RAF News Edition 1567, Sept 8, 2023

The Forces' favourite paper

Friday, September 8, 2023

l See feature on page 17

l See R'n'R p8

No. 1567 £1.20

RAuxAF reaching 100th anniversary

l Win informative new book that marks special landmark for Air Force reserve service

Angling

Lindley's Mr Perfect

l See page 24

Motocross

Lossie club on the rise

l See page 26

Rugby

World Cup semis berth

l See page 27

See pages 14-15

Ab Fab

WWII daredevil, 102, takes on abseil stunt

Tracey Allen

WWII HERO Colin Bell is taking on an extraordinary daredevil challenge – at the age of 102.

The former Mosquito pilot is planning to abseil 17 storeys down the Royal London Hospital from its helipad to fundraise for three charities.

Flt Lt Bell said: “I may be 102 years old but I want to do my bit and raise money for these amazing charities. I’m glad to be doing something that can help – quite frankly at my age, I’m glad to be doing anything.”

Fearless Colin is aiming to raise £2,500 for the RAF Benevolent Fund, London’s Air Ambulance and The Royal College of Nursing Foundation.

Colin, from Royal Tunbridge Wells, was born in 1921 and joined the RAF in 1940, carrying out 50 bombing raids over Germany, including 13 on Berlin. He was later awarded the DFC for his bravery.

He added: “The Benevolent Fund does the most amazing job in supporting members of the RAF Family though thick and thin, providing practical, emotional and financial support whenever it is needed. I would hugely appreciate and encourage any donations.”

l Go to: justgiving.com/page/colin-bell

charity

Ice hockey star AS1 Mac Jordan scores one against tough USAF opposition

See story on page 27

Simon Williams

News Editor: Simon Mander

reporter Daniel Abrahams Email: sports@rafnews.co.uk

Tel:

Under the deals, funded by the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine, Norwegian defence company Kongsberg will supply the vehicle-mounted CORTEX Typhon system to detect, track, destroy or disrupt unmanned air systems.

Designed to be operated by only two users, it can be rapidly deployed and repositioned to maximise its operational effectiveness and can work individually, or as part of an integrated network, with a complex suite of sensors, cameras, radars and electronic surveillance equipment.

Outgoing Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “These air defence systems have the capability and flexibility to either protect Ukraine’s civilian population and infrastructure or be used on the frontline.

“The International Fund for Ukraine highlights the unity and resolve of our Allies to work

together to provide Ukraine with cutting-edge equipment to meet its capability requirements.”

The latest procurements come as Ukraine takes delivery of the first of more than 100 aerial

reconnaissance drones under a deal agreed by IFU defence ministers earlier this year.

The uncrewed aerial systems include multiple types for different roles – including target acquisition,

DEFENCES: Typhon system can be rapidly deployed to track and destroy drones

electronic warfare, guiding artillery and night operations.

So far more than £770m has been raised through the IFU from the UK, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and Lithuania.

CHINOOKS FLY in troops and equipment during an operation to rescue British soldiers taken hostage by the West Side Boys gang of rebels in Sierra Leone.

THE

ballistic early warning system featuring distinctive ‘golf ball’ radar domes is declared operational at RAF Fylingdales on the Yorkshire moors.

£90m funding targets Russian drone terror

work

Editor:

Nuke test medals ‘by Armistice Day’

A RAF veteran who flew a sampling aircraft in four sets of UK atomic bomb tests joined Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer to see the production of the first medals to honour those who developed Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

Canberra pilot Sqn Ldr John Robinson AFC* – who took part in four sets of trials in Australia in 19578 codenamed Operations Mosaic, Buffalo, Grapple and Antler – visited Worcestershire Medal Services in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter to see the first awards roll off the production line.

He said: “The news that I will be presented with a medal for my role in the nuclear testing means a lot to me and I have been keenly anticipating the arrival since the Prime Minister’s announcement last year.

“I will proudly accept this medal on behalf of my co-members of 76 Sqn aircrew and ground crew, who are sadly no longer with us, to receive the acknowledgement themselves.

“I am very much looking forward to receiving my medal later this year and enjoyed seeing the first medals in production alongside the Minister.”

In November 2022, the PM announced those who participated in Britain’s nuclear testing programme in the 1950s and 1960s would be recognised with the medal, 70 years after the first test of the UK’s Blue Danube nuclear weapon.

The design, unveiled last month, features an atom surrounded by olive branches and the words ‘Nuclear Test Medal’.

The first batch of medals is now ready to be presented to veterans in time for Armistice parades.

Mr Mercer said: “It is only right that we recognise the sacrifices of our Nuclear Test Veterans, and it was fantastic to see first-hand the progress made to ensure that as many veterans as possible can proudly wear their medal on Remembrance Sunday.”

Forces health care campaign

A POSTER campaign to get Forces families to seek NHS medical care has been launched by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance.

Health chiefs say some Service personnel may be reluctant to seek medical help because of the military culture of secrecy.

A VCHA spokesman said: “If you serve you will have to sign the Official Secrets Act and some feel that if they’ve signed it, that precludes them from talking about health issues they may have if they relate to their time in Service.

“Military children and young people may feel if they talk about what’s bothering them, it may affect their care giver’s career.”

Herc vets stand down

Simon Mander

HERCULES VETERANS with a century of service between them have retired from the RAF following the last flight of the iconic transporter.

C-130 instructors Sqn Ldr Derek Oldham and Flt Lt Mark Raymond bade farewell to the Brize Norton-based Air Mobility Force after amassing almost 28,000 flying hours.

Sqn Ldr Oldham is believed to be the longest ever serving Air Force officer – joining in 1966 aged 18 – and completing nearly 57 years.

He joined the Hercules fleet in 1980, flying with XXIV, 30 and 47 Sqns before entering the reserves as an instructor on 622 RAuxAF Sqn.

Flt Lt Raymond’s career spans 44 years – in which he has flown eight different aircraft types – finishing his flying career on the C-130, clocking up 11,400 flying hours.

OC 622 Sqn Wg Cdr Dorian James said: “Throughout his long and prestigious career, Derek has amassed 16,424 flying hours on 20 different aircraft types.

“He is a proven, enthusiastic, highlycapable, and decorated pilot who served in the Falklands War, both Gulf Wars and the Balkans conflict, and has operated in many humanitarian missions, notably the 1973 repatriation of refugees between Pakistan and

officer’s been in RAF for 57 years

Bangladesh and the 1984 Famine Relief in Ethiopia.”

Air Wing Commander Gp Capt Gareth Burdett said: “On a personal level, both exceptional pilots feature in my logbook throughout my paltry 23 years on the Hercules. I am massively grateful for their mentoring and for their friendship.

“They epitomise the professionalism of the Air Mobility Force and literally thousands of aircrew, veterans and serving, will be raising a glass to their service and good company through the decades.”

Sqn Ldr Oldham said: “My final flight in a C-130 was over London for the King’s Birthday Flypast, as a passenger onboard the Hercules with the tail art denoting the aircraft’s 56 years of service from 1966 to 2023.

“This was particularly special because that’s exactly how long I’ve been in the Air Force, so it was a nice end for me to be able to do that.”

FLT LT RAYMOND: 44 years’ service

Poseidon eco fuel bid to help with Net Zero drive

AIR CHIEFS are to research sustainable aviation fuels for Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

A new deal signed with Boeing follows the release of the Defence Aviation Net Zero Strategy and aims to reduce the operational costs and environmental impacts of the RAF’s nine-strong P-8 fleet.

An RAF spokesman said: “Bilateral agreements of this nature will drive the Service to become more operationally resilient by reducing supply chain vulnerability and allowing our flying activity to be more

efficiently delivered.”

The Net Zero strategy aims to decarbonise Defence aviation, which currently accounts for 60 per cent of all MOD frontline emissions.

Boeing Defence UK managing director Steve Burnell said: “The UK’s P-8A fleet based at RAF Lossiemouth and housed in the Atlantic Building, a £100 million joint investment by Boeing and the Ministry of Defence, provides opportunities to trial sustainable technologies that will enhance the fleet’s operational effectiveness and reduce its environmental impact.”

‘Longest-serving’

Cobra Warrior takes off at Waddington

Simon Mander

CANADIAN JETS are to debut in the RAF’s largest multinational exercise which takes off from Waddington this month.

Seven RCAF CF-188 Hornets from 433 Tactical Fighter Squadron, one CC-150T Polaris from 437 Transport Squadron and more than 140 personnel will make their first appearance at the latest Exercise Cobra Warrior.

They will join Australian and Nato allies Britain, the US and Italy to practise high-intensity, large force, tactical air war-fighting operations and enhance their capability to operate in European airspace.

“Ensuring our readiness to counter air threats is one of our most important responsibilities,” said RCAF Commander LieutenantGeneral Eric Kenny.

“Recognising the current world security environment, this training is of particular importance as we strive to

safeguard North American airspace.”

Operating from Waddington and Lossiemouth, the Canadians will take part in simulated air combat sorties under the command and control of four of their own Air battle managers embedded at RAF Boulmer.

“Exercise Cobra Warrior will strengthen the interoperability between the participants and build on strong relationships with participating Allied and partnernation Air Forces,” said 1 Canadian Air Division Commander MajorGeneral Iain Huddleston.

The USAF has committed aircrews and an F-16CJ Fighting Falcon aircraft with personnel from the Netherlands and Norway also expected to take part in the biannual training.

Thousands of aircraft enthusiasts gathered outside Waddington for the last Cobra Warrior in March to catch a glimpse of rare foreign fighters and tankers from India, Saudi Arabia, Finland and Belgium.

QUEEN CAMILLA has unveiled a portrait of WWII heroine Noor Inayat Khan at the RAF Club in London. The Special Operations Executive member was the first woman radio operator flown into occupied France to aid the Resistance and ran a cell of spies across Paris single-handed until she was betrayed and captured. She was executed by firing squad at Dachau

concentration camp in September 1944, aged 30. Her final word was ‘Liberté’. She was posthumously awarded the George Cross.

The room at the RAF Club where her portrait, painted by Paul Brason, is displayed was formally named the Noor Inayat Khan Room in her honour by The Queen.

Boscombe tests combat agility

Simon Mander

CONINGSBY-BASED Typhoons

scrambled to Boscombe Down to test the RAF’s ability to operate from anywhere in the UK.

Four 11 Sqn jets were deployed to the Wiltshire site to conduct Quick Reaction Alert missions as part of Exercise Agile Pirate.

The aircraft were later joined by two F-35 Lightnings from Marham.

The manoeuvres are a test for the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment concept of operating aircraft from austere sites with minimal support, constantly moving and changing location.

The tactics were pioneered by the Swedish Air Force during the Cold War to counter the threat of Russian invasion.

RAF Air and Space Commander

AM Harvey Smyth said: “Agile Pirate exercises are the stepping stones to getting better at executing Agile Combat Employment.

“This exercise has shown we can move our Quick Reaction Alert around the UK, and future exercises will test other vital capabilities focused on UK defence.”

Support teams provided operations, engineering, logistics, communications, security and

catering to the Typhoon detachment.

An Atlas A400M transporter delivered equipment to Boscombe Down just hours after the exercise began and a day later the deployment was operational.

Detachment Commander Wg Cdr Paul Hanson said: “Moving at pace presents its own challenges and we have pushed some assumptions to move even faster.

“Agile Combat Employment will change our mindset and way of operating, and I think it will bring the very best out in our people; ready to deploy at shorter notice, taking part in more novel activity, and operating without the usual support structures of a main operating base.”

Relocated Typhoons were on standby in hardened aircraft shelters and airborne within minutes following a scramble call from Tactical Air Command and Control.

Specialists from Boulmer’s 19 Sqn dispersed to radar sites across the UK to control aircraft and intercept simulated threats in the largest dispersal of its type in decades.

Boscombe Down is the home of military aircraft testing and evaluation and is a former RAF site operated by QinetiQ since 2001.

F-35 fuel first

GROUND CREWS used a new deployable fuel system for the first time to top up an F-35 Lightning in recent trials.

Wittering-based 1 Expeditionary Logistics Sqn technicians set up a 10,000 litre bladder capable of transferring kerosene at the rate of 400 litres per minute.

After checks to ensure there were no impurities, an F-35 was refuelled with its engine running on return from a training sortie.

Flt Lt Jess Woodhouse said: “From a standing start we can set up a system in six hours. At a deployed location we could take fuel from an A400 Atlas and then transfer it to refuel jets.

“This is a two-way learning experience. From our point of view this is a capability trial, we’re preparing for further deployments with F-35 in austere locations.

“The F-35 team learn how we can provide a Forward Arming and Refuelling Point and support them without a permanent fuel structure, it’s about minimal footprint of both infrastructure and personnel.”

COMBAT CHALLENGE: Typhoon pilot returns from a sortie at Boscombe Down.

