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T H E J H C d e l i v e r i n g j o i n t s u c c e s s o n o p e r a t i o n s

Army Aviators
Celebrate
Their Diversity

Ex
Eagle
Sapper

Army Show
Thrills
Colchester
Crowd

Joint Helicopter Command

Demonstrates a
Swift Response
j o u r n a l o f t h e j o i n t h e l i c o p t e r c o m m a n d
 Contents

Contents Issue 3, 2015

16 24

Capability Begins 10

With Training…
Aviation Training International Limited (ATIL) is a 50:50 joint venture
between AgustaWestland Limited and The Boeing Company. 34
32
It was formed in 1998 as a special purpose vehicle to deliver
the Attack Helicopter Training Service contract for the UK Army.
The contract was financed under a PFI arrangement. Cover story Army Show Thrills RAF Engineer on Ex Forlorn Hope........................ 36
Joint Helicopter Command Colchester Crowd ..................... 10 Top of the World ...................... 23 French Exchange
ATIL holds a unique position as a training organisation in being able Demonstrates a Swift Response. 20 Military Pays Tribute to Britain’s MK7 Finale ................................ 24 for The Army Wildcat .................... 38
Longest Reigning Monarch....... 12 End of an Era and King of The Mountains .............. 40
to provide total synthetic training solutions in the areas of Aircrew,
PEOPLE Squadron Leader Bert Hinkler A Look to The Future................ 26 Ex Skargard Finn......................... 42
Groundcrew and Maintenance training. A range of equipment is Past meets the present at afc dsm Memorial...................... 13 Reserve Paras Train in Spain...... 44
employed to represent the sophisticated systems that reside within an TSW Naming Ceremony ............ 5 Lord Lieutenant of Somerset HERITAGE Joint Helicopter Force
aircraft of the complexity of the Apache. Padre Stan finally retires... Visits The Royal Navy ................ 13 The Gazelle Sqn Gets ready for Cougar............... 46
aged 92 ...................................... 6 75 Years on and Still Bringing Life back to
From weapons to avionics, each device allows students to familiarise Army Aviators Celebrate Securing the Skies...................... 14 Ex-military Aircraft.................... 28 Sport
Their Diversity............................. 7 Tour of Britain Sprints
themselves with some of the most advanced technology in the world. The
Armed Forces Day CAPABILITY TRAINING Down Wattisham’s Runway ...... 48
equipment is based on full size aircraft systems and provides a high degree Commando Style........................ 8 Cleared to Lift ........................... 16 Entente Cordiale Builds on Soldiers Do Battle on
of fidelity offering the necessary tactile and visual cues, greatly reducing the Woodbridge Celebrates RAF Reservists Exercise Eagles Amarante........ 29 the Sports Pitch......................... 48
need to use operational aircraft for training purposes. Constant investment Military Links ................................ 9 Ready for Anything.................... 19 Crawl, Walk, Run and Fly.......... 30 Army Medics Swim
by the MoD and ATIL in technology insertions has ensured that the training New Commander Flies into Ex Agile Spear............................ 19 Best Practice Shared on Regular English Channel......................... 48
system remains one of the most up to date in the world. 1 Regiment Army Air Corps ....... 9 and Reserve Medical Exercise .... 32 Triathlon Success Boosts
Ex Eagle Sapper ............................ 34 Army Benevolent Fund............. 50

Aviation Training International Limited

Coldharbour Business Park, Editorial Submission Date…
View this publication
Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4JW FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2015 online please scan the
QR code using your

01935 810300
smartphone or tablet.
Tel: Pl e a s e s u b m i t a ll e n t r i e s f o r t h e n ex t i s s u e by n o l a t e r t h a n t h e d a t e s t a t e d a b ove.

Email: enquiries@atil.co.uk This publication is copyright Lance Publishing Limited and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without prior written permission of Lance Publishing Limited.
While every care has been taken during the preparation of this magazine, Lance Publishing Limited cannot be held responsible for accuracy of the information herein or for any consequence
Web: www.atil.co.uk arising from it. Views Expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Royal Air Force or the Ministr y of Defence. All images © Crown Copyright unless other wise stated.

visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 3

Foreword People

Foreword MeettheTeam
Editorial
Editor: Sqn Ldr Mark Radbourne
E: JHC-RPS-Media-SO2@mod.uk
T: 01264 381 122
–
sales
Sales Manager: Laurence Rowe
E: laurence@lancepublishing.co.uk
T: 01536 526 662
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Designer: Rowena Wilson
E: rowena@lancepublishing.co.uk
T: 01536 526 673
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Publisher
Lance Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor,
Tailby House, Bath Road,
Kettering, Northants NN16 8NL

Past meets the present

T: 01536 512 624
E: mike@lancepublishing.co.uk
W: www.lancepublishing.co.uk

at TSW Naming Ceremony

As I write this, the JHC has some 50 aircraft continue to hone our ability Company Registration No. 3253372
and 3500 personnel deployed on 10 exercises to undertake embarked –
in 6 countries around the world in addition to and littoral operations. Printer
our continued commitment to Op TORAL. Finally, in July the Lynx Lance Print Ltd, 29/30 Stapledon
Mk7 was retired from service. Road, Orton Southgate,

T
his high tempo is
important as we make
the transition from
our long standing
I also recently visited Ex AGILE This is a significant milestone, Peterborough PE2 6TD The Tactical Supply Wing (TSW) based at MOD there was an opportunity for also unveiled in the foyer of the
SPEAR which demonstrated not only in terms of its history T: 01733 390 564 Stafford is the only remaining RAF Unit in the refreshments and a tour of the building. The picture taken in
how effective we are in the and contribution to Defence, E: lanceprint@lanceprint.co.uk county and shares the site with 22 Sigs Regt. new block, including the social 1970 (albeit as a light hearted
joint environment; here the but also because this heralds W: www.lanceprint.co.uk rooms, kitchen and a standard gesture to recruit new airmen to

W
commitments in Afghanistan JHC deployed forces from all a new dawn in capability. We – ith the relocation Main Building in the late 1960s. bedroom with en-suite facilities. the Wing) will remain as lasting
to a future of contingency three services, including a large are already transitioning to Further Information of Army units from Despite initial opposition he was An iconic photograph of the testament to the heritage and
operations. We have increased contingent from our reserve Wildcat AH1 and the next W: w ww.mod.uk/defenceinternet/ Germany, MOD posted to RAF Stafford in 1970 then Wg Cdr Craven-Griffiths ethos of TSW and a reminder of
our opportunities to train with our forces at 606 (Chiltern) Squadron generation ISTAR capability aboutdefence/whatwedo/ Stafford is going to form the Wing with TSW being entitled ‘TSW Needs You’ was the Wing’s proud beginnings.
allies as was demonstrated during Royal Auxiliary Air Force. This this brings to the battlefield. airsafetyandaviation/jhc to be home to two further Signals declared fully operational in Jan
Ex SWIFT RESPONSE. I was Exercise not only demonstrated 847 NAS has completed – Regts (16 Sigs Regt and No.1 1971. The original concepts of
lucky enough to visit our forces our ability to react to future its conversion training and Cover credit Armoured Sigs Regt). This has refuelling aircraft in deployed
in Germany during this Exercise Humanitarian and Disaster Relief is currently deploying on © MoD Crown Copyright resulted in a significant amount austere locations and rotors
and was thoroughly impressed Operations but also showed the COUGAR while the Army Air of investment for MOD Stafford, turning refuels were pioneered
with what I saw; our air assault, integrated support and utility Corp’s 661 Sqn is nearing the under Project BORONA, for new by Craven-Griffiths and are
rotary and combat support our Reserves bring to the JHC. end of its conversion to type infrastructure works at the site. a testament to his vision and
forces demonstrated their ability We now move into the next training with conversion to One of the benefits of this was determination in those early days.
to conduct complex missions round of exercises with the role expected in early 2016. new single living accommodation, Gp Capt (Retd) John Craven-
whilst operating with multiple first phase of the COUGAR of which TSW recently had the Griffiths, is now in his 80s, but
foreign nations. This is a good deployment in full swing. I wish you all good luck privilege of receiving the first was delighted to hear that his
example of our future operating This deployment offers the for the rest of the year. of the new accommodation name would live on at Stafford in
environment and I was impressed JHC a huge opportunity, not blocks to be built. The Wing the form of the Craven-Griffiths
by how our forces adapted only to continue our training Maj Gen Richard Felton CBE was also allowed to choose a Block. So in June this year he
and thrived in this setting. with allied nations but also to Commander JHC name for the block, which will be travelled back to Stafford for
accommodating personnel from an emotional naming ceremony
TSW. For the Wing there was only lead by the current CO TSW, Wg
one name that immediately sprung Cdr Tim Moss and our Wg WO,
Please turn to page 20 for the cover story to mind, that of TSW’s founding Mick Stokes. Accompanied by
Joint helicopter command father Gp Capt Craven-Griffiths. family, friends and invited guests
demonstrates a swift response Craven-Griffiths was the citation was read out and
L Z DZ M a g a z i n e i s a l s o o n l i n e a n d c a n b e f o u n d a t : w w w. l z d z o n l i n e . c o . u k instrumental in developing the Group Capt Graven-Griffiths
concept of a Tactical Supply unveiled the naming plaque.
Unit whilst working at MOD Following the ceremony

