The official quarterly publication of Royal Air Force Benson Puma HC2 20000 FLYING HourS JHF OP RUMAN Co-RESPondERS CE DAY REMEMBRAN Winter 2017 Issue 76 www.raf.mod.uk/rafbenson Inside this Issue: Features Op RUMAN, Honours and Awards, 606 SQN FALKLANDS CONTENTS WIntER 2017 18 From the It still fascinates me to see the diversity of Operational Editor… Tasking, Exercises, Sport, Publishing Team FD, AT and Station Clubs I’m going to start this here at Benson – the list is PUBliSHER Editor’s Foreword practically endless. To that Lion’s Roar is published by Lance with a huge thank end, I would like to ask for Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor Tailby House, Bath you for all the as many interesting articles Road, Kettering, Northants NN16 8NL Tel: 01536 512624 contributions and and photographs to be included in future editions. Email: [email protected] efforts that have made Special congratulations go Visit: www.lancepublishing.co.uk the Lion’s Roar such a to Faith Hall of Year 6 from Company Registration No.3253372 success in this last year! RAF Benson Community Primary School – a great festive picture, chosen ADVERTISING MANAGER In addition, my thanks go to the by the Station Commander from Jayne Bailey distribution team who make sure all of the entries, and which looks Tel: 01536 526677 30 each station section and all of the fantastic as the Front Cover! Happy Email: [email protected] 599 SFA all receive a copy. Road Christmas from all at the Lion’s Roar! reps and the Central Registry, your DESIGNER help is very much appreciated! Andy Lyes Amanda Robinson Lion’s Roar Editor/OIC Tel: 01536 526676 Email: [email protected] PriNTER Lance Print Ltd, 29/30 Stapledon Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6TD Contents… Tel: 01733 390564 Email: [email protected] Visit: www.lanceprint.co.uk All COrrESPONDENCE Winter 2017 AND FEATURES TO… FS Andy Lyes, The Editor ‘Lions PAGE 33 SQUADRON Op RUMAN PAGE ROYAL BriTISH LEGION Roar’ RWOETU, RAF Benson, POppy AppEAL LAUNCH Wallingford, Oxon OX10 6AA 08 21 Tel: 01491827066 Email: [email protected] PAGE JHF Op RUMAN PAGE DEP CDR JHC prESENTS 10 22 HONOURS AND AwARDS Don’t Forget! PAGE 606 SQUADRON EX PAGE BENSON 78 USHTAR EAGLE Look out for the 10 20 12 24 next edition of Lion’s PAGE 606 SQUADRON POSTIE PAGE rAF BENEVOLENT FUND SUBmiSSION OF ARTiclES: Roar which is due Articles for the Lion’s Roar should 13 27 out in March 2018 12 be submitted by email, written in Microsoft Word (preferably not the latest version format) and PAGE 606 SQUADRON IN PAGE CO-RESPONDERS pictures should be sent as high THE FALKLANDS quality original jpegs and attached 14 30 as separate files, not embedded DiSclAimER: PAGE ROAD SAFETY WEEK in the text or reduced in size. PAGE JHSS ROYAL VISIT This publication is copyright Lance Publishing Limited and may not be reproduced or transmitted 16 31 in any form in whole or in part without prior written permission of Lance Publishing Limited. PAGE THrifT SHOP While every care has been taken during the PAGE MPGS GARDEN OF preparation of this magazine, Lance Publishing REMEMBRANCE Limited cannot be held responsible for accuracy 18 32 of the information herein or for any consequence arising from it. Views Expressed in this publication PAGE PUMA HC2 COMPLETES PAGE PErcy & willy are not necessarily those of the Royal Air Force 20000 FLYING HOURS or the Ministry of Defence. All images © UK MoD 20 33 Crown Copyright 2016 unless otherwise stated. 4 LION’S ROAR WIntER 2017 Mission: To deliver Support Helicopter operational capability www.raf.mod.uk/rafbenson WIntER 2017 LION’S ROAR 5 REGULARS Stn CDR’S ForEWorD Foreword from the Station Commander... Editorial Team OIC/EDITOR Andy Lyes Once again it is striking Ext: 7062 33 SQN REP how much has been Flt Lt Dave Rawson 28 Sqn, Ext: 8039 achieved by Team Benson 230 SQN REP Flt Lt Dusko Frost during the short period 230 Sqn, Ext: 7159 28 SQN REP Flt Lt Steve Wilder between Lion’s Roar editions. 28 Sqn, Ext: 8072 LS REP Fg Off Dan Allum The efforts of those who go above and outputs. The Puma Force has now OC M&T Flt, Ext: 7428 beyond has been abundantly apparent achieved 20,000 flying hours on the ExpEDITION & SpORTS REP in both the formal honours and awards Puma HC2, many of those hours achieved Flt Lt Phil Corral, presented by Deputy Commander JHC during Op TORAL. This milestone is a STO, Ext: 5219 during his recent visit, and at our own testament to the determination and BSW REP home grown awards presented during output focus of not just the Puma Force Ms Nikki Hamilton the frankly humbling Benson 78 dining- but the Station as a whole. SEO, Ext: 7245 in-night. On a personal level, one of OPS WG REP Post their extremely successful my biggest recent challenges and VACANT deployment on