TITLE OF ARTICLE SECTION HEADING Winter 2018 Winter WitteringThe official magazine for RAF Wittering and the A4 Force View WINTER 2018 WITTERING VIEW 1 Features: Sustainability • 504 Sqn • Outstanding Sport Achievements • Saint-Omer • Airborne Wandeltocht March SECTION HEADING TITLE OF ARTICLE Editor Welcome to the winter edition, and my final one as Editor. During my tenure, I have noticed how much the Foreword personnel of RAF Wittering resident flying squadrons; we do in support As the days get shorter and the morning enabled and sustained 36 of others, both frost takes hold, I look back at what was an operations and 108 exercises, military and civilian, on unit and and our people spent over in the community. The many amazing summer of RAF100 celebrations to 68,000 nights away from articles we read prior to going home. I continue to be both to press demonstrate the wide draw warmth and perspective. humbled and amazed by the range of activities covered. professionalism of our people, RAF100 has provided many We commemorated our The third element of RAF100 and the unstinting support they opportunities, a few more Centenary through the rich was to inspire the next generation. receive from their friends and of which are covered in this history of our Station, one of In addition to our continued family, I am hugely grateful for edition on pages 10 and 19. the founding stations of the support to our resident units all that you do for Wittering and Raising funds for worthwhile Royal Air Force, and through who fly air cadets and university the Royal Air Force. causes have been regular more reflective remembrance students, we again excelled in our events throughout the year of those friends and colleagues programme of youth engagement With Christmas nearly upon with this quarter being no that we have lost in more recent through Science, Technology, us, I do hope everyone takes the exception. times. We celebrated through Engineering and Maths – STEM. opportunity to catch up with I have thoroughly enjoyed an outstanding all ranks dinner Throughout the year our STEM loved ones and recharge their my time in the role and I'm where our catering team again Ambassadors reached out batteries, although I know we will sure my successor, Flt Lt Madi displayed its excellence, and across the country through an all spare a thought for those who Timlin, will not be disappointed. played a full part in the capstone exceptional breadth of interactive will inevitably be deployed on It is a position where one can celebrations of July 10 in activities. They delivered a STEM operations keeping our Nation learn so much about what goes London. Residential Course for 100 Year 9 safe. Thank you all for an amazing on in and around us each and On that memorable day, students here at Wittering; made a 2018, and I look forward to another every day; to understand the where the public came out en major contribution to the National inspiring year when 2019 arrives. dedication and professionalism masse to fill the Mall and nearby Big Bang Fair at the NEC; hosted of the people we work with on parks and streets, I think we the national final of the Race For Gp Capt Tony Keeling a daily basis. We do rely on the were all taken by surprise by the The Line competition, at which 350 regular submission of articles genuine affection in which our young people competed in front for each edition, so please Service was so visibly held. The of our Honorary Air Commodore continue to submit them. people of Wittering played a against a fantastic backdrop of My closing comment formal role in Westminster Abbey, a STEM village, static aircraft and is to express my immense on Horse Guards Parade, and in flying displays; and supported the gratitude to Emma Stacey, front of Buckingham Palace as RAF100 tour in London, Cardiff, the second half (actually part of the spectacular parade. Manchester and Northern Ireland. the first half!) of the editing But as you will have come to The energy and passion of our team. Her commitment to the expect from RAF Wittering and STEM Ambassadors reached Wittering View is exemplary; the A4 Force, we also played many tens of thousands of young her experience and guidance a major role in making these people, and their excellence was have been pivotal to its success. celebrations happen. Our airfield recognised through the recent Thank you, Emma. played host to the Hawks of presentation of the Institute Flt Lt Owen Newman 100 Sqn as they participated in of Engineering & Technology’s the flypast; our caterers worked Inspiring Engineering Award – very PS Merry Christmas and a Happy tirelessly behind the scenes on well done to all involved. New Year from the Wittering View Horse Guards Parade to feed over team. 5,000 visitors; and our drivers This comprehensive planned and delivered the time- contribution