4 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 5
People

Army Aviators
Celebrate
Their Diversity
Written By: Gareth Palmer

From Mauritius to Nepal triumphed on the pitch, before

and Fiji to Ghana, the
diverse backgrounds
of soldiers who fly and
maintain the Apache
attack helicopter have
been celebrated.
soldiers and their families tucked
into a lunch including Nepalese
curry, Jamaican jerk chicken
and Suffolk Blue cheese.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul
Hayhurst, Commanding Officer
of 4 Regt AAC, said: “This has

4
Regiment Army Air
Corps (4 Regt AAC)
held a cultural day at
Wattisham Flying Station
in Suffolk in July to fly the flags
of the nations its soldiers come
from. The colourful event saw the
Regiment and its families come
been a fantastic way to bring the
Regiment together for a fun day
of sport and culture. It’s important
that we celebrate and understand
each others’ different cultures,
because that is part of the
different skills and backgrounds
that we combine in the unit to

92
Padre Stan finally retires… Middleton St George, which is now
Teesside Airport, Stan was also
asked to serve at RAF Catterick.
In 1974 he moved to Alnwick and
took on the role of Officiating
Chaplain to RAF Boulmer. Further
moves saw Stan serve in Harrogate
aged during the 1980s before moving
south and taking up what was
to be his final post as Officiating
Chaplain to RAF Benson in 1994.
Stan was forced to retire by his
family after they banned him from
continuing to drive earlier this
year. Last week he returned to RAF
Benson for one last service, which
was held over a three course meal
in the Officers’ Mess and saw Stan
Written By: Nikki Hamilton being presented with a special
painting of RAF Benson past and
Padre Stan Jones, the Officiating Chaplain to present, originally commissioned
RAF Benson, has finally retired from serving in for the Station’s 75th anniversary.
and alongside the Armed Forces at the age of 92. As well as providing pastoral
support for RAF Benson personnel
together, with soldiers donning deliver our operational role.”
national dress and serving up Corporal Ravi Buldawo,
food from their home countries. a combat HR specialist from
outside the Station church.
Stan may well be longest
In total seven countries were
represented, with the event
Mauritius, swapped his uniform
for kurta pyjama and served
I’ve been able to show off the
island’s culture, music and food.
“From my experience, the
Army is a very inclusive and
serving chaplain the RAF has taking place on the touchlines homemade Mauritian samosas. At the same time, I’ve found open organisation that allows
known, and indeed may be the of the Regiment’s hotly- He said: “People immediately out more about the culture of everyone to be who they are
longest serving member of the contested squadron rugby sevens think of Mauritius as being other soldiers from across the while working together towards
Armed Forces family. He was also competition. 656 Squadron all about beach holidays, but world that I serve alongside. the same objectives.”
one of the few who have become
members of the ‘ten ton club’,
having flown at over 1000mph in
a Lightning, a supersonic fighter
aircraft of the Cold war era.
Group Captain Simon
Paterson, Station Commander
at RAF Benson, was thrilled
to present Padre Stan with
his paintings and bid him a
fond farewell on behalf of the
thousands of RAF families
that Stan has supported over
the years. He said: “It was my
absolute honour to formally
thank Stan for his outstanding
and unerring commitment to the
Armed Forces for so many years.

S
tan volunteered for the
Royal Navy to undertake
his National Service and
explains “much to my
dismay was balloted and forced
to work in the coalmines.” He
was finally presented with his
Bevin Boy badge in recognition
of this Service in 2008, which was
proudly presented by the former
Commander of Joint Helicopter
Command, Rear-Admiral Tony
Johnstone-Burt in a special
ceremony at RAF Benson.
In 1960, Stan was appointed
as Officiating Chaplain to RAF
Middleton St George, which
was to begin his extraordinarily
long service alongside the Royal
Air Force. While serving at RAF
for over 2 decades, Stan has
been an integral part of daily
life on the Station including the
delivery of Christmas services
and christenings. Amongst his
more bizarre tasks, Stan also
donned a festive red suit and
white beard to officially light
the Christmas tree, much to the
delight of the children gathered
He has offered friendship, support
and guidance to many thousands
of Service personnel and their
families and he will be greatly
missed by all. We wish him all the
best in his well-earned retirement
and extend our grateful thanks
to the Jones family, especially
his wife Muriel, for sharing him
with us for so long.”

