Insight Summer 2023

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INSIGHT

Summer 2023

From the Editor…

Sqn Ldr Stuart Lennox

Welcome to another packed edition of Insight magazine. This is supposed to be the Summer edition but nobody seems to have told the weather! Is this the wettest July on record?

In this edition we have lots of interesting content from 51 Sqn highlighted by the impressive milestone of achieving the highest ever Rivet Joint annual flying hours, with over 1380 hours on 160 operational sorties. They have also conducted co-crewing engineering activity with the USAF and AS1 Cartagena continues to deliver results in competitive Bobsleigh events.

XIII Sqn were another unit to achieve an Operational milestone when they marked their 10 year anniversary of UK based operations encompassing 155,000 hours and over 1500 weapon events delivered as part of the coalition Counter Daesh mission set.

In contrast to these modern achievements, there are also a number of historical events covered including the crash of Halifax DT666 and an update on the Heritage Centre.

Finally, whilst it may feel like I have only just taken over as Editor of the magazine, it is time for me to move on already. Anyone interested in taking over the role can contact Natasha. Markham101@mod.gov.uk.

EDITORIAL TEAM:

WAD-InsightEditorialTeam@mod.gov.uk

External Email:

Use personal email addresses listed Tel: +44 (0)1522 726704

Editor:

Sqn Ldr Stuart Lennox

WAD-InsightEditorialTeam@mod.gov.uk

Deputy Editor: Flt Lt D.J Hopkinson

daniel.hopkinson524@mod.gov.uk

Designer: Amanda Robinson

11

13

Station Commander’s Foreword...

Gp Capt Mark Lorriman-Hughes

Greetings once again from Area 51.

It is now over 12 months since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and for that duration 51 Sqn has remained at the very front of the United Kingdom’s response. This high operational tempo meant that for the financial year 22/23, the Squadron achieved its highest ever Rivet Joint annual flying

This month sees the arrival of the Summer 23 edition of the Station Magazine. Though, as the Editor has mentioned, we seem to have left the good weather in spring; however, there is still plenty to be cheerful about.

As can be seen from the 51 Squadron and XIII Squadron articles, RAF Waddington’s operational output remains typically high. It is very rewarding to see these articles highlighting the success and endeavours of our Wings/Sqns and resident units, and of course all the key personnel involved. Collectively we should continue to take pride in RAF Waddington’s operational achievements and to share them widely where we can.

I am similarly please to see so many sports related articles in this Edition. Sports and fitness are a hugely important part of RAF life, building

camaraderie, promoting wellbeing, and encouraging healthy competition. I am delighted to see that RAF Waddington has maintained a consistent and competitive contribution to sports across the RAF and wider Defence. There is so much to get involved in at RAF Waddington and such a broad range of clubs. Whether your sporting interests range from RAF Bobsleighing, interunit football matches, or other activities, I hope to read more about your individual or collective endeavours and successes in future articles.

On that note I would like to finish this Edition’s foreword by passing on my public thanks to Sqn Ldr Lennox. His tenure as Editor was first class and he leaves big shoes to fill! I look forward to greeting his successor in the near future and to reading and hearing more about the amazing work you all do – thank you.

hours, with over 1380 hours on 160 operational sorties in areas that include The Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and the High North. The previous record was 875 hours.

On the achievement of the record Officer Commanding 51 Squadron, Wing Commander Keith Bissett, said:

OC 51 Sqn, Wg Cdr Bissett, and 51 Sqn SEngO, Sqn Ldr Ayton, cutting the cake to celebrate the record flying hours.

“This has been an extraordinary year for the team on 51 Squadron, providing an exceptional operational output over the past 12 months. They team should be immensely proud of what they have achieved, and we look forward to building on our recent successes”. The Squadron had small celebration with lots of cake to mark the occasion.

