RAF News Edition 1564, July 14, 2023

The Forces' favourite paper

The Late Queen's bearer party and musicians honoured by The King

l Royal Victorian Order awards – see page 7

Dambuster confidential: minute-by-minute account of the epic WWII mission

l Win intriguing new book written by 617 Sqn Association's official historian, Dr Robert Owen

See pages 16-17

Friday, July 14, 2023 No. 1564 £1.20

Sergeant is back on side

l See page 27

Ice hockey

Bluewings take Bowl

F1 ace on a high

MERCEDES F1 race ace George Russell took his need for speed to a new level in a 29 Squadron supersonic Typhoon ahead of his storming British Grand Prix performance.

The British driver, who won his maiden F1 race at Sao Paulo earlier this year, took to the skies with display pilot Flt Lt Matt Brighty before the Silverstone F1 showdown, where Russell clinched fifth place.

l See page 29

Motorsport Football

New chief

l See page 30

He said: “There are so many comparisons between the RAF and F1. The technology, the high-performance that is vital to do the job, but most importantly the teamwork behind the scenes that allows myself and Brighty to do what we need to do.”

Flt Lt Brighty added: “George was a natural and I am confident we could make a good pilot out of him in no time.

“I am still waiting for a call to drive his racing car though!

“He was my first-ever passenger and it was brilliant to share the experience of a flight with him and show off what this formidable aircraft is capable of.”

NEED FOR SPEED: Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 driver George Russell (left) with Typhoon display pilot Flt Lt Matt Brighty at RAF Coningsby

“I tend to think of blokes as different from men

See page 13

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Comedian Geoff Norcott embarks on UK tour R’n’R p4

BRITAIN AND Poland have agreed to strengthen foreign policy, security and defence cooperation following the signing of a new partnership.

The deal will see both countries work together towards building nextgeneration Armed Forces, increase the intensity and frequency of joint training exercises, strengthen Nato’s deterrence and defence posture, and adopt a united approach to the IndoPacific region.

It builds on three decades of close cooperation including a £1.9 billion export agreement in April to roll out a British MBDA air defence system across the Central European state, and an Air Defence Complex Weapons Agreement signed in October.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “As historic defence partners and Nato Allies, the UK stands with Poland to defend the Alliance’s Eastern Flank and support Ukraine against Russian aggression.

“The 2030 Strategic Partnership strengthens our commitment to develop closer military deployments and exercises and deliver on immediate and longterm capability projects.

“The UK and Poland share an historic partnership, stretching back to before WWII, which continues to the present day with hundreds of British troops deployed to Poland.

“This has included last year’s deployment of Challenger 2 tanks

This Week In History

and the ongoing deployment of Sky Sabre air defence systems to Poland.

“Both countries have also been working together to help secure the development of air defence weapons for the future.”

SECURITY AGREEMENT: Defence Secretary Ben Wallace signed partnership deal for closer military ties with Poland

In a meeting ahead of the Lancaster House signing, ministers discussed cooperation between the UK and Poland, support for Ukraine, the defence and security of the Euro-Atlantic area and Nato priorities.

Extracts from

The Royal Air Force Day By Day by Air Cdre Graham Pitchfork (The History Press) A

UK signs Poland pact

“Broken crayons still colour”

RAF veteran Lynsey Kelly prepares for the Invictus Games

“ standard is so high

RAF News Room 68 Lancaster Building HQ Air Command High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP14 4UE

PHOTO: SIMON DAWSON

Scotland’s crowning glory

GUNNERS marched proudly down the Royal Mile and the Red Arrows staged a spectacular flypast over Edinburgh Castle to mark the Presentation of the Honours of Scotland to The King and Queen. The RAF Regiment were among more than 700 military personnel escorting the oldest Crown jewels in Britain through the Scottish capital for the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral.

Made of gold, silver and precious gems, the priceless crown, sceptre, and sword of state are objects of immense historic significance.

The procession included mounted Scots Dragoon Guards and the Shetland Pony mascot of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Cpl Cruachan IV.

The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry provided a Quarter Guard in Crown Square as the

Honours began their journey to St Giles, receiving a fanfare from the Royal Marine Band as they reached the Drawbridge.

The Tri-Service Guard of Honour was accompanied by The Band and the Pipes, Drums and Bugles of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, who led Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment troopers from Holyrood Palace in the procession.

It’s time to Wok’n’roll

Tracey Allen

THE THRILLING sight and sound of the mighty Chinook being put through its paces is always an air show highlight – and for its display team taking part is as much fun as it is for the audiences watching in awe from the ground.

This year’s Chinook Display Team is manned by 18(B) Sqn personnel, based at RAF Odiham. Team Captain Flt Lt Jim Hobkirk said: “It’s a lot of fun and RIAT is a big one for us where we get to showcase to huge crowds just what the Chinook can do.”

He added that the team get a lot out of meeting the public afterwards, receiving feedback on the display and answering questions.

Flt Lt Tim Griffith, the team’s manager and display commentator, said: “That’s what is so rewarding about the role, seeing how excited people get about our job. You can forget sometimes that to the outside world our job is really exciting.”

The 2023 air show season marks Jim’s debut as captain. He said: “You cannot really put into words how good it is to take on the role. It’s a massive privilege, representing the Chinook force, Odiham and the RAF. It’s a big responsibility as well. We want to make our display as slick and professional as possible.”

This year’s team first got to put the RAF’s legendary workhorse through its paces at Cosford Air Show last month.

Jim said: “It was a really good one to start with, lots of the RAF senior leadership team were on the ground watching and

there was a very positive crowd.”

Now the Wok stars are looking forward to showing the RIAT crowds how formidable their iconic helicopter is.

Tim said: “It’s the focus of the air show season, the main one for us – and we have

something to live up to as last year’s team, from 27 Sqn, won Best Display at RIAT.” Wokka Wokka fans will be delighted to hear that the Chinook team’s famous big orange hands will be making an appearance. Jim added: “I don’t think we

could do a display without them, they are really popular, especially with the youngsters.

“After the displays we almost get mobbed by people wanting to high five the big hands.”

ROYAL APPROVAL: King and Queen and Prince and Princess of Wales watch Reds’ flypast

CEREMONIAL DUTIES: RAF Regiment personnel march in Edinburgh

FLARE FOR DRAMA: 2023 Chinook Display Team

CAPTAIN: Flt Lt Hobkirk

Dogfight simulator bid to bring The Few to many

THE BATTLE of Britain Memorial Trust is bidding to install dogfighting simulators for visitors to experience the epic battles between Spitfires and Messerschmitt Bf 109s, to mark the 30th anniversary of the UK’s tribute to The Few.

Bosses at the clifftop site at Capel-le-Ferne have launched an appeal to raise £1m to upgrade the site and install the high-tech virtual-reality facility to put visitors in the cockpit.

Trust President ACM Sir Stephen Dalton said: “The Trust wants to make the Memorial relevant to all

generations and introduce new ways of helping younger people understand the challenges that faced The Few during the Battle.

“The aim is to add two hightech simulators to give visitors an idea of what our fighter pilots had to do in 1940 when they scrambled to face the superior numbers of Luftwaffe fighters and bombers.

“The extension will also give us more display space. We have been gifted a number of interesting and important Battle of Britain-related items and we need more space to tell the Battle of Britain story to this

and future generations.

“The Trust can only make this dream a reality with the help of supporters, and we are looking for public help to raise the £1m needed to make the Memorial an even more relevant, instructive and exciting place to visit.”

The National Memorial to the Few was unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1993.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, unveiled the Trust’s modern visitor centre, The Wing, in 2015.

ACES HIGH: Design for new facility which will house dogfighting simulators at Capel-le-Ferne in Kent. Inset left, ACM Sir Stephen Dalton

To donate go to: battle-of-britainmemorial-trust.raisely.com.

l

Six years, 8,000 miles and £330,000 for Forces charity

Coast buster

FORCES FUNDRAISER Chris Lewis is on the home straight after an epic six-year trek around the entire British coastline.

The former paratrooper arrived back in Wales on the last leg of his 8,000mile mission to cheers from supporters who lined the route. He hopes to reach his starting point, Llangennith Beach in the Gower Peninsula, later this month.

The big-hearted veteran, who launched charity bid in August 2017, has already raised more than £330,000 for military charity SSAFA.

It’s also been a personal odyssey for Chris, who met his partner Kate and became a dad during

his charity trek and was befriended by a stray dog, Jet, who kept him company for part of the journey and which the family have adopted.

An emotional Chris said: “Now that I’m so close to home, there’s a lot coming back from when I first started and how I felt.

“While it’s not something I thought I’d say about myself, I’m proud, proud that I’ve done something and seen it through.

“I’ve met so many people, talked with so many people and listened to their stories, and just as my story has touched them, their stories have touched me.”

l Go to justgiving.com/fundraising/

in the picture

A PORTRAIT of the last surviving Battle of Britain pilot has been given pride of place at High Wycombe. The painting of 103-year-old Gp Capt John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway DFC was commissioned from artist Michael Rondot by former RAF Corporal Carl Lamb.

The death in May 2020 of Terry Clark left Gp Capt Hemingway as the last-known survivor of the conflict.

Currently in a nursing home in south Dublin and approaching his 104th birthday this month, Paddy joined the RAF in March 1938 and fought in France prior to the Battle of Britain.

He was with 85 Sqn and crashed the first time in May 1940, was shot down on August 18 in Essex, and again on August 26.

He joined B Flight 43 Sqn at Ravenna in Northern Italy in 1945 flying Spitfires and in April of that year was shot down a fourth time.

He held posts in the Middle East, the Air Ministry and as Station Commander at RAF Leconfield in 1966 before retiring in 1969.

At the time he said: “I was lucky to survive the war, and good health has kept me going. However, if being the last draws attention to the Battle of Britain pilots and the rest of the RAF at that time, I am happy about that.”

A signed print will hang outside the AOC 1 Gp’s office at High Wycombe.

Paddy’s

Laurence Parker

GP CAPT HEMINGWAY

Honour for bearing a nation’s sorrow

Simon Mander

GUNNERS AND musicians who played key roles in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II have been honoured at a private investiture at Buckingham Palace.

The King’s Colour Squadron Bearer Party who flew with Her Late Majesty from Edinburgh Airport to Northolt were honoured by The King with the Royal Victorian Order.

And RAF Principal Director of Music Wg Cdr Piers Morrell and Senior Drum Major WO Paul Phelan were appointed Members of the Royal Victorian Order for their contribution to the ceremony.

Bearer party Flt Lt James Hudson, WO Del Martin, L/ Cpls Blank, Grant and Bird and Gunners Anderson, AnsteePinnock, Lloyd, Newman, McKay, Morris and Stratford were all honoured, with two of them flying in from operational tours for the occasion.

Officer in Charge of the Bearer Party, Flt Lt Hudson, said: “Today has brought back a lot of memories, not only for the lads, but also their families, who are

here today in a supporting role.

“We are deeply honoured to have played our part, as King’s Colour Squadron, in such an important global event.

“Despite the deep sadness we all felt in the days leading up to the repatriation, our professional training kicked in and, I am proud to say, the team delivered on the day.”

Wg Cdr Morrell said: “RAF Music Services completed annual training to prepare so everyone knew what was expected of them.

“All three regular bands and musicians from the Band of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force were combined to create the required procession and street lining to support the RAF’s delivery of Her Late Majesty’s funeral.

“It was a huge honour for all involved and a privilege to provide this final ceremonial service for Her Late Majesty, and this first ceremonial service to His Majesty the King.”

After the Investiture, the recipients walked to the RAF Club to meet its President, Air Marshal Sir David Walker, a Master of the Household and former Equerry to The Late Queen, who thanked them for the role they played.

Radar raises Typhoon firepower Dambusters charity coin

AN £870 MILLION five-year deal to fit Typhoons with one of the world’s most advanced radars has been awarded to BAE Systems and Leonardo UK.

