ISSUE 2 INSIGHTINSIGHT ISSUE 2 INSIGHTMAGAZINE 1 INSIGHT In this issue… ISSUE 2 2018 From the 08 STATION COMMANDER’S FOREWORD Editor… 09 RAF ASSOCIATION’S SURVEY EDITORIAL TEAM: 10 IBCC Sqn Ldr Keith [email protected] Bissett External Email: 11 THE DAM BUSTERS WITH DAN SNOW 23 19 Welcome Use personal email addresses listed CELEBRATE RAF CENTENARY to this Tel: +44 (0)1522 728377 12 issue of BRANSBY HORSES HOSTS PROMS IN Insight. Editor: Sqn Ldr Keith Bissett 13 THE PADDOCK [email protected] This issue’s 14 OFFUTT RAF100 EVENT articles include photos from the Deputy Editor: International Bomber Command Flt Lt D.J Hopkinson SMOOTH RIDING Centre gala dinner, an article on 16 the visit by DComOps, Air Marshal [email protected] Stuart Atha, and the handover of the 19 EXERCISE RED FLAG Station Commander’s cadet. I hope Artwork: you enjoy reading the second issue S. Oliver 20 THE THRIFT SHOP NEEDS YOU! of Insight of 2018. Advertising by: DEPUTY COMMANDER OPERATIONS This year the Royal Air Force 21 celebrates its centenary, as the Jo Marchant VISIT TO RAF WADDINGTON world’s first independent air armed Tel: 01536 526674 force, and this will be marked by 22 CO’S CADETS 14 22 a number of events nationally Designed by: and locally. I would ask you all Amanda Robinson WADDINGTON HOLIDAY HOME to consider ways in which we 23 [email protected] can, as a Station and community, commemorate the achievements of 24 CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT the RAF, celebrate this significant Published by: milestone on and off base, and how Lance Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House, 25 WCOF VISIT we can inspire our local community. Bath Road, Kettering, NN16 8NL The Station’s RAF 100 team can be Tel: 01536 512624 Fax: 01536 515481 RIVET JOINT CO-MANNING contacted via WAD-RAF100@mod. 26 www.lancepublishing.co.uk gov.uk and they would be very grateful for your suggestions or [email protected] if you would like to step forward and volunteer. Printed by: Lance Print Ltd This magazine would not be what it is without your support and your articles. If you would like to contribute to or if you have any suggestions please send them to the magazine at our new MODNET email 13 11 address: WAD-InsightEditorialTeam@ On the cover: Cadet Flight mod.gov.uk or by post to Squadron Seargeant Matthew Pearce is 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 Leader Keith Bissett, Insight Editor, formally appointed as the Station 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. c/o 51 Sqn, RAF Waddington. Commander’s Cadet for 2018. 4 INSIGHTMAGAZINE INSIGHTMAGAZINE 5 The Ruskington Chestnut Street CofE Primary Academy Our Six church school values are: Compassion; Respect; Honesty; Perseverance; Trust & Forgiveness. At Chestnut Street we aim to enable all of our children to succeed and feel good about themselves. Our six Church school values underpin all of our work and activities at school. Chestnut Street is committed to high standards and high achievement. The dedicated staff at our amazing school work extremely hard to create safe, inspiring and motivating environments and opportunities, for our children to flourish with their learning. The Ruskington Chestnut Street CofE Primary Academy, Chestnut Street, Ruskington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 9DL Want to find out more? Please look at our website www.chestnutstreet.co.uk or phone the school on Tel: 01526 832424 to arrange a visit. Take Part in the RAF Association’s Survey Station Commander’s and Make Your Voice Matter The RAF Association It’s a few years since we help all generations of RAF helped tell thousands of Foreword... is running one of its last asked for the detailed personnel and their families. bedtime stories to children largest information information that is crucial We also support serving whose parents were away to our understanding of families if they need us. We on operations, and gave gathering surveys Gp Capt Tom Burke pressure, to assume others the needs of people in the give practical, emotional tailored holidays to 2,500 ever and needs you MA BSc RAF are not working as hard RAF and we hope many and financial support. RAF veterans, widows and or pulling their weight. to complete it. will respond to give us the family at our Wings Breaks Welcome to Insight There is no place for most up-to-date picture.” Our membership of more hotels. Our support ranges magazine. I hope by unconstructive criticism of The survey was circulated than 72,000 includes serving from simply providing the time you read this others without the bigger he welfare team at to some 50,000 RAF RAF personnel, veterans and