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Issue 255 September 2011 IRONMAN: amputee ROyAl Marine conqueRs triathlon DefenceFocus Royal Navy | Army | Royal Air Force | Ministry of Defence | issue #255 SEPTEMBER/11 FINAl tests Hundreds of ground crew have kept RAF planes flying over Libya combatbarbie NANAVIGATORVIGATOR Lieutenant CoLoneL RiChaRd Lyne tells how 3 RoyaL angLian gRoup keeps the peaCe in CypRus op tosCa– p12 p24 medIcs on patrol Regulars Navy medics in Helmand p5 In memorIam p26 no ordInary joe Tributes to the fallen Marine Joe Townsend is an Ironman p20 verbatIm p28 KEEP HEALTHy Meet doyen of the DIO, Andrew Manley Symptoms of testicular cancer p22 my medals p31 crownInG Glory Corporal of Horse Andy Radford Win an overnight stay in the Crowne Plaza p30 pUZZLES p26 Crossword, chess and sudoku Exclusives p7 GroUndworks Keeping fast jets airborne over Libya p10 Have tHey Got news for yoU Helmand’s press pack is thriving p22 p18 designs on lasHkar GaH p31 Royal Engineers’ plan post-2014 SEPTEMBER 2011 | ISSUE 255 | 3 EDITOR’SNOTE DANNY CHAPMAN ago where the RAF personnel involved DefenceFocus in Operation ELLAMY are based. And in So maybe the Arab Spring has become the this issue we herald the work of the often For everyone in defence Arab Summer, in Libya at least (no sign unsung ground crews who have made it Published by the Ministry of Defence of summer in London yet), with joy on the possible for the Tornados and Typhoons Level 1 Zone C streets as it looks like the game is up for to strike at key Gaddafi targets. While the MOD, Main Building Gaddafi. Even if he has not been caught by message from our leaders at the moment is Whitehall London SW1A 2HB the time you read this it would seem there clearly one of the mission is not over yet and General enquiries: 020 721 8 1320 is little hope left for his former regime, won’t be until the Libyan people are safe and the “Free Libya Forces” and National from violence, how long the RAF are needed EDITOR: Danny Chapman Tel: 020 7218 3949 Transitional Council will be taking over the in Italy and the various Royal Navy ships email: [email protected] running of the country. needed in the Mediterranean remains to be ASSISTANT EDITOR: Ian Carr There is already much difference seen. Of course we’ll keep our online pages Tel: 020 7218 2825 of opinion amongst commentators over updated with the latest developments. email: [email protected] whether the toppling of the Gaddafi regime Apart from events in Libya it has been a ASSISTANT EDITOR: Leigh Hamilton vindicates the NATO mission in Libya or pretty quiet month in Defence. It’s Ramadan Tel: 020 7218 5988 whether the country will now descend so things in Afghanistan have been fairly email: [email protected] into civil war. Time will tell. One thing is quiet, with the exception of some large ASSISTANT EDITOR: Lorraine McBride for certain though, and that is all three scale attacks by the Taliban, notably against Tel: 020 721 82341 Services, in particular the RAF and Navy, the British Council offices in Kabul. email: [email protected] have been very busy indeed over the last five I guess September, with the return ASSISTANT EDITOR: Tristan Kelly months supporting the NATO campaign, of Parliament, the end of Ramadan, a new Tel: 020 7218 4252 and their involvement has clearly made brigade beginning operations in Helmand, email: [email protected] a difference. and the 10th anniversary of 9/11 all ART EDITOR: Mark Eagle Defence Focus writer Tristan Kelly occurring, things will become hectic again. Tel: 020 721 8 3658 visited the base in Italy a couple of weeks Maybe the English summer might begin too. email: [email protected] DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPORT: Shell Daruwala Tel: 020 7218 1320 email: [email protected] Download Defence Focus magazine pdf online MOD does not endorse any product or service advertised in Defence Focus, nor does it verify any preferential www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews treatment offered by any advertiser to MOD employees. Queries on advertisements should be addressed to our advertising agency. Opinions expressed in Defence Focus do not necessarily represent those of the MOD. Articles on all aspects of The Defence News Blog YouTube MOD and Defence will be considered for publication Get a daily update of all the major At Defence Headquarters YouTube the but we reserve the right to edit contributions. MOD defence stories running in the media latest videos from across Defence can staff contributing to Defence Focus should ensure their with the MOD’s official position on the be found, including clips of soldiers on writing is suitable for open publication. key issues, as well as a Defence Diary patrol in Helmand and briefings from Advertising with upcoming events of interest. senior personnel. Advertising sales are handled by Anthon Linton Visit www.blogs.mod.uk and subscribe at Ten Alps Media. Tel: 020 7657 1828 to the