Engineers co-crewing with the USAF

In April, a group of 51 Sqn engineers teamed up with 55th Wing Maintenance Group of the US Air Force to conduct an isochronal inspection of an RAF Rivet Joint. An isochronal inspection is an in-depth inspection which takes place at the mid-point between baseline upgrades for each airframe. Ever since the RAF received their first Rivet Joint in 2013, 51 Squadron and 55th Wing aircrew have flown countless flights together as part of a cocrewing agreement between the U.S. and U.K. However, this is just the third isochronal inspection the units have teamed up for.

Flt Lt Nixon, 51 Sqn JEngO, said, “It’s a great honour to be able to work alongside the U.S. Air Force. It’s very important for us to have the opportunity to help build upon our partnership and enhance our roles in global security. On each ISO we perform with the U.S. Air Force we take away our lessons learned and build upon on them for the next one. The ISO team work very fast and with a great deal of knowledge, which we are able to learn from and to return to unit with to help accomplish

more in-depth maintenance then we may have carried out before.”

While there are huge benefits for the RAF, there is also value for the USAF. Lt Col Bryan Werschine, 55th MXG Deputy Commander says “The Air Force and Royal Air Force comanning flying program is a benchmark for international relationships. By adding comanning for maintenance, or engineer as the RAF calls them, only enhances this

cooperation.” Also in April, the 55th MXG sent personnel to RAF Waddington, to begin 120-day rotations as part of this expanded agreement. This creates a number of challenges, despite everybody working on the same aircraft. Flt Lt Nixon explains, “One of the differences we have is that Air Force maintainers are very specialized, whereas the U.K. personnel generally have a broader understanding of work across more parts of the airframe. As we have the opportunity to work more closely with them on a daily basis through co-crewing, we’ll be able to really learn from

that specialized knowledge and pass it on.”

Another small difference is how both services document their checklists during the inspection.

Regardless, both 51 Squadron and the 55th Wing see the benefits of this relationship far outweighing any small challenges. “This has been absolutely fantastic,” Lt Col Nixon said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better experience working alongside them.”

“As a smaller operator than the U.S. Air Force, we don’t get the quantity of maintenance work that they do,” said Sgt Chris Winn of 51 Sqn. “In the three or four weeks working with the ISO team here we can get six or eight months’ worth of home experience, so it’s very valuable.”

“The military aviation authority in the U.K. mandates that we use certain paperwork, and we record things in a certain way, and obviously they don’t do that here,” Sgt Winn said. “That’s one of the reasons why we are here is to ensure we document everything so the aircraft can remain compliant with our regulations.”

[Credit: 55th Wing Public Affairs for quotes and photographs]

Sgt Winn working alongside a US contractor.

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Squadron Heritage Events

51 Squadron predates the RAF; it was formed in 1916 in the RFC as a fighter squadron. It is therefore no surprise that there is a lot of history around the Squadron and so there are many events to commemorate it. On 21 Mar 23, the Squadron was bestowed the honour of the Freedom of Selby alongside the Yorkshire Regiment. 51 Sqn was based within Selby District during the Second World War and a number of it’s veterans are interred in the war graves section of Selby Cemetery. Council leader Mark Crane said (to The York Press):

RAF Waddington’s XIII Squadron mark a decade of sustained operations

Sqn Ldr Hemlin attended on behalf of OC51, which was quite fitting as she actually grew up in Selby.

In early April, a small number of Sqn Personnel attended a memorial ceremony for Halifax DT666, a 51 Sqn aircraft that crashed on 03 Apr 1943 around 7 miles south-east of Selby, with

three of the seven crew losing their lives. This edition’s History Corner will tell the full story of the incident.

On 14 May 23, yet more Sqn members made the short journey north of RAF Waddington this time to the village of Pollington, which was the location of RAF Snaith during WW2. This was to attend an annual 51 Sqn Reunion for current and former squadron members, beginning with a church service and concluding at Pollington Airfield Memorial Garden. This year the vicar also rededicated the plaque for the late MAcr Wyatt.

On 24 April 2023 XIII Squadron marked the significant milestone of 10 years of Reaper operations from the UK at RAF Waddington, now the home of UK RPAS.

