RAF Lyneham gets its marching orders

Here is the latest local news from the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald on the future of RAF Lyneham. Despite efforts to keep it open, it does look like we will be having Reunions from 2012/3 at Brize Norton. The positive view is that we will still be having Reunions.

RAF Lyneham Main Gate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By reporter Alana Lewis  »

After six years of uncertainty and campaigns to save RAF Lyneham it has been announced that the air base will close permanently in 2012.

An internal MoD letter passed to North Wiltshire MP James Gray said plans drawn up under Project Belvedere, a review of re-housing helicopters from the three armed forces, has fallen through.

The base is now expected to close on December 31, 2012, with operations and personnel being moved to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire the previous year.

Mr Gray, who has been campaigning since 2003 to secure the future of the base, said he was devastated.

“The fact that ministers did not have the courage to make this announcement to Parliament speaks for itself,” he said.

The news would come as a great blow to the RAF personnel, the 750 civilians employed at the base and many hundreds of others in his constituency who owe their livelihoods in one way or another to the base, he said.

Mr Gray has pledged to reverse the closure or to find an alternative use, probably agricultural or leisure, for the 1,164 acres.

“I will be leaving no stone unturned but whether or not I will be successful I do not know,” he said.

“It would be quite wrong if I turned around and said it could be saved, but I will try to find an alternative use.

“We must try to take what is a tragedy for the area and turn it into something positive.”

RAF Lyneham was one of the front runners to house helicopters and personnel under Joint Helicopter Command.

But the aging accommodation and service buildings needed £2 million to keep them up to standard just in case the site was chosen.

Residents have called for a quick decision on the future to avoid the closure having a devastating impact. Parish councillor Tim Webb, 40, said: “We do not want years of not knowing what’s happening.”

His wife Maria, 38, said: “Out of the 27 children in my son’s class, the families of 22 work at the base.”

Nearly 17,000 people signed a Gazette petition to save the base, which Wiltshire Council estimates contributes £25 million a year to the economy.

District councillor Allison Bucknell, who took part in the campaign, said: “Many people round here gave their life and soul to the RAF. In the short term there will be a lot of uncertainty.”

Civil contractor and web designer of Lyneham Village online Andy Humm said: “This will have a terrible impact – it is worrying for all of us. It is still not clear that Brize Norton will be able to support everyone.

“I do not think this has been thought through.”

In a written statement to Parliament, defence minister Adam Ingram said the closure will result in a reduction of around 1,780 service and 360 MoD civilian posts.

Wiltshire Hercules flies Afghan president

Here is a news snippet from this weeks Wiltshire Gazette and Herald that landed on my doormat this morning,  Wednesday 25th February 2009 that you might be interested in.

“A Hercules aircraft from RAF Lyneham was tasked with the important job of flying the president of Afghanistan across the country last week.

Personnel from the 24/30 Squadron, part of the 904 Expeditionary Air Wing based in Kandahar, escorted president Hamid Karzai from the capital in Kabul to the south of the country where he had an engagement.

Group Captain Tony Toner, the Chief of Staff (Operations) with 904 EAW, said: ‘’With direct support to the troops on the ground, airdrops, leaflet drops and the ferrying of Afghan Security Forces, for 904 EAW the Hercules aircraft and crews are vital elements of the RAF’s work in Afghanistan. “To be able to support the President’s visit was a real honour. “President Karzai was very open in his discussions and to hear his thoughts on the importance of international contribution towards his country’s development was a real education.”

The 24/30 Squadron has also recently been involved in transporting Afghan police officers across the country to training camps.

LAYING UP OF XXIV SQUADRON STANDARD IN LIVORNO, ITALY – 9 NOVEMBER 2008

We have a few photos of the laying up ceremony in Livorno. More photos and the full article written by Keith Chapman will appear in this years Association Newsletter out Summer 2009.

Gp Capt Richard Bates Livorno

The Association can be assured that the retiring Standard of XXIV Squadron, presented by Princess Anne at Lyneham on 15 September 1981 and laid up in Livorno on 9 November 2008, now rests in very good hands indeed – Yours  Gp Capt Keith Chapman

XXIV SQUADRON JOURNAL 2008

Welcome to the 2008 edition of the XXIV Squadron Journal; a popular source of information about what has been going on in recent months. A new OC, a new standard and much much more.