6 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 7
PEOPLE
Commando style
Armed Forces Day
Merlin Mk3 aircraft from 846 Naval Air Squadron
of the Commando Helicopter Force wowed the
crowds at the National Armed Forces Day event
at Stoke Park, Guildford in June this year.
I
n front of HRH The Duke of
York, The Prime Minister and
a huge crowd, the Merlin
appeared from behind the
trees to pick up troops of the
Princess of Wales Royal Regiment
at the end of the dynamic display.
Landing in the smoke,
the aircraft was momentarily
hidden from the crowd as
the troops got onboard.
Lt Cdr Alex Hampson from
846 NAS, flying the Merlin, said,
“It was a huge honour to fly
in front of the crowds on such
an important day for the nations
Military; the support from our
public was phenomenal. The
Merlin is the latest helicopter
to join the CHF and one that
brings a huge increase in
capability for use by our Royal
8 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ
Marines around the globe.”
In addition to the Merlin
flying during the event, 846
NAS personnel manned another
Merlin Mk3 on the ground for
the public to look around and ask
questions about its capabilities.
Lt Natalie Grainger from 846
NAS, manning the display, said,
“We had long queues and
literally thousands of people
looking around the aircraft
all day. Everyone has been
incredibly positive about the
event and I expect that there
will be lots of photos appearing
in family albums judging by the
amount that have been taken!”
Closer to home, Royal Marines
from CHF’s Combat Support
Squadron, aircrew from CHF HQ
and Army Air Corps soldiers from
the Aviation Reconnaissance
Force, supported the Royal
British Legion Armed Forces
Day event at the Memorial Hall
in Wincanton, Somerset.
The Armed Forces display
consisted of three vehicles:
A crane from the REME, a
communications Landover from
the AAC and a BV from the Royal
Marine Commandos, in addition
a variety of military and flying kit,
and equipment was displayed.
WO2 Tim Couzens,
1 Regt AAC, said,
“The local community were
very interested in the whole event.
It was a fantastic opportunity to
show off the Armed Forces to
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
Wincanton. The AAC have had
many families move in to the local
area, so it was an ideal opportunity
to give everyone a good
understanding of who we are.”
“I was privileged to speak to
some of Wincanton’s veterans;
who were particularly interested
in the advancements our ration
packs have made. The Royal
Marines seemed to attract a
disproportionate amount of the
female population; this was helped
by the adjacent stand selling
Go Commando calendars!”
“Overall this was an
excellent day well worked by
the soldiers and well supported
by the local population.”
Woodbridge Celebrates
Military Links
Written By: Gareth Palmer
Suffolk’s airborne
engineers have paraded
through Woodbridge
for the first time under
their new name.
2
3 Parachute Engineer
Regiment marched
through Woodbridge
in July to exercise
its Freedom of the Town for
the first time since its name
was changed to reflect its
role, history and ethos.
Soldiers marched through
the town ‘with swords drawn,
bayonets fixed, drums beating,
bands playing and Colours flying’
led by The Band of The Brigade of
Gurkhas. The Chief Royal Engineer
Lieutenant General Sir Mark
Mans KCB CBE DL, and Mayor of
Woodbridge Cllr Josh Sayles took
the salute outside Shire Hall.
Lieutenant Colonel John
Clark MBE, Commanding
Officer of 23 Parachute Engineer
Regiment, said: “As a Regiment,
we hugely value the support
we receive from the people of
Woodbridge. A fantastic crowd
came out to watch the parade
and we take great heart from
the support that represents.”
Cllr Sayles said: “Woodbridge
is hugely proud to be the home
of 23 Parachute Engineer
Regiment and, on behalf of the
Town and the Town Council, I
am delighted to welcome the
Regiment to assert its Freedom
of Woodbridge. It has been
a great day to celebrate the
links between the town and
its airborne engineers.”
After the parade, the Regiment
hosted veterans from the Suffolk
Coastal area for lunch in Elmhurst
Park. Representatives from the
MoD’s Service Personnel and
Veterans Agency and military
charities including The Royal
British Legion, SSAFA, Help
4 Heroes, Blind Veterans UK,
and BLESMA The Limbless
Veterans were on hand to give
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
advice and link veterans to
support available locally.
The park gates were then
opened to the general public, with
a barbecue and music from The
Band of The Brigade of Gurkhas.
New Commander
Flies Into
1 Regiment
Army Air Corps
Written By: Kerry Randall
O
n the 6th of
July Lieutenant
Colonel Gavin
Rundle became
the new Commanding Officer
of 1 Regiment Army Air Corps
(1AAC), taking the reins
from Lt Col Paul Tedman.
Lt Col Tedman oversaw one
of the busiest periods in the
Regiments history as 1AAC left
Germany after over 20 years
and relocated to the Royal
Naval Air Station Yeovilton
in Somerset. During that
time, 1AAC also bid farewell
to the Lynx Mk7 helicopter
and began a new chapter in
their Regimental history as
they began the transition on
the new Wildcat AH Mk1.
Lt Col Rundle said; “I
am delighted to be taking
command of 1 Regiment AAC
on the cusp of the new era of
Wildcat. Life for the whole of
the Aviation Reconnaissance
Force continues apace and 1
Regiment is right in the thick of
the change with the transition
onto the Wildcat. The Regiment
is supported by dedicated and
hardworking personnel who
have risen to the challenges
and the demands of not only a
new aircraft type but relocating
from overseas. I am very proud
to be their new Commanding
Officer and at the opportunity
to take 1 Regiment forward
at this exciting time.”
The Freedom of Woodbridge
was initially granted to
the Regiment in 2006 and
exercised four times under its
former name of 23 Engineer
Regiment (Air Assault).
LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 9
PEOPLE
Army Show
Thrills Colchester Crowd Written By: Gareth Palmer
Military displays and a celebration
of sport thrilled the crowds at the
Army Show in Colchester.
T
housands of people
enjoyed the 16 Air
Assault Brigade and
Colchester Garrison
Show in July, which showcased
the equipment and skills of 16
Air Assault Brigade, the British
Army’s rapid reaction force.
The event on Abbey Field
culminated in an explosive
combat demonstration
that saw 2nd Battalion The
Parachute Regiment show how
they would assault an enemy
position. The airborne infantry
were supported by sappers
10 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
from Woodbridge-based 23
Parachute Engineer Regiment
and a Military Working Dog.
Equipment on static display
included an Apache attack
helicopter, bridging equipment
and a field hospital that can be
deployed by parachute. The Red
Devils - The Parachute Regiment’s
freefall display team - dropped in
from the sky, while the day was
set to music by The Band of The
Queen’s Division, The Band of
The Royal Corps of Signals and
Colchester Military Wives’ Choir.
Active Essex, the County
Sports Partnership for Essex, ran
sports activities on B Ground,
giving people the chance to try
different sports and meet Essex
athletes. Local clubs - including
Colchester United FC’s Football
in the Community programme,
Colchester Stragglers
Orienteering Society, Kelvedon
and Feering Cricket Club and
Colchester West End Bowls Club
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
- showed the opportunities for
people of all ages and abilities
to get involved in sport.
A collection supported
Colchester Nepalese Society’s
fundraising for relief efforts after
the recent earthquakes in Nepal.
Colonel Gary Wilkinson
CBE, Commander of Colchester
Garrison, said: “Our intention
was for the Army to showcase
itself to the local community to
say thank you for the fantastic
support we receive and I am
delighted that we have achieved
that. It’s been a great day, with
thousands of people coming out
to enjoy exciting and eventful
activities with something for
everyone, from military music
and sport to a breathtaking
combat demonstration.
“It’s important that we
give people the opportunity
to meet their soldiers and see
their kit and capabilities, so
that they better understand
what the Army does.”
The day’s hot weather had
forced the postponement of the
PARAS’ 10 endurance challenge,
which has been rescheduled to
Sunday 15th November.
LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 11
Heading
PEOPLE
Military Pays Tribute
To Britain’s Longest
Reigning Monarch
Written By: Gareth Palmer
Suffolk’s military and
civilian communities
have come together
to mark Her Majesty
The Queen becoming
Britain’s longest
reigning monarch.
A
t around 5.30pm
on Wed 9 Sept Her
Majesty surpassed
Queen Victoria’s reign
of 23,226 days, 16 hours and 30
minutes. The historic milestone,
which is tinged with sadness for
the Queen as a reminder of the
death of her father King George
VI, was marked with a sunset
ceremony in Bury St Edmunds.
Further
Information
6 Regiment Army Air Corps
is an Army Reserve unit that
provides ground crew as
reinforcements to other Army
Air Corps Regiments, both
on exercise and operations.
The regiment is based at Bury
St Edmunds and has four
Squadrons - 675 Squadron
in Taunton and Yeovil; 677
Squadron in Bury St Edmunds,
Norwich, and Ipswich; 678
Squadron in Luton and
Milton Keynes; and 679
Squadron based at Middle
Wallop and Portsmouth.
12 Issue 3, 2015 / LZDZ
Reservists from the town’s 6
Regiment Army Air Corps joined
airmen from RAF Honington and
civic dignitaries, including Lord
Lieutenant of Suffolk Lady Euston
and Mayor of St Edmundsbury
Cllr Patrick Chung, for the parade
on Angel Hill. A Tornado GR4
from 31 Squadron, based at RAF
Marham in Norfolk, made a flypast
as the Union Flag was lowered,
with music provided by The Band
of the Corps of Royal Engineers.
Before the ceremony, a
portrait of the Queen was
unveiled and a Loyal Toast
made by Lady Euston at a civic
reception in the Athenaeum.
Lieutenant Colonel Rob
Olney, Commanding Officer of 6
Regt AAC and the military lead
for community engagement in
Suffolk, said: “It has been a huge
privilege to join with the people
of Bury St Edmunds to mark this
historic occasion for Her Majesty
the Queen. The sunset ceremony
provided a dignified tribute to
the Queen’s service to the nation,
while also celebrating the strong
bonds between Suffolk’s military
and civilian communities.”
Mayor of St Edmundsbury Cllr
Patrick Chung said: “The Queen
has been a great ambassador
for the country for more than 60
years. Today has been a day of
celebration and it was a brilliant
opportunity to bring our families
and our communities together
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
to recognise the Queen’s
achievement as Britain’s longest
reigning monarch. It has also
reaffirmed our close working
relationship with the town’s 6
Regiment Army Air Corps and the
airmen from nearby RAF Honington
who I would like to thank for
putting on such a great occasion.”
The length of the Queen’s
reign has been calculated by
experts at the Royal Household
to the nearest point of
accuracy, taking into account
Leap Days in both reigns.
A sunset ceremony is a
traditional military parade
to signal the end of the day
and the mounting of an
overnight guard.
Squadron Leader
Bert Hinkler
acf dsm Memorial
Three personnel from 28
Squadron at RAF Benson
recently attended a
ceremony near Florence
in Tuscany to unveil a
memorial to a former
World War One pilot.
S
quadron Leader Herbert
John Louis ‘Bert’
Hinkler AFC DSM, an
Australian National from
Bundesberg in Queensland,
Lord Lieutenant
of Somerset Visits
The Royal Navy
Written By: Tracey Clempson
R
OYAL Naval Air
Station (RNAS)
Yeovilton welcomed
a visit from The Lord
– Lieutenant of Somerset.
Annie Maw, appointed Lord-
Lieutenant for Somerset in March
2015, visited the air station and
had the opportunity to see the
new aircraft operating out of
Yeovilton and meet those that
operate and support them.
The Lord – Lieutenant visited
825 Naval Air Squadron (NAS)
flying Wildcat Helicopter, 846
NAS flying Merlin Mk 3 and 1
Regiment Army Air Corps (AAC).
Appointed by Her Majesty
The Queen, Lord-Lieutenant
of a County is an Honorary
Officer appointed by The
Queen on the advice of the
Prime Minister. He or she is
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
served with the Royal Naval Air
Service on the Western Front
in World War One and on 28
Squadron in northern Italy before
undertaking a number of epic and
record breaking flights. In 1928
Bert Hinkler was the first pilot to
fly solo from England to Australia
and in 1931 was the first pilot to
fly across the south Atlantic on
a trip from Canada to England.
Sadly he was later killed when
he crashed his de Havilland Puss
the permanent representative
of the Crown in that County.
The Lord- Lieutenant
for Somerset is delighted
to be attending Air Day this
year on 11 July 2015.
Moth into Mount Pratomagno
in the Italian Alps on 7 January
1933 whilst attempting his second
solo England to Australia flight.
The aircraft wreckage was
found in April 1933 by a local
man, Gino Tocchioni, who placed
a marker at the crash site and at
the site where Bert’s body was
actually found as it appears he had
crawled almost 80 metres through
the woods before he died. Bert
was given an Italian State Funeral
in May 1933 and is now buried
in a cemetery in Florence.
The memorial was the
initiative of Queenslander Kevin
Lindeberg who met Mr Tocchioni
in 1974 and decided that the
crash site should be properly
marked and commemorated.
The memorial incorporates a
time capsule which includes
messages from the Prime Minister
of Australia, Prime Minister
of Italy and the Queensland
Premier to be opened in one
hundred years. Additionally, 28
Squadron also commissioned
a stone mason to engrave a
granite stone which was taken
out to the Mount Pratomagno
site by OC 28 Squadron, Wing
Commander Marty Lock,
Squadron Leader Charlie Young
and Flight Lieutenant Splash
Ashton, and installed onto the
1.4 tonne basalt boulder prior
to the unveiling. The boulder
had been transported from
Mon Repos Beach, Bundaberg,
where Hinkler first flew in his
homemade glider in 1912.
The motto of 28 Squadron
where Bert served as a pilot in
1918 is “Whatsoever you may do,
do” was mirrored in Bert’s life
story and will continue to inspire
young and old in Australia where
Bert is a national hero of aviation.
The unveiling ceremony was
attended by about 200 people,
including Australian, British and
Italian dignitaries and Hinkler’s
great nephew John Hinkler.
The memorial now forms a
key part of the of the Italian
Alpine Club Arezzo Branch’s
8.4km mountain trekking path,
called The Hinkler Ring.
LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 13
75
PEOPLE