Op RUMAN, all our responsibilities was judging the RAF 606 SQN REP personnel have now returned (the last Benson Community Primary School’s Fg Off Will Nolan few should be home before this goes drawing competition to select the front 606 Sqn Media, Ext: 7238 to print!). What Benson has achieved on cover for this edition! It was a really PHOTO & IMAGEry REP Op RUMAN (the Puma Force, Aviation tough choice as there were so many Sgt Malthouse Task Force 3 HQ, JHSS and wider Station fantastic pictures, so my congratulations Photo Section, Ext: 7265 support) has been acknowledged by to all the children for their efforts and of CARTOONIST many, including the Prime Minister herself course to the winner! FS Dave Mc Crindle at PMQ’s in the Houses of Parliament. As we approach the festive season MLO ADJ Ext 7085 Two articles from very different and a period of well-earned rest after DiSTriBUTION perspectives in this issue will show just such a busy year, I wish you all a safe and Mr Tizzard, Mr Cole, Mr Guppy how demanding the deployment was; thoroughly enjoyable Christmas break, & Sgt Craig Bennett however, the sense of achievement not forgetting of course those personnel and pride is easy to see throughout. I deployed and their families back here. am enormously proud of the Station’s I am conscious that 2018 will (as response to Op RUMAN and I hope you ever!) be a busy year: Op TORAL will are too. continue, Exercise Saif Sareea in Oman 606 RAuxAF Sqn have had will be a major event and we will their mettle tested, both in the arid celebrate the Service’s Centenary in environment of Albania and in the less ‘RAF100’. We will do our best to get the hospitable climate of the Falkland Islands. balance right, such that we can look back Once more, Reservists and Regulars at the end of 2018 with the same sense working alongside each other has of pride in what has been achieved as we demonstrated the ‘Whole Force’ concept can feel now as 2017 draws to a close. in action, delivering genuine mutual My sincere thanks again for your advantage – something we value highly continued hard work and the way in as part of the Team Benson ethos. which you conduct your business. In spite of the very short notice to deploy to the Caribbean, the Station has A very happy Christmas and Hogmanay continued to support wider Defence when it comes! COVER CREDIT: Faith Hall of Year 6 from RAF Benson Community Primary School. 6 LION’S ROAR WIntER 2017 Mission: To deliver Support Helicopter operational capability 33 SQN OP ruman The flying task continued despite the to stay as the only person with setbacks and everyone was keen to do as experience of winds above 30kts since Puma Force Delivers on Op RUMAN much as possible. 40 Commando began he wasn’t born in the UK. Sgt Caven to increase the amount of tasking as they also stayed behind although he did realised what the aircraft could offer and actually volunteer! The remainder of the The first Readiness State 2 (R2) contingency operations deployment the ops team and crews would actively engineers and JHF3 remained at St Croix pursue tasks via the BVI Main Airfield at and prepared as best they could to ride for Puma 2 saw the Puma Force, represented by 33 Squadron A Flight, Beef Island and through engaging with FCO it out. However, Maria strengthened and DFID teams wherever possible. Typical as she arrived in the Caribbean and an carrying out tasking in the wake of hurricane Irma just four days after tasks at this point were troop movements nth hour evacuation was carried out. for 40 Commando and moving supplies to As soon as Maria had passed the three being given the green light to deploy. sustain them, moving support equipment, aircraft were flown back from their place moving aid and shelters around the islands of shelter in St Vincent’s, to St Croix. The for the marines to distribute and moving island had been badly hit by this hurricane the R2 commitment following their return The aircraft, crews, engineers and government personnel on recces. With fuel and the airport had not escaped. The from TORAL two months previously. Despite support functions went on to complete available at Beef Island airport, the aircraft hangar that the aircraft had been in was traditionally being known as ‘Arctic’ flight, almost 200 flying hours of demanding could transit to the BVI in the morning and damaged and the main door had blown tasking across 19 operating days in Flt Lt Steven Mills, the 2ic was confident locations spanning hundreds of miles they would be at home in the warm seas, despite tough conditions and the sandy beaches and tropical climate of the onslaught of another hurricane! Caribbean and the flight even welcomed a lone tiger in to the detachment in the form of Flt Lt ‘Gus’ Spiers of 230 ‘B’ Flight.