Click on the link below and view the journal with your favourite pdf add-in. (Its 3MB, so lets hope you have broadband, its worth the short wait)

XXIV Journal 2008

XXIV Sqn Standard – Livorno 9 Nov 08

A brief note for the Blog Book from Keith Chapman to let you know that everything went more or less according to plan at Livorno last Sunday.  Overall, it was a good day with lots of emotion, speeches, sunshine and copious quantities of prosecco.

This photo shows the XXIV Sqn Standard (alongside the Colour of 187 Parachute Regiment) being marched towards the Regimental Chapel where it was handed over to the Regimental Padre in a very moving ceremony.

Richard Bates will be writing to thank the CO of the Parachute Regiment for his unit’s thoughtfulness, generous sentiments and outstanding hospitality.  Keith will write to Andy Bacon to say how well the Squadron was represented by Sqn Ldr Jon Edmondson and his team.  They did a terrific job.

Incidentally, we have established that this is only the second time that an RAF Squadron Standard has been laid up outside the UK.  The only previous occasion was the laying-up of a Standard in a British church in Hong Kong [following the unit's disbandment] in the era when HK was still a crown colony. So the laying-up in Livorno is actually the FIRST time that an RAF Standard has been laid to rest on non-British territory.  The Italians are very aware of this and feel extremely proud that they have been accorded this special honour.  The Standard has been placed inside a beautifully-crafted oak cabinet inside the chapel and we can be absolutely confident that it has passed into very good hands indeed.

The old standard is laid to rest in Pisa

XXIV Squadron Historical Highlights

The current high tempo of Operational commitments could not stop personnel from Number XXIV Squadron having a double celebration this week.

The first being the official opening of the Squadron’s new History Room by Air Commodore Paul Oborn who formerly held the position of Officer Commanding XXIV Squadron.

Following the move of the Squadron HQ building, the Squadron had been unable to display its ever-increasing range of memorabilia. However, the Squadron Historian, Flight Lieutenant Mark Brodie was keen to take up the offer of accommodation from the C130K Ground school, and with his team, he transformed the room to allow the Squadron the opportunity to display its proud heritage.

The second occasion was the handover of the role of the Squadron WarrantOfficer. The Squadron Warrant Officer is a pivotal role on any Squadron, with duties range from ensuring discipline to ‘guiding’ Junior (and sometimes Senior) Officers through their careers. Master Air Loadmaster Pat Blake has excelled in the role of XXIV Squadron Warrant Officer over the past few years, during which time he has executed his duties both in the UK and around the world. As Pat Blake looks towards his retirement from the RAF, he hands over the baton to Master Air Loadmaster Al Meadows who looks forward to being the guardian of the Squadron’s reputation for high standards.

Matters of historical significance are of huge importance to military personnel, and these occasions could not pass unnoticed.

With thanks to RAF News Site

Laying Up of the retiring XXIV Sqn Standard at Livorno

Approval has been given for the retiring XXIV Squadron Standard to be laid up in Italy.  This ceremony will take place on Sunday 9 November.  The Squadron are in the process of finalising arrangements but the intention is that the Standard should be laid up in the chapel of the 187th Folgore Regiment at their barracks in Livorno.

The plan is to hold the laying-up ceremony during the Service of Commemoration on 9 November.  As a result, the day itself will largely follow along the lines of previous events including wreath laying at two locations and a dinner at the barracks.  As the event will occupy much of Sunday, Squadron personnel will fly to Pisa on Saturday 8 November and return to Lyneham on the Monday”.

OC XXIV Sqn has nominated Sqn Ldr Jon Edmondson to be responsible for the ceremon.

Anyone interested should contact Jon and a suggested itinerary for those travelling by independent means would be to fly BA from Gatwick to Pisa (either on the Friday or Saturday) and stay in Lucca – about 15 km from Pisa and an easy drive to Livorno.

New Standard flutters well on the day

The actual day went off well and as planned with the Princess Royal doing her bit, according to the local Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. No feedback from members attending – yet!!

It is also planned to place the “old” standard in the Livorno Church at Pisa in November. Keep a watch on this Blog and Association website for more details as they unfold.

XXIV Sqn Standard is due for replacement on 9 May 2008

The Association have just been informed that after more than 25 years of service, the current XXIV Sqn Standard is due for replacement this year. On 9 May 2008 a new Standard is to be presented by HRH The Princess Royal at RAF LynehamIt is our intention to invite the current President and Chairman of the Association along with any ex OC’s. If you spot this post on the BLog, feel free to pass on the news.