“I am proud of the what the Squadron has achieved over the last 10 years, delivering the steady drumbeat of operations, including Op Herrick and Op Shader, everyday 24/7” said the Officer Commanding XIII Squadron, Wing Commander Stuart McAdam.

The Reaper Force have successfully completed the delivery of near 24/7 operations, amassing over 155,000 hours and delivering a 1538 weapons releases for the whole UK Reaper Force over the 10-year period.

The UK Reaper Force epitomises the RAF’s key strength of delivering operations from home. The counter-Daesh missions are still ongoing. The squadron conduct armed reconnaissance patrols against elements of Daesh in Syria, as well as supporting Iraqi authorities’ efforts to keep Daesh out of their country.

XIII Squadron were first reformed as the first UK-based Reaper RPAS Squadron in 2012

and are currently the only RPAS squadron belonging to the Royal Air Force. Looking to the future, the Protector RG Mk1 will replace the MQ-9A Reaper. This RPAS aircraft will be the world’s first certified, next-generation Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) and will be brought into service in 2024.

“To bestow this honour upon a group of people who are so worthy and deserving of it is quite the right thing to do. We thank them for what they have done for this district and the country.”

Sqn Ldr Hemlin accepting the Freedom of Selby.

51 Sqn Personnel in attendance at DT666 Memorial Service.

51 Sqn Reunion at Pollington Airfield Memorial Garden.

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Bobsleigh Season 2022/23

As well as our operational heritage, 51 Sqn has a proud history of sporting achievements.

This is not the first time that we have written about AS1 Alex Cartagena for his ability in Bobsleigh, and he has had another outstanding season. Here is what he accomplished, in his own words:

the Tirol Cup and continued with 4-man training. After this we spent two weeks in La Plagne, France, training further. The volume of which was hellish, however as crews we are now deemed competent to race 2 & 4 man in the world cup next season.

“This season saw us start again at Lillehammer, Norway.  As the senior brakemen I was raced against the new competition and managed to retain my top ranked position. This saw me get selected to race in the 2-man with x2 Olympic Brakeman Nick Gleeson. This was his first season in the front seat.  Out of 35 sleds, we had the 3rd fastest start.

After paying due diligence with our 4-man training at Bath, the coach deemed us fit to race in the 4-man for the first time at Igls, Austria.  However not a spectacular performance, it was our first race as a crew and provided much needed experience, which proved valuable.

After Christmas we returned to Igls where we placed 2nd on

As usual, the season ended with the Inter-Services.  This was a 3-week camp in Lillehammer where I was trusted in the driving seat.  From a training perspective, it was very successful and has proved I can do both jobs

well (driving and brakeman). On the race we had a couple of crashes, so points wise, we were out of the competition. However, I maintained a 42 for 42 runs record (no crashes). I took 2nd best Driver for the RAF.”

Coming Soon

As you can see we have been extremely busy over the past few months, but you can expect the next article to be

just as packed, as at the time of writing we have personnel in Alaska taking part in Exercise Northern Edge, an upcoming deployment to NSA Souda Bay and also participation in Exercise Storm Warrior. Until next time from Area 51.

Swift and Sure

51 SQN MEDIA & COMMS

TEAM

Sgt Phil Howle

AS1 Cartagena is at the rear of this push start, as the brakeman in a 4-man team.

AS1 Cartagena as the driver

AS1 Cartagena as the driver

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51 Sqn History Corner

In this edition of History Corner, we will look at the crash of Halifax DT666 which is mentioned in the main article (see Area 51), where number of 51 Sqn personnel attended a Memorial Dedication Service.

Here are the details of what happened…

Halifax DT666 was built at Samlesbury and delivered to 12 M.U. at Kirkbride on 28th November 1942. The aircraft was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 20th December 1942 and carried the squadron code "KN-F". On 14th January 1943 it collided with a vehicle parked on the side of the perimeter track and sustained minor Cat.A/FA damage. It was then transferred to 51 Squadron at Snaith on 4th March 1943 where it carried the squadron code "MH-T". As a result of battle damage sustained on the night of 12th / 13th March 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site at Snaith. After the Cat.E2/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was written off having clocked up 102 flying hours.