to RAF100 was critical movement of nearly 2,000 delivered alongside our usual personnel in and out of London high tempo of activity: 72 for the Parade. aircrew graduated from our Submissions Please direct all submissions for Wittering View Magazine to: The Editor, [email protected] [email protected] Please try to ensure that images are in .jpeg format and Find us on Facebook as large as possible. Text should be supplied in Microsoft Word .doc format or plain text if possible. at Wittering View 4 WITTERING VIEW WINTER 2018 TITLE OF ARTICLE SECTION HEADING Wittering View The official magazine for RAF Wittering and the A4 Force 12 16 25 Contents Sustainability 06 News In Brief 08 Padre’s Corner 11 Battle of Britain Parade 12 504 Sqn Remembers a Hero 13 Flying By The Seat Of Our 14 Rare Flying Suit Pants Recruitment Challenge Cup 16 Newly Qualified Pilots 16 Outstanding Sport Achievements 17 Airborne Wandeltocht March 18 Saint-Omer 19 2MT Exercise SAIF SAREEA 3 20 Wittering Golf Society 21 Community News 22 Tea Break Time 24 Colour Chaos Returns 25 14 In The Hot Seat 26 Editor Distribution Designed By Flt Lt Owen Newman Morrisons Stamford, Sainsbury's Stamford, Families' Sherrie Bacarese [email protected] Shop Wittering, Walkers of Stamford, Stamford coffee shops, Phoenix Shop Wittering, Wittering Advertising Deputy Editor local businesses and amenities. Lance Print Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House, Emma Stacey Bath Road, Kettering, Northants, NN16 8NL Published By Tel: Jo on 01536 334221 Team Lance Print Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House, [email protected] Marissa Russell, Cpl Paul Robertshaw, Ed Palmer Bath Road, Kettering, Northants, NN16 8NL and SAC Matty Smith. Tel: 01536 334222 Printing www.lanceprint.co.uk Lance Print Ltd, Email: [email protected] Tel: 01733 390564 WINTER 2018 WITTERING VIEW 5 FEATURE SUSTAINABILITY Think Sustainability! Think Efficiency! Think Green! From infrastructure changes to behavioural initiatives, to investing in new technologies and using just plain common sense - we are looking at ways to save money, time and resource by doing things in a smarter and more sustainable way at RAF Wittering. Written by: Sqn Ldr Dani Nowalski There are several recycling where possible – it incentives, allowing us to bring infrastructure initiatives running is precisely those behaviours money onto RAF Wittering and Through the RAF Strategy, the across Defence that when we need to bring into the to spend it on projects to make Chief of Air Staff has brought brought together offer a very workplace. your life better. to life the necessity for change; real opportunity to drive down We are pulling together If this ambition is to succeed, specifically, the way in which our operating costs; but we a project plan of ideas to be we also need your help in we exist and operate. Changing must make a robust argument explored. identifying opportunities, new climates, the environmental effect as upfront investment will be We have funding for LED technologies, and areas of energy of plastics, and a high dependence required and this will take time. lighting design work and aim or material waste to which we on fossil fuels, coupled with very Nevertheless, we are confident to have the gate to perimeter can direct our collective efforts. real economic pressures, mean that if successful we will be able survey completed before There are two ways to get that we must be innovative in how to redirect some of those savings Christmas. This will include involved. Take the RAF Wittering we do our business, be open to to make further improvements all technical and domestic BlueSky Challenge! Visit the new technologies and become to the lived experience at RAF accommodation and on-Station BlueSky ideas space (accessed more environmentally resilient Wittering. street lighting. In addition, via the Government Gateway) to than ever before. Right now, we are recycling stations will be rolled leave your ideas or to comment This is why, here at RAF particularly interested in our out across the Station and on some of the great proposals Wittering, we believe a logical, dependency on energy, water individual desk bins will be already put forward. Simply go to forward leaning, sustainability and fossil fuels and how we removed. Food waste bins will www.rafideas.wazoku.com. Any strategy for our Station is so manage those in the future. We also be provided in communal access problems contact Chf Tech important. It is critical that we know that in your own homes kitchens. Neil McCabe on ext 7514. look for future risks and identify you will carefully manage your What’s in it for you? Many You can also email your opportunities available now to energy and water consumption, of the green agenda initiatives Sustainable Station ideas to mitigate those risks.