Top, Swedish Air Force Gripen taking off from a remote public road in a demonstration of agile combat employment

PTI Emma scoops

beauty crown

Tracey Allen

A RAF fitness instructor who has won a prestigious national beauty title is swapping her high heels for trainers as she prepares for her next challenge.

Cpl Emma Whitbread competed against 10 other contestants to be crowned Ms United Kingdom Crown & Glory in Cheshire last month.

Emma, 34, said: “I wasn’t expecting to win, it was amazing, a really nice shock.”

Now the Henlow-based physical training instructor is gearing up to take on the London Landmark Skyscraper Challenge – running up the 42 floors of the Leadenhall Building, known as ‘The Cheesegrater’ in the city of London, then abseiling down it, for Tommy’s Baby Charity.

She added: “I’m aiming to complete the run in 15 minutes and hope to raise £1,000 for the charity.”

Emma has now won 20 beauty pageant titles, raising money for Tommy’s, that funds research into premature birth, and the official pageant charity Abbie’s Army, for brain tumour research in children.

She said she was inspired to fundraise for Tommy’s after she struggled to find support when her son was born prematurely in 2007.

As well as a sash, trophy and crown to add to her collection, Emma’s latest title wins her a week-long stay in Portugal with other Crown & Glory pageant winners, including Ms Europe, to make personal

appearances and help promote the pageants.

She said: “I have a strong passion for charity which is one of the main reasons I started taking part in pageants, as well as to help me gain more confidence. I have come a long way since my first pageant a decade ago.

“Pageants are about much more than just being a pretty face, they have become so diverse over the past 10 years.

“You don’t have to be a typical ‘Barbie girl’ to take part, judges are looking for something different and unique.”

She revealed that she hasn’t yet seen the new Barbie film but is planning a trip to the cinema as a treat after completing the gruelling Skyscraper Challenge. l Go to: justgiving.com/page/emmawhitbread to sponsor her.

P-8 eyes Russian fleet on North Sea drill

POSEIDON MARITIME

reconnaissance aircraft flew round-the-clock to monitor Russian warships operating close to the UK.

Lossiemouth-based 120 and 201 Sqn crews teamed up with the Royal Navy and Nato allies to track vessels in the North Sea and North Atlantic marking Russian Navy Day in St Petersburg.

The P-8s tracked and photographed corvettes Boikiy and Grad, cruiser Marshal Ustinov, the Udaloy-class destroyer Severomorsk and others in a surveillance mission to help predict their future activity and deter an incursion into British waters.

120 Sqn Commanding Officer

Wg Cdr Ben Livesey said: “This

has been a busy period for the team from across Poseidon and Lossiemouth, generating live operations from UK soil.

“The deterrence we have enabled in recent days is important to the UK and Nato, with this a key reason why Poseidon hold operational readiness 365 days a year.”

The crews worked closely with HMS Portland and HMS Tyne using the Poseidon’s powerful sensors to constantly monitor the fleet and communicate the positions of ships in the English Channel, North Sea and North Atlantic to allow the Royal Navy to intercept and track them.

During the operation Typhoons were also launched to intercept Russian aircraft believed to be working with Russian Navy vessels.

HMS Portland watchkeeper Lt

CHARITY MISSION: PTI Cpl Emma hits the gym at Henlow, where she is based

Simon Mander

Sam Charleston said: “This is my third time conducting this type of operation and I enjoyed seeing the wide-area search capability that the P-8 brings

and working with the RAF aircrew.” HMS Tyne shadowed three Russian ships in separate tasks, including Merkury, a

Steregushchiy-class corvette and research ship Akademik Nikolaj Strakhov, taking over duties from Nato warships.

THREAT: RAF crews monitor Russian Navy corvette Boikiy during North Sea exercise with the Royal Navy

The Forces Pension Societyis an independent, not-for-profit organisation which acts as a pension watchdog for the entire military community.

Pension rights campaign is gathering momentum ADVERTORIAL

THE CAMPAIGN begun by the Forces Pension Society to assist Veterans to claim their pension rights is gathering momentum.

This is partly a result of the publication of the latest AFPS Annual Report (July 2023) showing the number of unclaimed deferred pension benefits has grown still further in 2022/3, reaching more than 17,100.

The Society is also pleased to report added momentum provided by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, announcing in its recent Veterans’ Strategy update that:

“The OVA is working with the MOD and the Forces Pension Society to reunite more veterans with unclaimed, deferred pension benefits.”

To re-state the key issues of this growing concern:

Anyone serving after April 1975 now aged 60 or over could have an Armed Forces pension if they served for two years or more.

The pension is not paid automatically – Veterans must apply to Veterans UK using AFPS Form 8 or call 0800 085 3600 for information.

Between June 2020 and May 2022, over 4,000 preserved Armed Forces pensions went unclaimed.

Forces Pension Society CEO, Maj Gen Neil Marshall said: “These unclaimed pensions, in many cases, represent quite substantial sums of money. And the situation has not improved, with the number of unclaimed pensions rising.

“We applaud the engagement of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and we also urge anyone who may know a Veteran who has not yet

claimed a pension to visit the Veterans’ Gateway website without delay.

“For our part, the Society will maintain its focus on this issue until we see more of these pensions in the hands of those who earned them.”

The Forces Pension Society is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation that acts as pension watchdog for the entire military community. If you would like to know more about our work and how we empower or 65,000+ Members to make the best pension choices, visit forcespensionsociety.org

● Neil Marshall, CEO, Forces Pension Society

From Maj Gen Neil Marshall,CEO of the Forces Pension Society

Gibraltar honours WWII French Rock star

Simon Mander

RAF PERSONNEL in Gibraltar are to honour one of the most famous French fighter pilots of World War II on the 80th anniversary of his death.

Commandant René Mouchotte fled Vichy-controlled Oran in Algeria with five comrades in 1940 by stealing a partly disabled plane and flying just above the waves to the Rock to join Free French forces.

From there, he made his way to England and Fighter Command – eventually becoming the first nonCommonwealth pilot to command an RAF squadron.

Ed-line act

RAF PERSONNEL stepped centre stage at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The Service took the lead at this year’s event, showcasing UK air power with flypasts by Typhoon and Atlas aircraft and a show-stopping display by the Red Arrows.

Service musicians joined the King’s Colour Squadron to perform to packed crowds at Edinburgh Castle during the three-day military festival.

Pony express

MILITARY VETERANS at Solihull’s Star and Garter home saddled up for summer fun – with miniature ponies Moomin and Lollipop and a performance by World War II tribute act Bluebell Belles.

The event was held to mark the 15th anniversary of the Solihull home for ex-Forces personnel, many of whom suffer with dementia.

In 1941 he flew operational missions during the Blitz. While in command of 65 Sqn, he won the DFC, and his final posting was to 341 Free French Sqn at Biggin Hill. While commanding 341 Sqn, he was shot down and killed in combat by a Focke Wulf 190 on the first daylight raid on the Pas de Calais on August 27, 1943.

The RAF headquarters in Gibraltar was renamed the Mouchotte Building in 2013, and this year one of the vignettes told at the station’s Battle of Britain dining-in night will reflect and remember the life of the famous French aviator.

Andy laps it up

HONINGTON ESS manager Andy Stonley netted more than £600 for a Forces charity clocking up 500km by running laps of the Suffolk station.

The former Royal Logistics Corps veteran launched his fundraiser for SSAFA in memory of his father-in-law, who served as a submariner and died last year.

Turtle recall

Endangered reptile

a scheduled flight to Texas for release.

Initially believed to be dead, the creature was recovered by the Welsh airbase’s volunteer conservationist Gem Simmons and transferred to Anglesey Sea Zoo to be nursed back to health.

But following an extraordinary relay, described by US turtle rescue charity director Ken

Andrews as the furthest and most complex repatriation effort they have ever been involved in, Tally faces a bright future.

Mr Andrews said: “We are indebted to the RAF for their valuable assistance here, both in applying their military planning and logistical skills to this operation and allowing it to fly from RAF Valley, as a road move would have added considerably to the animal’s stress levels and disruption.”

Valley Station Commander Gp Capt Matt Hoare said: “This is clearly not core RAF business, but my team here have been delighted to assist.

“The repatriation means that Valley and Northolt have played a small part in helping save one of the most endangered of all

sea turtles in the world’s oceans, with only one in 1,000 making it to Tally’s age; indeed, it would be difficult to imagine a more threatened animal.”

Acting Sgt Beth Roberts said: “It has given us all a spring in our step to know we are helping, working with international agencies, wildlife charities and Anglesey Sea Zoo. God Speed Tally!”

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Texas Sea Turtle Coordinator Mary Kay Skoruppa said: “Thanks to the response of a great group of international partners and volunteers, Tally is alive and ready to come home.”

Though primarily found in the Gulf of Mexico and coastal waters of eastern North America, juvenile Kemp’s ridleys sometimes get swept up in the Gulf Stream

and carried across the Atlantic.

Texas Sea Turtle Stranding Coordinator Dr Donna Shaver said Tally is expected to be released back into the wild in early September, with a tracking device to monitor its movements.

She said: “An endangered species is one that is at risk of extinction in the near future, so every individual counts.

“We are incredibly thankful for all the volunteers and partners who have given Tally a second chance at life; from the dog walker in Wales who reported the turtle, to Turtles Fly Too, who are generously flying her back to Texas.

“We hope that Tally will grow to maturity and return to nest on a Texas beach in a few years to help ensure her species’ survival into the future.”

TAKE TATT: RAF musicians pose for tourists outside Edinburgh Castle

Jonathan Worthington RAF Valley

A RARE turtle washed up on the Welsh coast has been flown home to the Gulf of Mexico after an RAF rescue mission.

The Kemp’s ridley dubbed ‘Tally,’ after Talacre beach near Prestatyn where it was found nearly two years ago, was flown from Valley to Northolt before boarding

Tally heads home to US after washing up on beach at RAF Valley

TALLY-HO: Sgt Beth Roberts and zoo conservationist with rescued Kemp’s ridley turtle Tally ahead of her flight back to Texas, where she will be released

TRIBUTE: The RAF HQ in Gibraltar was renamed the Mouchotte Centre in honour of the French WWII pilot

Remedy.

From 1st October 2023, the AFPS15 Remedy (McCloud) is being implemented. From that date, it’s decision-time for many.

r e o w h l w e n n r e t f r a n o d o n 2 a 1 0 h2 c r a

t s s le f o e c vi r e s n i eak b r

r i e h e t s o o h o c n t o i t p e o h

1 S P F A t n ale v u i eq r o s t i f e

1 0 l2 i r p tA s 1 d ( o i r e y p d e m

h t o b t s r1 an h

5

5 –

Armed Forces personnel who were in service both on or before 31st March 2012 and on or after 1st April 2015 (with any break in service of less than 5 years), will have the option to choose their legacy scheme benefits or equivalent AFPS15 benefits, for the remedy period (1st April 2015 –31st March 2022).

Be sure to arm yourself with all the information you need to make the best choice for yourself and your family by joining the Forces Pension Society. You will have access to our expert team of Forces Pensions Consultants who will provide the guidance you want. Job done.

e t k a o m d t e e u n o y

Independent, not-for-profit

Independent, no Independenceisvit toaccountwhenev o e als em W yst the s atiepresent on the r ensio or P ectS

ofitt-for-pr

ociions sp ense cor it: f Vis

vernment alling go ork, c taltoourw ticeintunfairnessorinjus e spo erw s,ount e it c e wher oic ou a v e y giv s and ce or Armed For s f fo e bodie v ons

ts n

Independence is vital to our work, calling governments to account whenever we spot unfairness or injustice in the system. We also give you a voice where it counts, on the representative bodies for Armed Forces and Public Sector Pensions.

A ou or y hip f s nnual member t is jus Youwillhaveexc Yo our inf PensionsConsultants eceiveourbou’llr , y nars ennant. , P magazine

w/ty.org/join-no y. e tner e/ par our spous and y clusiveaccesstoourForces ormativeMembers’Webiwslettersandbi-annuale-ne

W y o e funded b e ar s fund o urplus help s ebin , W Roadshows

t a m r o f n e i h l t l h a t i f w l e s r e s r u o r y o e f c i o h t c s e e b h o n S o i s n e s P r o e F h g t n m o f F a e t t r e p x r e u o o s t g e h t e d v i o pr l il w o h w s t n S oc

We are funded by our Members’ subscriptions. Any surplus helps fund our outreach programmes of Roadshows, Webinars and our attendance at CTP Employment Fairs.

yAn tionsubscrip ’ s s ur Member f s o ogramme each pr our outr arsandourattendanceatCTP

n o i d n f a l y t e i c s e c r o e c dan ui Y A ITP ForcesPensionS oa th R ambe outh L 68 S T:02078209988E:me

s yment Fair Emplo AN ty

T S O U NDE R T cie 8 1RL W ondon S auxhall, L ad, V ionco.ukwww.forcespensforpen.emsec@

You’ll also have access to our wide range of membership benefits from discounts on new cars and white goods, to insurances, (including our latest range of travel policies) plus a great deal more.

ohaveaccesstoouYou’llals Yo s on ne count om dis s frfi t bene , lat urancesins

fmembership ange o urwider o , t e goods s and whit ar w c e s) el policie av f tr ange o t r es u o m y r o a e t r u e s B

S U R PE N O NDY or y nsociety.