Requests to attend should be made to the Deputy Flt Commander Flt Lt Andy Johnston at RAF Lyneham

24 Squadron say a ‘fair dinkum’ farewell to ‘Crooksie’

12 Dec 06

Flight Lieutenant Michael ‘Crooksie’ Crooks from the Royal Australian Air Force put up with a fair amount of light hearted banter about his antipodean origins during his two year exchange tour at RAF lyneham. But his work with the Hercules flying 24 Squadron, proved to be invaluable and earned him an enormous amount of respect and popularity too.

Wing Commander Turnbull, Officer Commanding 24 Squadron, (left) celebrating with Flight Lieutenant Crooks
[Picture: Richard Ellis]

He was made to attend an Exchange Officers Conversion Course and “learn to speak the Queen’s English” before he was let loose on low level tactical flights in Hercules planes. But once ‘Crooksie’ had mastered the differences between the Australian and UK RAFs, his experience in tactical flying came into its own.

‘Crooksie’ was a Tactical Air Transport (Tac AT) instructor in the Royal Australian Air force (RAAF). When he joined 24 Squadron in September 2004 the Squadron were just starting to explore the Tac AT environment and it soon became apparent that ‘Crooksie’ would have a lot to offer the C130J Hercules fleet flown by the Squadron.

Tactical Air Transport basically means flying in more difficult than usual situations, with an emphasis on low level flying. The Hercules planes may need to be flown at night, land on unprepared air strips, carry out air-drops in humanitarian aid situations where there are no-air strips, and carry out aerial delivery of equipment and troops to theatres.

‘Crooksie’ took to the Squadron’s Tac AT environment like an Australian Olympic swimmer takes to the podium and was soon passing on words of wisdom to UK Tac instructors. And within five weeks he was in Afghanistan as the captain of 24 Squadron’s Tac crew. He spent over two months there but, being a typical Aussie, he needed some time off! Well, a week’s paternity leave to be with his wife Sonia during the birth of their daughter Emily.

“Any trepidation we may have had with respect to being the only Australian exchange aircrew on the camp was soon dispelled as we were made to feel extremely welcome from the outset.”

Flight Lieutenant Michael ‘Crooksie’ Crooks, Royal Australian Air Force

During his short time at RAF Lyneham ‘Crooksie’ proved to be a well liked, hard working individual who in addition to spending two months in Iraq and two and a half months in Afghanistan, took part in various exercises with the French Air Force. They had even more trouble understanding him!

One of his biggest contributions to the C130J Hercules Wing was the Tactical simulator trips that he introduced, providing many realistic operational type missions to train and test our crews. Flight Lieutenant Crooks said of his stay at Lyneham:

“Any trepidation we may have had with respect to being the only Australian exchange aircrew on the camp was soon dispelled as we were made to feel extremely welcome from the outset. Once we were settled in the Officers’ Married Quarter and on completion of the exchange pilot’s conversion course I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity of a low level course. This has given me plenty of time to get used to your quaint weather around the UK low flying system.”

An RAF Hercules C-130K
[Picture: RAF Lyneham]

RAF Lyneham are clearly sorry to see him go, saying that he has been somewhat of a British talisman since his arrival (the Australians lost the Ashes and the majority of their rugby games), and he’s taken quite a bit of stick. They are just sorry that he’ll be back home by the time this Ashes test will have finished?!

“I have thoroughly enjoyed flying with the RAF,” ‘Crooksie’ continued. “It has been a busy period over the last two and half years and I am both glad and proud to have been part of a strong unit throughout this period. We have made the most of this fantastic opportunity given to us and the birth of both of my children, Emily and Hayden, amalgamated with the wonderful experiences gained from serving with the RAF, in particular 24 Squadron, have given us many wonderful memories to take back to Australia. We would like to express our gratitude to 24 Squadron for all their help over the last two-and-a-half years and there will always be a welcome for any of them to come and watch the rest of the Ashes at my place!!”

Flight Lieutenant Crooks was presented with his Iraq and Afghanistan General Service Medal in the Officers’ Mess before he went back down under. Both of these were earned while serving with the RAF on 24 Squadron.

All on 24 Squadron would like to pass on their sincere thanks and gratitude to both Michael and Sonia for all their help during their time here and would like to emphasize that there’ll always be a welcome for them on 24 Squadron.