It is the first contract following the announcement of a £2.35 billion investment in upgrades to the RAF’s frontline fighter at last year’s Royal International Air Tattoo.

The European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 will enable UK combat jets to simultaneously detect, identify and track multiple targets in the air and on the ground.

Typhoon Programme Director Gp Capt Matt D’Aubyn said: “Typhoon is the backbone of UK combat air, capable of completing a wide range of air-to-air and air-tosurface missions.

“ECRS Mk2 will ensure

Typhoon remains operationally effective in the future force mix in an ever-increasingly contested environment.”

The system enables pilots to

suppress enemy air defences using high-powered jamming and to engage targets whilst beyond the reach of threats.

A prototype is currently undergoing testing at BAE Systems’ site in Warton, with initial flight trials due in 2024.

Additional upgrades designed to counter emerging threats until 2040 and beyond are also part of the £2.35 billion package.

DE&S Director General Air Vice-Admiral Rick Thompson said: “Developing ECRS Mk2 not only provides cutting-edge capability but, crucially, also ensures that advanced technical skills and expertise in delivering complex sensors are available to support the Tempest Future Combat Air System right here in the UK.”

A BRISTOL University student, inspired by his friendship with Dambuster ‘Johnny’ Johnson, is raising money for the RAF Benevolent Fund by producing special medals that commemorate the 80th anniversary of the raid.

Acting Pilot Officer Josh Rowles got to know the WWII veteran in the last years of his life and raised more than £3,600 for the RAFBF selling birthday badges to mark Johnny’s 100th. Now Josh is selling his hand-crafted commemorative coins to support the Air Force charity and mark the benchmark Dambusting date. l Go to: chastisecollectibles.com

UPGRADE: Flight trials of the Typhoon ECRS Mk2 radar begin next year

HISTORIC ROLE: Above, the RAF Regt’s QCS bears The Late Queen’s coffin on to an RAF C-17 in Edinburgh for its final flight to London for the state funeral. Right, Senior Drum Major WO Paul Phelan

WG CDR MORRELL

FUNDRAISER: Josh

P-8 counters Putin NATO threat

Simon Mander

A POSEIDON sub-hunter deployed to Norway for warfare training to deter Russian aggression in Nato’s High North.

The P-8 from Lossiemouth’s CXX Sqn was operating out of the mountainous Evenes Air Base, which hosts Norway’s QRA and F-35 forces.

The British contingent included 201 Sqn engineers, tactical ops and mission systems support personnel, and 5 Sqn RAF Police.

CXX Sqn’s Wg Cdr Ben Livesey said: “Operating in the ‘High North,’ is critical to maintain the safety and security of the seas around our Joint Expeditionary Force and Nato allies.

“In light of an aggressive and expansionist Russia operating within proximity to our territorial waters, it is vital we continue to secure our seas.

“We have been completing that task since 2020 and continue to grow in capability and mass, with essential cooperation from our partners.”

UK crews practised anti-surface warfare drills directed by the Norwegian Air Operations Centre.

They were hosted by 333 Sqn Royal Norwegian Air Force, which was formed as an RAF unit in 1943 flying Mosquitos from Leuchars and PBY-1b Catalinas from Woodhaven.

It is the only Norwegian unit continuously operational since World War II.

Today its Poseidons conduct maritime surveillance operations and search and rescue missions.

EAT IS ON:: Northolt catering team hit the Ealing Soup Kitchen

Soup-er chefs

NORTHOLT CATERING aces served up top military style rations to cash-strapped Forces veterans when they took over the kitchens at the Ealing Soup Kitchen.

FS Ian Sinclair, Cpl Luke Halstead, AS1 Pernell Chinnery and AS1 Kunal Gurung cooked up a menu of soup, pasta, brownies and cheesecake for more than 200 military veterans and locals at the Christian Missionary at St John’s Church.

FS Sinclair added: “There was a lot of banter, especially from the veterans who spoke candidly about their time in the Services.”

Pacific heights

Atlas 7,500-mile Guam mission

GOING GLOBAL: Atlas A400M refuelled three times during long-haul flight to South Pacific to take part in major multinational exercise.

Pedal power

HERCULES VETERANS Sqn Ldr

Jim Roden and Chf Tech Mark Shearn took to the water for a 140mile challenge to power their way from the Cotswolds to London in a pedalo painted in the distinctive green C-130J colours.

They were joined by two other crews and hope to complete the voyage in six days – averaging just 3mph – to raise funds for Breast Cancer UK.

ATLAS AIRCREW have completed the longest-ever flight by an Atlas A400M for an exercise in the Pacific.

The transporter flew non-stop for 22 hours from Brize Norton to Guam and on the way came the closest it has ever been to the North Pole.

The shortest distance between the Oxfordshire airbase and the US island in Micronesia is 7,500 miles and the aircraft was refuelled three times on its journey.

An RAF Voyager flying from the UK topped up the Atlas over the Atlantic while another tanker flew out of the USAF Eielson Airbase to refuel it over Alaska and the Pacific Ocean.

Air Mobility Force Commander Air Cdre Anthony Lyle said: “Exercise Mobility Guardian is an outstanding training

opportunity; it allows us to demonstrate the speed, reach and utility of the RAF, and reinforces our ability to rapidly conduct global Air Operations.

“The non-stop flight to Guam is a great example of our ability to project air power, allowing us to get aircraft, crews and vital equipment to the other side of the world and for them to be able to operate immediately.”

In Guam, the Atlas and Voyager, with Tactical Medical Wing and other supporting personnel, will join Exercise Mobility Guardian 23 with aircraft from the US, Australia, Canada, France, Japan and New Zealand taking part.

The training area stretches from Northern Australia to Japan and then across the Pacific to Hawaii to give crews experience of operating at long distances.

Some sorties are planned to fly to and from Japan to mark the recently-signed Hiroshima Accord defence agreement with the UK.

Inset below, Voyager team monitor refuelling over Pacific PHOTOS: AS1 TOMAS BARNARD

AS1 GURUNG

RAF tops calls for mental health help

Simon Mander

MORE ROYAL Air Force personnel sought help with their mental health last year than any other military service according to a new report.

And more women than men, and other ranks than officers, used MOD specialist health services with depression and neurotic disorders the most common problems.

According to the latest UK Armed Forces mental health study, one-in-seven RAF personnel were seen for a mental health-related problem – a significant increase from the previous year.

The report says: “This rate is

statistically significantly higher than the Army, Royal Marines and the UK Armed Forces as a whole.”

The survey found that the overall number of military personnel from all three Services seeking help had risen to one in eight in the past 12 months.

It says the rate of military personnel seen for mental health-related reasons remains broadly comparable to the rest of the population, while the rate of those needing treatment was lower in the Armed Forces than in the civilian population.

Of those needing care, help with adjustment disorder and depressive episodes were the two conditions most often requiring treatment.

Bang on

FORCES WHACKY racers are hoping to get their low-budget motors from the UK to Gibraltar as they take on this summer’s Veterans Banger Rally.

Competitors are limited to a budget of just £1,000 and will have to rely on their own mechanical skills to keep their vehicles on the road during the 1,500-mile mission.

Drivers are hoping to raise thousands for Blind Veterans UK and their own chosen charities.

Organiser and Navy vet John McGowan said: “I served for 13 years and know how important military charities are to the veteran community.”

l Go to: veteransbangerrally. co.uk for entry details.

Lynsey’s Invictus dream

Medal citizen

Staff Reporter

THE FAMILY of a World War II Lancaster pilot whose 31 missions earned him a DFC have donated his medals, uniform and logbooks to his former unit.

Adrian Stevens, son of the late Flt Lt Sidney George ‘Stevie’ Stevens of 57 Sqn, visited Cranwell’s 3 Flying Training School to pass on the treasured artefacts.

57 Sqn’s Wg Cdr Richard Elford said: “This was an important and

Shawbury battle drill

SHAWBURY PERSONNEL got to grips with some of the battlefield skills needed to stay alive on operations.

Exercise Flight Prepared tested frontline teams’ ability to treat simulated casualties under combat conditions and counter enemy threats, to prepare them for future deployments.

emotional day for the squadron. I was hugely honoured to receive these items.

“Displaying these items at our home at Cranwell will help preserve the spirit of ‘Stevie’ and his peers as well as inspire current and future generations.”

The donation follows a number of high-profile auctions of WWII medals, including a VC awarded to Sqn Ldr Arthur Scarf bought by the RAF Museum following a campaign to raise more than £600,000.

Tracey Allen

WHEN AIR Force veteran Lynsey Kelly was medically discharged from the RAF with a debilitating muscle condition she admits she hit rock bottom. She said: “I felt worthless and as though I’d failed at all I’d ever wanted – I’d lost the kudos, the travel to far-flung places and the social life.”

Battling chronic pain and fatigue caused by exertional bilateral anterior compartment syndrome, a muscle and nerve condition, she went through almost a decade of medical treatment before she was inspired to take the plunge in the Invictus Games swimming events.

Now she’s going for gold in this year’s competition and hopes to inspire other injured Forces veterans to conquer their disabilities.

She added: “When people say ‘recovery’, you immediately think of returning to how you were before your illness or injury. But there is no going back.

“You don’t just recover, more reinvent yourself into something

different from what you were before – accepting and embracing ourselves as we break, as we heal, and as we reconstruct.

“The phrase ‘broken crayons still colour’ is absolutely true. I am proud of who I am and to prove that determination has no disability.”

Lynsey was encouraged by her swimming teacher to apply for the 2019 Warrior Games, where she was elected vice-captain for the UK team. She was later selected for the 2020 games, which were delayed until 2022 because of the pandemic, but had to drop out due to illness.

After leaving the RAF, Lynsey joined Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and now works at Brize Norton as a fleet manager on the Atlas A400M.

She said: “I’m at my happiest when helping others and feel pride in anyone putting effort into becoming a better version of themselves.

“Sports recovery has been so valuable to me I want to carry forward that gift; to inspire, champion and support, because if I can, they definitely can.”

DONATION: Adrian Stevens (left) hands over his father’s WWII medal collection and logbooks to Cranwell’s Wg Cdr Richard Elford

Musa airstrike hero signs on

A SOLDIER who called in a Coalition air strike on his own position to save the lives of his platoon in Afghanistan is the latest hero to sign on at Cranwell’s Wall of Honour.

Former Lance Bombardier Gary Prout won the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for directing two A-10 Warthogs to target his own coordinates to protect comrades pinned down by insurgents.

Aircrew Survival, Evasion and Resistance (SERE) Training Centre Instructor Mark Fairhead said: “He is one of the most humble, courageous and inspiring men I have had the honour to meet.”

LBDR Prout was on a rooftop in a settlement south of Musa Qua’leh as 9 Platoon C Company 2 Royal Welsh set

out to take back a village from the Taliban. The enemy included battle-hardened Chechen mercenaries equipped with heavy weapons and RPGs.

Gary jumped from his rooftop position when a British soldier triggered an IED.

As he closed in on the casualty he realised it was his best friend, C/Cpl Chris Hackett.

Braving heavy fire Gary battled in vain to give lifesaving first aid as his pal died in his arms.

After dragging the body of his dead comrade back into cover with the help of his Sergeant, Gary called in air and artillery support.

Realising that the enemy were all around him, he instructed a pair of A-10

Ade’s last parade

AIR TRAFFIC Controller Flt Lt Ade Vine celebrated in style after achieving the rare milestone of 40 years of RAF service.

The veteran, who joined in 1983 and retired as a regular in 2022 but took up a full-time reservist’s post the next day, has finally hung up his cap after a career including 15 years at

Shawbury, where he led the station’s RAF 100 parade.

To mark the achievement Station Commander Gp Capt Andy Baron presented him with a commemorative coin and a bottle of champagne.

Later this year he will receive an Aries Silver Award at the station’s annual dinner.

Warthogs to target his own position to save the lives of his platoon.

Mr Fairhead added: “Both A-10s dropped their payloads and miraculously Gary, still alive, called in fire and air support for the next two hours, repeatedly exposing himself to hostile fire to save his colleagues and preventing further loss of life.

