He was joined by the RAF’s Chaplain-in-Chief AVM (Rev) Giles Legood for the first time.

Reflecting on his experience, Padre Legood said: “What a wonderful

thrilled that we’ve been able to visit the invasion beaches as a squadron and learn some big lessons about this great operation and how it fits with the UK military today. “Those lessons will help them be better aviators, who are proud of their heritage and mindful of the sacrifices of those who went before.”

In the footsteps of their forebears Pilgrims’ progress

few days. Every one of the Royal Air Force contingent did our Service proud.”

Also attending his first IMP was Cpl Scott Macleod from the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, who added: “This was my first experience abroad with the RAF, as well as my first time to Lourdes.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better group and I won’t forget the experience. Hopefully I’ll be able to return to IMP next

FAMILY PRIDE: AS1 Jack Pritchard, whose grandfather was part of the landings (inset left) and AS1 Terence Cadogan (inset right) by Bailey Bridge

MOST STRIKING UNIFORM: Vatican Swiss Guard provides a splash of colour among the more usual blue and khaki

CONTEMPLATION: RAF Chaplain-inChief AVM (Rev) Giles Legood

A drawn-out war

Book features more than 280 stunning illustrations of conflict

INTERNATIONALLYACCLAIMED WRITER and broadcaster James Holland has teamed up with award-winning aviation artist Keith Burns for The Second World War An Illustrated History (published in hardback by Penguin Michael Joseph, rrp £30).

The book presents a powerful narration of the key moments of World War II, brought to life in full colour with Burns’ illustrations.

More than five years in the making, and using more than 280 specially-commissioned drawings, this new title has been hailed as a ground-breaking collaboration.

It is aimed at history enthusiasts who perhaps didn’t take the subject to a high level at school but who now want to learn more about this major period in world events.

It can also be used as an important resource for any prospective GCSE history student who wants to understand what happened during, and the key points leading up to, the major battles of WWII.

Holland is the author of a number of bestselling histories including The Battle of Britain, Dam Busters, Sicily ’43, Normandy ’44 and Brothers in

Arms. He has presented, and written, a large number of TV programmes and series and has a weekly podcast about WWII – We Have Ways of Making You Talk – with comedian and military history enthusiast Al Murray.

Burns had his first solo exhibition in 2016 at the RAF Club in London and won the Guild of Aviation Artists’ BAE Systems Aviation Painting of the Year for his atmospheric piece Cooperation.

He is one of the artists who drew The Boys, the comic that inspired the hit Amazon Prime TV series.

WE HAVE a copy of the book for one lucky reader to win. For your chance to own it, answer this question correctly:

What is the name of the weekly podcast about WWII that James Holland presents with Al Murray?

Win!

Email your answer, marked Second World War book competition, to: tracey.allen@ rafnews.co.uk or post it to: RAF News Room 68, Lancaster Building, HQ Air Command, High Wycombe, HP14 4UE, to arrive by June 30.

RAF News,

RAF pilots fought against the odds

TEAM EFFORT: The different elements of Dowding’s air defence system, run from HQ at RAF Bentley Priory (above) All illustrations by Keith Burns

This Scooby can Doo

THERE’S A lot to be said for practical motoring. It’s not for everyone but, believe it or not, most people actually want a car that provides useful versatility for daily life and won’t get stolen every time you park it outside a shop.

My uncle was one of those practical types. He had enough cash to buy himself a new Ferrari, yet he always went for something stupendously simple. If body panels had been optional, he’d have saved a few quid and put on a coat. There again, he had been a young airman with the RAF in World War II. During that era, he spent a lot of time patching up Wellington Bombers with cut up Bully Beef tins, so he valued simplicity.

Subaru’s latest Outback is a vehicle that my old Uncle Harry would have heartily approved of. It’s a rugged bit of kit that will get you out of a mess off-road, carry a good-sized load and chug along effortlessly on a run.

In entry-level ‘Limited’ form it’s also very reasonable. It costs less than the smaller Volkswagen Golf Alltrack and a lot less than the Cross Country version of the Volvo V60.

Outside

The Outback looks like a substantial estate, with black plastic bumper inserts, hard-wearing side skirts and hefty roof rails adding to the effect. The 18-inch alloy wheels are sharp and shiny, protected well from rough terrain by a generous amount of rubber. There’s no doubt that the Outback looks like a rugged workhorse that you can rely on, especially in its RAF-style camo green colours.

Inside

If it’s Japanese, expect acres of plastic. That was the standard operating premise back in the day and it’s true to say that interior design has traditionally not been Subaru’s core strength. This time

Subaru Outback

Pros

l Great traction

l Good residual values

l Lots of kit

Cons

l Lacks power

l Dull handling

Verdict

A great all-rounder with lots of space. The practical choice.

however, the interior is a different environment. Granted, there is still a fair whack of shiny plastic when you really look, but most of the obvious surfaces are now finished with soft touch materials. The seats are well bolstered and there’s beautifully stitched leather to spare. A liberal

amount of chrome effect trim helps to give the cabin a more upmarket feel, without losing its tough ruggedness.

A nicely responsive 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment interface has been added and all the controls are well laid out. There’s room to spare, front and back and the cabin feels spacious. At 512 litres, the boot’s not the biggest in the class but it’s enough for most jobs.

On the road

Let’s not beat about the bush here, the Outback is not a quick car, by any means. 0-60 mph will take 10.2s, which is pretty slow.

That does make overtaking a bit of a ‘take your life in your hands’ experience, but it’s not all bad. The steering is light, making lowspeed navigation easy, and there’s

plenty of traction in all situations. Refinement is decent during ordinary driving and road noise is minimal at a cruise.

The engine is reasonably refined when you’re treating it gently and Subaru has actually tried to fix my pet hate – CVT automatic gearboxes. That’s because they make every vehicle to which they’re fitted sound like the clutch is badly slipping. Subaru seems to have largely sorted that out now. Brilliant.

Off-road, the Outback is one of the most rugged estate cars, with better ground clearance than most. Traction levels are good and it will get you where you want to go. It’s also a sound tow vehicle, with a healthy 2000kg limit for a braked trailer.

One downside is its somewhat abrupt engine start-stop system.

Tim

Join the hip beach boys and girls in Venice, USA Cali calling

IF YOU do an internet search of the most famous beaches in the world, you’ll find Venice (USA) and Santa Monica at the top of the list. This is the coastline where everybody wants to be.

The Californian sun makes this part of the USA inviting all year round, with warm seas and perfect sunsets. Visitors can choose from a varied list of locations along the coastline here, ranging from exclusive hotels in Malibu to the bustle of Santa Monica. If you want to stay somewhere with real character though, Venice Beach is definitely the weapon of choice.

Sitting just south of Santa Monica, Venice is about as authentic as it gets. A rich mix of cultures and a history of trendsetting make it the stuff of legend. During the 60s this was hippy central, the farout epicentre for grooviness and grunge. The boardwalk was roller skate heaven for disco divas in the 70s, while the 80s saw Muscle Beach attracting Schwarzeneggerian types with big-butt ghetto blasters and killer moustaches. In the 90s sk8r boys dominated the skate park here, while surfer dudes rocked the waves in the 00s.