On 3rd April 1943 at 1953z, DT666 took off as part of a raid on the German city of Essen. During the raid 51 Sqn lost Halifax W7861 without trace, but all other aircraft returned unscathed. However on approach to RAF Snaith, DT666 flew an overshoot of the airfield and remained at very low height. Before a safe landing could be conducted, the aircraft crashed at Shortlands Farm (7 miles SSE of Selby) at 0025 local time on 4th April. It is unknown why the aircraft did not climb after the overshoot.

On impact, the rear turret broke away and came to rest in a ditch, with the rest of the aircraft breaking up and catching fire. The farmer, Mr Alfred Lunn, found the rear gunner and released him from the turret before taking

him back to the farmhouse. Mr Lunn then went back out to try and help the other crew members, assisted by numerous Army personnel who were stationed at the farm and in nearby buildings. They found the bomb aimer who had broken his leg or foot, and was himself trying to rescue the pilot, but the attempts were prevented by the intensity of the flames. Of the seven crew on board there were four survivors, who were taken to the farmhouse, and cared for until the RAF arrived to transport them to hospital. The assessment of the aircraft was Cat.E2/FB damage and it was written off having clocked up 102 flying hours.

Sgt John Merritt, an Air Gunner, was one of those who died in the crash. He had survived a crash just 6 weeks earlier on 21st January, in similar circumstances when Halifax DT581 (also of 51 Sqn) overshot the airfield at RAF Snaith and crashed on Hoar Side Moor near Hebden Bridge. In that crash two of the seven crew were killed, and one of the survivors along with Sgt Merrit was Sgt Alexander Campbell. Sgt Campbell was on Halifax W7861 which was lost during the raid on Essen as mentioned earlier.

Another who died in DT666 was the pilot, Sgt Charles Pheloung, who was a New Zealander (as were two other members of the DT666 crew). Sgt Pheloung is buried in Sleby Cemetery.

Crew of Halifax DT666

1. Pilot - Sgt Charles Edward Pheloung RNZAF (NZ.415200), aged 25, of Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand and buried in Selby Cemetery, Yorkshire.

2. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Henry Knight RAFVR (1380457), aged 31, of Horsham, and buried in Hills Cemetery, Horsham, Sussex.

3. Air Gunner - Sgt John James Merritt RAFVR (1252255), now buried in Beaufort Churchyard, Monmouthshire.

4. Flight Engineer - Sgt Donald William Kemp RAFVR (1162793). He sustained head injuries, and returned to 51 Squadron once he had recovered. On 28th August 1943 he was flying in a Halifax HR869 on a raid over Nuremburg, when the aircraft was shot down, with the loss of the whole crew. He was aged 21 and is now buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.

5. Navigator - Sgt Vernon Buchanan McKenzie RNZAF (NZ.412794) sustained injuries

and survived the war. He returned home to New Zealand but sadly drowned in the Wanganui River in the late 1940s.

6. Bomb Aimer - Sgt Donald Geoffrey Fakley RAFVR (1390577), sustained Leg injuries.

7. Rear Gunner - Sgt Basil Williams RNZAF (NZ.412776), was slightly injured and later posted to 431 Squadron on 19th May 1943. On 22nd September 1943, whilst flying in Wellington LN547 in a raid over Hannover, his aircraft failed to return to base. He and his crew all became PoW's.

[Credit to yorkshireaircraft.co.uk for the information. Credit to Eric Barton (Historian) for the Photographs]

Sgt Pheloung and his grave in Selby Cemetery.

The crash site as it looks today, with fragments of the aircraft that have been discovered.

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The Heritage Centre

Nov-Feb is always quieter for us but having recently had a few new volunteer Guides join us it meant that they were able to get into the swing of things with minimal pressure as we undertook both internal and external visits.