daily alerts. email: [email protected] Afghanistan Blog Updated daily with official news on the Distribution Facebook/Twitter UK mission in Afghanistan as well as The magazine is distributed through major military bases, depots and MOD offices. Join over 200,000 followers at the HM with stories from across the media and Armed Forces Facebook page and personal blogs from Armed Forces Printed by Corporate receive Defence HQ tweets @DefenceHQ personnel currently deployed. Document Services Ltd on 100 per cent on Twitter. www.ukforcesafghanistan.wordpress.com recycled paper 4 | WWW.MOD.Uk/DEFENCEINTERNET/DEFENCENEWS | SEPTEMBER 2011 inmEmoriam DEATHS ON OPERATIONS - 26 JULY to 26 AUGUST Marine James Robert Wright Aged 22, from Weymouth, Dorset, Marine Wright joined the Royal Marines Marine James Robert Wright, from J in November 2008. Joining J Company he Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, made many close friends, and had been serving as part of Combined Force carving out a very successful career. He Nad ‘Ali (North), was killed in Helmand was an immensely proud J Company province, southern Afghanistan, on ‘Jester’ and lived up to the true spirit of Friday 5 August 2011. the Company; hardworking, professional He was wounded by a grenade, yet socially robust. For Marine Wright, which was fired into his unit’s base at being in the Royal Marines was the Checkpoint Kamiabi when it came under supreme job, and he was looking forward attack following an extraction back to to a long and successful career wearing base after his patrol engaged insurgents the coveted Green Beret. in Nad ‘Ali district. He was evacuated He leaves behind his grandparents, to the hospital at Camp Bastion where father David, mother Sallie, sister Katie, sadly, despite medical treatment, he and partner Shelley, who is expecting later died of his wounds. their baby. Lieutenant Daniel John Clack while, in Switzerland, driving for a ski chalet company, exercising his passion Lieutenant Daniel John Clack, from for skiing and adventure. 1st Battalion The Rifles, was killed in He joined the Army in 2009 and Afghanistan on 12 August 2011. commissioned from the Royal Military The ten-man patrol he was leading Academy Sandhurst into The Rifles was struck by an improvised explosive in April 2010, serving as 8 Platoon device, killing him and injuring five Commander, C Company. other members of his patrol while they Since his arrival, Lieutenant Clack were entering the village of Dactran, had become immensely popular with Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand his Riflemen, to whom he showed great province, to speak to the local nationals, empathy and loyalty. He was known as a and discuss a shura due to take place man of integrity, and driven by doing the the next day. right thing. Aged 24, from North London, He leaves behind a loving family: Lieutenant Clack studied at Exeter his mother Sue, father Martin, brother University before working, for a short James, and fiancée Amy Tinley. Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging he flew the Tucano and Hawk before becoming a ‘Creamie’ Qualified Flying Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging of the Instructor on the Hawk at RAF Valley, Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (The teaching both students and instructors. Red Arrows) was killed when his Hawk He went on to serve with IV (AC) Squadron T1 aircraft - Red 4 - crashed around 1km - ‘Happy IV’, based at RAF Cottesmore, south east of Bournemouth Airport on flying the Harrier GR9. Saturday 20 August 2011. He was proud to support coalition Flight Lieutenant Egging, aged ground forces when flying operational 33 from Rutland, flew the Harrier GR9 missions in Afghanistan. He became the before joining the RAF Aerobatic Team. Squadron Qualified Flying Instructor He became interested in flying at an early during his last year on ‘Happy IV’, making age, inspired by his airline pilot father who the transition to teach on the Harrier used to allow him into the cockpit for take Operational Conversion Unit, RAF off and landing. Wittering, in 2010. Flight Lieutenant Egging joined the He leaves behind his wife, Emma. RAF in 2000. Selected for fast jet training (Note: this is not an operational death) SEPTEMBER 2011 | ISSUE 255 | 5 FEATUREGRoINTERVIEWundCrew Armed and dangerous: Senior Aircraftman Boland from 3 (Fighter) Squadron removing the pins from a Typhoon Ground Works a team of hundreds is making sure the raf’s fast jets get the job done in the skies over libya. tristan kelly reports. SEPTEMBER 2011 | ISSUE 255 | 7 GRoundCrew ut these in your ears,” says usual three to four, checks are required Squadron Leader Phil Leighton after only around 35 sorties. Then, a as he hands me some ear further team of engineers will fully check plugs seconds before yet the power, flight, avionics and weapons another Typhoon screams systems.
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