Come to think of it, the surf crowd have been here from the start. They still are. Catching some waves at sunset has to be on everyone’s to-do list in Cali. This is, after all, where the Beach Boys got their inspiration. By contrast, it’s also featured in the cult game Grand Theft Auto under the pseudonym Vespucci Beach. It’s pretty famous. Just saying.

Stay

At the centre of all the action sits a boutique hotel that epitomises the Cali beach lifestyle. Hotel Erwin is bright, contemporary and

sophisticated, with a rooftop lounge that offers stunning ocean views, cocktails and DJs late into the night. This is one of the most popular nightlife spots in Venice and the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail at sunset.

Situated on Pacific Avenue, very near to the ‘Venice’ sign, Erwin is in the perfect spot for beachgoers. Its modern exterior, courteous valet staff and neat reception area give a good impression before you’ve even checked in.

With 119 rooms, the building stretches from Pacific Avenue almost all the way to the beach, with the roof bar covering most it. There is a choice of rooms to cater for varying budgets, but all are well presented.

We stayed in a spacious first floor ‘Apartment Suite’, complete with a lounge, sea view balcony, dining area/kitchen, a mini office, spacious bathroom, master kingsize bedroom (also with a balcony) and a double pull-out sofa bed.

Walls painted in cool aqua, modern murals and contemporary

furniture set the scene in the living area. A large smart TV in the lounge and master bedroom are among the high-tech amenities. The kitchen comes with a coffee maker, plates, cutlery, a sink and a mini-bar.

Bathrooms are surprisingly roomy, with walk-in showers. Each shower comes equipped with surf designed hair products from Byrd.

The rooftop bar makes this the premiere location in Venice, boasting panoramic views and cracking nightlife. There’s no swimming pool in the hotel, but hey, the Pacific Ocean is a pretty big pool and that’s right next door.

Cost

An Ocean View King Suite in May will cost circa $400 per night, breakfast excluded. Cheaper rooms and dates are available, plus special offers. Free Wi-Fi. Valet parking costs $35 per day.

Downsides

The hotel’s party atmosphere and the surrounding neighbourhood may not be the best fit for anyone

PERFECT LOCATION: The canals of Venice are a stunning coastal drive from Malibu, where there's fishing and watersports aplenty on offer for the more adventurous

with younger children. Rooms near the street and the rooftop lounge can be a little noisy at night. Sidefacing, first floor suites/rooms don’t have the best sea views and can be noisy on bin day. Minor elements of room lighting were not working during our stay and let the experience down slightly.

Relax Chill out on the beach, swim, or cycle along a stretch of the 22mile Marvin Braude Coastal Trail. If you fancy a relaxing drive, head south to Marina Del Rey, L.A.’s best whale-watching spot. Alternatively, a few miles up the coast you’ll reach Santa Monica, with its famous pier and an excellent aquarium. Keep going, along the winding East Pacific Coast Highway and you’ll come to Malibu Beach, with nearby Paradise Cove – the spiritual home of the Beach Boys. Stunning beaches, warm sun, plenty of great restaurants. Perfect.

Adventure

In Venice itself there’s basketball on the outdoor courts, a lively skate park, an outdoor weight room at the Muscle Beach Gym, a film history experience with Venice Beach Walking Tours and some excellent surfing schools. At

Marina Del Rey you can go sailing, sport fishing or kayaking. Taking a road trip, you can head for nearby Universal Studios Hollywood [see our previous review], drive down to Vincent Thomas Bridge to see where Gone in 60 Seconds was filmed, or enjoy a scenic blast along the coast road, taking in sights, from Santa Monica to San Francisco. The latter is a good sixhour drive but, if you love a good US road trip, it could be right up your street.

Eat

The hotel’s restaurant is open for breakfast, brunch and dinner daily, serving a creative mix of Californian fare. There is a great pizza parlour in the same complex and the creatively named ‘Egg Slut’ restaurant, just down the road, serves all manner of interesting egg options. Ordering the house special will have you saying “I’ll have the slut please”. There’s a phrase you don’t hear every day!

Verdict

Venice isn’t without its faults, of course, but it is the most famous beach in the world and ideal for anyone who wants an authentic Californian experience. It should be on everyone’s travel list, at least once.

HIGH POINTS: Roof bar at Hotel Erwin, next to Venice Beach

A fairway to go

Costa camp gets golfers in the swing

GOLF

A BUMPER field of 16 players from the RAF men’s representative and development golf squads undertook a week-long training camp in Costa Ballena, Spain.

The association took full advantage of the first class set-up with extensive practice facilities, a par three course and 27 holes of Championship standard golf course.

Flt Lt Stu Hardy, RAFGA director of communications, said: “Alongside personal and team practice sessions, we maintained a competitive element throughout the week with daily 18-hole competitions, along with a Match play tournament on the par three course and a team Matchplay event held over the final two days.

“The camp gave the players a chance to improve their games ahead of the season and build on an already strong team cohesion, building towards a successful summer.”

The camp was the perfect start to the association’s season, which will now see them compete in the Development Inter-Services, before the RAF Strokeplay Championships (June 12-14).

Next up will be the RAF B Championships (Higher handicaps July 12-14), the RAF Match play championships (July 17-19), and the Inter-Services (September 17-21).

The summer will also see a number of pairs and team open events throughout the season, along with the RAF representative and Development team matches. l Follow RAF golf on Instagram @raf_ golf.

Quins pair set to part

TWO OF RAF rugby union’s shining stars continue to make names for themselves in the sport.

Fg Off Sarah Bonar has signed an extended contract at Harlequins, while teammate Flt Lt Amy Cokayne is set to leave Quins for Allianz Premier 15s newcomers Leicester Tigers.

Bonar described the move of Cokayne to Leicester as ‘like losing my right arm,’ but told RAF News that she was delighted to have secured her own future with Harlequins.

“I am really looking forward to getting stuck into the next couple of seasons to not only improve my individual but team performance too,” she said.

Scottish international Bonar missed last year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand after picking up a collarbone injury while playing for Harlequins against Exeter.

Cokayne, who joined Quins in 2019, has promised to end her final season at the club in style. She said: “I’ve had an amazing four years at Quins. I’m looking forward to getting back out on the pitch and finishing the season with a bang.”

GREAT CONDITIONS: Par for the course for RAF Golfing Association members

Danesfield hosts Sprint and Marathon Championships

SERVICE ROWING is about to lift off for the 2023 season as RAF Central Fund Danesfield, near Henley-on-Thames, hosts the Sprint and Marathon Championships.

Event OIC Flt Lt Alexander Bowyer said: “Building on the resounding success of Paddlefest earlier this year, where a remarkable 40 personnel attended, this exhilarating championship aims to introduce participants to the thrilling world of kayaking, with a particular emphasis on racing kayaks.

“The event kicks off with two days of comprehensive training, catering to absolute novices as well

as those well-versed in the sport.

“Tuesday marks the highlight of the championships, with an exhilarating kayaking race that encompasses all skill levels.

