THE RAF CONINGSBY JOURNAL onetoone ISSUE 4 2013
A LOOK BACK ON CONINGSBY’S AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS 2 ISSUE 4 2013 onetoone 3 4 CONTENTS ISSUE 4 2013 onetoone 5
xFEATURES Ex SAUDI BRITISH GREEN FLAG 06 Coningsby’s Expeditionary Air Wing 08 Stn Cdr’s Foreword SQUADRON NEWS Group Captain Johnny Stringer 3(F) Sqn 12 XI Sqn 14 29(R) Sqn 16
BASE SUPPORT WING Wing Overview 18 What’s on at the HIVE 20 Padres Piece 21 Helpful House Hints 21 ENGINEERING & LOGISTICS WING Winter Driving 24 Photographer of the Year 26 OPERATIONS WING A view from the waterfront 28 PEOPLE & ACHIEVEMENTS 60 Second interview 30 Bomber Command Clasp 30 Military Wives Choir 30 Bonfire Night 33 CHARITY “A REPRISE OF THE YEAR? Ex Reds Coast to Coast cycle ride 34 HOW BORING.” AFTER ALMOST FORCE DEVELOPMENT 18 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, Remembering in Luxembourg 36 MRS STRINGER KNOWS HER SPORT HUSBAND FAR TOO WELL, AND 2013 Sporting Roundup 38 HAS MOVED WELL BEYOND Editorial & Distribution Team Editor’s Foreword • Sqn Ldr Thom Colledge ISSUE 4 2013 THE PLACE FOR POLITE IF continue to be amazed at the last year on Christmas Day a thought for the Coningsby FALSE ENCOURAGEMENT. EDITING THE output of the station. In the their father loaded the folk who are working hard CHRISTMAS I short 3 month period since pessimist’s room with every to keep you safe. And finally, owever, I hope both more convinced than ever EDITION OF I last penned this column we toy and game imaginable. please don’t wish too hard for a she and you will allow that we must challenge those have hosted a major combined The optimist’s room he filled white Christmas; clearing snow Hat least some reflection things that hold us back, onetoone ONETOONE IS air exercise with the Royal with horse manure. Later off 9000 feet of runway isn’t on a year that had a bit of and own and be responsible A FUNNY ONE. Saudi Air Force, built and run that night the father passed anyone’s idea of a merry one. everything, including a visibly for those things that we a deployed international joint by the pessimist’s room and moved Chris Evans. Overseas can. I intend to make this ALTHOUGH BY force headquarters, deployed found him sitting amid his Thom Colledge deployments to the Middle a cornerstone of how we Editor Publishers NOW EVERYONE on operations in the Middle new gifts crying bitterly. “Why 01526 347506 East and America, and one to approach all of our business in Sqn Ldr Thom Colledge Lance Publishing Ltd, IS FORWARD East at the drop of a hat plus are you crying?” the father [email protected] Cyprus replaced by the real 2014, from providing support 1st Floor, Tailby House, Bath Road, a whole host of other exciting asked. “Because my friends will thing...the most significant and facilities to our families, FOCUSED ON THE achievements all captured in be jealous, I’ll have to read all *The answer is Die Hard by the way. RAF/ Royal Saudi Air Force through to maximising Distribution Kettering NN16 8NL. the following pages. these instructions before I can Tel: 01536 512624 CHRISTMAS BREAK exercise yet conducted at the operational capability from Lead: Cpl Ian Scott do anything with this stuff, Fax: 01536 515481 same time...the Dambusters the Coningsby Typhoon Wing Deputy Lead: SAC Graham Dexter AND SOME MUCH As I write these words I’ll constantly need batteries, 70th Anniversary, and and our lodging units. We Email: [email protected] in the week of XI Squadron’s and my toys will eventually Distribution Team: NEEDED TIME WITH Jamie Norris flying the flag have already kicked off some www.lancepublishing.co.uk safe return from Cyprus, it is get broken.” answered the for Service, Force, Station, work on this and everyone SAC Jez Parkinson-Stuart (LS) FRIENDS AND pleasing to think of all the men pessimist twin. Passing the Squadron and UK PLC...a record has a contribution to make SAC Paul White (LS) and woman heading off for optimist twin’s room, the father View Onetoone online at FAMILY, MOST OF season for BBMF...success on here. I can’t promise jam today, SAC Jonny Anderson (LS) some well earned leave, but it found him dancing for joy in sports pitches, athletics tracks and some things will not be www.onetooneonline.co.uk THE CONTENT OF won’t be long before they are the pile of manure. “What are and horse-riding arenas... quick fixes, but I am convinced THE MAGAZINE IS A all back at work and focusing you so happy about?” he asked. EAW duties trained for and that there are real, tangible Printed By Design RETROSPECTIVE ON on the next challenge. At times The optimist twin replied, assumed...and more visitors improvements that we Lance Print Ltd Sherrie Bacarese like these, the importance of a “There’s got to be a pony in than I can remember. can make. Tel: 01480 492183 WHAT EVERYONE positive outlook on life reminds here somewhere!” me of a festive tale. A family Little wonder then that Enough of the Advertising HAS BEEN UP TO I know has twin boys whose I sincerely hope that every I think Christmas and some exhortations: enjoy the break Jo Marchant SINCE THE LAST only resemblance to each one has a wonderful holiday time off will be extremely and time with friends and Lance Publishing Ltd, EDITION HIT other is in their appearance. and a well deserved rest. If welcome for all of us and our families, stay off the scales (it’s In every other way they are you are fortunate to be sitting families: it has been hard- and only depressing and the gym is 1st Floor, Tailby House, Bath Road, THE STREETS IN completely opposite; one is an at home on Christmas Day well-earned and I offer my what January was invented for) Kettering NN16 8NL LATE SUMMER/ eternal optimist, the other a animatedly discussing with sincere thanks to everyone and from Lisa, James, Henry and Tel: (01536) 526674 doom and gloom pessimist. In your loved ones what the best for the breadth and depth of me...have a very Merry Christmas EARLY AUTUMN. the name of experimentation, festive film is*, please spare achievement. Equally, I am and a Happy New Year. 6 FEATURES ISSUE 4 2013 onetoone 7