IO g

e eat deal mor a gr ON

Museum is world class

THE RAF Museum has earned a place among the best family attractions worldwide, according to travel website giant Tripadvisor.

The London and Midlands-based venues were voted among the top 10 per cent of international attractions by UK and foreign visitors to both sites, winning a Travellers’ Choice accolade.

The poll is based on the number of positive reviews posted on the site and puts the Air Force in the world

premier league for family days out. Museum visitor director Barry Smith said: “To be amongst the top 10 per cent of attractions worldwide on the world’s largest travel platform is incredible.

“This award is special because it’s based on real visitor reviews from people who have enjoyed their Museum visit, and then taken the time to share their experience online with other families who are looking for a highly recommended day out.”

Protector crews hit US Sim City

A HY:

On a charge

LEEMING HAS launched the Service’s first hydrogen-powered charging point to keep its fleet of electric cars on the road.

The North Yorkshire station is one of three defence sites to pioneer the new technology, which uses hydrogen to generate electricity for battery powered vehicles.

Station Commander Gp Capt Gareth Prendergast said: “It is fantastic to be part of the Strategic Command programme exploring the use of hydrogen and how it may support Defence capabilities in the future.”

Boul fighter

COMBAT SPECIALIST Wg Cdr Rob Machin has taken command of 20 Sqn at Boulmer.

Rob, who has served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, takes over the role from outgoing chief Wg Cdr Andy Foy and will oversee Battlespace Management training. He said: “As we are once again faced with a war in Europe the work that we do on 20 Sqn has never been more relevant.”

THE FIRST future RAF Protector instructors have begun simulator training in America ahead of the UAV’s arrival at Waddington.

54 Sqn personnel selected for the course are being put through their paces on realistic find, fix and follow missions supervised by General Atomics teams at its Flight Test and Training Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Pilots, sensor operators and mission intelligence coordinators on the inaugural Operational Conversion Course are training with the aircraft’s multi-spectral targeting system and synthetic aperture radar on RAF-

specific training missions. 54 Sqn’s Wg Cdr Rob Evans said: “The Protector Instructor Orientation Course marks an important milestone in the programme and in the training of the first operational conversion unit crews, the majority of whom will be the first batch of instructors on Protector.

“This groundwork, conducted in partnership with General Atomics, will see Protector become a game-changing capability with realistic simulation at the very heart of training delivery and operational effectiveness.”

Armed with precision strike weapons, Protector can be deployed against potential enemies around the globe and can fly in busy unsegregated airspace for more than 40

hours using ‘detect and avoid’ technology.

Waddington-based 54 Sqn became the ISTAR Operational Conversion Unit in 2005 and has since been responsible for training all operators and Qualified Weapons Instructors on UAV systems, including the Reaper which Protector replaces.

As part of the programme, it has been expanded and given new infrastructure at the Lincolnshire base including a training centre for UK and international students.

The first eight of the UK’s 16-strong Protector fleet are expected to reach initial operating capability by 2025, launching from Waddington to support domestic training and provide command and control for overseas operations.

ON

Gp Capt Prendergast plugs in to the new hydrogen-powered chargers at Leeming

FAMILY FAVOURITE: RAF Museum sites in the Midlands and London top Tripadvisor list

Simon Mander

HANDOVER: Wg Cdr Machin takes over 20 Sqn from Wg Cdr Foy at Boulmer

COMMAND AND CONTROL: RAF Protector pilot executes a mission at the General Atomics simulator centre in Dakota

PHOTO: CPL WILL DRUMMEE

The RAF’s supporting act always has plenty in reserve

Celebrating 100 Lord Trenchard’s

NEXT YEAR sees the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force – it owes its origins to ‘Father of the Royal Air Force’ Lord Trenchard’s desire to set up an elite corps of civilians to serve their country in flying squads during their spare time.

The AAF was formed on October 24, 1924 and received the prefix ‘Royal’ in 1947. Today’s RAuxAF, made up of paid volunteers, provides the main reinforcement capability for the regular RAF and has a number of specialist squadrons and units, including intelligence, photographic interpretation and public relations.

The AAF played a major role in the Battle of Britain, with its squadrons claiming 30 per cent of enemy ‘kills’. AAF pilots’ other important achievements include the first German aircraft destroyed over the British mainland and its territorial waters, the first U-boat destroyed with the aid of airborne radar and the first destruction of a V-1 flying bomb. It was an AAF squadron that claimed the highest score of any British night fighter unit and an AAF

squadron was the first to be equipped with jet-powered aircraft.

A new book, The Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Commemorating 100 Years of Service by Dr Louise Wilkinson

GREAT ESCAPER: Sqn Ldr Roger Bushell

WAAFS: A balloon operator at work and, below, a meteorologist gathers data from a weather station

RAF’s supporting always plenty reserve

100 years of Trenchard’s RAuxAF

and Sqn Ldr Tony Freeman (pen-andsword.co.uk) covers, for the first time, the history and development of all the squadrons and units that formed the Auxiliary and RAuxAF: including the Balloon Squadrons, the Maritime Headquarters Units, Fighter Control and Radar Reporting Units, RAuxAF Regiments and the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.

Dr Wilkinson, that ‘their natural temperament gave them a clear advantage over men in those trades.’

D

r Wilkinson explained: “The WAAF, despite its name, was never originally legally part of the AAF/ RAuxAF. When the Air Companies of the Auxiliary Territorial Services (ATS) came under Air Ministry Control in 1938, they became ‘affiliated’ with AAF squadrons for administrative purposes when they were issued with RAF uniforms with the auxiliary ‘A’ on the shoulder under the eagle badge.

“They were not considered members of the Armed Forces of the Crown until 1941 and were ‘enrolled’ and not enlisted, so they could leave if they wanted to, and some did!”

The AAF and the WAAF were disbanded after World War II. Many WAAFs had served as radar operators and plotters – it was recorded, said

The first German air attack of WWII, she noted, was on October 16, 1939 over the Forth Estuary when two Junkers 88s were shot down by 602 and 603 Sqns. The second German aircraft of the war shot down and the first to crash on British soil was on October 28 – again by 602 and 603 Sqns.

Fourteen AAF sqns, of the 62 British squadrons and units that took part in the Battle of Britain, were involved in the Battle.

Dr Wilkinson said: “Records kept by 11 Group which saw the brunt of the action showed that of the top scoring 15 squadrons in the Group during that period, eight were Auxiliary with 568 confirmed victories out of 968.”

All the disbanded AuxAF flying squadrons were reformed in 1946-7, with 48 Air Defence Units, later to become Fighter Control Units and two Radar Reporting Units. In 1948, 12 RAUXAF Regiment Squadrons were formed, with the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force forming the following year – it became ‘Royal’ in 1951.

WE HAVE copies of this comprehensive history of the RAuxAF to win. For your chance to own one, send us the correct answer to this question: In which year did the AAF receive the prefix ‘Royal’? Email your answer, marked: Royal Auxiliary Air Force 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 October 6. Please include your full postal address.

That same year HRH Princess Elizabeth was appointed Honorary Air Commodore of 603 and 2603 Sqns and 3603 Fighter Control Unit. In 1953 she was appointed Honorary Air Commodore-inChief of the RAuxAF.

During the Cold War the RAuxAF provided home defence as regular squadrons were shipped to hotspots around the world. Dr Wilkinson explained: “It is a matter

Win!

of the AuxAF was WWII hero Sqn Ldr Roger Bushell, known as ‘Big X’, who planned and led the Great Escape in 1944. Born in South Africa, Bushell was in 601 Sqn AAF before he was posted to form and command 92 Sqn RAF in October 1939.

Dr Wilkinson said: “Once captured, he proved to be a thorn in the side of the Germans, being an inveterate escaper who, on two occasions managed to escape before being incarcerated in Stalag Luft III in Poland.”

of public record that, during the early and uncertain days of the Cold War, the Air Defence of the UK would have been largely in the hands of the auxiliaries, many of whom had re-enlisted in their old trades.”

More recently, Auxiliary Air Force personnel have seen action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

One of the best-known members

Recaptured after the daring escape attempt, he was shot by the Gestapo. He was 33. Bushell was portrayed in the famous 1963 film The Great Escape by Richard Attenborough.

The book contains an AAF and RAuxAF Roll of Honour. Sqn Ldr Freeman said: “As a whole, the RAuxAF has given one hundred years of valued service to the nation, an achievement of which all members, serving, retired and those who are departed, should be very proud.”

REFUEL: Auxiliary airmen top up an Auster aircraft of a RAuxAF AOP (Air Observation Post) squadron

PLANNING A V2 STRIKE: Raymond Baxter (second from left) briefs fellow 602 Sqn pilots in early 1945. After the war he became a well-known broadcaster

LORD TRENCHARD: Father of the Royal Air Force

By Tracey Allen

On top of the world, then face to face with a lynch mob

IT HAS taken author Martin Barratt almost 25 years to painstakingly piece together, through extensive research, the story of the crew of Halifax JB869 of 102 Squadron, shot down on May 4, 1943 during the Battle of the Ruhr.

Martin’s father, Sgt Joseph Harold Barratt, aged 26, was the aircraft’s navigator – he bailed out, with two crewmates, Sgt John Brownlie and Sgt Thomas Jones, and survived. He also survived an attempted lynching on the ground before becoming a prisoner of war for more than two years.

Escaping from the shattered Halifax was just the first of many episodes that saw Harold face death more than once during World War II, said his son.

He added: “It was the height of the air war over Europe. Lynchings were increasingly commonplace. So were stories of captured airmen being summarily executed within minutes of coming down and either shot, beaten to death or, in some cases strung up from trees and wooden posts.”

Like many, Harold rarely spoke about his wartime experiences. After his death in 1988, aged 71, a chance discovery of an archive of letters, logbooks, accounts and other material enabled the full story of his incredible series of escapes to come to light.

The Greatest Escape (pen-andsword.co.uk) is also the story of Harold’s fellow crew members and is dedicated to them: pilot Sgt William Bernard Happold, flight engineer Sgt Gordon Bowles, wireless operator Sgt Brownlie, bomb aimer Fg Off John Baxter and air gunners Sgt Duncan McGregor and Sgt Jones.

Harold, who had seven sisters, grew up in the Black Country, in the industrial West Midlands and, aged 23, enlisted in the Army in March 1940, transferring from the Territorial Army. On leave that autumn, he saw first-hand the devastation wrought on the city of Coventry, only 35 miles from

YOU COULD win a copy of The Greatest Escape if you send us the correct answer to this question:

Where was Harold Barratt’s family home?

Email your answer, marked The Greatest Escape 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 October 6.

his family home in Hednesford, Staffordshire.

Martin said his father ‘became impatient to do something that would allow him to strike back – to do something tangible that would see the death and destruction around him avenged with attacks on Germany itself.’

He volunteered to serve in Bomber Command and, in the late summer of 1941, sailed to Canada to train as

aircrew. On June 8, 1942, he received his promotion from Leading Aircraftman to Sergeant and before sailing back to the UK at the end of the month, went on leave, visiting New York, including the Empire State Building.

He arrived in wartime Portsmouth two months later, on July 14, ready to see active service.

Harold had been badly injured when he bailed out of his stricken Halifax – crashing through trees, he sustained a broken ankle, badly

sprained the other and cracked vertebrae in his back. He was captured by German soldiers – he said ‘they stole my boots, flying jacket, cigarette case and my gold watch but otherwise I was treated okay’ – and taken to the local hospital at Kevelaer, then later to a larger one in Dusseldorf.

Meanwhile, his mother Gladys received a telegram to inform her that her only son was missing.

After a short stay in the hospital he was discharged, to be taken by train for interrogation to transit camp Dulag Luft before being sent to a permanent POW camp.

It was at the railway station that he was almost lynched.

He remembered: “…I was attracting a lot of unwanted attention – I was still in my flying kit, on crutches and with an elderly guard next to me…. I saw one of the mob was holding a rope… I looked at the guard and he looked petrified, when I turned to look at him again he’d disappeared. I was in too much pain to move. I thought, this is it, and I’ve had it.”

Then a young German soldier appeared, pointed his machine gun at the mob and yelled at them.