“Beginners will navigate a challenging three-mile course, while seasoned paddlers will test their mettle over an eight-mile stretch.”

The event’s sprint contest will follow the next day and will see a 500-metre race which culminates in a finish directly in front of Danesfield’s balcony.

The final day’s action will feature the RAF Marathon Championship, which Bowyer describes as ‘a test of skill, endurance, and teamwork’

He added: “The marathon promises to be an adrenalinefuelled culmination to an extraordinary week of paddling prowess.

“Whether someone is an aspiring kayaker, an experienced paddler, or an enthusiastic spectator, the championships offer an unmissable opportunity to immerse in the exhilarating world of RAF canoeing.

“We think this unmissable event at Danesfield on June 12 to 16 will redefine people’s perception of kayaking.”

For further information and registration details email: rafcanoeing@gmail.com.

STAYING PUT: Bonar remains at Quins

Sgt Faulkner is new RAF champ

THE Inter-Service men’s title changed hands and a new RAF championship winner was crowned at this year’s RAF Table Tennis Champs and Inter-Services in Halton and Portsmouth.

A healthy attendance saw the RAF championships, which boasted 19 new competitors, challenging for the Inter-Station and Individual events at RAF Halton.

A strong RAF Brize Norton team retained the A Cup by beating Waddington in the final, with Coningsby defeating Odiham to take the B Cup.

While in the women’s discipline Sgt Rebecca Faulkner was crowned ladies champion by beating last year’s winner, AS1 Sophie Wodecki.  There were no great surprises in the men’s finals as Flt Lt Antony Barella outshone WO Tony Stead to retain the trophy for yet another consecutive year.

Cpl Adam Bird was awarded the Daphne Veitch trophy for all-round improvement and also recognised was Chf Tech Craig Walton for his ‘significant

Men fall just short as rain hits the IST20

Duckworth

Lewis sums don't add up for battling Servicemen

Daniel Abrahams

FOUR RUNS were all that kept the RAF from winning the IST20 at Lord’s as rain stopped play and washed away their dreams.

Sitting on 80-2 after 10 overs, the Service looked well set to catch the Army, who scored 150-9, before the game was halted as the heavens opened.

Cpl Tom Shorthouse said: “It wasn’t a great way to lose, there never is, but when you are pretty much in control then one ball and the rain and it’s over.

“The weather looked bad from when I faced the first ball, so we were left in a dilemma, chase or play the game, and we just came out the wrong side of it.”

Cpl Tom Shorthouse’s charges had earned their place at the top table on the day to face the Army, having defeated

contribution to the RAF Table Tennis Association’. He was presented with the Chris Moffat Memorial Trophy.

The Royal Navy hosted the Inter-Services at HMS Temeraire and it saw the RAF men’s team face one of its biggest challenges to date, sitting level with the Army after 10 games.

The countback saw the Army narrowly taking the win.

The very strong Army ladies team backed up the men’s title win, despite several games being well fought out, making a hugely successful tournament for the Army.

The RAFTTA is always looking for players of all abilities, holding multiple academies throughout the year. The next will be at RAF Halton on June 28-30. The Festival of Table Tennis will be held at Halton between October 11-13.

l Follow RAF Table tennis on Instagram @ raftabletennis.

the Royal Navy in Portsmouth

The RAF won the RN fixture on Duckworth Lewis and having benefitted once from the calculation for rain-affected matches, they suffered cruelly at Lord’s.

The Army defeated the Navy by 20 runs in the first game of the day, which was sandwiched in between the UKAF ladies’ victory against the MCC. Despite the hosts

setting a target of 115-4, UKAF beat that score with just two overs left.

Flt Lt Ellie St Leger of 29 Sqn starred for the UKAF team, but her RAF colleague, AS1 Molly Rebanks, pulled out after suffering a last-minute injury.

The men’s final clash saw the Army at 27-1 after Shorthouse caught Bali off Sgt Sean McCabe for 25. The Army wickets continued to tumble and when the big-hitting team captain Jonathan Boynton was caught LBW for 9 the Army sat at 79-5 after 12 overs and the RAF looked to be sitting pretty.

Chasing 150, Shorthouse led from the front with opening

partner Fg Off Touseef Ahmad –zipping to 24-0 after three overs, smashing opening bowler Narayan for 12 in one over before he was bowled sweeping by Benson for 24. Shorthouse added: “We were faced with a decision, chase the DL – which would leave you short for the overall score – or vice versa. It is tough, the season has been odd because the Lord’s fixture has been so early in the year, so now it will be nice to get back to some normality.” There was a silver lining for the RAF captain, however, he was presented with the man of the match award by MCC member and cricket aficionado, celebrity Stephen Fry (inset left).

NEWCOMERS WELCOME: Rookie Cpl Martin Sherwin gets in some match practice

ALL IN A SPIN: Flt Lt Adam Fisher delivers PHOTOS: PO PAUL A'BARROW

COIN TOSS: UKAF women's Captain Lt Connie Cant

above

OPENER: Fg Off Touseef Ahmad takes a swing,

Done by Donny demons

THE SERVICE’S sidecar champions’ second round tilt at Donington Park was beset with gearbox and technical issues which hampered their season once again.

Having seen their opening round at Croft sunk by gearbox troubles, the duo of Cpl Mark Middleton and stand-in driver Shane Colbrook were forced to retire during their first race at the Midlands track and finished 12th in their second.

Middleton said: “It was another frustrating weekend, but fingers crossed that is now our gearbox woes finished with.

ICE HOCKEY

“Despite all that happened we showed good fighting spirit to produce the sixthfastest lap of the race on limited track time, and things are looking promising for the next round at Oulton Park later this month.”

The pair encountered trouble during qualifying at the FSRA British F2 Championship race but managed to get round the course and place ninth on the grid.

Having started well in the first race, gearbox issues struck and having no engine braking meant the pair were unable to corner properly and without gear selection

fell back down the pack, eventually retiring after lap five.

Having changed the engine the pair produced a problem-free warm-up run on the Sunday morning and flew out of the gates at the start of race two.

Taking a handful of places by the first corner, the pair approach Craner Curves and noticed the bike ahead was losing what appeared to be oil.

Middleton said: “We were unsure if they were losing oil or water (it turned out to be water) and with all the surrounding bikes

throwing their hands in the air we rolled back the throttle expecting the race to be stopped, but it wasn’t.

“Now around six seconds back of the pack, we had some work to do.”

The duo’s battle to make up the lost time took the majority of the remainder of the race and, with just two laps to go, they managed to make their first move up into 12th position, but were unable to progress any further.

l Follow the team on Facebook @ RAFF2SIDECAR.

Push for women's Inter-Service ice champs gathers pace

MATCH TIME: Training camp culminates with a game between RAF Pumas and Stars PLANS FOR an all-women’s ice hockey Inter-Services took another huge step forward after a successful Tri-Service Learn to Play training camp at Telford Ice Arena.

A bumper 40 skaters took part in the week-long camp, which focused on basic skating skills, stops, turns, stick handling and various shot types. The camp, which was open to serving female personnel from all three Services, culminated in a mixed fixture with the Pumas versus the Stars teams.

