Author Archives: MOD

Four Typhoons from 3 (Fighter) Squadron have this week been undertaking Air-Land Integration training with the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup in Estonia.

The aircraft based at RAF Coningsby have been operating with the British Army Battlegroup currently deployed in Estonia. The training focused on working with the Joint Terminal Attack Controllers and those of NATO allies; Estonia, Latvia and Slovenia.

Joint Terminal Attack Controllers usually known just as JTACs are personnel who are able to direct the action of combat aircraft engaged in close air support and other offensive air operations from a forward position on the ground.

The training has also gave the pilots flying time over an unusual and challenging environment, whilst continuing to build upon strong relationships between the UK and other allied NATO nations.

The UK led multi-national battlegroup, which also has personnel from France and Denmark, is part of the 1st Estonian Infantry Brigade.

It forms part of the wider NATO Enhanced Forward Presence, with multinational forces deployed across the Baltic States and Poland, led by the US, Canada and Germany.

The UK has a further 150 soldiers based in Poland, part of the US led battlegroup and RAF Typhoons have recently completed a four month deployment to Romania, patrolling the Black Sea skies.

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AFTER 8,000 miles, jets from the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team have returned home from an overseas tour promoting the best of British.

The Red Arrows’ distinctive Hawk aircraft arrived at the team’s base of RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, earlier today (Saturday).

Eleven countries were visited in five weeks, with the world-renowned display team helping to showcase UK excellence in engineering, innovation, creativity and education to millions of people.

The landing at RAF Scampton also marked a close to the Red Arrows’ 2017 campaign – its 53^rd season – during which 70 displays were flown at home and overseas.

Wing Commander Andrew Keith, Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, said: “The tour was a great demonstration of a key role of the Red Arrows – that of national ambassadors, powerfully supporting and promoting UK interests.

“We were privileged to fly to a range of countries across Europe and the Middle East with hundreds of thousands of people either seeing these performances live or learning more about the team and the UK through the resulting media coverage.

“Everywhere the team flew we were very well-received and the tour highlighted the strong, important and often longstanding ties the UK and our Armed Forces have with counterparts overseas.”

The tour was staged in support of the GREAT Britain campaign – the Government’s most ambitious international marketing campaign, showcasing the very best of what our whole nation has to offer in order to encourage the world to visit, study and do business with the UK.

The deployment began just a few days after the Red Arrows’ last UK airshow of the summer season and began with a flypast over the Cannes Yachting Festival – supporting British industry exhibiting at the event.

After France, Athens Flying Week was the destination with the Red Arrows performing displays on back-to-back days. Moving to Jordan, the Squadron was honoured to complete a flypast over eight national landmarks, including Petra.

The first display in Saudi Arabia by the Red Arrows in a decade was then staged in Jeddah, to help mark the Kingdom’s National Day, before a move to Kuwait – only the third time the team has performed there.

Doha’s skyscraper-lined Corniche provided the next venue for a display and also a special mixed formation flypast with a Qatar Airways Airbus A350, celebrating the airline’s 20^th anniversary and also highlighting the airliner’s British-made Rolls-Royce engines and wings.

Muscat, Oman, was the sixth show location and then the team performed in Karachi – the first time the Red Arrows had displayed in Pakistan for 20 years, broadcast live on national television.

The last public display of the deployment and the 2017 season was in Bahrain, against a perfect blue sky.

Beginning the flight home earlier this week, there was a rare chance to fly with the Royal Saudi Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Saudi Hawks. It saw 16 Hawk jets – seven belonging to Saudi Arabia and nine of the Red Arrows – in the sky over Riyadh.

The aircraft arrived back to RAF Scampton this afternoon following a transit through Europe, refuelling at locations in countries including Cyprus, Greece, Italy and France.

But the aerial performances were only part of the campaign. A comprehensive programme of ground activity was staged in each of the tour locations, including industry events, school visits and presentations to business leaders. More than 2,000 students were met by members of the Red Arrows team.

Wing Commander Keith said: “The flying we are able to do is obviously very spectacular but perhaps the most rewarding aspect of a tour such as this is meeting people at all of the varied events and activities which form the foundation of the deployment and where we can promote the UK face-to-face.

“It’s very humbling to be able to visit a school or invite young people to see our British-built aircraft and inspire them to consider what can be achieved through teamwork and education.”

In addition to the Sqauadron’s fast-jet pilots, many of the Red Arrows’ highly-trained support personnel, including engineers, photographers and administrators, accompanied the tour, as well as specialists drawn from other areas of the Royal Air Force, including logisticians and medical staff.

Much of the team’s kit and equipment was moved by C-17 Globemaster, one of the Royal Air Force’s capable transport aircraft.

Wing Commander Keith said: “The tour was a very good example of the RAF’s expeditionary qualities and experience as well as the dedication and excellent teamwork by everyone involved in the detailed planning and bold delivery of the deployment, both from home in the UK and overseas.”