Harold said: “…they cleared off and that was that. God knows what he was doing there but if it hadn’t been for him they’d have lynched me, of that I’m sure.”

After being taken as a POW, the young airman managed to escape twice, but was recaptured and returned to Stalag Luft VI.

He was liberated from Stalag XI Fallingbostel on May 2, 1945 and, shortly after being flown home, was demobbed.

Harold went on to get married and have a family but, said his son, suffered from ‘survivor’s guilt’.

Martin said: “My father got together with Tommy Jones and John Brownlie and they visited the relatives of Bernard Happold, John Baxter, Duncan McGregor and Gordon Bowles to try to relate what they knew about the night that their sons, husbands and relatives had lost their lives.”

He added: “My mother said that he never really got over the loss of his friend and pilot Bernard Happold but, although he resolutely refused to discuss it, she could see it tormented him. It would do so at various points for the rest of his life.”

BAD NEWS: Telegram dated 19 July 1943 informs Harold’s parents he has been taken PoW

LETTER HOME: Note written by Harold at PoW camp to his parents took over 2 months to arrive

ON LEAVE: Harold (left) sightseeing at Empire State Building with a pal after aircrew training in Canada (inset, at 31 Air Navigation School, Jan 1942)

Weekly Jackpot

Total weekly prize fund £1,500,000

It’s totaly FREE to join and play - FOREVER!

JOIN THE FREELOTTO.CLUB AND PLAY FREE FOREVER.

Specialist competitions company Lucky Lotto Ltd is bringing every member of the RAF free lifetime membership of the freelotto.club, plus a special £10 joining bonus and the opportunity to play 5 lines a day, which is 35 lines a week, completely free of charge.

Odds, Prizes & Costs

The National lottery has jackpot odds of 45 million to one and costs players £2 for every line played. The EuroMillions 5 number hotpicks game features a single jackpot prize of £1,000,000 (subject to conditions) has odds of 2,118,760 to one and cost players £1.50 for every line played.

The freelotto.club also has jackpot odds of 2,118,760, has a “one wins, everyone wins” prize structure which totals up to £1,500,000 in prizes every week, and members get to join and play free every week of every year.

The Draws

We operate two draws each week, as follows -

1st – Is the Thursday Jackpot Draw - Shortly after Midnight GMT, when weekly line submissions have closed, our system randomly draws a number of submitted lines to play for the weekly Free Lotto jackpot of £250,000 and publishes them on the site. The odds of individual lines being selected for the Jackpot Prize draw start at a guaranteed one in 25 for the first 500 and thereafter increase, based on the total number of lines submitted for play and the total prize fund for that week’s draw.

2nd – Is the Friday Community Prize Fund Draw – If a 5 number jackpot winner is identified that player will have won £250,000 and unlocked our, up to £1,250,000 Community Prize Fund, where everybody wins a share.

Weekly prizes are all fully insured and consist of a £250,000 jackpot and a unique up to £1,250,000 community prize fund which pays a share to every player any week when just one member wins our 5 ball jackpot. Now that’s truly unique.

How to Play

To PLAY simply choose 5 numbers between 1 and 50 for each Free Lotto line or use lucky dip.

This jackpot draw results was for the 28th July 2023.

We always use the Friday EuroMillions 5 number hotpicks draw result for our Friday game. You’re always safe with Free Lotto and can check our draw result every week by visiting the EuroMillions hotpicks site on Friday evening after 8.30pm. We wish you the very best of luck.

FREE How’s That Possible?

Lucky Lotto receives fees and sponsorship payments from companies for granting them permission to advertise, there’s no obligation to do or buy anything, advertisers pay for exposure only. That’s how they are able to offer free everything to members and how weekly prize insurance cover gets paid every week.

Play 5 Free Lotto Lines every day, FOREVER!

Here’s

how

line eek y w ver es e k!

That’s 35 FREE lines every week!

Plus , when just one player wins our jackpot, every player receives a share of our...

Community Prize Fund

the “Community Prize Fund” works

If just one member wins the £250,000, 5 ball jackpot, every member that submitted their FREE Lotto lines that week receives a share of the weekly up to £1,250,000 community Prize fund. The more people that play free, the faster everyone will win.

Members will be notified if they have a win - NO claim is ever required.

Who can join?

Initially, this offer is to create new members from within the RAF, after joining, members can then invite family and friends to free membership and earn generous referral commissions in every winning week.

How much will my share of the fund be?

1. You will receive a £10 joining bonus which will be paid with your first win.

2. You will receive £35 just for playing your lines in any winning week.

3. You will receive £35 for every new member you referred that played their 35 free lines in any winning week.

Example: If you refer just 50 new members that would be £1785 (including your £35) every time there’s a winning week.

4. Plus you will receive a 100% REFUND on every purchase you made through our Go Shopping area since your last win – no total limit.

How do I GET STARTED?

That’s been made really easy. Simply scan the QR code below or visit the FreeLotto.Club site, click the “Join Free” link, complete the very short membership form and submit your free lotto lines.

Receive a £10 Joining Bonus

Use this promotional code when joining Free Lotto Club to receive a £10 completely free welcome bonus, paid with your first win.

By Malcolm Triggs

Important discovery by best-selling military historian Dilip Sarkar

Air Chief Sir Keith was one of The Few

A SEARCH for the truth that began in New Zealand has resulted in one of the ‘architects of victory’ in the Battle of Britain being formally acknowledged as one of The Few.

As a result of painstaking detective work by author and historian Dilip Sarkar MBE, the name of Sir Keith Park, already revered for the part he played as Air Officer Commanding, 11 Group, Fighter Command, will now be added to the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall at Capel-le-Ferne, the Kent home of the Battle of Britain Memorial.

With the support of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, Dilip’s fourmonth quest to unravel a mystery that began during a visit to the Auckland War Memorial Museum in New Zealand in April 2023, ended with official recognition by the Ministry of Defence’s Air Historical Branch (RAF) that Sir Keith is officially one of The Few.

It was while visiting the memorial museum that Dilip, currently writing an extensive eight-volume series on the Battle of Britain that is being published in association with the Trust, noticed that Sir Keith’s medal group included the coveted Battle of Britain Clasp to the 1939-45 Star, while the Rosette highlighting the same award appeared on his uniform’s medal ribbons.

“I couldn’t help but wonder why, as Sir Keith’s name does not appear on any list of the fabled Few,” Dilip recalled.

The Air Ministry announced on May 24, 1945 that the Clasp would be issued for aircrew who had flown at least one operational sortie with Fighter Command between July 10 and October 31, 1940, with later Air Ministry Orders listing the accredited squadrons and units, a list that went from 63 to 72 between 1945 and 1960.

“As a Group Commander, however, Sir Keith had not flown with one of the fighter squadrons or other officially accredited units, so I was intrigued as to why did his medals include the coveted Clasp,” Dilip went on.

“It was widely known that Air Vice-Marshal Park, as he then was, flew himself about 11 Group in his personal Hurricane, OK1, but nowhere had I ever seen reference, officially or otherwise, to him having made an operational flight during the Battle of Britain.”

The next stop was the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Christchurch, where Dilip was able to study a copy of Sir Keith’s flying log book, where he found the evidence he had been looking for.

He was able to show that Sir Keith carried out two operational sorties, one on July 10, when he flew over a convoy in the Channel while visiting the coastal airfield at Lympne, and another two days later when his logbook showed he flew his personal Hurricane, ‘To Kenley to meet PM and escort back to Northolt’.

Trust Secretary Gp Capt Patrick Tootal OBE welcomed the news, adding: “Following research by Dilip connected with his eightvolume history for the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, the Trust has verified Sir Keith Park’s entitlement to the Battle of Britain Clasp.

“The Trust, in conjunction with the Air Historical Branch, stringently maintains the criteria for entitlement, and the evidence provided has shown that Sir

Keith completed two operational flights in a fighter aircraft within the defined period of the Battle.

“Sir Keith Park’s name, therefore, will be added to the database and appear on the Memorial Wall in due course. A bust of Sir Keith is already at the Memorial at Capelle-Ferne.”

Dilip commented: “Having spent a lifetime researching and writing about the 1940 aerial conflict, suffice it to say the satisfaction felt at having proved one of my heroes to be one of The Few is immense.

“After the Battle of Britain, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding and Air ViceMarshal Park were poorly treated by the authorities,

something both men remained bitter about until their dying days. Hopefully this recognition in some small way makes up for that.”

Stephen and Brian Park, greatnephews of Sir Keith, said: “We are, of course, delighted that our old Uncle Keith has now been formally acknowledged as being one of The Few.

“While we appreciate that recognition of his vital role during the Battle of Britain secures his place in history anyway, that wasn’t always a certain thing, so we are grateful to Dilip for alerting the Air Historical Branch to the evidence of why he qualified as one of The Few.

“We think this matters. When those of us who knew Keith Park personally are no longer around, all that’s left of certainty is his record of service, which will speak for itself to future generations.”

FULL CREDIT AT LAST: Sir Keith Park was not only an architect of victory in the Battle of Britain, but he was one of The Few, as proved by an entry in his logbook (inset above) of 12 July, 1940, when he flew his Hurricane OK1 (above) to Kenley to escort the PM back to Northolt

Display about Sir Keith, inset left, at museum in his native New Zealand

DISCOVERY: Sarkar

Pathfinder Navigator’s 76 missions before he reached the age of 23

Bomber raids on heavily-defended German targets

HARRY HUGHES was not yet 23 years old when he had completed 76 bombing operations, 50 as a Pathfinder, and been awarded the DFC and the DFM.

He joined the RAF in 1941 and trained in Canada and Florida before converting to the Halifax bomber. When he arrived on 102 Squadron at Pocklington in Yorkshire at the beginning of March 1943, the RAF’s strategic bombing campaign was gathering momentum and the Battle of the Ruhr was about to commence. Instead of flying on a mining operation, the traditional first operation for a new crew, Hughes and his colleagues were tasked to join 442 other bombers to attack the Krupps factory at Essen.

Over the next seven months, Hughes and his colleagues took their Halifax bomber to 25 other heavily defended targets. In addition to attacks against targets in the Ruhr, Hughes visited Nuremburg, Munich and the Skoda armaments factory in Pilsen, a sortie of 10 hours.

On a raid to Mulheim, Hughes’ Halifax returned on two engines. Over Stettin on April 20, his Halifax was hit by anti-aircraft fire and the controls were damaged, but the aircraft was recovered safely to Pocklington.

On July 24, Bomber Command sent 791 bombers to Hamburg, including Hughes and his crew. Using ‘window’ (metal foil strips to confuse the enemy radar system) for the first time the raid caused extensive damage. Over the next 10 days, Hughes flew on two more attacks that devastated the city. On one he watched the firestorm develop and he said how he felt sorry “for the people down there and I said a little prayer for them.”

What became known as the Battle of Berlin opened on August 23. This was to be the first of many sorties Hughes would make to the ‘Big City’. After successfully

bombing the target, one of the four engines of the Halifax failed and the long flight to base was made on three engines.

On September 22, Hughes bombed Hanover, the final operation of his tour. Shortly afterwards, it was announced that he had been awarded the DFM and he was commissioned.

After completing his tour of operations, Hughes became a navigation instructor at a bomber training unit. In July 1944 he volunteered to join Bomber Command’s Pathfinder Force and began converting to the twinengine Mosquito. In August he joined 692 Squadron at Gravely in Cambridgeshire.

No 692 was part of the Light Night Striking Force (LNSF). The main task of the Mosquitos was to accompany the main bomber force and to drop ‘window’ before the attack to confuse the enemy air defence radars. They then headed for a different target on a ‘siren tour’ when they ranged far and wide over the Reich to drop a 500lb bomb on each of three or four targets. When they appeared over a town, the sirens were sounded, hence the appellation. Although the bomb did little damage, man-hours were lost in factories, the townspeople lost sleep and the ground defences were kept on the alert. Amongst other tasks were ‘spoof raids’. When the main force was attacking a major target, the fast, high-flying Mosquitos would head for other major cities to draw away the enemy night fighter force.

On New Year’s Day 1945, Hughes flew on a tunnel-busting operation against vital German lines of supply to the Ardennes offensive. The attacks were made at 250 feet or less and in such a way the 4,000lb bombs, with a short delay fuse, were thrown into the mouths of the tunnels where they exploded.

Two days later, he flew on a ‘bridge-bashing’ sortie in the area

before the squadron returned to its more familiar missions.

During his tour of operations, Hughes attacked Berlin no less than 10 times, the last occasion on February 5. On the 14th, he flew a siren tour raid to Frankfurt, his 50th operation with the LNSF. He was awarded the DFC, the recommendation stating: “Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal this officer has

completed many further operational sorties against strongly defended enemy targets. At all times he has shown himself to be a skilful and accurate navigator. His courage, determination and devotion to duty have always been noteworthy”.