conversation and friendship picture. My plea is for a the Association has Association members at the members of the public who to preparing and submitting that Winter will finally bit more kindness here T put together a short start of January, and many want to show their support application forms for have cleared off! The and there – it goes a long (5 to 10 minute) secure thousands of responses have for the work that we do. financial assistance. ‘Beasts from the East’ way and is not contrary online survey to understand already come in. But the presented snowy to good order & military more about the activities charity is hoping for more Across the UK in 2016 Charity numbers: 226686 roads and freezing discipline! Whether it’s and needs of members of extensive findings from the Association carried (England and Wales), conditions but it the Cpl guarding the the RAF family. Whether across the whole of the RAF out 13,800 home visits, SCO37673 (Scotland). gate, the LAC in the tool you are currently serving, family. These findings will was reassuring to store, the JPA Auditor, the have served, or you are the then be made publically see that, the Station Carillion-Amey customer family member of a serving available in June 2018. rose to the challenge service representative person the charity wants to To find out more and and maintained an or your favourite Wg Cdr ensure that its activities are complete the survey please operational airfield – a kind word here and tailored to meet your needs. visit rafa.org.uk/survey. throughout it. there works wonders… If you have any queries Dr Prema Nirgude, Welfare or would like further As you must be aware by Research and Insight Officer information, please contact now, April is the centenary at the Association says: Dr Prema Nirgude at the y particular month of the formation of “Whether you volunteer, RAF Association on prema. thanks go to the the Royal Air Force as an support someone as an [email protected]. M men and women independent air arm. We unpaid carer or are a user of ASMT for their heroic were the first independent of one of our many welfare About the Royal Air snow clearing and to all Air Force in the world Station representatives in team are running several services, it is important Forces Association who served in the ‘tiger and we have a very rich the national show piece events to celebrate, that your views are shared teams’ digging out airfield history, of which you are a events throughout the commemorate, and inspire so we can best shape our The Royal Air Forces lights and looking after vital part. As this issue of summer – including the us through this historic current and future services. Association (or RAF our Military working Dogs. the magazine is delivered big parade and flypast anniversary. Many of these From supporting the RAF Association) is a membership to the Station the Freedom on 10th July in London. are interwoven with our family with Storybook Wings, organisation and registered As we are now back to as of Lincoln Parade will be packed calendar of social to being there for serving charity that provides welfare close to ‘normal’ as life in our very recent history. To ensure everyone can events. Make the most personnel on station with support to the RAF family. gets at RAF Waddington, The Freedom of the City is get involved my RAF100 of these opportunities. our refurbished contact I suggest we take stock of an ancient honour granted houses, free communal The Association recognises the continuing challenge to military organisations wi-fi and Mental Health that RAF personnel and and resolve to look out giving them the right to First Aid Lite training, The their immediate families for each other whilst enter the city “with drums RAF Association supports dedicate their lives to their we deliver the mission. beating, colours flying and anyone in the RAF family. country, and we believe If you work here, you bayonets fixed” and was that such a sacrifice should probably feel under granted to the Station in This doesn’t stop when you not result in suffering, pressure to deliver with 1959. Parades like the one leave the service, as our poverty or loneliness. stretched resources – you in April are testament to befriending‘The time draws project near tackles the birth are not alone! It is vitally the enduring relationship loneliness andof Christ. isolation, our Whether it’s an injured important that we pull between the City, the highly trained caseworkers airman or woman fighting A present that cannot be Priced together and recognise Service Community and support those with a welfare to get back on their feet, a the value of the whole the people of Lincoln.