Wg Cdr Justin Blackie, RAF Ice Hockey chairman, said: “This has been a fantastic event from the RAF

Ice Hockey Association to deliver the first ever all women’s TriService Learn to Play, with more than 40 ladies from across the three Services taking part.

“Inspiring the Navy and Army to produce their own ladies’ representative teams, our combined vision is to hold an all-female InterService Championships within two years.

“Seeing the enthusiasm, commitment and excellent skills, considering some have only be playing for a few days, is impressive, and it has been a joy to experience the ‘buzz’ around this ice rink and

the momentum that is growing.”

LTP organiser Cpl Sharon Hayes said: “The Pumas have been going from strength to strength and building in numbers, but we’re still lacking that competition from our sister Services.

“The RAF has benefitted from a great set-up where a strong focus

on grassroots has seen the numbers grow.

“Since taking over as the LTP lead for the RAFIHA I have been keen to build on the amazing legacy and work of my predecessors.

“Everyone who attended the camp had a great time and players from both Services have now

started to put the wheels in motion to move forward with their own teams.

“I’m excited for a future InterServices tournament and for the rivalries that come out of it.”

l Follow RAF Ice Hockey on Facebook: RAFIceHockeyAssociation.

National crashes hit BMX pair

THERE WAS plenty of guts but not glory for the Service’s BMXers as they crashed out during the opening rounds of the British Cycling National Series in Kent.

Flt Lt Chris Leary and Fg Off Taylor-Lei Mohan were looking to push on from last year following some impressive successes.

The Cyclopark track in Kent was the perfect launch pad for the duo, who would be competing in the male Cruiser 30+ class and female Cruiser 17-29 class respectively over the opening two rounds.

Leary had a positive start racing well and finishing seventh overall in round 1. Vying for a slot in the

UKAF gridiron touches down

New York Jets back series at Lakenheath

Daniel Abrahams

final during round 2, a crash in the third moto [race] scuppered Leary’s final push; consequently, finishing ninth overall.

Leary said: “Cyclopark was my first foray into National level racing. The track is technical, but I was feeling confident after making the A final in round one. The crash was quite a big one, but ninth overall was still a positive result given my inexperience.”

With a seventh-placed finish in round one, Taylor-Lei was hoping for a podium spot in round two. She made the A final once again, but a crash saw her lose places, before getting back on her bike and

finishing seventh overall.

Leary added: “Taylor is an incredibly talented rider who consistently pushes for podium spots. She had a great start in the A final and was challenging for the lead when she got caught up with another rider in the first berm. Unfortunately, she crashed and was ridden over by a number of riders.

“A true testament of her character, she got up and finished her race.”

The team will saddle up again for the next rounds at Platt Fields, Manchester.

l Follow RAF BMX on Instagram @RAFCABMXRACING.

A LANDMARK day in an already landmark year saw Service American Football score another huge touchdown thanks to the NFL’s New York Jets franchise.

The three-match series at RAF Lakenheath saw the newly set up UK team win the third of the matches 1814, having lost the opening two to their US opponents.

The two teams competed in a best-of-three ‘flag’ series – without the need for helmets and full padding – for a chance to win a custom-built championship belt donated by the Jets.

The US team, representing American military units

across the base, won two of the three games, 20-18 and 22-0. The UK took the third game.

RAF Mustangs general manager Sgt Paul Wakeford said: “A US sport played on UK soil on a joint UK/US air base, sponsored by the NFL’s New York Jets; what more could we ask for?

“There was minimal time for practice, but the three Services came together like a team that had been one for a while. On what was to be a cold dreary day, we surprised the US team.

“It really was a great all-round effort throughout the whole tournament with players representing each Service showing that we can indeed play them at their

Ex Green Valley a great team builder for 78 Sqn

NORTH WALES was the opening destination for another year of cycling for the members of 78 Sqn Swanwick Military, for Exercise Green Valley.

Team spokesman Sgt David Barker said: “Taking on peaks such as Snowdonia and the Mach Loop route was designed to improve physical and mental wellbeing, providing a perfect platform for junior ranks to develop and showcase leadership.

“Thanks to AS1 Alex Carman’s expert planning and executing, the event brought the team together across all ranks.”

The members were hosted at MOD Capel Curig, the Cadet Centre for Adventure Training. The team undertook a 76km ride from Capel Curig through Betws-y-Coed

to the foot of Snowdon before riding on to Caernarfon Castle.

The second half of the ride saw the group circumnavigate back towards Snowdon, including an arduous 5km climb.

Barker added: “The second day saw the team relieve their legs canoeing on Llyn Tegid, one of the largest bodies of water in Wales, the cold water providing great relief for tired limbs.

“The final day saw the team complete a 50km ride round the famous Mach Loop, setting off from Dolgellau, taking in the amazing scenery of the Welsh hills.

“Next up will be RAFA Rides 2023 where 78 Squadron personnel will complete their own 100-mile route around Hampshire and Wiltshire.”

own game.

“RAF quarterback Sqn Ldr Cameron Stewart came away as the UKAF Most Valued Player.”

A hard-fought first game was close despite the lack of preparation from the UKAF team, ending 2018, while the second clash saw UKAF struggle to counter the fastpaced US team, losing 22-0.

Although going behind 0-6 in the first half, UKAF came back to take the lead 6-7 at half-time in the third match.

Wakeford said: “We came out ready in the second half. With both teams not getting anywhere UKAF drove down to score, leaving it to the defence tso hold on and then the UK to run the time out.”

The Jets have sponsored multiService flag games on bases in Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey, Japan, Kuwait, Djibouti, Germany and in the US.

GRIDIRON

BASE: Team at Capel Curig Adventure Training Centre

THRILLS AND SPILLS: Fg Lt Chris Leary MLBMXPHOTOGRAPHY

DEFENSE: AS1(T) Dylan Walsh (no.22) and Cpls Stuart Dunlop (left) and Ben Millington (right) close down US player with a RN teammate (no.17) at RAF Lakenheath

OFFENSE: Top UKAF player, quarterback Sqn Ldr Cameron Stewart CHRIS COOPE PHOTOGRAPHIC

The giant-killers

Daniel Abrahams

THEIR 23-YEAR wait was finally over as Boulmer won the RAF FA Cup, producing a giant-killing performance to beat Cosford 1-0 at Oxford City’s Marsh Lane.

After lifting the Keith Christie Trophy, delighted head coach Sgt Tom Richardson said: “Nobody expected a camp the size of Boulmer to be able to mix it with Cosford. If we had decided to mix it with them, they would have destroyed us, so we set out a plan and looked to set plays as our route to goal. To score after two minutes was surreal. “We stopped

Minnows Boulmer put red-hot favourites Cosford to the sword

a really good side from creating gilt-edged chances. Our keeper only had two big saves to make, the rest were half chances, so it was fantastic.”

RAF Boulmer had started brightly and forced a secondminute corner, which was sent in from the Cosford right.

It was flicked on and Cpl Ryan Hindle fired in from the edge of the box.