After the war, Hughes flew Mosquitoes to Burma where he later joined 52 Squadron at Calcutta flying Dakotas on re-supply routes in support of the campaign in

Burma. Amongst the passengers he carried were the Supreme Commander, Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, and the future Indian Prime Minister Mr Nehru. In 1947, Hughes was recalled to the RAF Volunteer Reserve and did not relinquish his commission until 1963. He was awarded the Air Efficiency Award with Clasp. He died at the end of July a few days before his 101st birthday.

DFC: Hughes’ citation recognised his ‘courage, determination and devotion to duty’

Ewe’ll love it

LIKE SHEEP, car manufacturers tend to move in flocks when it comes to styling. The 1970s saw rounded wings and vinyl roofs; the 80s, sleek but angular lines, with pop-up headlamps. The 90s… well, let’s not go there. The Ford Scorpio said it all really. It was a styling disaster.

Of course, someone has to set the trend though and occasionally a designer gets it unbelievably right. Take the Mini, released in 1959, the Lamborghini Miura of 1967, or the Lotus Esprit of 1976, all cars that were well ahead of their time. Similarly, Hyundai may have hit the nail on the head in exactly that way with the IONIQ 6. Here’s a car that looks like the future.

Outside

The nose is incredibly sporty in style and it has a super-slippery profile. The 20-inch alloy wheels

give it a racy edge and there’s some nice detailing. Transparent plastics, sports bumpers and stylish pixel lighting all help to set this fourdoor coupé apart from the crowd. I do wonder whether the radical rear end may look dated in a decade but, overall, the car looks phenomenal.

Inside

The interior of the IONIQ 6 is a nice place to be. It has a premium feel, thanks to a good selection of trim finishes and soft-touch plastics. There’s lots of legroom, front and back, while the driver feels nicely cocooned in the cockpit. The driving position is spot on.

As you would expect, head room is slightly limited due to the car’s coupé roofline but that’s par for the course. One feature that I love is the ‘Relaxation’ front seats, which fully recline so you can actually get

Pros

l Bold and innovative styling

l Nice interior with clever tech

l Quiet and refined on the move

l Super-fast charging speeds

Cons

l Not as sharp to drive as it could be

l More efficient rivals on the market

l May struggle to find superfast chargers

Verdict

The IONIQ 6 is a stunning looking bit of kit that turns

some kip while the battery is being topped-up. This is standard on Ultimate trim models.

You get the same 12.3in digital instrument panel and 12.3in infotainment touchscreen that you’ll find in Hyundai’s IONIQ 5. These are versatile and operate smartly. The 12.3in touchscreen

Hyundai IONIQ 6

heads wherever it goes. Performance is lively enough but falls short of matching the car’s sporty image. That said, when you consider its £54,995 price tag, its performance is where you’d expect it to be. It’s not a sports car but it soaks up miles effortlessly and is surprisingly frugal with its battery usage. 382-mile range, 5.1 mi/kWh charge efficiency, that’s worth a test drive, any day.

is responsive and the graphics are sharp. The small touch-sensitive icons for the climate controls can be a little tricky to jab on the move but they’re always visible, in a separate panel. There’s also voice control and simple switches on the steering wheel to save you getting distracted.

On The Road

The IONIQ 6 handles well and is pleasantly accurate through the bends. The 321bhp dual-motor set up in our test car, coupled with four-wheel drive, produced a 0-60mph time of 5.1sec and delivered tenacious grip on even the wettest roads.

The weighting of the steering is off, in my book, and would benefit from extra resistance to make it more engaging but it’s an effortless drive. Like most EVs, the brake pedal is also a bit ineffective until you stand on it, but that’s a minor point.

At a cruise it’s relatively hushed, with only a whisper of wind noise around the windscreen pillars and door mirrors. Road noise is well isolated. It can feel a little unsettled at speed over uneven surfaces but that’s, in part, down to my expectations. If you’re going to make a car that looks this good, it needs to handle well… Just saying.

Tim Morris

Hyundai IONIQ 6, £54,995

SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: Hyundai’s sleek IONIQ 6 coupé

Here come the mirror men . .. Coleman and Thomson storm to victory at Linear Fisheries

Daniel Abrahams LINEAR FISHERIES’ Hardwick Lake and Smiths Pool in Witney was the venue for the fourth round of the RAF Pairs series, with FS Ian Coleman and Sgt Stu Thomson storming to glory.

The duo produced a 14-fish finish, winning at a cantor with a haul of 351lb 13oz.

The nearest pair, FS Jim Thomas and Sgt Dave Jones, were way behind – six fish totalling 153lb 6oz – while FS Matt Whittaker and Sgt Martin Emery took third with five fish (130lb 15oz).

The two days of action started with a 19lb 6oz mirror carp catch by FS Matt Hunt and Sgt Tony Jones after just 45 minutes, with Jones hooking a second 18lb 12oz mirror to take a comfortable early lead. The neighbours were soon to be on the scoreboard as WOs Reg Verney and Richard Cooke landed

20lb 11oz and 29lb 13oz mirrors. Thomas then snagged a 26lb mirror to get off the mark.

As night approached Tony Jones continued his good form, landing a

huge 31lb 4oz mirror to retake the lead.

A 23lb 8oz mirror then saw Emery and Whittaker move up the charts, followed by a 27lb 7oz catch, with Emery then hooking a beautiful 33lb 4oz fish. As the night wore on Dave Jones landed a 26lb 10oz mirror with Thomson’s 28lb 10oz catch adding to their respective totals.

Soon Coleman landed his third fish of the match, a 29lb 12oz mirror.

The big hitters began to hook some impressive catches, with a 21lb 5oz and 17lb for Coleman

topping off a new personal best common of 31lb 12oz for Thomson to extend their lead.

Flt Lt Carl Booth and Emrys Sampson then hooked a 35lb 5oz mirror, the biggest fish of the match, with Booth securing the catch.

Heavy rain hindered some and helped others, but once the downpours subsided and the morning action began, eventual winners Coleman and Thomson

still maintained a huge lead on 298lb. A string of fish for Thomas and Jones saw them leapfrog into second on 153lb, 50lb ahead of Whittaker and Emery in third.

A 27lb 4oz mirror brought Emery and Whittaker within one fish with 3.5 hours remaining, but they could not close the gap, while commons of 26lb 8oz and 26lb 13oz cemented Coleman and Thomson’s top spot.

RAF champ Cpl Lindley's Mr Perfect World stage for cyclists

WO MARK FIRTH, MAcr Paul Granycombe and Cpl Ash Davis, Cpl Carlos Lindley and Southern Angling won out at this year’s Angling Association Spike Milligan Memorial Festival Championships.

The three-day coarse match event at the Monkhall Fishery in Bridgenorth decided the winners for three major disciplines: Inter-Unit, Individual and Inter-League matches respectively, along with a day of coaching/development run by The Drennan RAF Representative Team.

The coaching day saw the RAF squad set up six demonstration stands across the complex’s Buzzard and Lark pools, covering shallow, feeder and margin fishing, with 20 personnel gaining expert tuition.

The second day saw the action begin with the Individual and Inter-Unit competitions, with the unit match seeing teams of three anglers (based at the same unit) compete, with 16 teams entering overall. The highest combined weight of the team won.

RAF Brize Norton teams had a very close battle for first, but BZN Herc stole the show with a whopping 296lb 4oz.

Runners-up BZN Voyager

– Sqn Ldr Jamie Garrett, Chf Tech Henry Hall and Cpl Paige Wardle, caught 289lb 2oz – with BZN Atlas, made up of Sgt Matt Hadfield, Cpl Rich Newbold and Paul Marshall, coming third with 287lb 11oz.

The individual event, which went into the third day of action, saw Lindley produce a perfect two points, winning both days with an overall weight of 337lb 8oz. 10 teams fought it out for Inter-League bragging rights, with two stand-out teams who caught the most Southern Angling League Puma (FS Michael Dalziel, Sgt Stu Thornton, Cpl Lindley, Cpl Paige Wardle and Cpl Ross Mohon) won out with 761lb 4oz, while East Midlands Angling League (FS Danny Hurst, CT Mark Collinson, Sgt Lee Brackenbury, Cpl Rich Newbold and Mr Steve Davis) took second with 727lb 4oz.

For more information on how to get involved with RAF Coarse Angling visit RAF Competitive Angling Association – Coarse Angling –RAF Sports Federation (rafsportsfederation.uk), RAF Angling Old SPOL site (sharepoint.com) or email: DrennanRAF@hotmail.com or follow on Instagram: Drennanraf

RAF CYCLING had the best of British at the recent Gran Fondo World Championships in Scotland as six riders donned GB colours to compete at the prestigious event.

There was a top-20 Time Trial finish from Sqn Ldr Tina Hartnell and a top-30 road race finish from Flt Lt Fiona Padbury at the event, held in Perth and Dundee.

Four riders achieved road race qualification, while three made the Time Trial, with Hartnell – who rode on a borrowed bike – finishing a highly respectable 14th

She said: “I soaked up the incredible atmosphere and felt immensely proud at the start of the race as I rode down the ramp. I feel like my cycling career may take a turn in the direction of endurance TT events and plan to buy myself a new bike soon.”

Flt Lt Mike Ashurst – who qualified after placing second at the Isle of Man Mountain TT in his age category, finished an impressive 21st in age group 70-74.

Cpl Adam Baker qualified at

A STORY in our August 11 edition about archer Sgt Ellie Spinks incorrectly named the current GB Masters number 1 who beat her. She is Sarah Hubbard. Sgt Spinks achieved a PB score of 527 in the qualification rounds.

the Tour of Cambridge Road Race and Time Trial and by winning the overall mountain Time Trial at the Isle of Man. He would eventually not race, after his bike failed the tough pre-race criteria.

In the road race Padbury, who qualified via the Tour of Cambridge in her age category, finished 26th in the 40-44 group.

WO Miles Ogden finished 127th out of 230(50-55 age group) and Sgt Philip Bennett also came home 127th (45-49).

Ogden said: “As the gun went off I was with the group and up at the front for at least 45 minutes when I got shunted into a verge and unfortunately went down. Luckily, it was a soft landing and I managed to catch back on to the group.”

With a few minor scrapes, Ogden battled back through the pack, but having lost energy gels during his crash, he battled on to finish 19 minutes after the race winner.

Baker would dust himself off from his TT setback to finish 62nd in the 35-39 age group.

PERFECT SCORE: Cpl Carlos Lindley secured two points, and the cup

SECOND: FS Thomas and Sgt Jones

PEDAL POWER: Elite RAF cyclists

Her first fish caught in UK waters

Step up in class for duo

SIDECAR STARS Sgt Mark Middleton and AS1 Robert Atkinson turned a corner in their season with two impressive races as they stepped up a class in the British Superbikes Championship at Thruxton.

Having secured 11th in the opening race, Middleton said: “Being the only Formula 2 outfit in the Premier class of sidecar racing, this was purely an exercise to get some track time at one of Brize Norton’s local tracks.

“We came a respectable 11th from a field of 15, with a bit of a lonely ride in the changeable conditions.”

With the rain flags called into action it made for an interesting race, with the Service duo finding their rhythm and producing impressive speed to the chequered flag.

After making a few adjustments to the rear suspension the RAF pairing were confident they could at least improve on their previous lap times and a good start once more meant they could cling onto the pack for a lap or two.

Having started well, they settled into a lonely ride again as the F1 riders pulled away. They finished 11th again, but this time with a much-improved lap time of 1.26.9.

Middleton added: “The new outfit is beginning to click now, finding new set-ups and getting track time in preparation for a big season next year. That was the goal, and we are achieving it.”

Association helps power up RAF recruitment drive

ANSWERING QUESTIONS on speed, engines and joining up with the Air Force, the members of the Service’s Motorsports Association wowed visitors at RAF Syerston’s Air and Space festival.

THE RAFMSA had four bikes, two cars and a go-kart on display along with an e-sports sim, all of which proved very popular.

Association spokesman Sgt Gavin Heggs said: “Our involvement in the festival was as part of the RAF careers area. We were demonstrating some of the fantastic sports that are available to serving personnel.”

The RAFMSA team were at it again at the CarFest festival in Hampshire, where they supported RAF Recruitment and 606 Sqn from RAF Benson. l Follow RAFMSA on Instagram @raf_ motorsports.

MOTORSPORT

MOTORSPORT

PHOTO: JULES BROOK

PHOTOS: Sgt Gavin Heggs

Lightning strike does for Vulcans

Lossiemouth club is really motoring now

THE FAST-GROWING sport of motocross and enduro has set up home at RAF Lossiemouth after a Central Fund grant saw the station’s club expand its horizons.

The new RAF Lossiemouth Enduro and Motocross Club now acts as both a training facility and sports/social club, focusing on nurturing grass root participation in both disciplines.