With RAF Scampton closing we were able to acquire several new items that are relevant to Waddington and have also had several items loaned to us by RAF Heritage which include a Lancaster bomb aimers Perspex bubble, several Vulcan items and a very large cutaway and incredibly detailed model of a Lancaster which is marked up as S for Sugar which obviously was a very well-known RAF Waddington based aircraft. The model itself is now located adjacent to the substantial remains of our own Lancaster and it certainly gives a very good plan of the locations of the fuselage and interior.

The model itself was looking a little worn with much of the Perspex having yellowed over the years and a few of the working items had been damaged so we were very lucky that Pat Williamson from JEWOSC volunteered to assist such that it is now looking almost box fresh again with the detailed internal items now easily visible and both front and rear gun turrets repaired. Pat had earlier restored another one of our displays for which he had even made some scale chocks!

The displays in the Cold War room have been revamped with the timeline items around the outer area and the inner displays being more personal, people centred stories. With the help of RAF Heritage and the Sentry DT we have also

completed the Sentry Mission Console display that we have slowly been building up from scrap items. Externally the old concrete practise bombs have been removed and the Vulcan training engine has been put in place, this was used to practise engine changes on Vulcans without the risk of damaging an actual engine. We have had support from GEF, MT and the Movers to get the item where it is and over summer it will receive a new set of blanks from a local company and the aim will be to repaint the frame that holds the engine itself once the good weather arrives.

The summer period is busier for us but we are always available for internal visits from sections around Waddington and the wider RAF so please get in touch if you wish to see what we have and learn some of the history of RAF Waddington. Additionally, we can always do with more volunteers and committee members, there are plenty of opportunities available for a wide variety of jobs and full training can be given so just email WADHeritagecentre@mod.gov.uk or visit our SharePoint site if you would like to find out a little more.

The Heritage Centre continued with multiple visits over the winter period despite the best efforts of the heating in the building to prove that it is as historic as many of the items that we have in there.

RAF Waddington

welcome the Lord Lieutenant for Lincolnshire

Today RAF Waddington hosted the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Toby Dennis, and others around the station.

The tour included a look at the home of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic

QUOTE

team- the Red Arrows, the Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Wing and XIII Squadron.

(from one of the Lieutenants) These

VISIT US TODAY

ABTC hosts UN International Women and Girls in Science Day event

On Friday 10 Feb 23 the ABTC hosted girls from Waddington Redwood Primary Academy in aid of the UN International Women and Girls in Science Day.

The girls got to enjoy a variety of tasks all in aid of promoting girls in science and STEM.

Ms Fiona Kent, the headteacher at Waddington Redwood Primary Academy said, “Today gives them access to experiences and STEM that we just couldn’t provide in school.” “Plus, today gives the girls reallife role models that they can aspire to become”.

The girls, aged 10-11, were challenged to create an airworthy model, asked to try and fly an F-35 simulator and rounded off the day with a competition to see whose model could fly the furthest. This challenge was held in one of our large hangars.

Flt Lt Helen Seymour, a Typhoon pilot currently on 41 Sqn and a key speaker at the event said, “I am really enjoying today because it helps to engender a ‘can-do’ attitude in girls from an early age. I want them to know that they are not limited by anything other than their own confidence”

Adeeba Mushtak, a Systems engineer for BOEING with 4 years’ experience in the company:

“I firmly believe it is important for the kids to understand science and STEM, and having children understand from an early age helps develop their understanding in the long term”.

The girls from Redwood Primary Academy said, “It is amazing to know what it feels like to fly and to be in the air”

Jamie, 10 years of age, who tried the F-35 sim with a VR headset. Lacey, who is 10 said “I really liked building my own aircraft today”.

RAF Waddington complete the Freedom of Lincoln Parade

On Friday 21 April 2023 over 140 personnel from RAF Waddington attended the annual Freedom of Lincoln Parade.

The procession started at St Martins Square leading onto the High Street and to the war memorial in Lincoln City centre where they were greeted by the Station Commander, Group Captain Mark LorrimanHughes, the Mayor of Lincoln Rosanne Kirk.