RAF personnel from
across Kabul celebrate
the successes of the
Battle of Britain.
World War Two and acknowledge
that our role of protecting Britain
remains, providing security
both at home and abroad.
“There was no budget for
Seated promptly at 1830
with Flight Lieutenants Stringer,
Eldridge and Frost providing
short vignettes from those that
served in the Battle of Britain in

E
ighty RAF personnel
joined together at
the TORAL Aviation
Detachment (TAD) on
the 15 September to remember
and celebrate the efforts and
success of the Battle of Britain
in a traditional dinner night
setting, only on this occasion,
this event, KBR, our contractors,
have been really helpful and
understood what we were trying
to achieve. They have pulled
out all the stops to ensure we
were able to mark this event and
put on quite a spread, notable
when you consider they had
an extra 32 mouths to feed
between courses. The evening
culminated with Air Commodore
Cooper, the Senior RAF Officer in
Kabul, providing a closing speech.
After the dinner he said:
“Tonight’s dinner, held in
Afghanistan, represents in
microcosm what the Battle of
Britain represents to the RAF. It is

Years on
slightly reversed it was wine into
water! Flight Lieutenant Charlie
Emmerson, the organiser, said:
“I wanted to arrange
something fitting that got as many
RAF personnel from across Kabul
and no additional resource.”
The evening started with a
drinks reception in the Hanger,
orange juice or water being the
tipple of choice, a minutes silence
was held at 1800 to remember
a celebration of the ‘few’, but it’s
also a demonstration of the Pride
we feel in the contemporary and
modern RAF. This detachment
has seen all ranks, branches
and trades working together

and Still Securing the Skies together to celebrate the fact

the RAF protected the Nation in
those that lost their lives in the
Battle of Britain and in other
in difficult conditions to deliver
Puma operations in Afghanistan.”
Written By: Squadron Leader Tracey 1940, influenced the outcome of conflicts since around the world. During WW2 and the Battle
of Britain the RAF worked very to the UK following 13 years
closely with allies and partners to in Afghanistan, the Puma HC2
deliver air power to great success has manned the skies alongside
and continues to do so today. Op their U.S. counterparts who have
TORAL or to use NATO’s name, Blackhawk and Chinook aircraft.
Op RESOLUTE SUPPORT (RS), The TAD hold only an eighth
sees the TAD working alongside of the missions rotary assets
43 other nations. Since March yet each week they move over
2015, when the Chinooks returned a third of the personnel and
freight around Kabul. They
are also able to fly and take on
additional commitments when
other aircraft are grounded for
high winds; some might say
the RAF Puma Detachment is
‘punching above its weight’.
The success of ‘The Few’
would not have been possible
without the Whole Force, then, as
Further now, every individual in the Whole
Information Force contributes to the success
of the mission with ‘the Few
Commemorative
supported by the many’. Today
FLYPAST OVER
RAF BENSON the aircraft and equipment has
While the RAF Puma changed but the mission remains
Detachment was the same, securing skies and
remembering ‘The Few’ ensuring the safety of personnel.
far away in Afghanistan,
The TAD operations flight worked
RAF Benson (their home
base) marked the occasion extremely hard to organise the
with a spectacular flypast. movement of personnel around
The aircraft were part of a the Kabul base cluster; ensuring
formation of Spitfire and this was done with no impact to roles RAF personnel are filling numbers have made a significant
Hurricane aircraft that flew tasking requests, at no cost and in Kabul. The aircraft are always impact to the safety of Op RS.
around the south visiting
tied into work requirements. most visible, however, 27 RAF Celebrating the Battle of Britain
many former world war
two fighter stations to The Officer Commanding TAD, personnel are filling embedded in our final few days has given
mark the 75th anniversary Squadron Leader Greenwood roles across the NATO mission. the team something positive to
of the Battle of Britain. said, “the attendance list “The TAD has done really focus on. I’m really impressed
demonstrated the breadth of well on this tour; our small with everyone’s efforts.”