RAF VULCANS were beaten 10-1 by USAF TriBase Lightning at Cambridge Ice Arena in their third charity game.

Vulcans’ OIC Flt Lt Tom Yeoman said: “Being a part of the annual clash with our USAF friends is always a pleasure. Better yet, to play the sport we love while raising an impressive amount of money for the RAF Central Fund makes it a highlight of

chances in the opening passages of play. The first goal went to SRA Lucas Kearns of the Lightning and as the match went on, Vulcans’ civilian netminder Greg Rosson was called upon to make some great saves, but the Service team conceded another two goals in the opening period.

The second period saw USAF score three times more, with the Vulcans replacing Rosson in the net with AS2 Alecia Jackson. Jackson produced a

Club spokesman AS1 Joshua Stubbs said: “The recent grant of £35,000 from the RAF Central Fund has allowed the club to provide a greater depth of coverage for personnel, with 100 part and full-time members now utilising the facility.

“The club provides a significantly lower entry point to an otherwise incredibly expensive sport. At only £15 for a day of riding including bike hire, PPE and training – compared to a minimum

ROWING

of the roughly £3,000 it would cost to do it yourself – we can offer an incredible opportunity.”

The club has an established route from new rider to racing on behalf of the RAF, with several riders now on the cusp of making their race debuts.

The funding from the Central Fund was used to buy six new offroad Honda motorcycles, along with introducing new PPE. Stubbs added: “The bikes were chosen for their ability to be ridden by new and experienced riders alike and it also pulls us into line with the RAF Cosford club, who run the same motorcycles which many trainees use during phase 2 training.”

The club also provides members and station personnel with a great social outlet.

l Follow RAF Motocross and Enduro on Instagram @raf_ motorcoss_enduro.

Hitting the highs at Henley

THE RAF Rowing Club saw success at a well-contested and exciting Henley Town and Visitors Regatta.

Always a high point on the rowing calendar, this year didn’t disappoint, with 16 crews entered, with most athletes racing three times.

The association saw a brilliant return for the efforts of its rowers, with a number of category wins and even a medal from the masters quad event, along with another for a RAF athlete rowing for her civilian rowing club.

Cpl Annabel Headley won in a four with her civilian club, Worcester rowing club. She also won at Henley Women’s Regatta and Met Regatta in a four.

A joint effort between the RAF

RUNNERS UP: Mixed Service coxed four

and Navy saw the mixed Service crew come a close second to Warwick boat club in the men’s coxed four event.

Association spokesman Fg Off Alasdair Richardson said: “With the Joint Services Regatta looming on the horizon, the race provided the perfect opportunity to practise racing in a very competitive environment against high-quality competition.”

HIGH-OCTANE: Motocross riders and, inset, new bikes

Daniel Abrahams

ON TARGET: Vulcans give the Lightning stopper something to think about at CambridgePHOTOS: TRISH THOMPSON

pages of the best of RAF Sports action

Services team storm to semi-finals of World Defence Cup

UKAF give Spain an el of a hiding

Daniel Abrahams

IT WAS three wins from three for the UKAF men’s rugby side as they secured a World Defence Cup semi-final berth after crushing Spain 128-3 in their final group match.

The team’s next opponents were still to be decided at the final whistle as head coach FS Justin Coleman’s charges entered a week of rest.

They rounded off a gruelling three matches in an eight-day schedule by running away with things against unknown quantity Spain, leading 66-3 at the break in Melesse, Brittany.

The Service side began the tournament in similar style with a 43-14 win against a tough Tongan side in Fougères.

The game saw UKAF start brightly and produce a solid display throughout to leave

team captain Fg Off Dave Manning satisfied, saying: “A lot of things didn’t go to plan, but to leave the field with that scoreline is good enough for now.”

Coleman added: “We came out of the blocks firing and we got points on the board, it’s a great start with plenty still to work on.”

The headlines went to hat-trick try scorer Off Cdt Kieran Forbes.

He said: “I don’t get many tries, so it was a unique feeling, they were all tap-ins, but they all count.

“We have more games to come, so I want to focus on those now.”

The second game saw the military men dig deep to produce a narrow three-point

win after a titanic second half comeback to topple Georgia 24-21.

A tough first half saw UKAF lead through vice-captain BDR Owain Davies, before the Georgians crashed home two tries to lead 14-3 at the break.

Forcing the game throughout the second half UKAF were reduced to 14 men in the closing stages, when CFN Solodrau Radianirova was sin-binned, but the setback didn’t stop Davies rounding out his side’s scoring with a penalty for 24-14.

Despite a late score by Georgia, UKAF held on.

l Follow UKAF rugby on Instagram @ ukafrugby.

AIR POWER: Fg Off Dave Manning (nearest to camera, on the right) drives a UKAF maul forward against Georgia

TONKED: Tough Tonga were dispatched 43-14

COMEBACK KINGS: UKAF celebrate a try against Georgia, who led by 11 points going into the break

© MAX DE-CAHUËT/ARMÉE DE TERRE/DÉFENSE ALLIGIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Captain Sandy on pirates, cancer and dealing with drunken guests

“I’M SURE like many other people out there, I had a wild youth,” said Below Deck Mediterranean’s Captain Sandy with a chuckle, which comes as a surprise bearing in mind that we’re used to seeing her as the coolest cucumber in any crisis when on board a superyacht dealing with demanding millionaires on one side and often inebriated crew members on the other.

She’s speaking from her home in Colorado as she gears up for a UK tour, Captain Sandy Live, and a new season of Below Deck Mediterranean launching exclusively on Hayu later this year.

“The first show sold out,” she said, referring to the stint she did in London’s West End last year, “and people actually flew in from Amsterdam and all over.

“The atmosphere was great. People listen to the Q&A, so everyone’s respectful, but they’re all laughing, having a good time. And

since Below Deck is very popular in the UK…” – she was amazed to hear her face was on the side of London buses – “...we thought we should do it again. There’s something about the TV show that really grabs people because it’s not just about the drama; we’re also a travel show and it highlights what it’s like to work on a superyacht.”

gets

One of the most common questions she gets asked is how can I get into this world?

“People didn’t know they could before the show aired,” she said. “And we need them. We’re like 50,000 short in the industry today. There are certain requirements like you have to be physically fit and there’s drug testing and if you wanted to work on the bridge, you can’t

Film Review

Mavka: The Forest Song (PG)

In cinemas now (Dazzler Media)

be colour blind. You have to take a class that’s about a week long and then you can start in the maritime industry at entry level.”

Sandy’s girlfriend, singer Leah Rae, opens the show, then host Riyadh Khalaf steps in with a Q&A session before Sandy throws herself open to the audience for questions.

“Interacting with the audience is always incredible,” she said.

And she adores

Another Ukrainian tour de force

ANAIVE young musician goes in search of the Tree of Life, but within the enchanted forest reside spirits that intend to protect its mystical power.

Mavka: The Forest Song is a Ukrainian animation, made in the English language, that is set in a fantastical land that draws inspiration from Ukrainian and Slavic mythology.

It opens with a tale about a war between villagers and forestdwelling creatures that divided the land, almost destroying it in the process, when the humans tried to steal the Tree of Life: the great source of the forest’s power.

In present day, the enchanted forest is flourishing once again, protected by the superstition of the hesitant villagers until wanderer Lucas (Eddy Lee) is tricked into trespassing onto this sacred ground by the suspicious daughter of a sawmill owner (Elena Kravets).

A forest nymph by the name of Mavka (Nataliya Denisenko) attempts to scare him away, but is disarmed by his flute playing and the two begin to develop a fondness for each other.

The scale and score do well to give a sense of epic adventure, with magical beings protecting their land from invading humans, but this is not Avatar. Comparatively it is a minuscule film, and so whilst the story is pretty straightforward and predictable, its originality comes in the forms of the smaller, more personal details, born out of folklore and local culture.

Lucas’s music is beautifully particular, gaining more power and presence when played as part of his folk band alongside throat singers, and people dancing the traditional

Hopak. You can understand why this is so special to Mavka.

The animation, which took seven years to produce throughout a tumultuous time in Ukraine, is very accomplished for a small studio. But to complete the true David and Goliath story of its production, the film premiered in Ukraine earlier this year, beating box office records within the country, and even outperforming Avatar: The Way of Water. A remarkable achievement from this heartfelt film. 3 out of five roundels

Review by Sam Cooney

the UK: “I love London, I’ve always wanted to go to Birmingham and Manchester, I’ve heard great things about Guildford, and I’ve already been to Southampton, which is great. I’m really excited about Poole because there are some great boat manufacturers there that I’d love to visit.”

The subject of her wild youth often comes up in the audience question and answer section – as well as questions on pirates, fires on board, encounters with warships, motorcycle crashes, beating cancer, dealing with drunken crew members and people overboard.

“Years ago, I had to get a job,” she said about her wild youth and

also how she first got into yachting. “I was on that merry-go-round of just doing the wrong thing and I needed to pay some fines. I found a job in the newspaper and just started washing boats and I was like, ‘Wow, you can make money just getting some sun and some exercise?’ Next thing you know, I did such a good job that someone offered me something full-time on their boat. And from there the journey started.”

Interview by Simon Gage l You can stream every episode of Below Deck Mediterranean on hayu.com. Go to: newframeproductions.com/ captain-sandy-live for tour details.

Competition

Carmen (15)

Out now on Blu-ray, DVD and download (Dazzler Media)

Retelling of classic love story

ACADEMY AWARD-nominee

Paul Mescal (Aftersun) and Melissa Barrera (In the Heights) dazzle in director Benjamin Millepied’s critically-acclaimed, modern day retelling of one of history’s most famous love stories and operas, featuring a new music score by Nicholas Britell.

The film is a contemporary reimagining of Georges Bizet’s 1875 opera, which inspired the memorable 1954 movie Carmen Jones that had an allblack cast and starred Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge.

A young and fiercely independent woman, Carmen (Barrera) is forced to flee her home in the Mexican desert following the

Win!

brutal murder of her mother. After surviving a terrifying and dangerous illegal border crossing into the US, she is captured by a fierce border patrol agent, but saved by his partner, Aidan (Mescal), who helps Carmen escape.

They make their way north toward Los Angeles in search of her mother’s best friend and the owner of La Sombra nightclub, a sanctuary of music and dance. But while the pair (below) find solace and love for each other in this magical refuge, time is running out as the police hunt closes in.

You could win a copy of this captivating film on Blu-ray – for your chance to own it, simply tell us:

Who wrote the opera on which the films Carmen and Carmen Jones are based?

Email your answer, marked Carmen 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 October 6.

CAPTAIN SANDY: At the helm

'Animals teach us about life and love'

NOEL FITZPATRICK brings his show, Beyond Supervet, to the stage from September 29.

The 25-date tour, where the TV favourite explores how caring for animals can help us all, runs until December 2.

He said: “Animals make us better people in every conceivable way. I don’t think that we can always be our true selves with humans. Animals teach us about life. They teach us the power of forgiveness and love.”

The first vet ever to tour the UK, Noel’s show promises to reach beyond the world of his popular television series The Supervet, which has been running for 18 seasons on Channel 4.

Noel is at home on the stage thanks to years as a professional actor – he’s been in TV shows such as London’s Burning, Casualty, The Bill and Heartbeat (where he played – guess what? – a vet).

In the show he will talk about his beloved dog Keira, who died in 2021.

He explained: “She basically taught me everything I know. I would be an empty vessel if she hadn’t been there.

“She’s very much responsible for the building of my practice because she was by my side through all 14 years of that dream. She saw me in my truest raw sense. The show is centred around a dozen or so lessons that I’ve learned along the way from Keira and other animals.”

He added: “Beyond Supervet is a smorgasbord of visual, auditory and stimulatory delights. I want the audience to feel that they’ve gained an insight into something that they didn’t expect – a truly uplifting experience where they’ll feel enriched and entertained.”

Interview by James Rampton l Go to: noelfitzpatricklive.com for venue and ticket details.

Ruby red vinyl marks anniversary for Bonnie

BONNIE TYLER releases a 40th anniversary vinyl edition of her album Faster Than the Speed of Night on September 15 – pressed in ruby red.

The landmark record changed everything for Welsh singer Tyler. While she had scored a domestic Top 10 breakthrough with Lost in France and then a major international hit with It’s a Heartache, her first four albums failed to break into the UK charts.

But then her iconic power ballad Total Eclipse of the Heart raced to the top of the charts and went platinum in both the UK and the US.

The album was similarly successful, hitting No.1 in the UK and No.4 in the US, while climbing album charts everywhere from Australia to Norway.

Jorja's gone back to her roots

Walsall return for Smith

TWO-TIME Brit award-winner Jorja Smith releases her new album this month, followed by a series of live shows.

