ISSUE 4 INSIGHTINSIGHT ISSUE 4 INSIGHTMAGAZINE 1 INSIGHT In this issue… ISSUE 4 2018 From the 09 39 SQUADRON CADET VISIT Editor… EDITORIAL TEAM: 10 Sqn Ldr Keith Bissett MSc BSc RAF. [email protected] External Email: 11 RAFA VISIT 23 20 Use personal email addresses listed Tel: +44 (0)1522 728377 12 NO. 56 SQUADRON EXERCISE Editor: 14 HIGH FLYING SUPPORTERS RECOGNISED Sqn Ldr Keith Bissett [email protected] A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A XIII SQN 17 REAPER PILOT Deputy Editor: Flt Lt D.J Hopkinson 18 RAF100 BATON RELAY AT RAF [email protected] WADDINGTON Welcome to this issue Artwork: 20 RAF100 FLYPAST of Insight. S. Oliver 23 RAF WADDINGTON’S 100 STATIONS IN Advertising by: 100 HOURS Welcome to this issue of the Insight Jo Marchant magazine; my final as editor of the Tel: 01536 526674 magazine before I handover to RAF WADDINGTON FRIENDS AND 24 FAMILIES DAY 18 24 Sqn Ldr Craig LeDieu. It has been an enjoyable experience bringing Designed by: community news to the Station over Amanda Robinson 26 51 SQUADRON HISTORY UNVEILED AT the last 2 years. [email protected] RAF WYTON In this edition we have news from 56 Published by: AWARDS Sqn and their freedom parade, the 28 Station Awards dinner and updates Lance Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House, from the many RAF100 events that Bath Road, Kettering, NN16 8NL 30 RUGBY LEAGUES happened in June & July. Tel: 01536 512624 Fax: 01536 515481 www.lancepublishing.co.uk 32 THE BATTLE OF THE BARGES As always we strive to include as [email protected] many articles as we can from our THE ISTAR FORCE AT THE ROYAL Station community. 33 Printed by: INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO Please get in touch through WAD- Lance Print Ltd [email protected] or 35 V(AC) SQN DACRE TROPHY give Craig or Dan Hopkinson a call. 12 33 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 On the cover: A 5(AC) Squadron Sentinel Flying over Buckingham Palace. 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. 4 INSIGHTMAGAZINE INSIGHTMAGAZINE 5 Station Commander’s 39 Squadron Foreword... Presentation of Flying Gp Capt Tom Burke Force Development and Wings and Honours MA BSc RAF Adventurous Training events. Our Friends’ and Welcome to Insight Families’ Day and STEM & Awards magazine. I’m writing engagement program this on what promises were bigger and better this year as additional In June, 39 Squadron medal (LS&GC). This to be the hottest day RAF100 Engagement celebrated a significant marked a fitting end for ever recorded in the UK. money was made available number of milestones the Squadrons Warrant from LIBOR funding. Officer who has departed for its personnel. the Squadron to work in the Reaper Force in Waddington. know the heat won’t last The capstone event of he experience levels, Corporal Bradshaw and by the time you read the RAF100 celebrations like any squadron, received a Commendation this, it might feel like was of course the one I vary and many for his excellent work as the summer of 2018 is long hundred aircraft flypast T have thousands of hours an acting Sergeant and gone. It certainly has been over London on Tuesday 10 of flying experience and Reaper Liaison officer in an extraordinary season. July, concurrent with the some decades of service Al Udeid, supporting UKRF Political turmoil, Brexit presentation of the new RAF in the RAF. The ISTAR Force operations on Op SHADER. uncertainty, England making Colour, and the culmination Commander, Air Commodore the semi-finals and of of the RAF100 Baton relay Dean Andrew OBE MA MBA However arguably the most course the RAF100 national – 100 days after the 100th RAF, visited 39 Squadron at important aspect of the events. The preparation anniversary of the Royal Air Creech Air Force Base in Las ceremony was the award of and participation in the Force as an independent Vegas as Reviewing Officer the new Remotely Pilots Air Parade, 104 aircraft Flypast, air force. What an amazing for the Squadron’s Wings Systems (Pilot) brevets to the Air Power Conference and achievement and day of presentation and Honours & new ab initio members of Royal International Air Tattoo celebrations – televised live. Awards event. the Reaper Force pilot cadre. placed extra demands on The everyone in the RAF to some The flypast was the largest Personnel receiving honours Flying Officers Bennett, extent, but I hope you agree gathering of the royal and awards included Master Cocks and Higgins were it was worth the effort. family and RAF aircraft Generous Briton Aircrew Jim Tracey, who presented with their brevets, since 1977 (the Silver Good Food - Good Beer - Good Company received a total of three which were blessed by We should all be very Jubilee). The Station and awards; his Royal Warrant, Wing Chaplain Major Joel proud of the style and the ISTAR Force were well Meritorious Service Medal Kornegay from the US Air professionalism displayed represented with every and a Clasp to the Long Force, prior to the Force by every member of the Squadron Standard proudly Service & Good Conduct Commander awarding them. team and the fact that we paraded down the Mall into sustained high tempo air the grounds of Buckingham Palace for the ceremony operations throughout. represented at the Royal in front of Her Majesty My particular thanks go to International Air Tattoo The Queen. No V(AC), often unsung Air Cadets static display at Fairford. who supported local and VIII, 14 and 51 Squadrons joined the celebration as national events in huge I hope you have the part of the 19-element numbers with characteristic chance to enjoy the rest display flying overhead enthusiasm and energy. of the summer whether at Buckingham Palace, spread Waddington or deployed over 9 minutes, then We’ve had several excellent away. We have some splitting to the Runnymede local events: the RAF100 new challenges to look Memorial, Heathrow Airport baton visited the Station forward to in the Autumn and the RAF Museum. – circling around most as the Modernising Defence of the unit; the Station Programme matures and Not only did we successfully Awards Dinner – where we continue to build the launch all the elements we recognised the best Next Gen Air Force. 72 High Street, Brant Broughton, Lincs LN5 0RZ amongst the Whole Force; of the RAF100 flypast but and various RAF100 charity, every squadron was also For Faith and Freedom. 01400 272119 www.thegenerousbriton.co.uk MAGAZINE 8 INSIGHTMAGAZINE INSIGHT 9 Cadets visit 8 Sqn dispersal, learning about the role that Sentry carries Cadet Visit out within the ISTAR force. Cadets from 127 ATC provides a crucial service managing the (Wakefield) Sqn ATC airspace around Waddington RAFA Visit recently visited RAF ensuring that aircraft can Waddington in order take off and land safely. of Waddington, Mr Tony Kiddle, Ex Sgt Pilot. Unfortunately the to learn how a flying your local supermarket serving the local community. 56 Sqn technician pilot was discharged a few station works and to Visits like this are an hours prior to Tony visiting • Fresh Fruit & Vegetables • Cream Cakes and four esteemed see the different roles opportunity for all to but having signed into the showcase the work they do to • Fresh Meat, • Groceries colleagues of RAFA medical facility the pilot that ensure the Station the next generation, allowing Poultry & Fish • Frozen Foods Wisbech were hosted was informed. runs smoothly. cadets to hear about roles • Fresh Dairy Produce • Wines, Beers & Spirits by the RAF Waddington within the RAF that they may • Chilled Ready Meals • Newspapers & Magazines Stn RAFALO team. He found Mr Kiddle at work uring the visit not be aware of. Equally it is a • Lunchtime Snacks • Flowers & House Plants on the flight-line and the cadets visited 8 great opportunity for cadets On board Sentry cadets see the work stations that • Freshly Baked Bread • Carpet Cleaning picture shown E-3D was D Sqn and a number to gain knowledge of the RAF are operated in flight by a variety of different trades. tarting the visit at the silk scarf given to him of sections and got to see and its operations and an • Home delivery • Glass Loan the Heritage centre, by Sgt Atkinson in 1951 for how day to day operations awareness and understanding • Cash Dispenser • National Lottery S the guests were his kind gesture. In 2016 are conducted. The cadets of the demands on people and • Celebration Cakes • Extended range now given a very insightful brief this was donated to 56 Sqn received a capabilities brief aircraft across the Service. (to order) available about the history of RAF as an historical exhibit. on the E-3D Sentry aircraft • Payzone • Free Parking Waddington by Historian Mr Moving to 8 Sqn guests were before going on board to If you are interested in finding Chris Dean. Tony recalled hosted by Flt Lt Tidbury who see how the aircraft works, out more about the RAF Convenient opening hours: stories linking his time to 56 provided a walk around of followed by visits to Survival go to www.raf.mod.uk/ or Mon – Fri 7.30am – 10pm Sat 7.30am – 9pm Sun 10am – 4pm Sqn, of particular interest an E-3D and informed the Equipment Section (SES) if you are interested in the Major credit cards accepted.