Twenty Four The Magazine of 24 Squadron Association Issue 9 Summer 2002 Contents Page No Editorial The 2001 Reunion 1 The months since the 2001 Reunion have been quiet for the Flying Machines 3 Association except for an initial flurry of returned postcards from Memory Banks 1 5 some of our “ghost” members. Very pleased to hear from you and that you are quite definite about wanting to stay on the mailing list. So Keeping in Touch 14 without further ado, another issue of Twenty Four to browse over. It has not been as quiet on the world stage, with our military forces Memory Banks 2 16 pushed to the limits once again. The back up required to keep the Front Line supplied with men and materials is never more evident at Nav’s Diary 17 such times with Lyneham and the Squadrons all at 110%. With such overwhelming evidence, it may come as a surprise to some of you 24 Squadron Update 21 that the very existence of RAF Lyneham is in question and under threat of closure. Late News 24 Huge support for the base by local MP’s, councillors, villages, traders Editor and even Association members in the formidable form of “Sam Wright” have been leading an impressive battle to make such an David Burgin option unthinkable. We would like to add our support also for the Association President only possible decision – KEEP LYNEHAM OPEN. AVM John Tetley Association Committee Keith Chapman - Chairman The Year 2001 Reunion Clive Harley - Dep. Chair Keith Rayner - Treasurer David Burgin - Secretary he Reunion weekend more such evenings. started on the Friday evening as usual, Saturday morning did not Squadron Liaison but instead of the reveal any casualties late on Tinformal get-together at the W/C Rick Hobson parade from the previous F/L Phil Whitworth Hilton, it was straight in, all nights festivities, the welcome booted and suited for the from the Squadron personnel Ladies Guest night at the and refreshments certainly Mess. This change of format helped. came about as a result of a suggestion at last years AGM and seems to have With the AGM safely ticked worked a treat. off as the first item on the days agenda, no mean feat in Twenty Four is the view of a change of Chairman Newsletter of 24 It was the best ever and other hot topics, it was a Squadron Association and attendance the Association pleasure to settle down for issued once a year to has had for the evening our official briefing from Wing all members. dinner and brought a sense Commander Rick Hobson, of "family" to the night with OC 24. This was a year and Contributions to Assoc. so many past and present Sec at :- a day after the Association members sitting down first met Rick prior to him 15 Birch Grove together. Old and long lost taking over the from Paul CHIPPENHAM friends met up once again, Oborn. Wilts SN15 1DD despite the trials and tribulations of the M4 email motorway. A toast to many We almost believed we were Page 2 Issue 9 Summer 2002 Twenty Four all pilots with wings as Rick the aircraft are really Route flying. gave a briefing on how to fly impressed and quick to point the new C130J. His team out that larger more recent Charities, mainly Burton Hill consists of 4 Flight leased transports (C17) have House School, still continue Commanders, 23 Captains, been around for 10 years, not to be well supported by the 12 Co-pilots and 14 brand new like the J. The Squadron, £350 being raised Loadmasters working for 2 future looks bright with the J on a recent tombola evening. Group. The Squadrons as software updates start to This and other events have responsibilities also include kick in during early 2002 and placed the School in a healthy acting as the J model will include a Tactical financial position. conversion unit trainers. capability, along with night vision, defensive aids, secure communications and tanker A new avenue of interest for With the old K model ageing the Squadron is a proposed rapidly, the race was on to capability by 2005. affiliation to the Carmen bring in the new J model, the Livery Company in the City of first arriving in 1999, but it The aircrew training and London. This unusual was not until November 2000 conversion role already request, (in real speak an that the first operational route mentioned being carried out order) came via the AOC to to Gibraltar was flown. The by 24 Squadron has meant encourage organisations to RAF is taking delivery of 25 in that even on Lyneham base, improve relations with other total at around £70M each the crews are working in two local and national societies. and for the spotters amongst locations. The School House you, here's what to look out contains 4 CBT classrooms for:- and 2 dynamic mission A reminder and invitation was simulators with impressive extended to all concerning the commemoration of the Pisa ⇒ External - no external visual graphics showing a variety of world wide accident with a church service fuel tanks, 6 bladed at St. Michael's in Lyneham props, black boot on locations. Loadmasters and th ground crew have also been village on the 9 November base of fin for HF 2001. A similar service was communications and included in the complete training package with the planned to be held in Italy to de-icing, not normally coincide with the UK date. fitted with a refuelling facilities of a Rear Cabin probe. Trainer available within the School House. The Station is The presentation was broadly split into a North and rounded off with the a variety ⇒ Internal - "Glass cockpit South divide due to the of impressive digital photos of instrumentation, NO geography and takes the recent trips being shown to a Engineers position, format old models, Tactical packed audience along with a Head Up Display and a role and the new model, world class radar system. ACCOMMODATION The type of tasking the Squadron being allocated is a A weekend break rate may be available at the Hilton Hotel (Tel 01793 long slip pattern to the Middle 881777) but not a preferential one for the Squadron this year. Try the East which ties up around 5 crews, plus other trips to Internet or Teletext for a special deal. Over the road is the Lydiard Kenya and Australia. The Travel Inn offering Room only rates at under £40 per day, any day of the flight planning process is able week and is the cheaper option for couples or families. They may be to make use of a laptop contacted on 01793 881490 for more details and bookings. Chippenham computer to upload the latest Tourist Information Office (01249 706333) will give you details of other Jetplans, as well as plug in accommodation in the area and arrange booking for you. Mission modules. From the flyers perspective, it is a Don’t forget this year on the Friday evening it’s the new format. We radically different aircraft to shall be having the formal evening dinner in the Sgts Mess at Lyneham, fly and requires changes to which should reduce the overall expenses for the weekend by needing to established operating procedures and thought pay for ONE nights accommodation to enjoy the full weekend agenda. processes. If you fancy staying an extra night, the IBIS Hotel, Swindon on the Delta Business Park ( Tel 01793 514777) is the nominated venue for an informal get-together off base from 7pm onwards on the 5th October All the crews who have flown and become established on 2002. Twenty Four Issue 9 Summer 2002 Page 3 lively question and answer session before our lunch. smaller wings of higher as- pect-ratio, and wing area was An afternoon reminiscing in the atmosphere of the crew room, reduced from the DC4E's poring over old photos and flight records proved as popular as 2,155 sq ft (200.6 sq m) to ever. For the more adventurous, a tour over the new J model 1,457 sq ft (135.4 sq m). The was laid on, which also gave a glimpse of what is going on at new wings. with constant ta- Lyneham base to support all these global operations. per on leading and trailing edges, had a centre-section of Suddenly the day was at a close, sad, but another one to look typical Douglas/Northrop con- forward to next year. The overwhelming theme this time was a sense of togetherness. The message to be learnt is to bring as struction with three spars many family and friends to this unique experience. while their outer panels were of single spar construction. The tricycle undercarriage, one of the most successful features of the original Doug- Flying Machines of 24 – Skymaster las four-engined transport- was retained for the new DC- 4, although in a modified form The Douglas engineering as the main units retracted for- I n issue 8 of the Newsletter, team, led by A. E. Raymond ward into the inboard engine we covered the Avro York to and E. F. Burton, was aware nacelles instead of laterally the years when the Hastings that there would be little or into wing wells. The aircraft, took over the VIP role. In look- no benefit in limiting itself to with accommodation for 40 ing back on the aircraft types a redesign and decided to de- passengers by day-ten rows used by 24, the Valetta C 1 sign a completely new aero- with two seats on each side of made a brief appearance in the plane.