14 Issue 3, 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 15
capability
Cleared The UK Chinook
Force has been
P
ilots have been featured
in many novels and
“The primary role is saying
what you see; turning what we
areas. People approaching
the aircraft on the ground is
Lift
involved in articles, but what about can see into valuable information something we have to be very
to
every major the rest of the crew? for the pilots and to give them aware of, as is low level flying
Written By: incident since At times a Chinook’s crew can situational awareness with the and night flying. It’s down to us
Tom Mercer the Falklands consist of up to five people but aircraft. Imagine you have an to make sure that the aircraft
and there is only two of those sit up front; aircraft and you put that aircraft is safe in all aspects of flying.
no shortage what’s it like to be one of the in a protective bubble; it’s our This part of the job is called
of tales to be remaining two or three? What responsibility to make sure voice marshalling. We are that
told from the exactly does a Chinook crewman that nothing risks breaking that third voice in the cockpit; the
voices inside do? I sat down with Sergeant Ben bubble wherever we’re flying, additional voice of reason.”
the cockpit. Matterface from 27 Squadron, whether it’s with underslung The different areas of
to discuss the role in detail. load, at altitude or in confined voice marshalling have specific
sets of terminology that must
be used in order to correctly
convey the situation.
“We have to be very exact
in what we say. There is a very
specific way that we have to say
things and it must be word-
perfect and said with the right
tonality. We start to build a
picture for the pilots and with
experience, the picture gets
more and more detailed; the pilot
can only see to the front and has
a restricted view to the side.”
It not just about learning
the correct terminology though,
the crewman is responsible
for much more than that.
“We’re responsible for
calculating everything to do with
the aircraft: what we can carry,
how we can carry it and how
much fuel we can have, plus our
cargo arrangements. Quite often
we’ll plan the route and navigate
ourselves. There are times when
we may get called off mid-tasking
and reassigned; as a result we
have to plan a completely new
route on the move. We have
digital moving maps with the
Mk4 which is much easier than
using physical maps like in the
Mk3 and used to have in the Mk2.
We’re gradually all converting to
the Mk4 and Mk6 so navigation
is becoming much easier. Trying
to plan a route on a map, with a
pen, while in flight in a Mk2 was
a nightmare, they don’t call it the
shaking office for no reason!”
The weight of the aircraft is
an ever changing entity when
in flight, especially if caught in
strong winds, so this all has to
be factored into the equation.
“We’re constantly calculating
the weight of the aircraft when
we’re on the move and we have
16 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
to be aware of how the centre of
gravity will shift; it’s like taking
a maths exam that’s continually
evolving. If we need to get from
point A to point B via point C,
how much fuel will we need?
Fuel is weight, so how much
capacity does that leave us
to carry as cargo? If we’re not
picking stuff up until an hour
into the flight, how much fuel will
we have burnt and how much
additional weight can we take
on and lift? When are we going
to run out of fuel in Tank 1 and
switch to Tank 2? There are so
many different factors that have
to be taken into consideration.”
It’s a complex enough
conundrum during daylight
hours so how does that all
change when flying at night?
“The actual sortie itself is very
similar but we will have done a
little more in-depth route study,
especially if we’re going to be
at low-level, to make sure that
we’re aware of any obstructions.
Situational awareness can be
extremely impaired when using
night vision goggles - you have
to be much more aware of your
surroundings. Taking the time
and consideration to properly
asses things is absolutely crucial.
Making sure that the aircraft is
in the right state in the dark is
also trickier so it’s paramount
that we’re focused on the job
at hand. We have to make sure
that the aircraft is extra tidy
and that we’re not going to trip
over something in the dark;
crew resource management is
key at night. It’s an experience
based skill I guess, you can’t
really be taught CRM but you
learn continually with each hour
that you fly. Sometimes it can be
as simple as getting everyone
together before going out to the
aircraft and saying “Let’s think
about this lads, what’s the best
way we can go and pick this up?”
Noticing whether a pilot is a little
tired, knowing whether your crew
is getting on, noticing something
out of the ordinary on board - it
all comes with experience.”
As was mentioned at the
beginning of this article, the
Continued on page 18
LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 17
capability
Heading
Continued from page 17
Chinook can be operated by
a crew of up to 5 pilots. How
does the crew dynamic shift with
more team members on board?
“Well, we work the helicopter
with the aim of completing
a specific task. We use it to
achieve an endgame and we all
work together to get that done
whether there’s three of us or five
of us. You may have several aims
in a sortie so the key is making
sure that we’re all thinking ahead
of the aircraft to make sure that
everything is ready to go when
required. We need to be as
swift and smooth as possible;
dropping the load, dropping
troops - it’s irrelevant what the
task is, timing is everything.
We’re actually quite used to
having a fifth person on board
because one is normally there all
the way through training, albeit
from an instructors’ point of view.
We’re very used to having that
fifth person on board. We never
stop learning; whoever says they
know it all is quite frankly lying!”
During my time at RAF
Odiham, I was fortunate enough
to get kitted up and spend some
time out on the airfield where
several crews were practicing
with underslung load. I was
keen to see the versatility of
the Crewman for myself.
“We tend to get very involved
when it comes to underslung
load, it’s our bread and butter.
When we go across to JHSS, we
have professional hookers that
do a DLPC (Defence Landing
Point Course) where they learn
everything they need to know
about hooking; I did it a couple
of years ago while I was holding
in line to be a crewman. We can
hook up a lot of loads to the
helicopter without any hookers
being involved when required
though and that’s when voice
marshalling becomes crucial.
The crewman will come up with
the idea of how to load-up in
most instances and the hookers
may not be required - this is
especially true when in the
field on operation. It’s a very
fragile set of events. A voice
package exists specifically for
underslung load to make sure
18 Issue 3, 2015 / LZDZ
that we’re accurate and entirely
happy with our positioning. It’s
usually at that time that we call
the hookers in. They’ll hook it
up and then the pilot will lift
once everyone is clear; with
everything swinging around, the
underside of the Chinook can be
a very dangerous place to be.”
I’ve often wondered how
a crew works out how they’re
going to lift something but
detailed lift instructions
actually exist for most things.
“There are a lot of instructions
on how to lift a certain type of
land rover, ISO container etc.
Sometimes there’s not a way of
telling what’s inside a container
or how the weight is distributed.
If a pilot were to pull power on
something that was too heavy,
we’d obviously have to leave it
in place and a rethink would be
required. Lots of things can be
put into nets to make it an easier
piece of cargo to lift; its down to
the crewman on how these things
are lifted but we sometimes get
information from our teams on
the ground. Sometimes we’ll
land-on if there’s time and have a
proper briefing with the hookers
on the ground; diagrams are
best for circumstances like that
and can really aid in efficiency.”
Sergeant Matterface is
still very much in the infancy
of his career but he was keen
to share his own experiences
from working in the field.
“I’ve been in the training
system for eight years now.
I started on the Nimrods
before getting reassigned to
helicopters, which was always
my endgame. I haven’t been
to Herrick, I missed the last
operation by about a week
so I haven’t had any major
overseas challenges...yet.
Exercise Joint Warrior proved
interesting though, lifting some
exceptionally heavy loads from
one airfield to another where the
aircraft was physically bending
like a banana - I couldn’t close
one of the doors because it no
longer fitted! It was all within
the aircraft’s capabilities but
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
was certainly pushing the limits.
Flying day into night can be
tough, especially if it’s dusk to
night and you haven’t had much
of a break. 18 Squadron were
on HMS Ocean and we were
based up at RAF St Athan for
an operation at Keevil airfield
up on the Plain. It was more a
planning exercise for HQ and for
us it was a question of waiting
to move, formulating a plan on
how we were going to carry out
our tasking and get the job done.
It was like a massive puzzle.
We got certain information
filtered down to us, as and when
required. From a Commander’s
perspective, he/she would
have had a lot of information
and they had to decide who
needs to know what and when.
The flow of information was
forever changing so we always
had to be ready for everything
to change at the last minute.
Operationally speaking, the
Chinook is an obvious and big
target so had to make sure that
we were ready for anything!”
RAF Reservists
Ready for Anything
RAF reservists have
been playing a major
part in hosting an
exercise to prepare the
UK Armed Forces for
contingency operations.
O
ver 40 members
of 606 (Chiltern)
Squadron Royal
Auxiliary Air Force
deployed to Salisbury Plain this
week to deliver Joint Helicopter
Command’s annual Exercise
Agile Spear. The exercise
simulated the Armed Forces
being called upon to conduct
Ex Agile Spear
Following the completion of recent combat
operations, the UK Armed Forces moved towards
a requirement to be prepared for any eventuality.
S
eptember saw
contingency preparations
tested as over 200
personnel from the
Royal Air Force and British
Army deployed to Salisbury
Plain Training Area to conduct
Exercise Agile Spear 15.
The Puma Force, Chinook
Force, Joint Helicopter Force
Headquarters, Tactical Supply
Wing, Joint Helicopter Support
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
non-combatant evacuation
operations, one of the many
tasks that form the contingency
readiness capabilities of Defence.
For almost 20 years, 606
Squadron personnel have
deployed alongside counterparts
from RAF Benson and RAF
Odiham to operational theatres
such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
This week saw the Squadron
take on a major role in the move
towards contingency operations
with the team providing ‘real life
support’ to Exercise Agile Spear
and undertook opportunities
for exercise play alongside
Squadron, 244 Signals Squadron,
132 Aviation Support Squadron
of 7 Battalion REME and 606
(Chiltern) Squadron Royal
Auxiliary Air Force joined
together for a week of intense
training for contingency
operations. The exercise
simulated the Armed Forces
being called upon to conduct
non-combatant evacuation
operations, one of the many
regular exercising troops.
From the logistical challenge
of moving all the required
equipment to the exercise
location to the provision of
accommodation for over 150
personnel as well as the essential
meals and administrative support,
the exercise has been a mammoth
undertaking for 606 Squadron.
The team of part time personnel,
supported by a handful of full time
reservists, has been intrinsically
involved in the successful delivery
of the essential training for
the Puma and Chinook Forces,
Tactical Supply Wing and the Joint
Helicopter Support Squadron.
Squadron Leader Dave
Warren, the Officer Commanding
606 Squadron, explained how
his personnel are an integral
tasks that form the contingency
readiness capabilities of Defence.
Wing Commander Toby
Sawbridge, the Detachment
Commander, explained:
“We have already successfully
tested our humanitarian and
disaster relief response on
previous exercises and Exercise
Agile Spear gives us the ability
to conduct a non-combatant
evacuation operation in a
permissive and uncertain
environment. This joint exercise
by the Royal Air Force and British
Army, led by the Joint Helicopter
Command, ensures that we
hold contingency readiness in
one of the many ways we could
be expected to deploy in the
future. We have seen personnel
from a variety of trades and
experiences working together
to achieve the required training
objectives, with regulars and
reservists working side by side
as they would on operations.
“Our contingency readiness
means that we can deploy
within 5 days to be flying in any
overseas location to conduct
humanitarian, evacuation and
disaster relief operations. It
has taken a very short time for
the UK Armed Forces to move
from the mindset of continuous
combat operations to one of
part of the Armed Forces:
“RAF Reservists are a special
breed; balancing their own
careers and home life with the
challenges and adventures of
the RAF. The transferable skills
that they develop are widely
recognised by employers and
the roles are as varied as civilian
employment. From caterers to
fight operations managers and
from drivers to regiment gunners,
606 Squadron proves that RAF
Reservists provide the right mix of
capable and motivated individuals
to Defence. I am extremely proud
of all that 606 Squadron has
achieved on this Exercise and
the new experiences and skills
my personnel have obtained will
provide useful no matter what we
are called upon to do next.”
contingency readiness and
this is something we should
be extremely proud of.”
Over 100 cadets from the
local area were also involved in
supporting the exercise, playing
the part of civilians requiring
evacuation. This role is crucial
to ensuring that realistic training
can be obtained by the support
helicopter forces and those who
enable helicopter operations
such as the mobile air operations
teams from the Joint Helicopter
Support Squadron and
technicians from Tactical Supply
Wing who supply forward-based
aircraft refuelling points.
While the training was
primarily to validate the non-
combatant evacuation capability,
the Joint Helicopter Support
Squadron and 606 Squadron
both took the opportunity
to conduct their own highly
successful continuation training.
Their essential support roles
ensure that the Puma and
Chinook support helicopter
forces are adequately supported
in any environment for any
objective, whether it is the
provision of accommodation
and communications, the
preparation of under-slung
loads or dedicated operations
controllers tasking aircraft.
LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 19
capability