Speaking about recording the album in New York, Tyler said: “I had the time of my life working on the album with all the musicians and crew and of course [songwriter]

Jim Steinman.”

More career highlights followed including further Top 5 hits in the mid-80s with Holding Out for a Hero and A Rockin’ Good Way

Tyler’s current resurgence continues with the release of her autobiography Straight

From the Heart on September 28, that tells the story of how a shy, music-loving teenager became an international superstar.

She is now on a 40th year Total Eclipse of the Heart tour across Europe in October, which runs into 2024.

l Go to: bonnietyler.com for more details.

Falling or Flying, out on September 29, is the Midlandsbased singer’s second LP. After spending years living in London, 26-year-old Jorja has moved back to her home town of Walsall in the West Midlands.

“I started going back down to Walsall before I began working on the album, then when I finished it I realised how much I actually missed being home and how much I needed it,” she said.

“I’m definitely a small-town girl and a Walsall girl in particular. I think I was just too overstimulated and too overwhelmed by London, so it’s nice to be able to just see the sky and some trees now. I feel a lot more like myself and that I have a life here. In London it’s just too much.”

The singer, who has worked with artists including Drake, Calvin Harris, Stormzy and Loyle Carner, released her debut album, Lost and Found, in 2018. She revealed why she chose Falling or Flying as the title for her forthcoming release.

“That’s how I felt both in my career and in my life, I literally didn’t know if I was falling or flying. They’re both

completely the opposite, but also so similar for me, in that I didn’t know if I was doing good or bad. It’s also a reference to me and my personality, as anyone who knows me knows I have no middle ground. No half-measures,” she explained.

Jorja has been in the public eye since she was a teenager –what was it like having to grow up in public?

She said: “I’ve realised in recent years that I was so naive and so confident in the beginning. I’m still super-confident on stage now, but when it comes to other things like interviews and photoshoots, I feel a bit less now, which I think comes from always having people’s eyes on me. It’s weird though, as nobody teaches you any of this and there’s no handbook. You just have to figure it out yourself as you go along.

“I’ve been lucky that I’ve met some good people who’ve been there before and I’ve been able to get some good advice, but at the end of the day you just need to work it all out for yourself. I feel like I’m still not finished growing up, to be honest.”

SUPERVET: Fitzpatrick

Interview by Jules Boyle

Music

Mae Muller

Sorry I'm Late

Better late than never, Mae

S

orry I’m Late, Mae Muller’s debut album, comes out on September 15 and, after appearing at a host of summer festivals, she starts a UK headline tour on November 20.

The singer-songwriter, who represented the UK at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with dance-pop anthem I Wrote A Song , said: “Some of the songs on Sorry I’m Late I wrote about five years ago, some only a year ago, so it shows a real span of how I’ve grown over that period as a woman, as an artist and just as a human being. It was really important to me then, to show a different, more vulnerable side on the album.

“I’m so happy I took my time with it. I don’t think it sounds like a bunch of songs that have been thrown out together in a rush, as it really tells a story and has a message to it, which is so personal to me.”

She added: “The album was done and dusted long before Eurovision. I think it was really important that, after pretty much doing one single song for four months, as much as I love it and am so proud of it, I had to be able to say ‘here’s 16 more songs for you all’, so it has come at the perfect time for me.”

Mae said she can’t wait to go out on tour: “I’m so excited about it. Touring and playing live is definitely my favourite thing about

DVDs

doing music and being an artist. Doing a headline show too, having people sing your words back at you and just seeing how much it means,

Benny & Joon (12)

Out now on Blu-ray and DVD

it’s the most rewarding thing in the world, but I also have such a good time doing it. I’m very, very lucky that I get to do it, that’s for sure.”

The Bionic Woman (PG)

Out now on Blu-ray

A young Johnny Depp and The Bionic Woman

FABULOUS FILMS have just released Benny and Joon starring Johnny Depp for the first time ever on Blu-ray. Depp (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald), Mary Stuart Masterson (Bed of Roses) and Aidan Quinn (Legends of the Fall) lead the cast of this offbeat romantic comedy from 1993.

Joon (Masterson) is a little unbalanced. Sometimes, without warning, her sweet nature gives way to odd behaviour – including a penchant for lighting fires. She lives with her older brother Benny (Quinn), who has spent his life taking care of her since her parents died. One night, while playing a poker game with unusual stakes, Joon loses her hand and wins Sam (Depp), a whimsical misfit who soon charms his way into Joon’s heart. Now if they can only find the perfect mate for her protective brother...

ALL 58 episodes of the groundbreaking TV series The Bionic Woman have been digitally re-mastered and restored for this newly-released Blu-ray boxset that includes 18 discs and 699 minutes of extra features.

Lindsay Wagner stars in the title role as tennis pro Jaime Sommers, who, after being critically injured in a skydiving accident, is ‘rebuilt’ using the government’s top secret cybernetic replacement surgery known as ‘bionics’.

As the world’s first bionic woman, Jaime is equipped with bionic legs capable of running more than 60 miles per hour, a bionic arm that can lift a car, and a bionic ear that can detect the slightest of sounds.

With her tennis career over, she returns to her hometown of Ojai, California, to become a

teacher at a US Air Force base. Between her classroom duties, Jaime moonlights as a secret agent for Office of Scientific Intelligence Director Oscar Goldman (Richard Anderson), taking on highlyclassified – and usually dangerous – missions, to satisfy a debt she feels is owed to the government for making her ‘whole’ again.

One lucky reader could win the boxset, rrp £149.99. For your chance to own it, tell us:

Who played Jaime Sommers in the TV series?

Email your answer, marked Bionic Woman 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 October 6.

We also have Benny and Joon on Blu-ray and DVD up for grabs. To be in with a chance of winning a copy, answer this question correctly:

Name the character Johnny Depp plays in Benny and Joon

Email your answer, or post it, marked Benny and Joon competition, to the addresses above, by October 6. Please mark whether you prefer to win the film on DVD or Blu-ray.

WWI VET: Robert Graves (Tom Hughes)

Fabulous Films Ltd/Fremantle Media Enterprises

Interview by Jules Boyle l Go to: jorjasmith.com for a list of album launch live shows and maemuller.com for tour dates.

PHOTO BY HARRY CARR

Deaths

Your Announcements

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

and Elizabeth, in-laws to Daren and Wendy and adoring grandparents to Eleanor, James, Olivia and Eva.

Sam began his RAF career in 1954 aged 17, he would spend the next 37 years serving in Hereford, Duxford, Christmas Island, Dishforth, Tangmere, Ayias Nikolias, Old Sarum, Wyton, Steamer Point, Hullavington, Akrotiri, HQSTC, Waddington, Hereford, Mount Batten, Saudi, Wroughton and finally finishing his career in Akrotiri.

and Mick Marlow. There were five others, but can’t remember their names, sorry. Please email Malcolm Hodgson on: hodgson8448@ gmail.com.

SEEKING any air or ground crew from 203, 210 and 205 Sqns involved in Shackleton operations from RAF Changi and RAF Labuan during the Indonesian Confrontation of 1963-65. Please contact: Tony Fairbairn: email: tony. fairbairn@btinternet.com or call: 07752 337907.

and Spa, Sketchley Lane, Hinkley, Leicestershire, LE10 3HU. Visit: rafanddfsa. co.uk/reunions or contact Don Pape, email: donaldpape252@yahoo. com or Mike Clapton, email: fire.bucket@btinternet.com Please visit the website to see how to join. We welcome new members.

Associations

Jo steps up to the challenge

GORE Michael (Mick) WO, died peacefully with his family by his side at Great Western Hospital, Swindon on July 30.

Michael joined the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice on September 17, 1957 and served until March 5, 1996. During his long career he worked on Valiants, Vulcans, Lightnings, Jaguars, Andovers and Hercules on such bases as Akrotiri, Binbrook, Gütersloh, Brüggen, Thorney Island, Abingdon, Benson and Lyneham. After retirement he continued to work at Lyneham in a civilian role. A much-loved husband to Sandra, father to Charlotte and Matthew, grandfather and father-in-law. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.

Along with his love for Crystal Palace FC, the RAF played a huge part in Sam’s life and his many RAF stories will be remembered. Being the most generous of people Sam and Christine have selflessly donated their bodies to medical research. They will be missed so very much.

In Memoriam

214 (Federated Malay States) Squadron. Remembering my school classmate Fg Off Peter Wormall, co-pilot, killed with all the other crew when Valiant bomber XD869 crashed shortly after take off from RAF Marham September 11, 1959. Flt Lt

T.C. Watkins, pilot, Flt Lt D. Howard, nav/radio operator, Flt Lt M.S. Hyslop, nav/ plotter, Fg Off C. Candy, air electronics officer and Chf Tech R.V. Sewell, crew chief. May they all rest in peace and rise again in glory. David Cobbold, Wisbech, RAF National Serviceman (1956 – 1958).

Seeking

SEEKING anyone in the 309th entry at RAF Hereford from May 1967 until April 1968. I was in C Flight 4 Sqn. 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.

Reunions

45TH Entry C Flt 3 Sqn Suppliers reunion Friday/ Saturday, September 22 and 23 at Barns Hotel, Cocksparrow Lane, Huntingdon, Cannock, Staffs. For details contact: Dinger Bell, tel: 01482 377625.

RAF Armourers past and present. Do you know that the RAF Association has an Armourers Branch? Its 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.

RAF HIGH WYCOMBEbased civil servant Jo Sangwin is putting her best foot forward and taking part in the One Million Step Challenge in aid of Diabetes UK, writes Laurence Parker. The former nurse, (pictured inset) who was diagnosed with the condition in 1999 when she was 24, has so far notched up an impressive 788,238 steps.

She started the challenge on July 1 and is continuing until September 30.

small retinal blood vessels in the eye to become diseased. Left unchecked it can cause permanent blindness. A course of laser treatment in her right eye has slowed down any deterioration.

MUSGROVE Sam and Christine. Both passed away peacefully in June and August.

Much loved parents to Paul

How to use our service

SEEKING members of IFN4/66 nav inst course held at Newton from April 1966 to March 1967 – particularly: Trevor Jones, Howard Methley, Bob Brobson, Terry Whitford, Colin Wood

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 St Leonards, Gloucester GL4 8DE. If interested in joining the Association please contact Membership Secretary, Harry Player, on: chrisarry714@gmail.com.

THE RAF and Defence Fire Service reunion will take place from Friday, November 3 to Sunday, November 5 at the Sketchley Grange Hotel

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.

Important Notice

The publishers of RAF News cannot accept responsibility for the quality, safe delivery or operation of any products advertised or mentioned in this publication.

Reasonable precautions are taken before advertisements are accepted but such acceptance does not imply any form of approval or recommendation. Advertisements (or other inserted material) are accepted subject to the approval of the publishers and their current terms and conditions. The publishers will accept an advertisement or other inserted material only on the condition that the advertiser warrants that such advertisement does not in any way contravene the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act. All copy is subject to the approval of the publishers, who reserve the right to refuse, amend, withdraw or otherwise deal with advertisements submitted to them at their absolute discretion and without explanation.

advertisements must comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice. Mail order advertisers are required to state in advertisements their true surname or full company name, together with an address from which the business is managed.

RAF Catering WOs’ and Seniors’ Association (RAF CWO & SA): all serving or retired TG19 Warrant Officers or Flight Sergeants and all former Catering Branch Officers are invited to join the RAF CWO & SA. We meet twice yearly. Please email: davescott10@hotmail.co.uk.

For sale

For sale: Sergeants’ Mess Dress uniform

The uniform jacket was purchased from and tailored by ‘Supplyline’ to fit a 28” (63.5 cm) chest, and the trousers a 30” (76 cm) waist, inside leg 31” (78.5 cm). I no longer have the associated cummerbund, however.

The recipient would have to collect the uniform from me in Tadley, Hampshire and make an appropriate monetary donation to the RAF Benevolent Fund in lieu of my taking payment.

If interested please contact: dave.e.wright227@gmail. com; tel: 0118 9812580.

She said: “I had always been in that horrible frame of mind of never wanting to do something like this because it makes what I have real. To be honest, I didn't want to put myself out there and say, ‘I'm diabetic.’”

A routine check-up at her annual retinopathy (disease of the retina) clinic last year revealed a proliferative diabetic retinopathy in her right eye. This causes the

She explained: “My consultant said if the condition had not been found I would probably have had only five years of sight left. Diabetics do suffer with blood vessel issues, including nerves. To help my eyes I take omega oils, mackerel and leafy green vegetables.”

Jo said her colleagues are ‘hugely motivational’ and are willing her on to reach the final hurdle. They also have a wall chart in the office that helps her plot her daily progress, averaging 14,000 steps a day.

l Go to: step.diabetes. org.uk/fundraising/ joanna1986 to sponsor her. The site will remain open until October 30.