“Gary spoke to 23 aircrew destined to fly jets and helicopters, who sat in awe, spellbound by his energetic, humbling and candid recount of his experiences both during and after that day.”

LBDR Prout, who is from a fourthgeneration military family, continued to serve with the Army until a severe injury left him with continuous complex and severe pain.

Family fortunes hit by relocation and jobs woe

Tracey Allen

FORCES FAMILIES’ financial fortunes are under threat from the costs of relocation, childcare and poor employment prospects for partners, according to a survey by a military charity.

The report by financial group Rand and the Forces in Mind Trust highlights the problems faced by many families who can struggle to recover from financial shocks such as frequent house moves and childcare expenses.

Researchers spoke to more than 400 families across the UK military, welfare organisations and MOD personnel chiefs and say the demands of military life are taking their toll on household budgets.

Although most said the UK military financial package is competitive with Civvy Street employers, the lack of well-paid jobs for spouses and low ‘financial literacy’ in the ranks can lead to families struggling to cope with the costs of raising a family.

Tom McBarnet, Chief Executive of FiMT, said: “This important research shows that the specific demands and nature of Service life can sometimes conspire to undermine the short and long-term financial stability of Armed Forces families.

“In some cases, it can put them at a financial disadvantage when compared to civilians.

“The report should be shared widely with those involved in

as house moves and childcare

supporting military personnel and families, both during and after service, to ensure that they are aware of the disadvantage experienced and the causes of financial instability, so effective solutions can be put in place.”

Rand analyst Linda Slapakova added: “Despite a steady income,

disruptions such as a relocation or the lack of affordable childcare present a challenge to many families’ financial equilibrium.

“This is particularly acute due to the persistent issues that many military partners face in finding suitable employment and building a career.”

FAB FORTY: Flt Lt Ade Vine is presented with a bottle of champagne by Shawbury chief Gp Capt Baron. Below, leading RAF 100 parade in 2018

FORCES FAMILIES: Defence chiefs provide a package of support but some parents still struggle with financial hits such

ON THE EVENING of Sunday, May 16, 1943 the sound of Lancaster bombers filled the night air around Lincolnshire as two waves of Allied aircraft started their engines and took off from RAF Scampton in the direction of the Ruhr Valley.

The mission? Attack the German dams on the Eder, Möhne and Sorpe rivers using special ‘bouncing’ bombs.

This was Operation Chastise.

It is now 80 years since the Dams Raid. More has been written about this operation than any other comparable action in RAF history, starting with Wg Cdr Guy Gibson’s own account, followed by Paul Brickhill’s eponymous classic and the 1955 film of the same name.

Not surprisingly, many consider there can be nothing new left to say. Yet, as with all history, as latest information becomes known, reevaluation of the facts can lead to revised interpretations.

Breaking the German Dams, a minute-by-minute account of Operation Chastise explores some of the lesser-known tactical and operational aspects behind this remarkable attack.

This has been achieved by reexamining primary and secondary British and German sources to seek new insights into the raid and the planning behind it.

The genesis of the operation lay in the investigation of potential targets during the run up to war in the late 1930s. Although it was realised that attacks on dams were impractical until a suitable weapon became available, an enterprising officer went as far as considering how such an attack might be mounted.

He produced a tactical plan which proposed several innovations which also occur, in modified and updated form, in the final operational planning for Chastise. Likewise, techniques used in training and execution of the operation had their origins in an earlier time.

The spotlight altimeter was a

WWI development and relied, as did the rangefinder bombsight, on well-established trigonometric principles, rather than the latest technology. They were off-the-shelf solutions repurposed to meet the squadron’s requirements.

Training was a structured progression, although knowledge of their weapon and their targets was restricted to Gibson. Indeed, the method of attack on the Sorpe Dam was decided only days before the operation was mounted. The final operation order was the product of collaboration at Group, Station and Squadron level, with additional tactical input from Fighter and Bomber Command.

Comparison of the draft plan and the final operation reveal the challenge of limited resources. Most notably, the Möhne and Eder dams were allocated nine aircraft between them, while the Sorpe, seen in most traditional accounts as a minor target, was allocated almost a quarter of the force. This reflects recognition of the joint importance of the Möhne and Sorpe dams jointly to the water supply of the Ruhr.

Until recent German accounts, the British narrative has focused on the technology and engineering innovation, airmanship and courage of the crews and the damage they caused.

Following a structure established by Paul Brickhill, the actual attacks on the dams have been related in order of the successful attacks on the Möhne and Eder dams by the aircraft led by Gibson, the failed attempt by five aircraft to attack the Sorpe and the final effort made by the reserve five aircraft.

The impression created is that this reflects the chronology of the night and combined with the fact that the Sorpe was not breached, suggests, incorrectly, that it had a lesser importance amongst the three main targets.

The focus of the book analyses the night’s activity in real time across all elements of the force.

Think that you know everything about the Dams Raid? Think again

From this a new picture emerges.

The first attack on the Sorpe occurred at the same time as Gibson’s force attacked the Möhne. Accurate navigation was paramount and there is evidence some aircraft digressed from the planned routes, sometimes intentionally out of expediency, or accidentally due to error. And No. 5 Group allocated targets to the reserve wave while they were already over enemy territory.

That the Sorpe only received two attacks was on account of limited resources, disproportionate losses and the ‘fog of war,’ which prevented an accurate appreciation of the overall picture.

The squadron was not the only one operating that night, intruders were operating over Dutch night fighter airfields (one of which witnessed

the burning remains of a Chastise aircraft) and Wellingtons were laying mines off the Frisian Islands. Additional material from German sources also adds a new dimension.

The advance of the floodwater released from the dams, its effects and the recollections of witnesses caught up in the maelstrom provides an alternative view from the ground,

the effects of which continued long after the surviving Lancasters had returned to Scampton.

There have been, and will continue to be, many varied views and debates as to the effectiveness of Operation Chastise. The last section of this study shows there are no easy answers. Part of the problem lies in the fact that its unique nature has

It’s the most written about of all RAF wartime actions but a new book by 617 Sqn’s official historian

Robert Owen reveals there’s more to discover about Operation Chastise

LOSSES: The wreckage of Sqn Ldr Melvin Young’s Lancaster, washed up on a sandbar at Castricum, Netherlands. The remains were finally broken up by North Sea storms many years later. A Flight Commander, Young accompanied Gibson to the Eder as deputy leader

HISTORY-MAKERS: This official photograph captures Wg Cdr Guy Gibson (right) and colleague Flt Lt Robert Hutchinson shortly before boarding G-George for Operation Chastise

AUTHOR: Robert Owen

TARGET:

prompted its assessment as a ‘one off’.

Viewed through a different lens it was but another attack in the Battle of the Ruhr, intended to erode both German industrial capacity and morale. However, unlike the usual main force attack, its effects, extending over a far greater area and disrupting more property and infrastructure, were disproportionately large in comparison to the size of force deployed.

Critics remark that the dams were repaired within months. That they were repaired so quickly at great cost, both financial and in terms of men, machinery and materials, is testimony to their importance.

Had repairs not been completed in time to catch the winter rains the Germans would have had a serious water shortage in 1944. That there was no follow-up attack to disrupt repair work remains one of the operation’s unanswered conundrums.

The complexities of Chastise were varied and many. Given the technical, tactical and physical obstacles which had

DEBRIEFING:

YOU CAN win a copy of Breaking The German Dams. For your chance to own one, simply answer this question correctly:

What was the date of Operation Chastise?

Win!

Email your answer, marked Dambusters 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 August 4. Please include your full postal address with your entry.

to be overcome the results bestow even greater credit to all involved: planners, engineers, ground staff and aircrew, that such effect was achieved.

Likewise, while doing so, we should not fail to recognise the courage and resilience of those

on the ground, caught up in an unprecedented catastrophe of the first order.

In his book Dr Owen takes a microscope to the raid, guiding readers through the events of May 16 and 17, 1943 in astounding chronological detail. Each action

DEVASTATION: Looking north up the Möhne Valley from Neheim. Rescue and salvage teams began clearing the rubble and debris, a scene repeated at numerous locations along the Ruhr and Eder valleys

is signposted with a precise time stamp, affording readers an informative, gripping and easy-tofollow reading experience.

Owen’s compilation of first-hand accounts from those involved in the Dambusters Raid complements this minute-by-minute retelling and

adds to the reader’s understanding and appreciation of this astonishing military operation.

With a foreword by WWII aviation expert and author James Holland, Breaking the German Dams is published by Greenhill Books/Pen & Sword.

An attacker’s view of the Eder looking over Waldeck castle. Aircraft had to dive for the promontory (right) and then line up on the dam (upper left) before banking away right down the valley

Gibson’s crew and standing, looking on, ACM Sir Arthur ‘Bomber’ Harris and AM Sir Ralph Cochrane, AOC 5 Gp, responsible for implementing Operation Chastise

BREACHED: Möhne dam in a German photograph taken the morning after the raid. The reservoir is still emptying but already barrage balloons are being flown to deter any further low-level attacks

BOMBER: Guy Gibson's modified Lancaster B.I, ED825/G, pictured without the special 'Upkeep' weapon designed by Barnes Wallis and used by 617 Squadron to attack dams in the Ruhr industrial region

Infrastructure service project - a case study

The Task

A multi-tank decommissioning programme of a BFI (Bulk Fuel Installation)was awarded to LCM from one of our defence customers.

The team carried out fuel uplifts from the various tanks and pipelines ahead of the industry clean, de-gas and certification. Phase two of the work was to remove all useable assets from site, this was completed, and the goods were palletised, wrapped, and transferred to a local site for safe storage.

Scope of Works

On arrival the LCM team collected their security passes which enabled them to travel around the base to the various work locations.

Our welfare unit arrived and was positioned in the designated area, the work area was segregated with heras fencing and safety signage.

Once all paperwork was completed and the toolbox talks received, the engineers began scoping out the area and preparing for:

l Stage 1: The removal and disposal of all fuel from the various vessels and

pipelines. All fuel was taken off site for disposal at a licenced facility.

l Stage 2: The draining and removal of the FWS (Fuel Water Separator) All internal elements were bagged up and removed from site for disposal.

l Stage 3: Flushing and purging of all fuel lines was completed at various points along the pipelines to ensure no fuel remained within the system.

l Stage 4: Main bulk tank (1,250,000L capacity) for man-entry cleaning. The tank was vented, and the lids carefully removed. The cleaning process was carried out with a 7-person confined space entry crew. On completion the tank was dried and certified gas-free.

l Stage 5: Non-man-entry tank clean to the remaining tanks on site. 1 x 30,000L backflush tank, 5,000L slops tank, 7,500L gas oil tank. All tanks were cleaned, andall washing removed from site. On completion of the

The Outcome

cleaning tasks, salvageable assets were identified and removed for possible use across the military estate.

Some of these included Hamworthy pumps, ATEX lighting and switches; the FWS (Fuel Water Separator) all TRVs (Thermal Relief Valves) and DPIs (Differential pressure indicators) were salvageable, as well as two enginedriven generators, dispense meter, slam-shut valve and the entire control panel and tank gauging system.

The client was left happy with LCM’s professional approach and quality work. All health and safety procedures were strictly followed and adhered to; no incidents were reported, and the engineers enjoyed a partial Red Arrows show to top up the experience.

By Tracey Allen

AWORLD WAR II veteran who survived being shot down over the Burma jungle and evaded capture by Japanese soldiers is due to celebrate his 102nd birthday later this year.

Born in Hastings in November 1921, Joel Lawrence was 18 when he joined the RAF, qualifying as a wireless operator and air gunner in 1940.

He joined RAF 139 (Jamaica) Sqn at Horsham St. Faith, near Norwich, in February 1942, from where his squadron left for India.

Joel’s son Jack said: “Not long after arriving in India, his squadron was absorbed into 62 Sqn and tasked to air supply the British and Allied ground troops fighting against the Japanese army in Burma.”