It could have been two a few minutes later after a terrific ball into the heart of the Cosford half set AS1 Ricardo Kennedy free.

Tussling with Cosford defender AS Tom White, he

slotted wide from 18 yards.

Cosford captain Jonny Watkins was then found superbly by Niall Flint, who pulled the ball back from the dead ball line, but his shot was well saved by AS1Owain Thomas.

Flint then sent a great chance agonisingly close, tipped wide by Thomas after 50 minutes.

Cpl Gosling continued to jink

and dance his way around the Boulmer midfield, but he was slowly being restricted to longrange efforts.

Following a great header off the bar by FS Sean O’Donnell after 75 minutes, the Gibraltar international whipped in a shot from the righthand angle of the box which Thomas parried but gathered at the second attempt, with Watkins bearing down on him.

Richardson added: “We put the ball into good areas at times and created some chances or put ourselves into good positions going forward. We lost Cpl Sam Dawson, our main goal threat, so to have achieved what we did is even more special.”

JUBILATION: Boulmer celebrate shock victory, above, after captain Cpl Max Fox is presented with trophy, below

PHOTOS: STEVE LYMPANY, BRIZE NORTON

KEPT OUT: Cosford international Gosling

CLEAN SHEET: Boulmer keeper AS1 Owain Thomas

Film Review

The Other Fellow (15)

In cinemas and on demand now

THE OTHER FELLOW is a documentary about a number of people around the world who share a name with the world’s most famous secret agent: Bond, James Bond.

What seems a thin and peculiar premise for a feature-length film quickly reveals itself to have a decent level of production. And as we meet a bunch of the Bonds, we get a snapshot of distinct and intriguing personalities – from a reverend and retired oilman to a politician and prison inmate.

The story told by most is pretty much identical at first – that whenever they meet someone for the first time, they’ll make the same

joke as every person before them. At one point we see one of the subjects, a New York theatre director, check into a hotel giving the name ‘Bond' for the clerk to reply sardonically ‘first name James?’. This particular Bond appears to be the one who begrudges his name the most, but at the same time cashes in on it whenever possible, and wouldn’t conceive of changing it, begging the question, is this some kind of performance by someone who actually loves the attention?

This is certainly the case for Swedish man Gunnar Schäfer, who had his name changed to incorporate ‘James Bond’. A man for whom the Ian Fleming novels

Film Review

Beau is Afraid (15)

In cinemas now

THE WORLD is a living nightmare in writer-director Ari Aster’s latest: an exhausting three-hour spiral that starts unhinged and only gets stranger.

Whether some societal collapse has befallen the city where we find Beau (Joaquin Phoenix), or if we occupy his extremely paranoid perspective, is not clear but then nothing is, in the sprawling mania of Beau is Afraid.

Beau is a fragile and lonely man who hides away from the depraved criminals that fill the streets outside, except when visiting his formidable mother (Patti LuPone) – arguably the most fearsome figure, who features prominently in his therapy sessions. But when his mother dies in a freak accident, Beau must try to quieten the fear and make it to her funeral out of duty, if not unshakeable guilt.

The adrenaline-pulsing first act of Beau is Afraid slows and transforms as he meets people along the way, though it stays very darkly comical. First, he is taken in by the ever-smiling doctor Roger (Nathan Lane) and his wife (Amy Grace), despite the seething resentment of their young daughter (Kylie Rogers) and the menacing presence living outside in a caravan. This is a world in which acts of kindness register as deranged and unsettling, so you can never simply relax. There is a constant feeling that the violence outside will inevitably force its way in.

Beyond this family Beau will

fall into the company of a theatre group in the woods, where the film becomes truly experimental, and finally it will focus in on a surprise confrontation that will unpack his mother-son complex.

Known for his modern horror masterpieces Hereditary and

were a great comfort when his father left him as a child, and so has spent his life trying to emulate, whether that’s by purportedly drinking only Bollinger or, to the probable annoyance of the postman, adding ‘007’ to the front door of his number 10 house.

Other tales, such as the manhunt

Shaken and stirred by a famed name Beau trapped in dystopian world

Midsommar, it seems as though Aster has been given free rein, which results in a beautifully insane but self-indulgent project, where story and character come second to tone and texture.

2 roundels out of 5

Review by Sam Cooney

for a James Bond charged with murder, and a rather dark story of domestic abuse and witness relocation, add an unexpected dimension to the documentary. This too with the origin of the secret agent’s moniker – stolen by Fleming from the author of a book about birds in the Caribbean,

DVDs

supposed to be plain and quiet, but of course making it anything but after the success of the books and films that would follow.

The Other Fellow is a well-made and entertaining film that is better than it has any right to be. 4 out of 5 roundels

Review by Sam Cooney

Win!

The Equalizer Season Two

Out now (Fabulous Films Ltd/Fremantle Media Ents)

Latifah's up to the job as she reprises role as The Equalizer

Queen

THE SECOND season of the reimagined classic The Equalizer sees the return of Queen Latifah (Chicago) as Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills as a former CIA operative to help those with nowhere else to turn.

All 18 episodes from the second season of this action-packed vigilante series are now out on DVD (rrp £39.99) and we have copies to win.

The third series of The Equalizer starring Queen Latifah has just finished airing. The movie The Equalizer III starring Denzel Washington is due for release at cinemas later this year. The new series and the movie franchise are both based on the 1985 series starring Edward Woodward.

McCall is an average single mum, quietly raising her teenage daughter. But to a trusted few, she

is The Equalizer. She is joined in her pursuit of justice by William Bishop, her former CIA handler and longtime friend; Melody ‘Mel’ Bayani, a sniper from Robyn’s past; Harry Keshegian, a brilliant hacker and Marcus Dante, an NYPD detective who is pretty sure she saw Robyn a lot on MTV back in the day.

For your chance to own a copy, tell us:

Who plays Robyn McCall in The Equalizer?

Email your answer, marked The Equalizer DVD competition, to: tracey.allen@ rafnews.co.uk or post it to: tracey. allen@rafnews.co.uk or post it to: RAF News, Room 68, Lancaster Building, HQ Air Command, High Wycombe, HP14 4UE, to arrive by June 30. Please include your full postal address with your entry.

SHARED BOND: London's James Bond (left) who changed his name from Bond, with Swede Gunnar 'Bond James' Schäfer

BEAU: Mother issues

Scouting For Girls New

Scouting for Girls go back to their roots for seventh album

SCOUTING FOR GIRLS’ indiepop anthems such as She’s So Lovely, This Ain’t A Love Song and Heartbeat set them on a path to huge success which included four top 10 singles, four top 10 albums, two million sales and more than a billion streams – plus four BRIT Awards and an Ivor Novello. After so many highlights, the trio questioned where to go next as they planned their seventh studio album. The solution was to return to their roots – back when they were three unknown musicians in Ruislip, West London, and reconnect with the reasons that they started a band in the first place.

The result is their new album The Place We Used To Meet, to be released on October 13. They’ve also announced details of a major UK headline tour this autumn which concludes with a London show at the Roundhouse.