RAF seeks Battle of Britain family

EACH YEAR the Royal Air Force commemorates the Battle of Britain and those who flew and fought in the air and on the ground, at a service in Westminster Abbey.

The RAF Ceremonial Office is seeking to improve its knowledge of this unique demographic and to offer places at the formal Battle of Britain Thanksgiving and Rededication Service; this year, planned for September 17, and in subsequent years.

We would very much like to hear from the widows, family descendants and any other family members of those who participated in the Battle. If you are a family member, or know someone who is, please write to Mrs Michèle Small (Royal Air Force Ceremonial Office, Bentley Priory Building, Royal Air Force Northolt, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 6NG), providing details of your relationship to your relative who served in the Royal Air Force between July and October 1940 and your email address and a contact phone number.

Service for AM Dr David Walker

A MEMORIAL Service for Air Marshal (Ret’d) Dr David Walker CB CBE AFC PhD will be held on Thursday, October 5 at 2pm at St Clement Danes Church, Strand, London WC2R 1DH. Dress: Serving personnel, Full Ceremonial Day Dress (No1 SD with medals), swords not required; retired military personnel may opt for same, or lounge suit with medals; all others lounge suit, ladies equivalent, medals may be worn. For the purpose of numbers, all those wishing to attend the service are kindly requested to email: reply.memorialservice@gmail.com by September 18.

WO MICHAEL GORE

CHRISTINE AND SAM MUSGROVE

Your Announcements

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

Airs

hele w c ho tesatebrat ra e eb ear 50 y ye rs

Air show celebrates 50 years

Friend

ally m in s f fi

meet

Friends finally meet

FORMER TWO

AR POPUL Batt

ritainAirShowretur t B

o n f fo oo d s uxford fo D aysofawe-inspiringday ays–onSeptembdisplay d17

tleof rnsto wo r t aerial er16

THE POPULAR Battle of Britain Air Show returns to IWM Duxford soon for two days of awe-inspiring aerial displays – on September 16 and 17.

ICONIC: engineer gets a Spitfire ready for last year's show © IWM

ce m or ir F l A Roya fri fr havebeen earsthroug y y man met UK, Veterans Ve firsttimerecently fi nd y a tothecharit tF l B

s ’Women Wo members, fo iends ghBlind the for fo t hanks y t theRAF t dth

the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this year, she was introduced to the RAFBF’s Veterans Breakfast in Lowestoft and said it would be her dearest wish to meet Queenie in person.

The standout event is the second major air show of Duxford’s 50th anniversary Flying Season, and to mark the special occasion children aged 15 and under can attend for free.

TWO FORMER Women’s Royal Air Force members, who have been friends for many years through Blind Veterans UK, met for the first time recently thanks to the charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund that organised a get-together.

isthe wof

at d t ether t, es in liv

ndemic. s e wa h , s r seRAFBF’ fastin ould t w d i htomeet n. d t ll nda Thestandoutevent ajorairshosecondmaj nnive h a s 50t uxford’ fo D ndto n, a easo g S Flyin thespecialoccasionchi n a a der c d un n d 15 a age free fr fo Inamust-seemo he s, t n n fa viatio r a fo F B-17 hy FortressinEurope–‘Sal ughttogether g willbebro

h r w caster ofthe allied

fWorld Wo omberso y b heav eformationwillb fo II.Th om o b w e t h e t im t t firs fi erfor fo eflowntogeth fl hav

thantwodecadesandth

uxford fo t D er a v ve e e tim

In a must-see moment for aviation fans, the last airworthy B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe – ‘Sally B’ –will be brought together with the RAF’s Avro Lancaster for a rare formation of the two most recognisable allied heavy bombers of World War II. The formation will be the first time the two bombers have flown together for more than two decades and the first time ever at Duxford.

un t F enevolen et-toge d g organise , 100, Queenie ghtighrig till o s hw wh oine , j grewup erv d s n AF a WR from1940until fr 1946whenshe obbed s dem wa sfiercely fi i She t; den en dep in walkstothelocal

dWar Wa bethe bers more efirst fi

e d ere

Queenie, 100, (inset, right) who still lives in Stowmarket where she grew up, joined the WRAF and served from 1940 until 1946 when she was demobbed. She is fiercely independent; walks to the local supermarket, and does all her own shopping, cooking, and gardening.

Heather was allocated a befriender, Emma, by Blind Veterans UK and the veterans, both Suffolkbased, finally met at the Waveney House Hotel in Beccles.

o W based, f

ed loca a y a, b mm UKand folk-uffo ff h S etat y m ouse y H ne aRussell, Ru ol y t uni m t n e m e g erfor fo kat RAFBF t t e b l b sAvroLan Av theRAF’ eformationo fo forarar fo ableecognisab t r os o m tw

s er wa ea , E efriender fr ab dVeterans Ve Blin oth s, b eteran e v th Waaven lte Nico mm a g n orke folkuffo ff the S w e co

Visitorswillbetreat Vi rommoretha ys f fr a display contemp and vintage

edto n60 orary

y mass dfour fo morate

Visitors will be treated to displays from more than 60 vintage and contemporary aircraft, including a mass flypast of 12 Spitfires and four Hurricanes, to commemorate

ervicemen e S rav av e b th womenwhorisked odefendBritain fe livest f er o summ

nd n a inthe

the brave Servicemen and women who risked their lives to defend Britain in the summer of 1940.

Othercrowd-please ackedaerialli e p th irw y a nl e o h ude t incl

eaterHtwo-s Hurricaneinthe

A-112 o H ispan a H

ersin ine-up hy orthy

y kerHawke MIL

Other crowd-pleasers in the packed aerial line-up include the only airworthy two-seater Hawker Hurricane in the world, a Hispano HA-112 MIL

ep t r f ircraft n) a (Bucho feMessersffeuftwaff ft aL endary e leg h , t fi

licating chmitt orth y N

n P51-D M America andtheRAF’sBa

BritainMemorial eatur l f fe il h w whic

ttleof

g he e t r

lankedb , f fl Lancaster andHurric fireSpitfi o s h e w hos o t e t tribut

he y t b in ane served

(Buchon) aircraft replicating a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt fighter, the legendary North American P51-D Mustang, and the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which will feature the Lancaster, flanked by the Spitfire and Hurricane in tribute to those who served.

rice et p k icke e t Th accesstoIWMD and exhibitions w how. e s h g t durin irsho , a PhilHood “Th said: manager, fo year very

includes suxford’ fo D

The ticket price includes access to IWM Duxford’s exhibitions and hangars during the show.

wevent a is his IWM r

y e 50 aswecelebrat owds g cr entertainin ” ays.splay l di aeria

Phil Hood, air show event manager, said: “This is a very special year for IWM as we celebrate 50 years of entertaining crowds through aerial displays.”

e lo o t ks t n et, a k supermarke doesallhero o , co shopping rdening d ga an (abov l y b mpletel t co wen l y evera y s suddenl ithisola g w Strugglin t d a overwhelme fe ers y h utb g o oin f g o Shesoughtsupp eterans, d V Ve Blin

k w d eft) ft e, l ery d v lin yearsago he n, s tio elff.

Heather (above, left) went completely blind very suddenly several years ago. Struggling with isolation, she felt overwhelmed at the idea of going out by herself.

yearsof , ueeniethro o Q t y t kl y’sweekl s charit et u s s t wa ha p t grou

Nicola Russell, community engagement worker for Suffolk at the RAFBF, said: “It was a real privilege to spend time with these extraordinary and inspirational ladies, and it was wonderful to witness their joy at being together after so many years. Emma and I were very moved.”

e id:“ pri l im raord inspirationalladie l t fu onderfu s w wa tbeing y a o eir j th ea y y ftersomanaft o y m er e v er d I w an

tfrom fr or kingtalki

g ughthe telephone uring p d u

She sought support from Blind Veterans, talking to Queenie through the charity’s weekly telephone group that was set up during

Queeniesaid: H o g t speakin been s t i I years.

y stomeetaf p u hel ” time

to ftterallthis

these ext d t a a , F, Itwasa to vilege ith e w m nd y a dinar ndit es, a itness o w t ogether g t rs.Emma ” ved ave“Ihav for fo eather fulwonderfu g a cludin t, in f aircraft firesandflypastof12Spitfi fl mmem o co es, t Hurrican

Queenie said: “I have been speaking to Heather for years. It is really wonderful of the Benevolent Fund to help us to meet after all this time.”

Across

Crossword No. 346

Solve the crossword, then rearrange the 8 letters in yellow squares to find an RAF term

1. I’m twice returning to Puccini heroine (4)

8. After extravagant fuss, we hear who leaves Ned at old station (10)

9. Censure Dambusters operation (8)

10. Two act and it’s extinct (4)

12. Base wedding speech comes back to biblical son (6)

14. Spirited female elephant immediately stomps towards you, at first (6)

15. Maybe I smile in comparison (6)

17. RAF heroes in short supply? (3,3)

18. Spring bypass (4)

19. Playwright may hide at station…(8)

21. …with nine flying around station (10)

22. South Africa keep half of wine (4)

Down

2. All at sea hinted rink collapsed (2,3,5)

3. Bird is embracing start of biscuit (4)

4. Everyone, I express hesitation about plant (6)

5. I personally find some enemy selfish (6)

6. Limit makes communication impossible (8)

7. Error to almost print nothing (4)

11. Succeed in cutting woman in half? (2,3,5)

13. They can undo locks…or secure them (8)

16. Almost making fun of relaxation (6)

17. Pointless Walters disturbing fishes (6)

18. I leave Bulgarian capital with Chesterfield (4)

20. Kids’ floats, by the sound of it (4)

Film Review

The Red Shoes: Next Step (12A) In

The barre is set quite low

MOMENTS before going on stage to perform

The Red Shoes ballet, young star Sam takes a video call with her sister, witnessing her killed in a car accident.

Opening with the titular opera and a dramatic death, it might appear as a spiritual sequel to the classic 1944 Powell and Pressburger film The Red Shoes, however Next Step is something altogether different. The Red Shoes: Next Step is an Australian young adult film that focuses on navigating grief and trauma through dance, with some teen drama and goofy comedy thrown in to keep it frothy.

Sam (Juliet Doherty) is an American in Sydney; without her sister and still processing her death, she leaves her prestigious dance school and falls in with the rebellious Eve (Lauren Esposito).

A bad influence, the two of them are caught shoplifting and sentenced to complete 200 hours of community service. With a guiding nudge from her concerned mother, Sam finds herself working back at the Harlow’s International Academy. Though cleaning

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 October 6.

Prize Crossword No. 344 winner is: Mrs V Todd, Co Durham.

Prize Su Doku No. 356

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 October 6.

The winner of Su Doku No: 354 is: Sandra Petchell, London.

SAM: Troubled youngster (Juliet Doherty) finds redemption through her love of dance

backstage, it is not long before she feels herself being pulled back in to dance, to this year’s production of The Red Shoes

The events that lead Sam back to dance are rather forced, whilst the dancers at the school, be they new friends, enemies or a romantic interest, are all pretty two-dimensional, destined to be background characters to Sam. Along with Eve, they each add drama whenever it is convenient for the story. This is not helped by the performances but then the cast are primarily dancers, and this is where the film is at its best.

Where the most recent popular franchises of dance films for younger audiences have concentrated on street dance, Next Step pulls the focus back to traditional dance in ballet. There are various extended scenes of dancing that show, wordlessly, the emotion and growth of the dancer.

Impressive dance scenes are tacked together with a melodramatic story that has the best intentions.

Two out of five roundels

Review by Sam Cooney

MICHAEL J. FOX (Back to the Future Trilogy) stars in the 1985 classic 80s cult comedy Teen Wolf – just released on DVD and Blu-ray.

Although filmed before Back to the Future, Teen Wolf was released afterwards to capitalise on Fox’s leading role as Marty McFly in the big budget, high profile Back to the Future movie.

Teen Wolf is an outrageous comedy about shy teenager Scott with more than a changing voice to contend with – he’s a budding young werewolf!

And when his newfound powers help him score at basketball – and with the popular girls – he has some pretty hairy decisions to make.

Teen Wolf spawned a sequel called Teen Wolf Too in 1987 with Jason Bateman taking over as lead, playing Scott’s cousin Todd.

A Teen Wolf animated series ran for two seasons, from 1986-1988. MTV ran a Teen Wolf series for six seasons from 2011 to 2017 while Teen Wolf: The Movie streamed in January this year – a continuation of the series.

We have copies of the film on DVD and Blu-ray up for grabs. To be in with a chance of winning one, simply answer this question correctly: Who played the lead in the Teen Wolf sequel Teen Wolf Too? Email your answer, marked Teen Wolf 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 October 6. Please state on your entry if you prefer to win the film on Blu-ray or DVD.