In January 1943, while still based in India, Joel was promoted to Flt Sgt, and the following year to Warrant Officer.

Jack added: “On May 15, 1945 he was due to go for two weeks’ ‘rest and recuperation’ away from daily ops, up in the hills, but was persuaded to do ‘one last flight’ by his CO before taking a break.

“Dad had argued that he did not want to fly with the newly-arrived young pilot, who was straight out of flying school, but agreed to go on this ‘one last flight’.

“During this supply drop flight to Rangoon, the novice pilot flew over a manned ground gun and

Joel survived the Burma jungle

the devastation caused by the war.

“By June 1948 his squadron became involved with the Berlin Airlift, flying supplies out of Oakington, Cambridge and Northolt to Gatow in West Berlin.”

After 10 years in the RAF, Joel left the Service, aged 28. He worked as a forester with the Forestry Commission in the Cotswolds while studying land agency at Cirencester Agricultural College. After qualifying, his first post was as land agent at Whipsnade Zoo. He went on to work in the North East of England with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food until he was transferred to Truro in 1966, where he worked until retirement.

they were shot down over the jungle in Burma.

“All the crew survived the crash but discovered they had only one revolver, one round of ammunition, one button-concealed compass and no map. They spent the next seven days in the jungle, trying to evade capture by Japanese soldiers.”

Jack said: “They were aided by the local Karen people of Burma,

who invited the airmen into their homes (built on stilts), where they were fed and given shelter.

“They eventually arrived at the coast of Burma and were put in touch with some British soldiers, who managed to radio for help, and were picked up by boat the following day.”

After almost three-and-ahalf years in India, Joel returned to the UK with his squadron in November 1945. Six months later

he was transferred to RAF 1383 (T) CU Sqn, based at RAF Crosbyon-Eden, near Carlisle, and shortly afterwards was transferred onto the C-in-C Flight, Bückeburg, based at Gatwick Airport.

Jack said: “Here he was crew to the C-in-C in a silver Douglas Dakota, complete with comfy furniture and a drinks cabinet. The crew were tasked to fly the C-in-C around France and Germany, where the Allies were clearing up

Jack added: “Dad celebrated his 100th birthday in 2021, with a large family gathering in Truro, and was very proud to receive a birthday card from The Queen.”

Joel’s grandson James, who served with the Royal Artillery for 12 years, arranged for his grandfather’s medals to be remounted and presented to him for his landmark birthday.

Jack said: “Dad still lives in his own home, although he is now, sadly, confined to bed, but he is very fortunate to have 24/7 live-in care.”

My 33 years at fabulous Finningley

MILITARY AND aviation

historian Mick Britton’s latest book takes an in-depth look at RAF Finningley Airshows from 1960 to 1994.

Finningley’s first air display took place in September 1945 and for the next 20 years the South Yorkshire station hosted the Battle of Britain Air Display – the biggest oneday airshow in the UK. The event became so well-known, attracting huge numbers of visitors, that it was eventually shown on national television.

Mick (inset) said: “By the time of its demise in 1994 the Finningley Battle of Britain Airshow was acknowledged as the biggest one-day airshow in the world, regularly attracting over 100,000 spectators and frequently many more.

“I attended for the first time in 1962. During the course of the

years there were a number of truly epic shows but pride of place must go to the Queen’s Silver Jubilee event of 1977, closely followed by the postGulf War show of 1991 – which attracted one of the largest attendances to see the Russian Knights Display Team.

“The resulting gridlock caused by the attempted mass exodus after their performance meant that everyone got home late from that show.”

The show’s name changed from Battle of Britain Air Display to

RAF Finningley Airshow in 1987 and Mick’s book, featuring 280 photographs, mostly in colour, covers every show in detail from the inaugural ‘At Home’ in 1960 when the new V-bomber base opened its gates to the public. The book’s foreword is written by Sqn Ldr Paul Byram (Ret’d) the co-ordinator of the 1991 show.

l RAF Finningley Airshows 1960-1994 by Mick Britton (f4publishing), priced £20, is available from the author, email: mickbritton51@aol.com

Mick is also co-author, with John Wickenden, of RAF Mildenhall’s Air Fete 1976-2001

FIRST TASTE: Author Mick Britton at the 1962 Finningley Airshow with mum Ursula

RAF VETERAN: Joel celebrated his 100th birthday with his children, including Jack (right)

SERVICE: A young Mr Lawrence as air crew

CROWD FAVOURITE: Russian Knights Display Team caused gridlock after 1991 show

AIR MARSHAL David Walker, who has died aged 66, was a veteran Harrier pilot who saw active service in Bosnia and northern Iraq and later filled operational staff appointments during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He joined the RAF in December 1978 and was flying the Harrier with No 4 Squadron at Gütersloh in July 1981. After qualifying as a weapons instructor he transferred to No 3 Squadron. Both squadrons were held at high readiness and routinely tested by multi-national NATO evaluation teams when operating from remote off-base sites. After six years in Germany he was awarded the AFC.

In April 1988, he left for a twoyear exchange appointment at the US Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake, California, where he flew the advanced F-18 Hornet fighter and the AV8-B, the US version of the Harrier. He brought a British voice to an establishment where the most advanced trials on fighters were conducted. His expertise was much admired by his American colleagues.

After serving as the Harrier expert at the Central Trials and Tactics Organisation (CTTO), he took command of No 1 Squadron at Wittering in April 1994. The squadron was developing techniques for night operations in its Harrier aircraft. Not only did he lead on devising and developing fighter tactics, but he also endeavoured to raise his force’s perspectives on the wider issues of fighting air campaigns with multiple units and allies. This laid the ground for the squadron’s involvement in the complex air campaigns in Iraq and the Balkans.

Op Provide Comfort

In early 1995, his squadron deployed to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey as part of the US-led Operation Provide Comfort, tasked with protecting the Kurdish peoples of northern Iraq from Iraqi aggression. The squadron flew armed reconnaissance missions monitoring Iraqi movements near the Kurdish safe areas. On February 2, 1995 Walker took off to carry out a patrol into Iraqi territory. Flying close to the ground, endeavouring to gain high resolution imagery of certain targets whilst avoiding modern surface-to-air missiles in the area, a bullet from a Kalashnikov rifle shattered the canopy of his aircraft and momentarily stopped the single engine of his Harrier. Perspex fragments had struck him in the face and neck. He made an emergency radio call, climbed to 15,000 feet and, when asked by the American airborne controller what he needed, he replied ‘a jumper’. He was escorted by his wingman to the nearest airfield in Turkey, where he landed after flying for an hour without the protection of a canopy.

Later in the year, the squadron deployed to an airbase in southern Italy to fly operations over Bosnia. The task was to fly photographic reconnaissance missions and provide close air support to United Nations ground forces. Support was also provided for the extraction at

Harrier chief and master tactician

No 1 Group, responsible for the operational readiness of his fast jet attack squadrons and effectiveness, much based on his own operational expertise. His squadrons were deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq to provide essential support to Allied ground forces.

In June 2007, he was appointed as the Deputy Commander to NATO’s Allied Air Component Command at Ramstein in Germany. Under his dynamic leadership and drive he brought a new energy to the air headquarters. He ensured it was focused on operations and could provide the best possible support to the air element of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. In 2011, he was appointed CB.

NATO

night of specialist ground forces in the UN enclave at Gorazda.

Described as ‘an inspirational leader’, Walker was at the forefront of these operations.

In March 1996, after almost 19 years spent associated with flying operations, Walker was appointed as the military assistant to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, the Honourable Nicholas Soames, followed by Dr John Reid. He was co-opted to work on the forthcoming defence review.

Identified as a ‘high flyer’, he was selected in 1999 to attend the Higher Command and Staff Course. He then returned to the Harrier world, this time as Station Commander of RAF Cottesmore, the new home for the operational component of the Harrier force.

He masterminded a significant transformation of the Harrier Force, within the developing concept of the Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW). Following the government’s Strategic Defence review of 1998, a decision was taken to create Joint Force Harrier forming two RAF and two Royal Navy squadrons.

His development of the EAW concept involved regular stationbased Harrier Force development training and ‘bare base’ rehearsals to ensure a cohesive, effective and well-motivated team when deployments occurred To maximise the contribution of the Harrier Force as a close air support asset for the Army, he was convinced of the value of ‘staff rides’ (battlefield tours). By walking the ground, he believed that pilots in particular would get a better understanding of the challenges that ground troops faced.

In 2000 Walker offered his airfield to host the annual worldrenowned Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT). The organisation’s traditional airfield at RAF Fairford was undergoing major refurbishment and an alternative venue was needed. After the success of the show in 2000, it returned to Cottesmore the following year. Despite the huge additional task to the already busy activities of his station, Walker saw the positive impact it had and the clear demonstration of his people’s willingness to go the extra mile for such a worthy cause. He commented: “It demonstrated

just how much could be done if people worked together and shared a common sense of delivery, hospitality and operational excellence.”

At the end of a demanding tour, he was appointed CBE.

In August 2002, Walker took up the post of Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at the Permanent Joint Headquarters with particular responsibility for the expeditionary air forces operating in the Iraq war (Operation Telic), and the early stages of UK involvement in the air operations over Afghanistan. A year later, on promotion to Air Vice-Marshal, he became the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (ACAS) in MOD.

He was responsible for the implementation and handling of RAF policy, relations with NATO and other allies and responses to the changing events of the time. This included detailed studies to reconfigure the RAF’s frontline stations as the Service was reduced to some 37,000 personnel following successive defence reviews. He was closely involved in the introduction into service of the Typhoon fighter. During this period, he once again became involved in matters relating to RIAT. In 2003, its charitable status was threatened and he was a key driver in enabling the new organisation to become established as the RAF Charitable Trust.

Walker returned to the RAF’s frontline in April 2005 when he was appointed Air Officer Commanding

His final appointment in the RAF before retiring in 2014 was to serve as the Deputy Commander at NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command at Brunssum in the Netherlands, where he brought practical reality to turning the new strategic concept into a viable operational proposition.A former Chief of the Defence Staff has commented: “Throughout his years in NATO, he was a respected and much-admired Commander – always with a kind word for everyone.”

A passionate advocate of the use of air power, Walker inspired his staff, and many of his ideas and methods paved the way for the RAF of today. A keen student of RAF history and its operations, he recognised that many of the lessons learnt in past conflicts remained relevant to current air operations. He went on to study aspects of air history and was awarded a PhD from Birmingham University for his thesis, Supreme Air Command: the development of Royal Air Force command practice in the Second World War

On retirement, he and his wife Catherine took a deliberate decision to live a simple life and ‘engage the soul.’ He wrote: “Flying and the RAF brought great happiness; retirement brought great contentment.” He served as the National President of the Royal British Legion and as a Commissioner of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

In September 2022, he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Determined to find some good from the devastating news, he and his devoted wife established a website, The Right to Hope with Cancer. He wrote: “I do not want to be defined by brain cancer. I want to be defined by doing something about it. To not take action means cancer takes over.”

ACCOMPLISHED PILOT: David Walker with a US Navy F-18 Hornet at China Lake, California in the late 80s and with medals, below

Please note letters must be a MAXIMUM of 300 words and any accompanying pictures sent as attached, hi-res JPEG files

Dad was Herc wing CO and ashes were scattered from a Fat Albert

MANY WILL mourn the ending of the illustrious career of the RAF’s C-130 Hercules fleet.

My late father, Wg Cdr ERW ‘Eddie’ Lawson, first flew a Hercules as co-pilot in June 1967 following his appointment as the first CO of the newly-established Hercules wing at RAF Lyneham.

I recall Dad, with considerable amusement, recounting a trip to the USA in 1968 to collect the last remaining C-130 on the RAF’s order list at that time. On detecting his Scottish accent, he was asked by a senior Lockheed engineer with a pronounced American twang: “So, Eddie, just how many ‘ships’ do you have in the ‘Scaatch’ air force?”

A brief UK constitutional history lesson followed.