Joint Helicopter Command

Demonstrates a
Swift Response
Apache and Chinook helicopters and Division, which was challenged Arming and Refuelling Points Paracadutisti Nembo, which Maj Morales, himself a US
paratroopers from Joint Helicopter to restore security to a country (FARP) - the military equivalent also included a company of exchange officer working with
Command have taken part in the largest dealing with the aftermath of of a Formula 1 pit stop – to American paratroopers. 2 PARA, said: “I was on the
multinational airborne exercise in a failed coup and the threat maintain the helicopters. Two C-130J Hercules from the aircraft as an American officer,
Europe since the end of the Cold War. of international terrorism. Lance Corporal Matt RAF’s 47 Squadron took part in a with a British paratrooper
3 Regiment Army Air Corps Davies, 28 from Tenby, said: mass drop of 1,300 paratroopers sitting to my left and an Italian

E
xercise Swift Response readiness forces to interoperate led a Joint Helicopter Force “Our job is basically to ensure from eight nations by 13 aircraft paratrooper to my right. We
15 brought together in response to international crises. of some 280 soldiers and six the aircraft is ready and safe from four different countries. all jumped out together to
4,800 soldiers from British troops operated as helicopters flying in support of to take off on its missions, so From the DZ, the paratroopers do the mission together.”
11 NATO countries in part of a larger task force built ground troops. It planned and we marshal the aircraft on the marched overnight to capture an Pte Josh Brown, 20 from
southern Germany for training around the US Army’s 1st Brigade executed strike missions by ground, load the weaponry airstrip for additional troops and Basingstoke, said: “It was a
to improve the alliance’s high Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Apaches from 663 Squadron, and refuel it. On this exercise equipment to be landed. A non- great jump, I was the first to
as well as moving soldiers and we’re doing some real back to combatant evacuation operation leave my plane and the sky was
equipment with Chinooks from basics soldiering while operating was then carried out and, as the already full of canopies. From
the RAF’s 18 Squadron. The very sophisticated aircraft and security situation worsened, the there we’ve been working very

British helicopters also operated
on joint missions with US Army
UH-60 Blackhawks and US Air
Force CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotors.
Out on the Grafenwoehr
and Hohnefels training areas,
groundcrew ran Forward
working alongside American
helicopters, which has been an
interesting and challenging mix.”
C (Bruneval) Company,
2nd Battalion The Parachute
Regiment deployed to work with
the Italian 183° Reggimento
task force launched offensive
operations against the insurgents.
2 PARA’s Major Ben
Morales said: “This exercise
has been a great experience
for our paratroopers.
We haven’t trained with these
Italian and Americans units
before and only met each other
48 hours before the exercise
started. We were able to make
a plan that reflected each of
our different ways of operating,
and then got on with it.
“The relationship between
us is working smoothly. We
have liaison officers in the
battlegroup HQ and I have an
Italian and US officer working
within my company, so we’ve got
“
closely with the Italians and
before the exercise started
we practised our urban skills
with the Americans and played
football with the Polish! We’re
all paratroopers and understand
each other, even if we’re
This is a complex exercise that demonstrates
the capabilities that NATO has and builds the
alliance’s interoperability and mutual trust.
NATO forces have worked together extensively
on recent operations in Afghanistan, but that
was about a particular threat and environment.
This is contingency, preparing for operations
where we do not know what the mission
is, where we will be, who are partners are
and who the belligerents will be. The more

”
an immediate contact to help
understand and communicate
training we can do with our partners the
with the other units.” easier it will be when the fight comes
Major General Richard Felton

