MAGAZINE INSIGHTISSue 3 2012 VULCAN XM607 AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE InsIghtMAGAZINE 1 THE MAGAZINE OF RAF WADDINGTON IS noW onLine: WWW.THEINSIGHTONLINE.CO.UK 2 InsIghtMAGAZINE t’s all going on in the UK this year. As well as the usual trails, cheerleading school, geocoaching (high-tech programme of summer festivals and events, there’s the Olympics treasure hunting game using GPS devices), archery, and the Paralympics thrown into the mix – an added excuse to body zorbing, Junior Geo (kids can pan for gold, Iplan a holiday in Britain so you don’t miss any of the action. make their own fossils, they also get sand-pouring UK operator Away Resorts owns three holiday parks: Whitecliff souvenirs, dig for dinosaurs and a membership Bay on the Isle of Wight; Mill Rythe Holiday Village on pack), Crack Pots (painting pottery, puppets, Hayling Island; and Tattershall Lakes in Lincolnshire. faces and hands) and Science Bugs. Then, there’s the night-time entertainment with live bands and If the thought of chilling out at a lake-side retreat for a week shows, such as the ABBA Story and Champions of or two ticks your boxes, then Tattershall Lakes is the perfect UK Rock, and our very own Rock the Lake. holiday destination, packed full of activities for all the family and a whole range of quality accommodation. Its location close to Accommodation comes in all shapes and sizes, from the RAF Coningsby also means that guests at the park get treated to glamping (posh camping in ready erected tents), holiday the odd flypast by the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight team caravans and luxury lodges. Or if you prefer bring along your in the World War II aircraft at the base. tent, tourer or motorhome and pitch up. The facilities at Tattershall Lakes are second to none. With eight A number of these holiday homes and luxury lodges are also lakes in the park, there is jet-skiing, waterskiing, fishing, available to buy, giving you the option to go on holiday whenever even banana-boating to do, plus an 18-hole golf course you want. Tattershall Lakes Country Park has a dedicated Holiday and bike hire, with acres of woodland to explore. There’s Home Advisors who can help those interested in holiday home also a new leisure complex with swimming pool and spa, ownership. Competitive and guaranteed finance options are with a menu packed full of tantalising treatments including available on the day subject to deposit. everything from manicures and pedicures to hot-stone therapy massages. The park also runs an Earning-by-Lettings scheme so holiday home owners can earn money on renting out their accommodation Extra activities for the kids include pool while they are not there, helping to cover the running costs of the snorkelling, abseiling, archery, kayaking, flying holiday home. remote control helicopters, water walkerz, walking So, if you have still not booked your annual summer holiday yet, why not check out Tattershall Lakes Country Park – 2012 is the year of the great UK holiday. www.tattershall-lakes.com Tel: 01526 344508 InsIghtMAGAZINE 3 INSIGHT MAGAZINE Issue 3 2012 From the Editor… What an exciting issue we have this time. think the front cover photo gives which he was awarded the Victoria you a sense of the history that we Cross. Well Waddington has another have included in this issue; of course decorated individual – Aircraftsman this has been the year of the 30th Class 2 Charles Wheatley who was anniversary celebrations for the Black awarded the George Medal – his EDITORIAL TEAM: IBuck raids so we had to pay tribute to memory lives on now that 8 Force [email protected] them. In fact I was lucky enough to Protection Wing have named their new External Email: Use personal email addresses listed meet Squadron Leader (Retired) Martin building after him, so you will be able Tel: 01522 720271 (7801Ext No.) Withers, the pilot of Black Buck 1, at a to read about why he was awarded this Editor: recent lunch and we were privileged to gallantry medal. Squadron Leader Vanessa Plumley hear excerpts from the Vulcan 607 book, Well after over a year and half, it [email protected] as well as his tales from 30 years ago. is my turn to handover the reigns of Deputy Editor: You can read how another avid fan has Insight Magazine. Thank you all for Flight Lieutenant Danny Mortimer replicated Vulcan 607 as a model aircraft. your support over the last 18 months, [email protected] We have a number of feature articles I have really enjoyed being immersed Assistant Deputy Editor including one from the daughter of in the editing of the Station Magazine Flying Officer Anna Sznerch Mr Eric Baldwin who was an Upper and thank my team of Flight Lieutenant [email protected] Middle Gunner from the Lancaster, Mortimer, Flying Officer Sznerch and Distribution: who sadly passed away earlier this year. Corporal Calvert for their continued Corporal Stephen Calvert However, but since his World War 2 days, support to produce and distribute Ext 6495 [email protected] maintained his relationship with RAF your Station Magazine. I hand over to Artwork: S Oliver Waddington as a dual national he always Squadron Leader Mark Brammer, who Photography: supported our Anzac Day memorials. I am sure you will support with your Sgt Karl Whitelaw, Cpl Loz Platfoot, Cpl Sarah Draper, In the last issue we celebrated the contributions. The next Issue will be out SAC Chris Davidson, SAC Lauren Pope, SAC Andy successes of Squadron Leader Nettleton mid August so send in your submissions Stevens, SAC Ben Stevenson and in particular the Augsburg raids for to the Insight team by 29 June. Advertising by: Jo Marchant Tel: 01536 526674 Designed by: Rowena Wilson Tel: 01536 521126 Published by: Lance Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House, Bath Road,Kettering.NN16 8NL Tel: 01536 512624 On the cover Fax: 01536 515481 VULCAN 607 – RAF WADDINGTON www.lancepublishing.co.uk GATE GUARDIAN Email: [email protected] Printed by: Lance Print Ltd 4 InsIghtMAGAZINE 14 20 23 26 Please send your contributions to: The Editor, Insight Magazine, RAF Waddington, Lincoln, LN5 9NB. In this Issue… disappointing start 56(R) SQuadron staff 04 From the editor 17 for “Nimrod” 26 ride. EXercise phoeniX remembers who was Station CutbacKS. WE’ll do aircraftsman class 06 Commander’S 19 our own grass 28 2 (ac2) charles Foreword wheatley? A day in the life of an Passport to win two so long farewell 06 MT Driver 20 lancaster taXI rides 32 5 (AC) SQuadron. DON’T Waddington 10 worry, we’re not 20 personnel ‘scramble’ 32 the Kings of the SKY invading you... into action Eric Baldwin. 4th community matters raf waddington 11 February 1923-28th 21 39 supports local february 2012 charity EXercise winter schools augsburg 14 respect 2012 22 CHALLENGE 2012 42 PADRE’S PATTER vulcan XM607 17 SQuash court 24 as you’ve never refurbishment seen it before The magazine is entirely funded by advertising and costs the Station nothing to produce. Insight is not an official publication and, unless otherwise stated, views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent MOD, RAF or Station policy. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the editor or publishers. Advertisements accepted on the understanding that they conform to the British Code of Advertising Practice. Insight is produced by kind permission of the Station Commander, RAF Waddington. InsIghtMAGAZINE 5 rfIELD SErvICES AI RANSPORT (ASMT) MECHANICAL T TMAN GrEEN: BY SENIOR AIRCRAF After a 5am start I set off on the first refuel Station of the day with no time to ease into the swing of things. Standing outside for an hour whilst Commander’s refuelling a Sentry aircraft in this temperature is going to be emotional, with only the thought of a warm up with a brew to cheer me up. Foreword... Unfortunately before I can put the kettle on Group Captain Al Gillespie I have to head out again for a refuel on the Station Commander Air Ambulance but first the Large Capacity Aircraft Refueller needs its daily inspection (DI) before I can proceed. The DI not only Welcome to Royal Air Force Waddington’s Insight involves the usual checks you would expect Magazine. Summer is now upon us and, across on a vehicle but also the quality and condition Waddington, everyone is starting to gear up for of the fuel needs testing for the presence of the 2012 International Airshow and support to the water, biological contamination, fuel density Olympic Games. n annual airshow provides a tyrannical foe and provided ISTAR and close welcome opportunity to reflect air support to the British Army worldwide. on the preceding 12 months Although technology has advanced out of and, as I do so, I continue to all recognition, these essential roles endure marvel at the endless enthusiasm and today – come along at the end of the month to Aenergy displayed by everyone who delivers find out more. and supports Waddington’s mission of Inside this issue, I am grateful for generating Combat ISTAR aircraft for use on the article written by Mr Eric Baldwin’s operations. Last year was remarkable due to daughter. Eric served on the Royal the unprecedented rate of effort expended Australian Air Force’s No 467 Sqn, served in supporting simultaneously operations in and met his wife at RAF Waddington 1943- Afghanistan and Libya; the vast majority 45. Eric passed away, aged 89, in February of the team have now had an opportunity this year and I was pleased to be able to to recharge their batteries and return to repay some of his steadfast loyalty to the readiness in advance of the next contingent Station by opening the doors of the Station operation.