The RAF Waddington Station Warrant Officer Michelle ReesMartin said,

“It is my absolute honour to be the Parade Warrant Officer for the 2023 Freedom of Lincoln Parade, especially as I am the first female Station Warrant Officer at RAF Waddington to do so. Station personnel are extremely busy with operational activities however, volunteers have been in abundance and thrilled to participate in this prestigious high profile local event.”

RAF Waddington Station Commander, Group Captain Lorriman-Hughes said, “It is an absolute pleasure once again to honour our status of holding the Freedom of Lincoln by parading for the city and its people. To be such an integral part of an amazing city and county, and to be so well integrated into the community is hugely important to us. Such days are a real opportunity to bring all parties of the community together and we very much look forward to, and take great pride in, it each and every year”.

The Freedom of the City was awarded in 1959 and is a huge honour for the station. The Freedom of Lincoln Parade allows station personnel to enter the city with bayonets fixed, colours flying and drums beating. RAF Waddington takes great pride in the ancient

RAF Waddington host His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh

On 9th June RAF Waddington hosted His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh around the station.

First, The Duke visited the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team and thanked them for their efforts in Their Majesties Coronation flypast in May earlier this year. His Royal Highness then met with the Space Assurance, Training, Test and Evaluation Unit that contribute to Space command.

Lastly, The Duke also paid a visit to the restored Vulcan XM607, the gate guardian of RAF Waddington that has been repainted ahead of the final stage of restoration work.

Whilst there The Duke met with several of the original Vulcan aircrew and the team that have diligently restored the aircraft to what it is today.

We are very proud to have Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh, as our

Honorary Air Commodore for the station.

RAF Waddington Field Gun Crew 2023 –A Station First

Following on from a successful 2022 Field Gun season as Number 1 trainer for British Forces Cyprus and a Warriors Junior Leaders Crew, Leading Hand Rowan committed himself to establish RAF Waddington’s first Field Gun Crew in order to compete in the Brickwood’s trophy in June 2023 at HMS Collingwood, Portsmouth.

The Brickwood’s Field Gun competition is recognised at all levels as embodying and championing the physical and mental courage, discipline, leadership, and teamwork required as part of the moral component of operational capability. Historically a Royal Naval drill which honours the senior service’s contribution to the relief of Ladysmith during the Boer War a crew of 18 highly disciplined, motivated, and physically fit field gunners, race to assemble an antique 1300kg field gun and run with it, disassembling and reassembling to exacting standards, before dramatically dragging the gun home to the finish line.

RAF Waddington’s crew and committee was assembled over 12 weeks of near continual training and a number of months logistical and administrative preparation. Following the approval of the Stn Cdr RAF Waddington Gp Capt Lorriman-Hughes to establish a Gun Crew, and OC BSW, Wg Cdr Donnelly approval for the take over and resourcing of 2 training areas, the necessary track training for the complex and fast paced drills could begin.

Generating and maintaining crew numbers proved to be exceptionally challenging on a large and operationally committed Stn and despite tireless promotion and recruiting efforts from the No1 Trainer 6 personnel from an initial starting roll of 20 were able to attend the weeklong Brickwood’s Tournament at HMS Collingwood in June. Rather than this sounding the death knell for the enterprise last minute assistance arrived in the form of a multinational contingent from JWC Stevanger who’s own Field Gun Crew had suffered similar misfortune to RAF Waddington’s. The additional 6 personnel flew to RAF Waddington to attend a week’s training concentration immediately before entering the competition.

During this week in an effort to raise further awareness of Field Gun and to provide a much sought-after item for charitable donation OC RAFAT, Wg Cdr Collins presented the combined crew with a signed Red Arrows protocol and offered the crew some much needed encouragement, and assistance with some of the drills!

and deployed services. Set against the backdrop of soaring temperatures and seasoned competitors the combined crew fared well overall, winning the second plate as well as the Best Drill Trophy as the crew received no penalties across 8 runs.