Posted to other duties in 1969, my father’s pilot’s log records he was returned to Lyneham to again run the Hercules wing in June, 1974. He took early retirement the following year, vacating the pilot’s seat for the last time on March 21, 1975, having flown 34 of the Hercules fleet. There was, however, one more flight in a C-130. This was on March 27, 2003, when his ashes were scattered from a Herc on a low-level pass over the airfield at RAF Lyneham. It was a fitting salute to an officer and a gentleman, and a man whose logbook categorised him as an

‘exceptional pilot’. It was, perhaps, an exceptional coincidence that brought the

Tob brass don’t ever retire

I READ the article in the latest RAF News about the air and space conference in London (edition No. 1563, June 30).

In the article Air Marshal Greg Bagwell is described as being retired.

Do I get a prize for pointing out that in the British Armed Forces officers of 3-star rank and above do not retire?

I must admit that I don’t know why this is or if it is unique to Britain.

Hopefully a 3-star (or higher) officer can answer that question!

Richard Elwell

– an awesome sight.

It was also a pleasure yesterday to have an A400 Atlas purr over the house at speed and very low.

JJ was the best British fighter pilot

I FOUND some of your asides on the biography of Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown (RAF News No: 1562, June 16) very poignant.

I and a number of my ex RAF friends in Uffington, Lincs, consider that Johnnie Johnson was indeed the best fighter pilot we ever had. He flew planes with a damaged collarbone and refused to give in to his pain until forced to by a senior officer. He had an operation to cure the problem and as a result missed the Battle of Britain, yet he still managed to have the most kills of any Western pilot.

Britain’s greatest ever pilot?

‘POIGNANT’: Our ‘Winkle’ Brown feature

of JJ at RAF Wittering [right].

NOT RETIRED: Air Marshal Greg Bagwell

I was also with the RAF PRU

Preston Lancs I'VE JUST realised the significance of your headline ‘I'm with the PRU’ on the article about 99-year-old George Pritchard and the Photographic Reconnaisance Unit (RAF News No.1563, June 30).

Pre-World War II the Prudential Insurance Company had doorto-door salesmen who collected weekly life insurance premiums from households. It was a common expression, "I'm with the Pru," if you held such a policy. This would have been during

George Pritchard's early years. I too am an ex-PR navigator but I am only 90, so the ‘Pru’ man was a little before my time, although the PRU was of course still very active.

Tony Radnor Wg Cdr (Ret’d)

EDITOR’S NOTE: According to the Prudential itself, its first insurance agents were appointed in 1848, when it was founded, but were still visiting more than six million households in the UK in the 1960s and beyond.

In his latter life, I knew him from country shooting and from his obvious skill with the gun on moving targets, I can well see why he was such a good fighter pilot. In his memory we have paid for a bust

Wherever he went during his RAF career he was well-liked and admired. He stood up for his men and he knew when to stand up for what he thought was right against his senior officers. Of course, some did not like him for that and some felt he was not of the right background to be a pilot. But he proved them all wrong and ended

Service life can be fun too

I MUST take issue with Wg Cdr Robertson’s complaint that RAF News headlines are an insult to readers (edition No. 1562, June 16).

I have been a subscriber for over 10 years and I’m often struck by the creativity and resourcefulness of the editors and the way they strive to make

things interesting and readable. It can’t be an easy job and it serves as a reminder that life in the Forces doesn’t have to be joyless and po-faced. I don’t read other Forces titles but I bet they aren’t half as entertaining and informative.

A.M Coxon Reigate, Surrey. Via email

up with a distinguished career serving his country in many lands.

On his demob he started Johnnie Johnson Housing, a charity supporting those who need a home – which is still active today.

But whatever we think, any airman who fought his way through and lived to survive World War II was a great pilot. JJ once said that he feared he would never have survived if he had been part of the Battle of Britain. As such we continue to owe so much to all the aviators who fought for our country.

John Edwards Via email

Hercules’ UK farewell flight thundering low over my rooftop on June 14

Martin Lawson Knightcote Warwickshire

FAREWELL: RAF says goodbye to the Hercules at Brize Norton in June

Subaru Solterra, from £49,340

Nice one sun!

Subaru goes

100% electric with Solterra

I MUST confess, I am a big Scooby Doo fan, both the cartoon dog and its Subaru namesake.

Back in the day Scoobies were cars that put down power so efficiently on the rally stage that they practically generated gravity. They were bloody quick. I, therefore, loved them.

Skip forward 20 years and the world has moved on. These days, everyone is preoccupied with conserving energy, becoming carbon neutral and saving planets. Enter Subaru’s first 100% electric car, the Solterra (sun-earth).

It’s a joint project with Toyota, making it almost identical to the bZ4X, and although it’s never going to be as exciting as an Impreza WRX, it has an awful lot going for it as a modern family car.

Outside

The Solterra has a genuinely striking look that incorporates the

Subaru Solterra

Pros

l Precise on road

l Good off road

l Striking design

l Good resale values

Cons

l Rivals have better range and can be charged more quickly

l Not the fastest in class

Verdict

Starting at £49,340, the

type of creased metalwork that made 80s cars like the Delorean iconic. The angular panels, Judge Dredd-style snout, hard-wearing plastic wheel-arches and Star Wars boot spoiler all make it stand out. You’ll either love it or hate it.

Solterra isn’t the cheapest EV SUV on the market. It doesn’t have the greatest range in this class either. What it does have is a low centre of gravity and a brilliant all-wheel-drive (AWD) system that emulates the way the old flat-four used to handle. It’s also surprisingly deft off-road so if you’re looking for an agile electric crossover that’s not afraid to get its boots muddy, the Solterra should definitely be on your shortlist.

Inside

Subarus of old weren’t known for their class-leading luxury interiors but there aren’t as many hard plastics in the Solterra. The lower half of the dash and door handles still sport a bit of the low-rent look but the cabin now features soft-touch plastics on the upper door trim, fabric inserts on the dashboard and gloss black panels in the centre console.

The instrument binnacle is futuristic and shows all the information you could want. The 12.3 inch infotainment screen looks stylish, dominating the centre of the dash. The touchscreen responds rapidly and the graphics are sharp. There are more intuitive menu layouts out there but you’re not going to tax your brain too much.

The connectivity is good, working seamlessly with your mobile phone. You get Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring so you can

use your own apps on the screen. There’s also wireless phonecharging and plenty of ingenious storage spaces. These include an open tray below the ‘floating’ centre console that does away with the need for a glovebox.

You sit high, enjoying the type of view that you get from a compact SUV, while finding a comfortable driving position is easy thanks to plenty of seat/steering wheel adjustment. Front visibility is good but rear visibility isn’t so great. Fortunately you get a 360-degree camera system with front and rear parking sensors. Some drivers might find that the steering wheel partially blocks their view of the binnacle.

On the road

The Solterra is a stable car that has a familiar Subaru feel. It doesn’t lean too much through the bends, even on tight, undulating roads. It therefore has the edge over many EV SUV rivals. There’s always plenty of grip and the steering is surprisingly accurate.

Off the mark, it will leave most petrol rivals for dust thanks to its instant electric car power delivery and it’s deft at short-hop overtakes in traffic. It’s also brilliantly sure-

footed in the wet.

All of this is achieved by two electric motors that combine to deliver a total output of 215bhp. 0-62mph time is 6.9 sec, which is respectable for this class of EV. Official range on a full charge is 289 miles from a 71.4kWh battery, which is less than several rivals however.

It’s comfortable, quiet and economical, which is what it’s designed to be. It even comes with a host of clever safety tech, including Subaru’s ‘Eyesight’ system that detects whether you’re not looking where you’re going and bleeps at you. Unfortunately, the sensor sits just above the steering wheel, so it panics every time your hand blocks its view.

Off-road

It’s surprisingly good when you leave the tarmac and will even wade through water up to 50 cm. We took this EV paddling to prove it and nothing blew up… Bonus!

It also tackles uneven ground well, thanks to a flat underside and short overhangs. You can feel the traction control systems doing a grand job of sending power to any wheel with grip as you slither through the thick stuff too.

Tim Morris

pages of the best of RAF Sports

Revenge on Navy

THE SEASON started with InterService glory for the RAF’s polo stars, taking the Duke of York’s Cup from the Royal Navy at Tedworth Park.

The opening salvo saw the light blues win 3 to 2.5, having conceded fewer penalties, after a closelyfought clash.

The RAF team featured several new players hoping to break the Navy’s recent stranglehold on the cup.

Bolstered by new tactics and a different playing strategy from head

RAF win Duke of York Cup

coach Giles Ormerod, the RAF team of Wg Cdrs Ed Whitechurch and Vicky Woodhead, and Squadron Leaders Ellie Hoogewerf and Georgie Harwood dominated the first half before the tables turned as the Navy bossed the later stages of the game.

Keeping their discipline, the RAF just got over the line, conceding

action

fewer penalties and converting three out of four.

Woodhead won the Most Valuable Player award, with Whitechurch’s mount Morita named Best Playing Pony to complete the RAF cleansweep. Next in the Inter-Service series the RAF face the Army for the Sassoon Cup.

Sergeant's back on side

THERE WERE two fifth-place finishes at Oulton Park for the return of dynamic sidecar duo Sgt Mark Middleton and Cpl Rob Atkinson.

The pair, who have not raced together for three months because of passenger Middleton’s work commitments, hadn’t visited the Cheshire track since 2019.

But they wasted no time in reacclimatising Mark to the sport, setting

a respectable time of ninth from a field of 21 in qualifying.

Starting slap bang in the middle of the pack, the duo needed a good clean getaway to avoid any trouble going into the first corner.

Making a decent start from the outside of the track, they avoided the melee behind and began chasing down the leading pack, but knew it would prove a tough day in the hot temperatures.

Fatigue was always going to be a factor in the heat and the busy nature of the circuit, and the military pairing lost a place at the halfway spot, at Shell Oil’s corner.

Settling in for the remainder of the race, they clawed back a place to finish fifth in class.

Returning to the track a few hours later with the temperatures soaring, the duo took the grid in pole, in a field of 21.

They lost two places going into Old Hall and, having slipped back to sixth, they finally settled into their stride after the first lap.

Their efforts produced another fifth, ending the weekend with a decent haul of points, which sees them placed seventh in the Championship – just five points behind sixth – with four rounds left.

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WINNING START: (l-r) Sqn Ldr Ellie Hoogewerf 0g, Sqn Ldr Georgie Harwood 0g, Wg Cdr Ed Whitechurch 0g, Wg Cdr Vicky Woodhead 0gPHOTO: EMILY WHITECHURCH

Daniel Abrahams

GLAD TO BE BACK: It's a thumbs up from Sgt Mark Middleton on his return at Oulton Park

PUSHING HARD: RAF pair take corner at famous Cheshire track

Students lead the way in Edinburgh

THE SERVICE’S orienteering stars produced top 20 team relay finishes as UKAF took on British Universities at Beecraigs Country Park in Edinburgh.

The annual event, held on the slopes of the Pentland Hills, saw the largest number of runners ever from the RAF with five of the 14 UKAF team, including debut caps for Sqn Ldr Paul Watson and Cpl Paul Truss, with Sqn Ldr Geoff Ellis (Team Manager). Sqn Ldr Philip Johnston-Davis and Flt Lt Charlie Nell making up the remainder.

Day one of the two-day event saw the Individual Championships held over a tough, technical 9.6km course with 340m of height climb, which went the way of British Universities, finishing in 54 minutes and 33 seconds. UKAF athletes all finished within 13 mins of each other, ranging from 33rd to 59th out of 86 runners.

The second day’s action saw the RAF and UKAF athletes produce some impressive finishes from the team relay events.

POWERLIFTING

The first UKAF Men’s team, with Truss and Nell, finished a respectable 15th place, with Team 2, featuring Watson, and Team 3, including JohnstonDavis, coming home 18th and 19th respectively out of 36 teams.

It was a close-fought race with Team 2 making up lost time from an early mistake to finish strongly, overtaking Team 3 at the final couple of controls to finish 27 secs ahead.