Continued on page 22

20 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 21
Heading
capability
Continued from page 21
speaking a different language.”
Private Alex Bailey, 20 from
Blackpool, said: “This is my first
overseas exercise and it’s been a
really interesting experience to
work with different armies and
learn from the slightly different
ways that we do the same job.”
For the JHC this exercise is a
key step towards being ready to
deploy 16 Air Assault Brigade’s
Air Assault Task Force within
the US Army’s 82nd Airborne
Division from 2016, as set out
in a 2013 agreement between
the two armies. It prioritised
contingency operations and
22 Issue 3, 2015 / LZDZ
enabed a UK brigade to work
inside a US division and a UK
division inside a US corps, and
a US brigade combat team to
work inside a UK division and
US division inside the UK-led
Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.
3 Regt AAC’s Commanding
Officer Lieutenant Colonel
Mike Neville said: “We need to
establish the ground truth of how
well we are able to operate with
our NATO allies and identify the
areas that need fixing; so that
when conflict chooses us we are in
a position to meet the challenge.
“We’ve matched up all our
paperwork, but the only way to
truly understand our relationship
is to try it in the field. It’s about
understanding the abilities of
our different aircraft, how we can
talk to each other, how we can
sustain operations together, how
we can plan together and how
we carry out missions together.
Major General Richard Felton,
Commander of Joint Helicopter
Force, said: “This is a complex
exercise that demonstrates
the capabilities that NATO
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
RAF Engineer
on Top of the World
Written By: Nikki Hamilton
An RAF aircraft engineer is on top of the
world after a stunning medal-winning
performance while representing the UK
at the WorldSkills competition in Brazil.
S
enior Aircraftman
(Technician) Shayne
Hadland, a Puma
engineer from RAF
Benson, was chosen to represent
the UK at the WorldSkills
competition held in Sao Paulo,
Brazil from 11-16 August 2015.
The 24 year old competed in the
aircraft engineering category
and was given the silver medal
for his outstanding performance.
Hadland, an experienced RAF
engineer who has already
worked on both Merlin and Puma
helicopters and has completed
two operational deployments to
Afghanistan, was also given the
honour of being named Best of
Nation for the United Kingdom.
The competition saw Hadland
compete in 7 different tasks
against 15 other countries:
daily inspection; cable rigging;
removal and refit of a Powered
Flying Control Unit; engine
boroscoping; compressor blade
blending; electrical loom building
and fault diagnosis; and sheet
metal fabrication. Each task
was given a time frame and
completing the task in the time
has and builds the alliance’s
interoperability and mutual
trust. NATO forces have worked
together extensively on recent
operations in Afghanistan, but that
© LaiQuocAnh / shutterstock
was about a particular threat and
environment. This is contingency,
preparing for operations where we
do not know what the mission is,
where we will be, who are partners
are and who the belligerents will
be. The more training we can do
with our partners the easier it will
be when the fight comes.”
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
frame itself was a significant
challenge. Marks were awarded
for each area of the practices
and the final product, with
competitors ‘facing off’ against
other countries in each round.
Hadland, originally from
near Stourbridge in the West
Midlands, joined the RAF on an
apprenticeship in 2008 as an
aircraft technician mechanical
and it was soon clear that he was
an exceptional engineer after
he was named RAF Apprentice
of the Year very early in his
career. He achieved a bronze
medal at the national final at
the National Exhibition Centre
in Birmingham and spent two
years training hard to become
the best aircraft engineer in
the UK. His hard work paid off
in May this year when he was
selected as the sole competitor
to represent the UK in his trade
at the WorldSkills competition.
The opening ceremony of
the WorldSkills competition
saw Hadland undertake the
role of flag bearer for the UK
team, which he described as
“amazing” and was certainly
a once in a lifetime event. He
was delighted to represent
his country and feels that
competitions such as WorldSkills
are a great recruitment tool for
the engineering trade. Hadland
explains “The reason that it is
good to compete in your trade
at such a high level is because
it raises the standards within
the trade. Also, at competitions
where the public can watch
us competing, hopefully it
inspires young people to
pursue a vocational career.”
Wing Commanding Neil
Bennett, the Officer Commanding
Engineering and Logistics Wing
at RAF Benson and Hadland’s
commanding officer, was
thrilled to hear the news of his
achievements. He said “Senior
Aircraftman (Technician) Shayne
Hadland is an outstanding aircraft
technician with exceptional
technical ability. His success at
both the National and World level
are a testimony to his commitment
and dedication towards his
profession, and founded upon
the world leading technical
training provided to Royal Air
Force technicians through the
Defence School of Aeronautical
Engineering at RAF Cosford.”
Group Captain Simon
Paterson, Station Commander
at RAF Benson where Hadland is
has spent much of his RAF career
so far, said: “I was genuinely
delighted when I found out that
Shayne had been so successful
in the WorldSkills competition.
He has worked extremely hard
to get to this position and
thoroughly deserves this success.
He is a real credit to the Royal
Air Force and all of us here at
Benson are very proud of him
winning both a silver medal and
being named as Best of Nation
for the United Kingdom.”
LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 23
capability

Lynx Replacement
– the AW-159
The Lynx is gradually being
replaced in UK service by the
Augusta Westland 159 ‘Wildcat’.
A Wildcat AH1 from 652 AAC,
based at RNAS Yeovilton,
represented the type at the

le
farewell event. Although the

a
Wildcat bears a fairly strong

n
superficial resemblance to the

Fi
Lynx, and shared ancestry,
only about 5% of the parts are

7
common to the Lynx AH7s. By

k
comparison the figure for the

M
AH9As is more like 30%. Despite
this relatively low commonality,
those parts of the retired AH7s
SERVICE
FROM
that can be recovered for the
Wildcat fleet will be used.

MK7 RETIRES
LYNX
Army’s Lynx attack helicopter

“
variants. A number of AH9As,
which is in reality something
n deployed in support of Army of a Lynx/Wildcat hybrid, will
nd y A itchiso
or me r
training in Belize, Canada, USA, continue in service until 2018.
n B y: A
Writ te
u r re n t and f iddle Europe and the Middle East.
uly, c AC M
n Fr id ay 31 J athered at A ent of the The AH7 was not only
O ircrew
g retirem er vice. Lynx AH7 service history operated by the Army Air Corp;
Lynx a to mark the AH7s from s The AH7 fleet was once 113 847 Sqn NAS has also used the
Wallopestland Lynx strong, consisting of 107 type. Perhaps most importantly
last W airframes converted from AH1 the aircraft has always been very
standard and 12 new builds. highly regarded by its crews. It is The Lynx has
Etienne Coetzer & Sergeant Retief Since entering service in 1977 known as a pilot’s aircraft – highly
deployed in support
Uys, all flew in the final formation. (as the AH1) it quickly gained a manoeuvrable with lots of control
The day also marked the 70th reputation for versatility and the power. It was certainly fast
of UK and allied

A
flypast of all six of
the remaining aircraft
operated by 671 Sqn
AAC marked the
retirement and very last flights of
anniversary of the formation of
671 Sqn AAC. Guest of Honour
was Jonathan Hayward, son of
Sir Jack Hayward who was a
founder member of 671 Sqn. The
list of roles it has performed is a
long one. The Lynx has deployed
in support of UK and allied troops
across the world. It has been
right there at the sharp end in
too. For many years a modified troops across the
Westland demonstrator held the world. It has been
world speed record for a rotary right there at the
aircraft. Arguably the AH7 was
also the best looking of the Lynx
sharp end in almost
every theatre the UK

the AH7. The occasion also saw
the graduation of the last three
student pilots to qualify on the
Lynx. The three pilot graduates,
Captain Jordan Jones, Sergeant
farewell was also attended by Lt
Col Dawson (retd), formerly of the
Rotary Wing Test Squadron and
test pilot on the original Lynx AH1
programme back in the 1970s.
almost every theatre the UK
armed forces have been active in.
It saw extensive front line use in
Northern Ireland, Kuwait, Kosovo,
Iraq and Afghanistan. It has also
”
variants. It was clear from the
faces of those present at Middle armed forces have
Wallop that the aircraft will be been active in.
much missed. However, it’s not
quite the end yet for all of the

Farewell Flypast
The six aircraft lifted together
and then flew past in figure
‘7’ formation, symbolically
representing the Mark 7.
The Lynx AH7 is one of only
two rotary types to date that have
been certified to perform the
famous backflip manoeuvre (the
other being the Bo105). It was
long the trademark manoeuvre
of the AAC Lynx Display Team.
As such it was entirely fitting that
the final flight also featured the
very last backflip by a Lynx. The
aircraft which performed the
manoeuvre, XZ184/B, was flown
by WO1 Mick Kildea and Capt
Neil Posthumus, the AAC’s award-
winning 2014 display pilots.
WO1 Kildea said, “I am very
proud to have been a part of
the formation today. It’s a great
privilege to be the final person
to fly the final aerobatic flip for
the British Army. The Mk7 doing
the backflip today was converted
from a Mk1 airframe which was
the first Lynx to do a backflip so
it is fitting she also did the last.”
The six aircraft then landed
for the last time as they had
taken off – all together. However,
XZ184 also (just) managed the
honour of being the last of the
six aircraft to touch down for the
very last time. Thus ended the
long and varied service career
of the most numerous variant
of what has been one of the
British Army’s most successful
battlefield helicopters.