Still deficient crew members the combined Gun Crew of RAF Waddington and JWC Stevanger were joined by spare crew numbers from the REME and running under the NATO banner deployed to HMS Collingwood on the 26 June 23 for a week of gruelling heats against wellestablished crews from home

M Stubbs. Flt Lt

Field Gun Drills with OC RAFAT.

OC RAFAT – Wg Cdr Collins presenting RAF Waddington Field Gun Crew and guest members from JWC Stevanger with a signed Red Arrows protocol.

Where it all started at RAF Waddington – 6 weeks of track training!

Week 2 track training at RAF Waddington.

RAF Waddington Field Gun Crew running as NATO Crew at the Brickwoods Tournament at HMS Collingwood, 2 Jul 23. The 6 RAF Waddington personnel were joined by personnel from JWC Stevanger and REME.

Cross Country 22/23 Season Round Up

The Lincs Service Cross Country League is the league that RAF Waddington competes in and is made up of the local RAF and Army units and this year we raced in five events over the season.

The first race was held at Digby in very nice conditions. A frosty course meant there was no soft mud which made it much more like an uneven road run. The Waddington race was held in its traditional location of Bracebridge Heath along the Viking Way and around the fields near camp. Whilst it is one of the shorter courses it is also one of the harder ones, with the fields usually wet and runners having to run up and down the Cliffe three times. This year we were lucky with the weather in the lead up to it so it wasn’t the quagmire that it has been in previous years.

The season also included two big RAF races in January and February, the first being the Sir Sefton Brancker race which is the RAF vs Civil Service vs Fire Service event held at RAF Halton. Cpl Schofield won the RAF race with the RAF ladies taking the overall prize. The RAF Cross Country Champs were held two weeks later again at Halton. This is one of the selection races for the RAF team with AS1 West, AS1 Cantley, Cpl Schofield and Flt Lt Barnes from Waddington all selected to represent the RAF in the Inter Services Cross Country later that month.

Once in March we finished off the local season with a new race location for RAF Wyton and DMRC Stanford Hall, both of which are picturesque and interesting additions to the League. The final race was held at Cranwell and luckily, we took a large team which helped ensure that RAF Waddington took the overall Station prize by a mere two points.

We now move into the summer league which is road races, generally around the 10Km distance. As was shown in the cross country league just one runner can make a difference in the scoring and this is even more important in the summer league which works on maximum participation with runners scoring points for the Station irrespective of where they finish. As such participation in just one race will still score valuable points for RAF Waddington. Races are publicized in the Gym, on the Station TEAMS page and via a distribution list so please contact any of the Running Club if you wish to take part in any of the races.

MPGS V RAFP Annual Football Match RAF Waddington 18 May 2023

The day was finally here for the much-anticipated rematch of the MPGS V RAFP.

This was to be the 8th meeting of these 2 teams, with no victory so far for the MPGS in this, the Annual football match against the RAFP.

The match last year was close in the first half but the RAFP with age and a pool of regular RAF level players on their side, pulled away with the game in the second half roaring to victory.

Once changed into the strips; MPGS in Yellow and Blue and the RAFP in Red and Black, a good warm up, team photos, the handshakes and team talks took place. It was soon time for the competitive heads to come out, with shouts from both teams inspiring and encouraging each other to make a quick start ready for kick off.

1430 hrs and we were under way. The RAFP started the game off looking calm and collected, making some nice passes around the field, controlling a lot of the earlier possession, a few decent passes in to the MPGS half, who looked uncomfortable and were struggling to contain some of the speedy youngsters in the RAFP Team. The RAFP surged forward breaking and splitting the MPGS defence easily, getting on the score sheet within minutes!

The heads of the MPGS didn’t drop however. Not wanting a cricket score, they immediately began to pick themselves back up and get the game started off again. Though still hesitant at the back with some questionable

passing across their own goal, they started to settle in and pass the ball nicely. Then suddenly a quick break in to the RAFP half, the ball played through by Sgt Davis from the wing to Pte Vernon-Higgs, who kept his composure and put into the back of the net, 1-1, Game on!