Now back in the UK, preparations are already underway for the Red Arrows’ 54^th season in 2018 – the Royal Air Force’s 100^th anniversary year.

For more information about the team, follow @rafredarrows on Twitter, see the latest images posted on Instagram by following @rafredarrows, like RAF Red Arrows on Facebook or visit www.raf.mod.uk/reds

© MOD Crown Copyright 2017

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In a moving ceremony near The Somme in France, the final resting place of two Royal Flying Corps (RFC) aviators has finally been marked exactly 101 years after their deaths, following painstaking research by a retired Royal Canadian Navy Officer.

The graves of Lieutenant Leonard Cameron Kidd MC and Second Lieutenant Fenton Ellis Stanley Phillips MC were rededicated with full military honours in a service today [Thursday, 12 October 2017] at the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery in France. The graves of Lieutenant Kidd (Pilot) and Second Lieutenant Phillips (Observer) were previously marked as ‘A British Airman of the Great War’.

Lieutenant Kidd and Second Lieutenant Phillips were killed on 12 October 1916. They were members of 3 Squadron RFC, and had flown out of the RFC Aerodrome at La Houssoye at around 13:50 in a Morane Parasol reconnaissance aircraft. The pair did not return and were believed to have been shot down by anti-aircraft fire between Gueudecourt and Eaucourt L’Abbaye.

For a century their whereabouts remained unknown and the pair were commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on the Arras Flying Services Memorial. However, thorough research by Lieutenant Commander Steve St Amant, a retired Royal Canadian Navy Officer, has revealed that the two plots at the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery do indeed belong to Lieutenant Kidd and Second Lieutenant Phillips (see Notes to Editors).

The service, organised by the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) was attended by personnel from the current 3 (Fighter) Squadron Royal Air Force, based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. The service was conducted by Rev Fr Flight Lieutenant James Mealy, the RAF Coningsby Station Chaplain and Padre of 3 (Fighter) Squadron.

Also present was Lieutenant Commander St Amant alongside other representatives from the Royal Canadian Navy, the UK Embassy in Paris, Standard Bearers from the Royal British Legion, local dignitaries, and the Head Teacher and pupils from Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire, which was attended by Lieutenant Kidd.

Rev Fr Flight Lieutenant James Mealy said: “It is truly an honour and privilege to be part of this rededication service for Lieutenant Kidd and Second Lieutenant Philips. They are remarkable and brave young officers who gave their everything so we can enjoy our today.

“Also, as the 3 (Fighter) Squadron Padre, it is especially meaningful to me, to finally give these two men the honour and blessing that they deserve and give praise and thanksgiving to God for the sacrifice they gave for us. Their names will continue to live on.”

Simon Bergg, Second Lieutenant Phillips’ great nephew who attended the ceremony, said: “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to pay our respects to our great uncle at this Rededication Ceremony. It means a great deal to us that he no longer rests in an unmarked grave.

“We are also very thankful for the time and effort that Steve St Amant invested to unearth the history that has enabled this ceremony to take place.

“Through all of this we have learned so much about our Great Uncle and how he brought pleasure and joy to those around him during his short life, even during times of conflict.”

Tracey Bowers, who works for the JCCC, said: “It is only right and fitting that these two exceptionally brave men now have a named grave. It is humbling that so many people have travelled from so far away to attend today’s ceremony”

© MOD Crown Copyright 2017

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Royal Air Force personnel have been put through testing training over Oman since the beginning of October as 6 Squadron from RAF Lossiemouth conduct exercises with the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO).

Nearly 250 personnel comprising RAF regular, reserve and civilian contractors serving alongside the Royal Air Force of Oman have come together on Exercise Magic Carpet 17. The Detachment Commander, Wing Commander Billy Cooper said: “In two weeks of flying we have flown 102 sorties. The Typhoons have performed exceptionally well with first class maintenance from our engineers.”

He added: “Not only have my pilots been able to practice all the skills they need. But it has been a fantastic opportunity to work in testing conditions for everyone from our field caterers to armourers and the forward air controllers who call in airpower.”

The RAF has been hosted by the Royal Air Force of Oman who have provided extensive training facilities. Wg Cdr Cooper said: “From the military perspective we have had excellent access to ranges to drop precision guided bombs and to use Typhoon’s 27 mm cannon as well as practising air defence alongside the RAFO F-16 jets.” He added, “But for me, and I know I can speak for the whole detachment, I’ve particularly enjoyed the opportunity to meet our hosts, experience the professionalism of RAFO and see what Oman has to offer.”

Being in Oman has provided training representative of the weather and flying conditions expected on operations. The two weeks of flying have also enabled many personnel in the air and on the ground to be efficiently qualified in delivering live munitions.

© MOD Crown Copyright 2017

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