The UKAF women finished fifth out of 17, which RAFOA chair Wg Cdr Ben Lonsdale called ‘An excellent result’.

He added: “The RAF runners should be proud that they did so well against such tough competition.”

Truss said: “It was my first experience of a UKAFO weekend, and it didn’t disappoint. Being in and around elite orienteers within the UKAF setup will only benefit me as an individual and I look forward to the challenge of trying to gain selection again in the future.”

Air power on show

IS warning salvo fired off

CPL LUKE Pritchard and AS1 Lucy Robinson stormed to top spot as the RAF Powerlifting Championships fired a warning salvo for the Inter-Services later this year.

The Championship results were based on Full Power scores – the combined highest points from back squat, bench press and deadlift.

The top three female lifters were Robinson (Odiham), Flt Lt Liv Whinton (RCDM) and Fg Off Jo Hatter (Defence Academy) in third.

The top three male lifters were Pritchard (Leeming), AS2 Byron Skipsey (20 Sqn), with Cpl Chris Nance (Northolt) in third.

Robinson said: “I feel so privileged to compete for the RAF and I look forward to defending my Full Power title at the InterServices during my second year of competing.”

The Championship results form the basis of the selection for the Inter-Services, which this year will be hosted by the RAF at Cosford on September 27.

Men’s team manager Chf Tech Nathan Leach said: “This year’s selection has been tough as we have a lot more athletes competing at such a high standard.”

Speaking after the event, which was attended by RAFPA President, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, association chairman Sqn Ldr Chris Marshall said: “The success of the event was only achievable through the determination and hard work not only from the athletes but the amazing committee and support staff who help run the events.” l Follow RAF Powerlifting on Facebook @RAF Powerlifting.

SHOW OF STRENGTH: AS1 Lucy Robinson and, top, Cpl Luke Pritchard. Inset, CAS with Sqn Ldr Marshall

RAF CONTINGENT: Service had five personnel in UKAF squad

Bluewings take Bowl

SOME HEAVY UKAF Ice Hockey tournament defeats were eclipsed by a TriService Bowl victory for the RAF Bluewings.

The tournament at Sheffield Ice brought together teams from across the RAF, Army and Royal Navy to compete for the TriService Championship Cup.

Five RAF teams were competing: RAF Blackhawks, RAF Bluewings, RAF Lossiemouth Jets, RAF Vulcans A and RAF Vulcans B. Unfortunately, none made it to the Cup final, but the Bluewings were the winners of the Tri-Service Bowl, beating the Royal Signals 5-0.

Bluewings head coach Tom Wright said: “It was a special moment for me, as it was my first time in this role. I’ve learned a great deal throughout the competition, and this victory is a testament to the hard work and growth of the team.

“Our success is rooted in our shared passion for the sport and our strong camaraderie. In

MOUNTAIN BIKING

particular, the determination and progress of the newest players to our team and the sport has been truly inspiring.”

The Inter-Service Championship, held in the evenings of the Cup event, saw the RAF Aces face the RN Destroyers on the first day, losing 4-0.

On the second evening the Aces lost 7-0 to the British Army Blades.

Fg Off Adam Rosbottom, RAF Aces Programme Director, said: “While it wasn’t the outcome we were hoping for, it felt we were competitive throughout both fixtures.

“There are lots of positives to take away from the championship this year. We will reflect on the two fixtures as a squad to focus on the learning points that we will work on over the next 12 months.

“It’s an exciting time to be part of the RAF Aces and we look forward to developing further as a team.”

l Follow RAF Ice Hockey on Facebook @RAFIceHockeyAssociation.

Consolation for RAF at Sheffield Series is hotting up for Service mountain bikers

FOUR RAF gravity MTB team members took to the dust and slate of Powys, North Wales to pit themselves against the clock at the first round of the 2023 Pearce downhill race series.

The team consisted of veteran members Sqn Ldr Andrew Macmillan, 17th in the men’s (50+) and Sgt Matt Redman, who finished 44th overall in Veteran 40-49 men’s, alongside AS1(T)s Liam Johns, 32nd in the senior 19-29 men’s, and Alex Metcalfe, 35th in the senior 19-29 men’s in their debut race in RAF colours.

Cpl Marc Whale said: “It was a baptism of fire for the newest members, with blistering heat all weekend on the long and technical course, which only seemed to get faster despite new holes and roots appearing on each run. The RAFCA Gazebo provided much-needed shade between efforts.

“Despite the heat, long-time team member Sqn Ldr Macmillan managed a whopping 13 practice runs, showing the young guns how it’s done. With Bala being the location for the National Championships, this race brought stiff competition with everyone up to World Cup

elites wanting to get in some early practice.”

All four team members managed to lay down clean runs and each went faster on their second.

Johns’ highlight of the weekend was a double overtake on his second race run – coming three abreast into the finish area proved to be quite the crowd pleaser. Macmillan set the fastest RAF time of the day.

Metcalfe said: “I was happy to put down a comfortable time and am looking forward to round two of the series to further progress my racing.”

FLYING THE FLAG: RAF Bluewings provided the silverware

PHOTOS: TRISH THOMPSON

ACES V BLADES

Daniel Abrahams

AS1(T) METCALFE

SQN LDR MACMILLAN

AS1(T) JOHNS

SGT REDMAN

Two close for comfort

New UKAFFC boss a Gunner

THE ANNOUNCEMENT of Cpl

Daryl White as UKAFFC head coach completes a hat-trick of RAF personnel in the top hot seat of Service football.

He had stood in as caretaker boss following the departure of FS Dyfan Pierce earlier this year, before taking the full-time role. He won his first match 4-0 against the Irish Defence Forces to take back the Perpetual Friendship trophy.

Vulcans just top Karting Champs

The RAF Regt Gunner said: “I get goosebumps every time I talk about the UKAF team, so to now be head coach is such a privilege. Apart from marrying my wife and having my kids, this is my greatest honour.”

White, who works for FP Training Flight, is also part of Championship team Southampton’s Academy set-up (9s-14s). He began his love affair with Service football seven years ago after taking his Level One coaching badge.

“I entered the course at Cosford having deployed out of Afghanistan and didn’t know what I wanted to do. I needed some head space and thought football might offer that,” he said.

“My eventual first UKAF gaffer, FS Nick DeLong (Ret’d), was the course tutor and we got chatting.

A NARROW two-point margin is enough to keep RAF Waddington Vulcans on top of the Inter Station/Unit Karting Championship.

The lead comes after a battling third round at Rye House karting track in Hertfordshire and also ended with Flt Lt James Ling leading the Novice event by 68 points, and moving into third place in the overall Premier Armed Forces Championship standings.

An association spokesman said: “The lead for the Vulcans may be slim, but they will head into the fourth round at Llandow in South Wales hoping to build on their success.

“Flt Lt Ling, sitting at the halfway point of the season, knows he must maintain his good form and continue to gain good results to stay on course for the Best Novice title.”

The racing started with all 28 karts

belting into the first corner, the opening action belying the issues to come, with smooth running for the first 45 minutes then a series of incidents saw the race pace slow as drivers tried to avoid debris.

Waddington took top spot with, notably, Cpl Dan Holt finishing an impressive 13th having gained nine places from the start. For Flt Lt Ling it wasn’t issues with other drivers that hampered his qualifying, as engine trouble saw him start the novice race in 10th on the grid.

He eventually made it to seventh for the chequered flag. Starting ninth in his second race an incident on the third corner saw him fall back to last place. A race review saw Ling reinstated to sixth.

He produced another sixth in the third round, before coming home sixth in the final, once again being moved up following a race review, this time to fifth, meaning he won the top novice trophy.

l Follow RAF Karting on Facebook @ RAF Karting.

“From there I became involved, with no little support from Nick, with station and non-league football before I became involved as analysis coach for UKAFFC, which Nick was managing.”

White added: “I’ve been lucky I worked with Dyfan at Odiham, and he was Nick’s right-hand man at RAF and UKAF level.”

During the two most successful periods in RAF and UKAF senior men’s football history, White moved quietly in the background learning and, having taken the role of assistant coach under Pierce in 2021, now is his time.

“Having won the Perpetual Cup back, we are now gunning for the Kentish,” he said.

“I will be the first manager to be entering the tournament without the cup in the current setup. I do not have to tell the lads anything else, I have never seen a hunger like it, it is a completely different level. We haven’t got it, so we are going to get it.”

Daniel Abrahams

WHITE: RAF Regiment

FLT LT JAMES LING: Top Novice celebrates PHOTOS: CPL BEN SCOTT, RAF WADDINGTON PHOTOGRAPHIC

LEADERS: Wadd Vulcans procession at Rye House

5 pages of the best of RAF Sports action

Ben's the golden boy

Haringey Box Cup victory for Waugh in 10th contest

Daniel Abrahams

RAF BOXING was bold with Haringey Cup gold as AS1 Ben Waugh signed off one of the most successful seasons for the association with a top-spot win.

The Leeming boxer finished a superb Haringey International Box Cup, held at the iconic Alexandra Palace, with the 71kg Class C title.

The association also had two extremely close defeats for AS2 Carys Mainwaring and AS1(T) Luke Selby-Grace at the quarterfinal and semi-final stages in the 60kg Female Elite and 86kg Male Elite categories respectively.

Sqn Ldr Andy Parker, Head of RAF Boxing Development, said: “The standard of boxing at the Haringey Box Cup is beyond any other competition in the UK, so the experience gained competing at this level is vital to their ongoing development and experience going forward.

“Coming away with a gold medal is a testament to the Association’s drive for improvement and is a credit to Ben’s consistency over the previous 12 months.”

First up for the Service, Mainwaring, fresh from her Tri-Nation silver medal, was drawn against Jenny Ljunberg, a Swedish international with more than 45 contests to her name, at the quarter-final stage.

A high-paced contest

GOLF

between two classy operators was edged by the Scandinavian boxer by a 3 to 2 split points decision.

Following a bye to the semis in the 86kg Male Elite Category, Eindhoven Bronze medallist SelbyGrace was pitched against Hassam Ali from London, in a repeat of the Capital Box Cup Final the week before.

A tactical affair across all three rounds could have gone either way, but another 3-2 split decision went the way of Ali, denying the Brize fighter a place in the final.

Up next, Waugh (inset below) was faced with three fights in three days. Following a convincing points victory over Guildford’s Mike Hargate, the 2022 RAF Lord Wakefield Champion was drawn against Dominik Kupczyk from Sweden in the semi-final.

A dominant display of backfoot boxing and accurate powerpunching by the Serviceman forced the referee to stop the contest late in the second round.

This ensured at least a silver medal for Waugh, but the rampant RAF boxer wasn’t looking for that as he entered the ring against Jason Redpath from Wearmouth.

High in confidence, Waugh produced another masterclass to unanimously outpoint his opponent to win the gold, an outstanding achievement in what was only his 10th contest.

l Follow RAF Boxing on Instagram @raf_boxing.

It's par for the course as AS1 Whitaker retains Strokeplay title

THERE WAS a return win for AS1

Sam Whitaker in the RAF Strokeplay Championships at Little Aston Golf Club. A field of 54 golfers took to the Sutton Coldfield course in muggy conditions, before overnight rain made play a tough task for the lowest handicapped players with scores returned in the high 70s.

Setting the early pace was AS1(T) Scott Richardson with a very impressive level par 72, closely followed by Cpl Sam Pavlovskis and Wg Cdr Jamie Nickless with 73s. Last year’s winner Whitaker was in fourth place with a 2-over 74. The average scoring for the day sat at 83.

Day two once again saw high scores, but with most of the field averaging 84, Whitaker showed his class posting a level-par 72. It was the back nine that continued to

provide a stumbling block for the leaders, most notably Wg Cdr Nickless with an 8-over par 80.

At the close of play, the top three were separated by only four shots, with AS1 Whitaker sat on 146, AS1(T) Richardson 147 and Cpl Conner Campbell 150.