The first half excitement didn’t stop there. In a matter of minutes Pte Vernon-Higgs latched onto another through ball to put the MPGS 2-1 up. It was a back and forth of who was leading the game with Sgt Collins bagging two great headers for RAFP, and Pte Vernon-Higgs MPGS putting another 1 away, getting his first hat-trick of the game. The first half saw chances a plenty with the RAFP surging forward really testing MPGS keeper LCpl Barrand, who rolled back the years with some fine, cat like, reflexes.

The first half ended MPGS 3 –3 RAFP.

The Second half and the teams were ready to go with MPGS having a slight shuffle of players and formation. These changes soon paid off as they looked a lot more settled on the ball in the second half, the defence looking solid with the guard literally set in the MPGS goal.

Assists from Sgt Davis and LCpl Sweeney to Pte VernonHiggs put MPGS up 5-3 with Vernon-Higgs looking like scoring every time he touched the ball.

The RAFP tried to get back into the game having good spells of possession on the

ball and Sgt Collins getting his hattrick, with Cpl Hamilton dictating the RAFP midfield build up.

The teams showed passion with a few fiery confrontations. Sgt Collins wanted to slap the cuffs on LCpl Sweeney for some hard challenges, showing how much it meant to each side!

However, the second half belonged to the MPGS. Cpl Roberts from Wittering banged in a goal, with Sgt Davis going close on a couple of occasions and Pte VernonHiggs with yet more attempts on goal and only the heroics of the RAFP keeper holding them in the game.

The RAFP went to the bench for inspiration and brought on striker Cpl Morley who didn’t take long to get on to the score sheet, then went close again with an effort from a free kick. However, it was all just a little too late. The MPGS had the RAFP figured out, their centre half bagged his second goal, one being an outstanding header from a corner. Pte Vernon-Higgs scored a further four, yes four goals! Giving him a hattrick of hattricks, a spectacular performance and obviously Man of the match.

The score ended MPGS 11-6 RAFP. The post-match handshakes and respect shown all round at the end of the game was exemplary, and the Silver Plate has gone home to The Main Guard room for the first time since this rivalry began 8 years ago.

The game was followed by a social event at the RAFP Griffin Bar where both teams had a BBQ and some refreshments, talking through the game, chances, what ifs and the mandatory displaying of what injuries each had picked up.

LCpl Barrand receiving the Silver Plate from Sgt Collins RAFP.

LCpl Barrand applauded by OC RAFP and Sgt Collins.

Team Capt LCpl Barrand (left) Pte Vernon-Higgs with the Silver Plate.

Fg

showed his

and appreciation

the team Captains, who brought this game together. He further added that events such as this are a great way of developing team cohesion, especially following on with a social event and an opportunity to spend time together outside of work.

LCpl Barrand was asked to come forward by OC RAFP to accept the winners Silver Plate on behalf of the MPGS Team, presented by Sgt Collins RAFP.

The RAFP Team are already plotting to win back the Silver Plate in next year’s game, however it will remain closely guarded until then.

Then the moment came for Sgt “Windy” Gale to ask OC RAFP, Fg Off Rickwood, to present the MPGS The Silver Plate.

Off Rickwood

thanks

to Cpl Morley and LCpl Barrand,

Man Of the Match 9 goal hero Pte Vernon-Higgs with the Silver Plate.

Sgt Collins denied by keeper LCpl Barrand again.

Sgt Collins scores past keeper LCpl Barrand.

Team MPGS celebrate left to right – Pte Briers, LCpl Barrand, LCpl Sweeney and Sgt “Windy” Gale.

Pte Bailey Vernon Higgs 9 goal hero goes close again.

Pte Vernon – Higgs Hits the post.

Combined MPGS (Yellow & Blue) V RAFP (Black & Red) Football Teams 11 Aside 18 May 2023.

Sgt Windy Gale challenges for a header.

Sgt Collins and Cpl Hamilton kick off .

Sgt Windy Gale goes in for a tackle.

Sgt Davis goes close with a shot.