Roy Stride, the band’s frontman, said: “As the name suggests, it’s an album about going back to our roots and starting again. Falling back in love with music. Loving every aspect of the process: the recording, the writing, playing live and, most importantly, just hanging out as friends.

“There was no great plan, no overthinking beyond just writing and recording the best songs that we could. Heartbreaking, anthemic, fun and pop, indie and serious, anything went as long as we loved it.

“It’s the best collection of songs we’ve ever had and I’ve loved every minute of making it.”

The band have a list of live dates lined up this summer including the Isle of Wight Festival on June 17, Camp Bestival on July 28, supporting Olly Murs at the M&S Arena, Liverpool on August

Theatre

22 and at Dreamland, Margate on August 25.

Their headline tour kicks off on November 3 in Edinburgh and

Jack and The Beanstalk

December 15 to January 7

Music

Folk by the Oak

Waterboys Folk by the

Win! A family ticket up for grabs

finishes at the Roundhouse on December 2.

l Go to: scoutingforgirls.com for details.

Giant challenge for panto rookie Mills

BBC Radio 2 DJ Scott Mills will make his pantomime debut this festive season as he takes to the stage in Leicester’s giant family pantomime Jack and The Beanstalk, from December 15 to January 7.

The popular broadcaster, who hosts his own daily afternoon show (taking over the slot from Steve Wright last autumn), last month cohosted the network’s coverage of the King’s Coronation Concert, as well as the Eurovision Song

Contest grand final and semi-finals on Radio 2 and BBC One.

Before that, he served as the longest-standing daytime presenter on Radio 1, clocking up 24 years hosting both The Scott Mills Show every day

The Official Chart Show

He also hosted Saturday mornings on BBC Radio 5 live.

Scott (pictured left) said: “I do love a new challenge so in a year where I’ve already moved to a

new radio home and somehow managed to survive 24 hours on a treadmill, it’s time to tread the boards darling! I’m so excited and cannot wait to spend the festive period performing in the great city of Leicester at De Montfort Hall.”

On TV, Scott has also hosted The National Lottery and Points of View, appeared on shows including Robot Wars, commentated on BBC One for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and made documentaries including the World’s Worst Place to be Gay. In 2014 he was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing l Go to: demontforthall.co.uk for more details.

FOLK BY the Oak returns to the leafy parkland surrounding historic Hatfield House in Hertfordshire on Sunday, July 16 – and we have a family pass, worth £149, to give away.

Legendary band The Waterboys are this year’s headliners, led by the dynamic Scottish guitarist/ vocalist Mike Scott. Also due to appear on the main stage is the singer-songwriter and Mercury Prize nominee Nick Mulvey. Mulvey’s striking and unique sound intertwines influences of musicians such as Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell and Tom Waits with a variety of African and Afro-Hispanic styles.

Two more acts making their debut at the festival are Sona Jobarteh and The Longest Johns. Sona is Africa’s first female griot kora virtuoso and a composer renowned for her ability to blend traditional music with blues and afropop. The Longest Johns’ exuberant live shows are layered with riveting story-telling and captivating harmonies which have quickly made them a ‘must-see’ act on the UK festival circuit.

Folk by the Oak also features a family area, situated within sight and sound of the main stage so there’s no need to miss out on your favourite acts while keeping the little ones entertained. Highlights include henna art, circus skills, music and singing workshops, a

climbing wall and archery.

Unusually for a festival, Folk by the Oak invites you to bring your own picnics into the arena, but also offers a range of street food on sale. Skilled artists and artisans will be in the craft tent and there’s also a vintage tent selling trinkets, collectables and retro goodies.

The one-day Folk by the Oak festival is within walking distance from Hatfield train station – it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy all the excitement of a three-day festival in one glorious day of music, fun and bunting, without the need to camp.

To be in with a chance of winning a family pass (for 2 adults and 2 children) to Folk By The Oak, answer this question correctly:

RUISLIP ROMEOS: Stride and bandmates revisit the early days with new album

AFRO VIBES: Mercury Prize nominee Mulvey

Nationwide to June 18

Waterboys play the Oak

Edited by Tracey Allen

On tour now

Practice is the key to success for voices ace Debra

Who is the leader of The Waterboys?

Email your answer, to: info@ folkbytheoak.com, subject: RAF NEWS FBTO COMPETITION by June 16, 2023*.

*Please note entries must be sent by email so that your family pass can be sent out electronically.

Don’t want to leave it to chance? Tickets and full line-up information can be found at www.folkbytheoak.com.

DEBUT: Trailblazer Sona Jobarth

By entering the competition, you agree to subscribe to Folk By The Oak e-marketing database. JSL Productions will never share your personal data with third-parties who intend to use it for their own purposes without your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe option on JSL Productions marketing emails. Winners will be selected at random on June 19, 2023 and notified by email. Tickets are transferable but cannot be exchanged for any other goods. Winners agree to abide by concert and estate rules. Please email: info@folkbytheoak.com for full competition T&Cs.

ACTRESS, SINGER, comedian and impressionist

Debra Stephenson is touring her show The Many Voices of Debra Stephenson, nationwide to June 18.

The show, that she debuted at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2022, promises to take audiences on a hilarious journey through the decades from Billy Holliday to Billie Eilish, Shirley Bassey to Kate Bush, Celine Dion to Britney Spears, and many more…

Known for her roles as Shell Dockley in Bad Girls and Frankie Baldwin in Coronation Street, Debra will perform her impressions of the most famous stars of TV and movies over the years, along with those of well-known politicians and celebrities, with musical accompaniment from James Stead.

She’s also co-starred with Jon Culshaw in BBC One’s The Impressions Show, is a regular voice on BBC Radio 4’s Dead Ringers and has voiced characters for ITV’s Newzoids and Spitting Image

She said: “It’s kind of a nostalgic show because I like to do the impressions that I’ve been doing since I was really young. I love to take the audience back on a journey through time. We’ve had a lot of pain over the last three years so if we can all come together and enjoy ourselves through music and comedy that can only be a good thing. It’s so nice to be able to do that again. Not being able to tour for a couple of years made me feel like I wanted to do it even more.”

What’s the key to nailing an impression?

“It’s about getting the essence of the

person. I have to trust how I feel, so if I feel like I’m in character and I feel somehow like that person then I have to trust that that’s coming across,” she explained.

“I put a lot of effort into watching how that person speaks as well as the kind of things they say, what they’re doing with their face, what they’re doing with their mouth, wherever they’ve got an accent, what their tongue placement is… It’s all about detail but at the same time you could copy that and still be missing something if you haven’t got the essence.”

She admitted: “I sometimes feel afraid of meeting people who I do impressions of. It doesn’t happen very often but mainly it’s been on chat shows with hosts who are very receptive. Davina McCall really loved my impression of her. I did a comedy roast where I had to dress up as her, then come face to face with her as a surprise with a prosthetic nose.

“It wasn’t my view of her, it was the makeup artist’s and I was just the canvas for it. I was like ‘Oh no!’ but she loved it. She said: ‘That is my nose! Wow, that is amazing. You are me. I feel like I’m talking to myself. It’s weird.’”