A chilly final day saw further steady play until the top four began to close out the course. Campbell dropped away after posting an 84, while Richardson – sitting just one shot off the leader – had a chance and his 78, for a total of 225, kept him in contention.

Only needing to equal Richardson’s score, Whitaker posted a final round of 75, for a total of 221, to seal the championship by four strokes.

l Follow RAF Golf on Instagram @raf_golf.

TO THE VICTOR, THE SPOILS: The referee raises AS1 Ben Waugh's arm aloft after his final at Ally Pally PHOTO: AS1 JAMIE LEDGER

Exhibitions

Spies, Lies and Deception

Imperial War Museum, Sept 29 to March 31, 2024

The information war

Tributes paid to Glenda Jackson

OLIVER PARKER, director of Glenda Jackson’s final film, and her co-star Michael Caine have paid tribute to the Oscar-winning actress who died recently aged 87.

Her last screen role was opposite Caine in the upcoming feature film The Great Escaper, due for release in October.

Parker said: “We were shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Glenda’s passing. It was the privilege of a lifetime to work with her. She had such fierce intelligence, such passion and fearlessness. It is hard to believe that it was only a few weeks ago that we screened the finished film for her and Michael – she was as feisty and vibrant as ever and we will treasure the memory of that emotional and happy day.”

Michael Caine said: “Glenda was one of our greatest movie actresses. It was a privilege to work with her on The Great Escaper recently, our second film together. It was as wonderful an experience this time as it was 50 years ago. I shall miss her.”

Caine and Jackson starred together in the 1975 film The Romantic Englishwoman

Film company Pathé added: “We are deeply saddened by the news of Glenda Jackson’s passing. A truly extraordinary talent and a force of nature whose achievements on screen, stage and in politics are as plentiful as they are diverse. Always steadfast in her ideals and creativity, Glenda’s uncompromising vision brought unique energy and authenticity to her work across all fields.”

The Great Escaper tells the true story of how octogenarian Bernard Jordan escaped from his care home in 2014 to attend the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France. Caine plays Bernard and Jackson stars alongside him as Bernard’s wife Rene.

THIS AUTUMN a major exhibition looking into the secret world of spying opens at the Imperial War Museum, London.

Spies, Lies and Deception, that runs from September 29 to March 31, 2024, explores the role, purpose and human cost of espionage, deceit and misdirection, from World War I to the present day. Entry is free.

From the battlefields of WWI to the betrayal by double agent Kim Philby and the recent Salisbury poisonings, Spies, Lies and Deception features more than 25 of the most intriguing, inspiring and shocking stories of the last 100 years, said an IWM spokesperson.

Showcasing more than 150 objects, including gadgets, official documents, art and newly-digitised film and photography, it invites visitors to explore how these real-life fictions have changed the course of conflict and the lives of the people who created them. Newly-commissioned and archive interviews reveal the personal stories of people with direct experience of deception, and the viewpoints of industry experts.

Amanda Mason, the exhibition’s lead curator, said: “Stories of spying and subterfuge are endlessly fascinating and capture the popular imagination. By exploring some of the most ingenious,

surprising and daring plots from the two World Wars, through the height of Cold War espionage to the present day, this exhibition shines a light on many of the true stories and undercover plots of the past 100 years.

“Covering everything from inflatable tanks and dummy parachutists to the stories of Kim Philby and the Salisbury poisonings, Spies Lies and Deception will be a must-see exhibition for anyone who is interested in finding out the truth about the use of deception and espionage.”

Also featured is the story of the audacious WWII plot Operation Mincemeat that successfully fooled German High Command about the location of the next major Allied assault, by planting a dead body with fake

military documents off the Spanish coast. Among the items on display will be a box of matches with a match specially adapted for writing secret messages, footprint overshoes made by the Special Operations Executive in South-East Asia during WWII, to disguise the wearer’s real footprints, and the creation of papier-mâché heads used to deceive snipers in the WWI trenches. The exhibition also includes the story of SOE operative Noor Inayat Khan, the first female wireless operator sent by the SOE into Occupied France, where she successfully transmitted messages to London for four months before being betrayed, captured and executed.

l Go to: iwm.org.uk for more information.

Comedian Jason's ironic and a little bit bionic

COMEDIAN JASON BYRNE

is preparing to hit the road this autumn with his new standup show, The Ironic Bionic Man

The tour kicks off on September 15 at the Norwich Playhouse and Byrne will then play a further 34 dates around the UK, before finishing at the McMillan Theatre, Bridgwater on November 25.

The accident-prone comic is now half man-half machine. Born with a cockeye (then straightened), his lung collapsed (it was blown back up and sealed with metal pins), and he’s had his appendix removed, cartilage replaced in his knee, his arm dislocated by a wave and his

heart is now functioning on six stents.

Prior to his 2023 UK tour, he will take The Ironic Bionic Man to the Edinburgh Festival. Byrne’s own brand of organised chaos and stock-in-trade audience participation has seen him coined ‘the outright king of live comedy’ by The Times

The Irish comedian was awarded the UK Radio industry’s prestigious Sony Radio Gold Award for his Radio 2 show. He has hosted his own chat show, Jason Byrne’s Snaptastic Show, for TV3 in Ireland and co-presented Wild Things on Sky One. l Go to: JasonByrne.ie for full tour details.

JACKSON: Made her mark in film and politics

FINAL ROLE: With Michael Caine in The Great Escaper

RED HOT: A box of matches containing one specially adapted for writing secret messages used during the Second World War © IWM

SUSPICION: Russian troops spot a BRIXMIS team photographing them. BRIXMIS gathered valuable military intelligence on potential threats to the West and NATO during the Cold War for more than 40 years © IWM

NOOR INAYAT KHAN: Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent who was betrayed and killed in Occupied France © IWM

I'm Mr Average

COMEDIAN GEOFF NORCOTT, star of Have I Got News For You, The Last Leg, Would I Lie to You? and 8 Out of 10 Cats, among other hit TV shows, is setting out on a 74-date nationwide tour in September.

After a run of his new show at the Edinburgh Fringe in August, the tour kicks off in Leamington Spa on September 6 and culminates at Southport on April 27 next year. It goes

La Voix swings in

to London’s Leicester Square Theatre (September 10), High Wycombe Town Hall (September 14), and Glee Club Cardiff (October 4), and also visits venues in Birmingham, Lincoln, Bristol, Exeter, Newcastle, Aberdeen and Manchester amongst others.

For his sixth tour Geoff will be trying to make sense of the current cultural and political scene and he also

MORE THAN three decades since Madonna embarked on her infamous Blonde Ambition tour, the entertainer dubbed ‘Britain’s funniest redhead’ will be swinging into town with her live band for her Red Ambition Tour.

It opened at Milton Keynes’ International Festival last month and tours the UK into spring 2024, including shows at Worcester’s Swan Theatre on September 21, The Drill, Lincoln on October 7, London’s Lyric Theatre on October 8 and Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre on November 4, with more dates to be announced.

DVD Ride On (PG)

On Blu-ray, DVD and digital on July 24 (Cine Asia)

The drag queen, best known from Britain’s Got Talent and Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, promises a show featuring impersonations of favourite divas, punctuated with her razor-sharp wit and plenty of glitz and glamour.

La Voix is a regular on both stage and screen and has worked with stars including Mickey Rooney, Cilla Black, Pamela Anderson, Brigitte Nielsen, Ruby Wax, Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French. She said: “This tour is going to be like no other. I can’t wait to see you there.” l Go to: lavoix.co.uk for more information.

Win!

Chan's all washed up in latest film

BIG SCREEN legend Jackie Chan (Rush Hour, Police Story) is back in an action-packed tribute to the world of stunts which made him an international superstar.

In Ride On, Luo (Chan) plays a washed-up stuntman whose glory days are long behind him. When his trusty stunt horse, Red Hare, becomes the target of debt collectors, the pair fight off the attackers, with their impressive display caught on camera and the video going viral.

Meanwhile, Luo works to reconnect with his estranged

daughter and her boyfriend, who both seek to help him. But when his renewed fame scores him a oncein-a lifetime opportunity, will he

finally put his family first?

Written and directed by rising filmmaker Larry Yang (Mountain Cry) and co-starring Liu Haocun (Cliff Walkers) as Bao and Kevin Guo (Adoring), Ride On is described as a fast, funny and uplifting story of family, with stunning action choreography paying homage to the classics of Jackie Chan.

We have DVD copies of Ride On up for grabs. For your chance to own one, simply tell us: What is the name of Luo’s trusty stunt horse in Ride On?

Email your answer, marked

has a mission – he’ll be attempting to unpick what’s happening with ‘your average bloke.’

The show, titled Basic Bloke, aims to unlock some of the more complicated behaviour of husbands, dads and brothers.

He explained: “I call it Basic Bloke because, recently, I realised almost everything about me is bang in the average range. My favourite food is curry, my favourite drink is lager. My shoe size is the average, as is my weight. I also inform the audience I’m the average height – 5ft 9in – and the nightly disbelief that I could even be that modest height is, frankly, hurtful."

He added: “I tend to think of

blokes as different from men. We’ve seen a rise in ‘men’ being used as a pejorative for power and toxicity, but I’d argue your average bloke is none of those things. He’s just plodding on, with his heart in the right place but a pathological inability to remember the birthday of anyone he loves.”

What’s next for Geoff after the tour?

“Well, this goes until the end of April 2024, so goodness knows what sort of world we’ll be living in. With any luck there’ll be an AI version of me out on the road by then and I’ll be at home with a curry,” he quipped. l Go to: geoffnorcott.co.uk for a full list of tour dates.

Jackie

ESTRANGED: Luo's daughter

TRUSTY STEED: Luo's faithful stunt horse Red Hare is targeted by debt collectors in Ride On

CLOSE: Kym and Emilie

Chan DVD competition, to: tracey.allen@rafnews.co.uk or post it to: RAF News, Room 68, Lancaster Building, HQ Air Command, High

Wycombe, HP14 4UE, to arrive by August 4. Please remember to include your full postal address with your entry.

Haunted by their past Secrets revealed as friends come together again 25 years after one of group mysteriously disappears

IOAN GRUFFUDD (Fantastic Four, Liar), Grégory Fitoussi (Peaky Blinder, Spiral), Dervla Kirwan and Rupert Graves (Sherlock) head the international cast of ITV’s French Riviera-set series The Reunion

Shot on location in the south of France last summer, the TV drama is adapted from Guillaume Musso’s bestselling novel of the same name, also known as La Jeune Fille et la Nuit

Marston Bloom (Selection Day, Marcella) wrote the adaptation of the book, which has sold more than two million copies worldwide in more than 35 languages.

It tells the story of student Vinca Rockwell (Ivanna Sakhno, Pacific Rim Uprising), who went missing one freezing night as her campus was paralysed by a snowstorm. Twentyfive years later three former friends, Thomas (Grufudd), Max (Fitoussi) and Fanny (Vahina Giocante), bound by a tragic secret and the disappearance of their friend, reconnect and try to find out the truth about what happened the night

Vinca went missing.

Thomas has lived a life defined by his love for Vinca. Now a writer, he keeps her memory alive through his novels, his language a Freudian ‘wish fulfilment’ of their unresolved relationship.

When he was younger, Max did something terrible to protect his best friend Thomas. His loyalty to his friends is at odds with the responsibility he now has as a married, openly gay father of two young daughters.

And Fanny has come a long way from being Thomas’s childhood sweetheart. She is now a qualified doctor, but still holds a torch for her long-lost love, and also a dark secret, which she will need to confront when Thomas returns for a school reunion.

Grufudd said: “Thomas is a writer who moved away from the south of France where he studied at the International School in the early 90s. He left to become a novelist and is asked to come back to this high school reunion.

“As a consequence of him

returning, the audience then gets to see why he shouldn’t have come back. The reason he returned, against his better judgement, is because he’s obsessed with the girl he was in love with when they were at the school –Vinca. She disappeared mysteriously one night and he’s coming back to try to piece together that mystery but his other past has caught up with him at the same time. You’ve got these two narratives colliding.”