“Connection with the audience is always the thing,” Debra revealed when asked what she enjoys most about touring.

She added: “It’s magic. It’s an exchange of energy and you can create this positive vibe on the stage with music, the audience’s energy and your own.”

l Go to: socomedy.co.uk for tour details.

LEGENDS: The Waterboys

Your Announcements

You can email photos for announcements on this page to: tracey.allen@rafnews.co.uk

Deaths

BAYLEY Michael John (known as Mick) MAEOp of Lower Weare.

Passed away peacefully in Burnham War Memorial Hospital on May 14, aged 82. Dearly loved husband to Cindy. Much loved father to sons Graham and Nigel and daughters-in-law Susan and Pippa and grandfather to Callum. Mick will be missed by all his family and friends. Funeral service to be held on Thursday, June 8 at Sedgemoor Crematorium at 1pm.

Family flowers only please. Donations if desired for The Royal British Legion can be made online to: michaelbayley.muchloved. com or (cheques payable to RBL Dunkirk Memorial House) may be sent to Burnham Funeral Services of 97 Oxford Street, Burnhamon-Sea, Somerset, TA8 1EW. Tel: 01278 795009.

for 22 years. He stayed in Shropshire, with his wife for many years before moving to North Yorkshire six years ago. He is survived by Patricia and two daughters, Elizabeth and Kathryn. Sorely missed but forever loved.

PINE Alec BEM. Passed away peacefully at home on May 12 aged 97. A loving father and grandfather. The funeral service will take place at All Saints Church, Horstead, Norwich, Norfolk, NR12 7EP on Monday, June 12 at 10.30am. Family flowers only please but donations if desired may be made payable to Blind Veterans UK and sent c/o Gordon Barber Funeral Home, Horning Road West, Hoveton, Norwich Norfolk, NR12 8QJ.

Seeking

SEEKING anyone in the 309th entry at RAF Hereford from May 1967 until April 1968. Please email Ian Dall: iandall622@gmail.com.

LOOKING for any members of the 47th entry TG19 Hereford 62-64. Any still about? Please contact Jim Cummins via email on: Carol_cummins@aol.com or call: 01302 532865, 07517 416702.

St Leonards, Gloucester GL4 8DE. All members are welcome to attend. If you are interested in joining the Association please contact our Membership Secretary, Harry Player, on: chrisarry714@gmail.com for further information.

Obituary

Mick Miles

MILES Michael David (Mick the Medic) passed away peacefully on May 18 following a recent diagnosis of cancer.

He joined the Air Force in 1970 and met and married his loving wife Patricia, who was then also in the RAF, in 1972. He served in Germany and Gibraltar as well as a number of bases in the UK. He was last stationed at RAF Shawbury, where he was Sgt at the Medical Centre for eight years before retirement in 1992, after having served

How to use our service

Reunions

223 Entry, 50 years since graduation reunion, to be held at Mount Pleasant Hotel, Great North Road, Doncaster, DN11 OHW June 15-17. All details on our website: 223halton.hosting. idnet.net/reunion_2023.htm.

THE RAF Masirah and RAF Salalah Veterans Association Reunion Gala Dinner is to be held on Saturday, October 7 at the Hatton Court Hotel, Upton

THE RAF and Defence Fire Service reunion will take place from Friday, November 3 to Sunday November 5 at the Sketchley Grange Hotel and Spa, Sketchley Lane, Hinkley, Leicestershire, LE10 3HU. For more information please visit: rafanddfsa. co.uk/reunions or you can contact Don Pape, email: donaldpape252@yahoo.com or Mike Clapton, email: fire. bucket@btinternet.com for any further questions. If you are not a member and wish to join, please visit the website on how to join. We welcome new members.

Associations

RAF Armourers past and present. Do you know that the RAF Association has an Armourers Branch? The Branch's aim is to provide welfare support and comradeship for all who have served or currently serve as an RAF Armourer. See: rafaarmourers.co.uk or contact the committee via: plumbersrest@outlook.com.

IF you trained as an RAF Administrative Apprentice (or are related to one) we would be delighted to welcome you to the RAFAA Association. See: rafadappassn.org; or contact Mem Sec on: 07866 085834 or Chairman on: 01933 443673.

There is no charge for conventionally-worded birth, engagement, marriage, anniversary, death,in memoriam seeking and reunion notices. For commercial small ads contact Edwin Rodrigues on: 07482 571535. We cannot, under any circumstances, take announcements over the telephone. They can be sent by email to: tracey.allen@rafnews.co.uk. Please note that due to the coronavirus pandemic we are currently unable to accept notices submitted by post.

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RAF football stalwart who became ADC to Elizabeth II

FORMER GP CAPT A.

A. Cartwright, known universally as Clyde, who served as ADC to Queen Elizabeth II and was wellknown in the Service for his long involvement with RAF Football, has died aged 95.

Born in Sheffield, after leaving Cambridge University where he read Modern Languages, Archaeology and Anthropology, he joined the RAF in 1950 as a National Serviceman.

Now married to Pauline and with a small son, during his first posting at Shawbury he was approached for Russian language training and studied at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies at London University, followed by residential immersion with the White Russian émigré community in Paris.

His son Paul said: “Still holding his commission, he was recruited into the Security Service, serving first in Vienna, until its Four-Power tutelage ended in 1955, and then in Berlin. He was later appalled by the unmasking of spy George Blake, whose betrayal explained the eradication, but did not erase the memory, of some of Clyde’s contacts. For the vast majority of Clyde’s many friends and acquaintances, this chapter in his life necessarily remained unknown and concealed.”

Paul added: “Events

in Berlin caused Clyde to question his public service vocation, and he resigned his commission, returning to his native Sheffield to management in the steel industry. After a relatively short period he reapplied for his commission, resuming his interrupted Air Force career, with loss of seniority, with a posting to Scampton in 1958.”

Defence College in Rome. He was then posted to Rheindahlen, HQ RAF Germany, as Command Education and Training Officer and, to his intense pride, was appointed as ADC to The Queen. In Rheindahlen Clyde’s involvement with RAF Football intensified, chairing the RAF Germany Football Association, actively supporting teams at local matches and participating on tour, and earning the respect and affection of players and technical staff as ‘Boss’.

Clyde’s next move was as Accounts Officer at Cranwell, where he taught cadets Russian and began a life-long association with RAF football. In 1964, as Sqn Ldr, he was posted to the Defence Services Secretariat in the Royal Household, with an office in Buckingham Palace.

Further postings were to Sharjah, the National Defence College (NDC), a Command HQ role at Brampton and, as Wg Cdr, to Innsworth as OC. He then returned to the NDC, as a member of the Directing Staff, before a posting as Gp Capt to HQ Support Command, Andover, then to the NATO

Retiring from a second posting to Innsworth in 1981, Clyde joined the Bursary of Lancing College, before moving to the British Services Security Organisation. After the Berlin Wall fell and the reunification of Germany, he took up a liaison role with the German authorities in Cologne, retiring in 1993.

During retirement, spent in the Black Forest, Sheffield, West Sussex and Berlin, Clyde and Pauline maintained contact with their wide circle of friends, and particularly enjoyed supporting RAF Football. They were season ticket holders at Brighton and Hove Albion FC for many years.