Grufudd described Thomas as ‘obsessive’. He revealed: “He’s somebody who is running away from his past. He’s an obsessive character and he’s especially obsessed with Vinca. I think she lives on in all the novels he’s subsequently written and he can’t shake her. He can’t let her go.

“I also think his upbringing was probably a little bit cold and distant. His parents were teachers at the school he attended and it is revealed across six episodes that they aren’t all they seem either.”

Hardly surprisingly, Grufudd enjoyed filming in the south of France.

He explained: “The climate is

wonderful, the infrastructure is terrific, you’ve got talent from all over France and Italy who came to either act or work on the show, and there’s such a reverence towards filmmaking in France. It feels like being part of a very rich culture.

“The French working day is very precise and specific. It’s different to the American version where you sort of work until you’ve finished the day and it doesn’t matter if you do x amount of overtime. In France you finish when you’re supposed

to finish so you have your evening and your dinner. It’s very civilised. There’s such a reverence towards the craft of making film and television, it’s great to be part of that.”

He added: “Filming in that part of the world had a profound effect on me for sure. I’d never worked there before, so to see it in all its majesty and its glory and to understand it for the first time really was magical. I was blown away by it.”

l The Reunion is due to be shown on ITV1 in August.

WWI VET: Robert Graves (Tom Hughes)

OBSESSION: Thomas (Ioan Gruffudd) keeps memory of Vinca (above) alive through his novels

LOST LOVE: Fanny (Vahina Giocante) still holds a torch for childhood sweetheart Thomas

COUPLE: Vinca (Ivanna Sakhno) with a young Thomas (Billy Gunnion). Below, Max (Grégory Fitoussi) hides a dark secret

Your Announcements

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

Deaths

TANSLEY, Anthony (Tony)

WO, died peacefully in St John’s Hospice, Doncaster on June 24.

Tony joined the RAF as a boy entrant aged 15-and-ahalf on January 24, 1961 and served until 2002. In August 1962 he was stationed at RAF Lindholme and was then posted to Labuan, Borneo in 1965, where he received the GSM. Returning to the UK in May 1966, he was stationed at RAF Scampton then on to RAF Odiham and RAF Brawdy in the 1970s and received both The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal and the LS & GCM medal.

Returning to Odiham at the beginning of the 1980s, he was proud to work on ‘the workhorse of the skies’ the Chinook helicopter, and serviced them during the Falklands War, gaining the South Atlantic Medal. After this, 18 Sqn relocated to RAF Gütersloh in 1983, which was a very popular posting. He then moved to RAF Finningley for seven years, where he was awarded the CINC STC Commendation in 1987 and was promoted to Flight Sergeant in 1989. His last two postings took in the coastlines of Cornwall and South Wales at St Mawgan and St Athan from 19932000, where he attained his Warrant Officer promotion in 1996.

Facing retirement at 55, the RAF lured him back in for a further two years at RAF Wyton at LITS.

A proud husband, dad, grandad, and great-grandad, he will be missed beyond words.

TURNBULL Richard Timothy (Tim). Passed away in Lincoln County Hospital on June 22, aged 79.

A much-loved husband, father and grandfather, he will be sadly missed by all who knew him. His funeral will take place at

How to use our service

All Saints Church, Nettleham on Thursday, July 20 at 10am, followed by burial in Nettleham cemetery.

Family flowers only. Donations if desired to the RAF Benevolent Fund and Great Ormond Street Hospital c/o Jonathan Whiting Funeral Directors, 1 – 5 Queen Street, Lincoln, LN5 8LB, 01522 589942.

Seeking

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.

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.

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. All members are welcome to

nd. If you are interested in joining the Association please contact our Membership Secretary, Harry Player, on: chrisarry714@gmail.com for further information.

Bomber Command tribute

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

Associations

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

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

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

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. All 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 VETERANS George Dunn and Colin Bell were among those attending the annual Bomber Command Memorial anniversary service in London last month.

The event, held at the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, was in tribute to the 55,573 Servicemen from across the UK and worldwide who died while serving in Bomber Command. The service, which

was streamed live around the world, was led by Reverend (Sqn Ldr) Andrew Chapman, Station Chaplain at RAF High Wycombe, and included readings, a minute’s silence and wreath laying in memory of all those lost.

Flt Lt Dunn, now 100, completed 44 operations during World War II. He was awarded the DFC.

He said: “Bomber Command means everything to me because I think without it the war would have gone

on much longer.”

The memorial was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II in June 2012 and the RAF Benevolent Fund is its guardian.

Flt Lt Dunn added: “I have been involved with the RAF Benevolent Fund since about 2009. Even though we are not at war, there are still people who are suffering from the effects of previous wars like World War II and the Falklands who need the help of the Benevolent Fund.”

Join special event for 504 Sqn

A Parade is being held at RAF Wittering on Saturday, October 14 to mark the presentation of the Number 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron Standard. Are you an ex-member of 504? Would you like to attend the Parade and post-parade reception in the Warrant Officers’ and SNCOs’ Mess? This is a fantastic

opportunity to catch up with old mates and, maybe, make some new ones. It’s sure to be a truly memorable day. If you’d like to be part of this historic event, please scan the QR Code and complete the form, or email Cpl Paul Chapman at: Paul. Chapman242@mod.gov.uk

Completed returns must be received by October 2.

Battle of Britain memorial service

THE ROYAL Air Force announces that the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Britain Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication will be held in Westminster Abbey at 11am on Sunday, September 17, 2023.

Applications for tickets, stating all names, addresses, telephone number/email address, place and date of birth, passport or driving licence number of individuals wishing to attend should be made in writing and are to be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. Applications should reach Mrs Michèle Small, SO3 RAF Ceremonial Events, RAF Ceremonial Office, RAF Northolt, West End Road, Middlesex, HA4 6NG by July 21, 2023.

To assist with seating in the Abbey, applicants are requested to state which of the following categories is appropriate: former Battle of Britain era Royal Air Force personnel or Emergency Services and role; past or present members of the Royal Air Force and its Reserve Forces; or member of the general public. In addition, we are particularly interested to hear from relatives of Battle of Britain era Royal Air Force personnel. Please state if you are a wheelchair user.

Tickets, and a note on dress and timings for the occasion, will be issued two weeks before the Service.

Applications should not be made to Westminster Abbey.

SERVICE: Veterans lay wreaths at the Bomber Command Memorial, inset, George Dunn, right and Colin Bell

Your Announcements

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

Service for Cyprus emergency fallen

Plea to identify RAF Baldoon staff

CAN RAF News readers help to identify the personnel in this photograph, taken at RAF Baldoon Station Headquarters on May 31, 1945?

Reader Alison Bilynskyj says: “Flt Lt Simon Reid, an anaesthetist at Galloway

House and based at RAF Baldoon, is in the second row fourth from the left.

“Also in the photo should be Sqn Leader Reid from Scotland, a surgeon at Galloway House.

“Any help with any others in the photo would be very

much appreciated.”

Also known as RAF Wigtown the station, in south west Scotland, opened in 1941 and was closed in 1948.

It played host to several operational squadrons for short periods, including

114 Sqn equipped with the Blenheim and 174 Sqn, 175 Sqn and 182 Sqn, all equipped with the Hawker Typhoon.

Please email: catblues44@ yahoo.co.uk if you can assist Alison with further identification.

“FEW PEOPLE know that we lost a total of 372 British Servicemen, 69 of them while serving with the Royal Air Force, and 21 British policemen during the 1955 to 1959 Cyprus emergency,” says Les Smith from Cyprus Veterans.

“We will be holding their

next Service of Remembrance at The National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire at midday on Sunday, August 20,” he added.

Please email Les at: cyprusveterans@gmail.com for more details and if you would like to attend.

Prize Crossword No. 343

Solve the crossword, then rearrange the six letters in yellow squares to find an RAF aircraft

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 August 4.

Prize Crossword No. 341 winner is: R. Tappin, Llanelli.

Prize Su Doku

No. 353

Across

7. Sad rugby union wastes fuel (6)

8. Hag ran about where high-fliers stay (6)

10. Tempestuous Shakespearean daughter? (7)

11. Wooed in an old-fashioned way (5)

12. Original man made a crazy comeback (4)

13. First person isn’t colouring (5)

17. Family at heart of patriot Robert (5)

18.And 16 Down. Tolerant spy found in island capital (4,7)

22. Fellow embraces Frenchman: he’s a winner (5)

23. Desist from repeating line (7)

24. In winter, Randolph finds job (6)

25. When morning returns, parasites take revenge (6)

Down

1.And 2 Down. Gaunt Mr Macabre took a spin in this plane (7,7)

2.See 1 Down

3. First female uncovered naughty New York comic (5)

4.See 15 Down

5. Silver consumed stone (5)

6. At end of engagement she meets her match (5)

9. Deadly, pointless headgear for Hercules (3,6)

14.Catch inside dense Swedish planes (7)

15. And 4 Down. Maybe sending acrobat where plants flourish (7,7)

16.See 18 Across

19. Southern air personnel bolt (5)

20. RAF plane put to the sword? (5)

21. Feel depressed, we hear, about this scale (1-4)

Name

Exhibitions

Beyond the Page

MK Gallery (October 7 to January 24, 2024)

Coming soon

Mini marvels of South Asia

Small wonders on display at MK

NEVER BEFORE seen

South Asian miniature paintings from the British Royal Collection are to go on view at the MK Gallery in Milton Keynes later this year.

The exhibition, Beyond The Page, South Asian Miniature Painting and Britain, 1600 to Now, starts on October 7 and runs until January 24, 2024.

It will display exquisite historic works drawn from major collections including the Royal Collection, Tate, The Ashmolean Museum and National Museums Scotland, many of which can rarely be displayed due to their fragility.

Beyond the Page will explore how the traditions of South Asian miniature paintings have been reclaimed and reinvented by modern and contemporary artists.

The exhibition features more than 170 historic, modern and contemporary works by

UNKNOWN ARTIST: A Late Mughal Album of Calligraphy and Paintings

c. 1720-1740. Royal Collection Trust © His Majesty King Charles III, 2023

artists from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, the Netherlands, the UK and

the USA. Featuring gory battle scenes, intimate love affairs, spiritual parables and depictions of the natural world, it presents an overview of South Asian miniature painting since the 16th century. A spokesperson for MK Gallery said: “South Asian miniature painting often assimilated global cultural influences from Persia and Europe but continues to be defined by qualities such as intricate craftsmanship, intimate scale and intense narrative.

“ Beyond the Page focuses on Britain’s role in the development of this tradition and explores how it has been reclaimed and reinvented as artists, since the 20th century, have taken it beyond the pages of illuminated manuscripts to experimental forms that include installations, sculpture and film.”

l Go to: mkgallery.org for more details.

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 August 4.

The winner of Su Doku No: 351 is: E. Dillon, Wirral.

Olivia's got GUTS

GRAMMY-WINNING

recording artist Olivia Rodrigo’s new album, GUTS, is scheduled for release on September 8. She recorded it with producer Daniel Nigro, who also collaborated with her on SOUR, her chart-topping, debut album.

She said: “For me, this album is about growing pains and trying to figure out who I am at this point in my life. I feel like I grew 10 years between the ages of 18 and 20 – it was such an intense period of awkwardness and change. I think that’s all just a natural part of growth, and hopefully the album reflects that.”

The album’s first single, Vampire, was released at the end of last month. Rodrigo’s breakthrough

single Driver’s License, that came out in January 2021, debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first song in history to hit 80 million streams in seven days on Spotify.

SOUR entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 and went on to be the longest-running debut album in the chart’s top 10 of the 21st century It also entered the charts at No.1 in the UK, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Holland, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand.

In 2022, Rodrigo kicked off her first-ever world tour – a sold-out run that took her to more than 40 cities across North America and Europe.

l Go to: oliviarodrigo.com for more information.

RODRIGO: Has enjoyed phenomenal success PHOTO: LARISSA HOFMANN

GUTS: New album