Clyde is survived by Pauline, to whom he was married for 72 years, two sons, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He died peacefully, in Hailsham, East Sussex on May 4. Please email: paul.cartwright@ brookemcnee.com to get in touch.

THE 'BOSS': Gp Capt Clyde Cartwright presents medals to the French Air Force team after a game against RAF Germany in Rheindahlen, 1980. Inset, Clyde in later life

Your Announcements

You can email photos for announcements on this page to: tracey.allen@rafnews.co.uk

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A MUSEUM featuring a permanent exhibition that tells the story of Allied airmen shot down over occupied Holland during World War II has been officially opened in the Dutch town of Tiel.

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Patrick O’Connor, military attaché at the British Embassy in The Netherlands, was among the VIPs attending the event at the Sky of Hope Allied Airmen Museum, along with aldermen from Tiel and 150 guests.

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Among those commemorated at the museum is Sqn Ldr Denis Colebrook (inset, below), who was hidden by the Dutch resistance after his Typhoon was shot down near the city of Culemborg on November 28, 1944.

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CYCLISTS OF all abilities are being invited to sign up for the RAF Association’s annual cycling event, RAFA Rides, at Kendrew Barracks (formerly RAF Cottesmore) in Rutland on June 17.

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Last year’s RAFA Rides saw 800 cyclists from 11 countries come together to take part in the on-road and virtual events. Together, they raised more than £100,000 for the Association.

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This year, BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen presenter and RAF Association Ambassador Matt Tebbutt is taking part in the 100mile ride. He said: “I can’t wait to hit the road with the other cyclists and raise as much money as possible.”

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In 2023, the event is even bigger, with international Air Force charities holding their own simultaneous cycling events across the globe, said a RAFA spokesperson.

All profits from the event will go towards the Association’s vital work of providing help and support to the RAF community. Go to: rides.rafa.org.uk/ join-us to find out more.

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ON DISPLAY: Exhibits include personal items given by airmen's relatives

Prize Crossword No. 340

Solve the crossword, then rearrange the 12 letters in yellow squares to find an RAF legend

Across 7.And 24 Across. Where RAF living legends make their mark at Cranwell (4,2,6)

8.And 18 Across. Large drink fell during air show (6,4)

10. Destroying Serbia, I reach place of exile (7)

11. Robbery: the man is the leader (5)

12. Crowds Maureen outside business (4)

13. Originally Sarazen, Palmer openly reviled Trevino’s golf (5)

17. Red-blooded Scotsman has laugh (5)

18.See 8 Across

22. Howl at Los Angeles expression of disgust (5)

23. Or purge ‘Come Together’ perhaps (7)

24.See 7 Across

25. Responds to crates being dismantled (6)

Down

1. During opera we sometimes felt extraordinary (7)

2. The Greatest, a graduate twice over, a mythical hero (3,4)

3. Directors give nothing to Shakespeare (5)

4. I leave wealthy and dry: what’s my name? (7)

5. Ottoman commander I send north once more (5)

6. Flies old RAF trainers (5)

9. His hamper ransacked in place of RAF Odiham (9)

14. He’s self-conscious when half bus disturbed (7)

15. Plunge deeply round Tolkien creature causing rupture (7)

16. RAF flight to transport father to Goodman (7)

19. Letter from mountain inside tax haven (5)

20. Fiery Scottish poet? (5)

21. Nearly a fuel-efficient grant (5)

The winners of our Prize Crossword and Prize Su Doku puzzles will receive a recent top aviation title – please send your entries to the address printed in the adjacent Su Doku panel, to arrive by June 30.

Prize Crossword No. 338 winner is: Barry Barnes, Lincoln.

Prize Su Doku No. 350

Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, each column and each 3x3 square contains all the digits from 1 to 9. Solutions should be sent in a sealed envelope marked 'Su Doku' with the number in the top left-hand corner to RAF News, Room 68, Lancaster Building, HQ Air Command, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP14 4UE, to arrive by June 30.

The winner of Su Doku No: 348 is: Lesley Hayward Mudge, King's Lynn.

Film Review

A Clever Woman (15)

In cinemas now

Memories of maestro who was also 'Mother'

MEMORIES AND secrets

unravel in grief as two middle-aged women prepare a memorial turned exhibit for their musically-acclaimed mother.

A Clever Woman spends the vast majority of its time within the family home of sisters Dot (Josie Lawrence) and Phoebe (Tanya Myers), who have returned to sort through possessions and practise for what appears to be a performance to celebrate the life of their late mother.

Lending a hand are a friend of the pair Monica (Anna Mottram) and the current minder of the home Tom (James Northcote). There is certain chemistry between these two which will be punctuated by a visit from an unexpected guest (the last performance of the late Bob Goody), heightening the tension in this cramped space.

A Clever Woman is incredibly naturalistic, with improvised scenes that play out in real time through extremely long takes – the camera

SISTERS: Phoebe and Dot and, inset, Monica and Tom

drifting to focus on trinkets and heirlooms strewn about each room; the types of mementos that will evoke memories of childhood that Dot and Phoebe will discuss, addressing their parents as though they were present in the room. Evidently their father had already passed away, and the relationship was not without its issues.

There is certainly a feel of ghostliness about the house with the film opening to a self-playing piano, and having music boxes and

the like score certain moments, appearing sporadically throughout as though the voice of the deceased. Poetry and music are used by characters to express certain emotions in a theatrical manner which feels no less realistic for this group.

There is a confidence in Jon Sanders’ filmmaking that beckons you to lean in, telling the story at its own pace, and at its own discretion, through such believable performances.

3 out of 5 roundels

Review by Sam Cooney

Saved By The Bell (12) On

Privileged pupils of Bayside High are in for big reality check

ALL 10 EPISODES of season one of the rebooted hit US comedy

Saved By The Bell are now out on DVD for the first time.

Starring alongside the new class of Bayside High are original cast members Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez and John Michael Higgins. All the main cast from the original series make an appearance as their adult versions.

Saved by the Bell was originally a spin-off from the one-season Hayley Mills vehicle Good Morning, Miss Bliss (1987). SBTB (1989-93) ran for four seasons and was a huge hit around the world – including the UK. The reboot premiered in November 2020 and was developed by writer and executive producer Tracey Wigfield (30 Rock, Great News).

When California governor Zack Morris gets into hot water for closing too many underfunded

high schools, he proposes they send the affected students to the most well-funded schools in the state –including Bayside High. The influx of new students gives the privileged Bayside kids (who never have a problem that can’t be solved in 22 minutes) a much-needed dose of reality.

We have copies of Season One, rrp £29.99, up for grabs. To be in with a chance of winning one, answer this question correctly: Who developed the 2020 reboot of Saved By The Bell? Email your answer, marked Saved By The Bell DVD competition, to: tracey.allen@ rafnews.co.uk or post it to: RAF News, Room 68, Lancaster Building, HQ Air Command, High Wycombe, HP14 4UE, to arrive by June 30. Please include your full postal address with your entry.