24 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 25
CAPABILITY
A
fter almost 17 years,
28 (Army Cooperation)
Squadron handed the
final Merlin helicopters
to 845 Naval Air Squadron to
form the Commando Helicopter
Force’s second Merlin Squadron.
A formal ceremony took
place at Royal Air Force Benson
and was attended by His Royal
26 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ
End of an
Era
and a Look to The Future
Written By: Kerry Randall
July marked the end of an era as the
last Royal Air Force Merlin squadron
handed over to the Royal Navy.
Highness Prince Michael of Kent,
Honorary Air Marshal of RAF
Benson, as the Royal Reviewing
Officer. It marked one of the final
stages in the transition of the
Merlin helicopter from the RAF
Support Helicopter Force to the
Commando Helicopter Force.
Rear Admiral K E Blount OBE
and Air Vice Marshal G Parker
OBE were also in attendance to combined Puma and Chinook
represent the Royal Navy and Operational Conversion Unit.
Royal Air Force on parade. His Royal Highness Prince
After a long and illustrious Michael of Kent said:
history, beginning in 1915, the “I am honoured to be
future looks bright and busy the Reviewing Officer for the
for 28 (Army Cooperation) handover of the 28 Squadron
Squadron as it will move Standard and the Standing Up
from an operational role to a of 845 Naval Air Squadron at
training squadron, forming the RAF Benson. In my capacity as
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
Honorary Air Marshal of RAF
Benson I have had the pleasure
of seeing 28(AC) Squadron excel
both in the UK and on operations
over the last 15 years; with the
reformation of 28(R) Sqn as
the joint Puma and Chinook
Operational Conversion Unit I
look forward to celebrating its
continued success and centenary
next year. I am also thrilled that
the Merlin will continue to serve
Her Majesty’s Armed Forces with
845 Naval Air Squadron under
Commander Punch and I wish
them the best as they conquer
the challenges of operating at
sea. This impeccable parade
provides a highly impressive
and fitting occasion for such a
momentous day at RAF Benson.”
Wg Cdr Marty Lock,
Officer Commanding of
28(R) Squadron, said:
“It has been an extremely
proud and special for me to take
command of 28 Squadron. I know
how hard so many people have
worked to get to this point, both
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
845 taking over from 28 Squadron
and also the hard work to
ensure we have the Operational
Conversion Unit ready. I
appreciate everyone’s efforts
and it has been a great day.”
Beginning in 2012 with
846 Naval Air Squadron,
aircrew and engineers from the
Commando Helicopter Force
have been integrated into the
Merlin Force at RAF Benson;
working alongside their Royal
Air Force counterparts to absorb
over a decade of experience of
operating and maintaining the
technologically advanced aircraft.
845 NAS stood down as a
Sea King Squadron in May 2015,
handing over the duty of seeing
the venerable aircraft out of
service to 848 NAS, and moved to
RAF Benson to begin the transition
onto the Merlin helicopter.
Already a proven platform, the
Merlin will ensure the Commando
Helicopter Force will continue to
support the Royal Navy and Royal
Marines well into the future.
The Squadron will remain at
RAF Benson until summer 2016
when they and the remaining
Merlin aircraft will return to
the home of the Commando
Helicopter Force, Royal Naval
Air Station Yeovilton, reuniting
all CHF Squadrons for the first
time in over three years.
Cdr Matt Punch,
Commanding Officer of 845
Naval Air Squadron, said:
“Today has been a wonderful
opportunity to celebrate the
successful transition of the
Merlin Force from the Royal
Air Force to the Royal Navy.
I am delighted and proud to
take command of 845 Naval Air
Squadron and look forward to an
exciting and bright future.”
LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 27
Heritage
The Gazelle Sqn
Bringing Life Back
to Ex-Military Aircraft
The Gazelle Squadron
is a unique team of ex-
British Military Gazelle
helicopters in their original
military paint schemes and
with their original military
registrations, sponsored
by Falcon Aviation Limited
and Babcock International.
T
he team, formed in
early 2014 and includes
four Gazelles from
the Royal Navy, Royal
Marines, Army Air Corps and
Royal Air Force. Throughout the
2015 season, the RAF aircraft,
ZB627, and Royal Marines aircraft,
XX436, appeared as a static
pair at air shows and military
events with additional aircraft
making an appearance where
possible. The team is currently
rebuilding two additional aircraft
for display in 2016 and beyond.
The Gazelle Sqn is dedicated
to supporting various charitable
causes, and in 2015 these include
the British Limbless Ex-Serviceman’s
Association BLESMA, Naomi House,
Disabled Trekkers Camp 2015 and
the Nepal Earthquake Fund.
The Sqn works closely with the
Gazelle Military Helicopter Trust
which was established to restore
iconic British military helicopters
to flying condition. The Trust is
working with the British Limbless
Ex-Service Men’s Association
(BLESMA) to help educate and train
28 Issue 3, 2015 / LZDZ
veterans in aircraft restoration skills
and to give them flying experiences.
BLESMA helps wounded
servicemen and servicewomen
who have lost limbs, the use of
limbs or eyes, to rebuild their
lives by providing rehabilitation
activities and welfare support.
The Squadron attended many
events this year including the
Abingdon Air and Country Show,
Weston Super Mare Air Day, Armed
Forces Day, The Royal International
Air Tattoo (RIAT), RNAS Yeovilton
and RNAS Culdrose Air Days, RAF
Benson and RAF Odiham Families
Days, and finished the season at
Brizefest on 5th September 2015.
The 2016 programme is already
filling up and will see the Sqn
displaying all over the country.
The Gazelle Squadron adheres
to a traditional military structure
and although Squadron personnel
are civilian, the majority are
experienced ex-military pilots,
engineers and groundcrew,
many of whom performed
with military air display teams
including the ‘The AAC Blue
Eagles’ and ‘The RN Sharks’. The
Squadron Headquarters is based
at Bourne Park and headed up
by a ‘Commanding Officer’ and
a ‘Squadron Sergeant Major’.
The Squadron has four Flights
that conduct flying displays,
static displays, engineering and
maintenance and also support to
civilian Gazelle pilots and owners.
The current aircraft; known as
Ginger, Gary, Gordon and Gavin
have all seen military service
with the Royal Navy, Royal Air
Force and AAC. They are:
ZB627 (Ginger) was procured
as an RAF training aircraft. It
served primarily at RAF Shawbury.
It also served with 7 Sqn RAF
based at Odiham in Hampshire
and was used for night vision
reconnaissance sorties. Not a lot
more is known about Ginger sadly
there are few service records left.
XZ321 (Gary) served with the Army
Air Corps for 28 years. Initially it
served with 2 Flt AAC, 6 Flt AAC
and 658 Sqn AAC. It then served
with distinction in The Falklands
War (Op CORPORATE) with 656
Sqn AAC. It had just finished a
Phase II Modification Programme at
RNAS Fleetlands and was lodging
with the Advanced Rotary Wing
Training Squadron at Middle Wallop
when 656 Sqn was giving orders
to deploy as part of 5 Inf Bde.
After training with the Brigade on
Sennybridge training area, the main
body of the Squadron flew direct to
Southampton on 8 May 1982 and
the Sqn’s Gazelles including XZ321
were loaded on the Nordic Ferry, the
ship sailed the next day. Nordic Ferry
anchored off San Carlos settlement
on 3 June, in high winds and almost
continuous rain the Gazelles flew
off to Clam Valley. The Gazelle
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
Flight moved to Goose Green on
5 June and on 7 June they helped
with the evacuation of casualties
from Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram.
The whole Squadron moved to
Fitzroy on 9 June together with
5 Inf Bde HQ. On 10 June all 656
Sqn were eventually fitted with
68mm rockets and test firing was
conducted in Choiseul Sound.
On 13 June 2nd Bn Scots Guards
attacked Mount Tumbledown with
656 Sqn in support flying CASEVAC
sorties. The 14th June saw the
Squadron engaged in continuous
calls for CASEVAC flights, urgent
replenishment missions and liaison
work in support of 2 PARA who had
moved off Wireless Ridge and were
advancing on Stanley. As British
Forces entered Stanley, 656 Sqn
flew into Port Stanley racecourse
where several Argentinian Hueys
were found in flying condition and
one was immediately pressed into
service in support of 5 Inf Bde.
XZ 321 remained in the Falklands
until Dec 1983. It then returned to
the UK to storage and next saw
service in Northern Ireland in 1989
and remained there for most of
the rest of its service life. It has
been restored in the desert colours
of 4 Regt AAC who supported
the Desert Rats amongst other
Brigades in the First Gulf War.
XX436 (Gordon) spent most of
its 26 year service as a training
aircraft with the Royal Navy and
705 Sqn at RNAS Culdrose. In
1978 the aircraft flew as part
of The Tri-Service Helicopter
Team in the British Helicopter
Championships. Throughout its
service life the aircraft flew as 39/
CU. It spent its last 5 years’ service
in storage at RAF Shawbury.
ZB647 (Gavin) spent all of its 32
year service with the Royal Navy
and for the majority of this time
it was a training aircraft with
705 Sqn at RNAS Culdrose. In
1994 the aircraft represented
the UK at the World Helicopter
Championships in Moscow.
For more information about the
Gazelle Sqn please go to www.
thegazellesquadron.com
Entente Cordiale
Builds on
Exercise
Eagles Amarante
British and French paratroopers trained
together in a major exercise to demonstrate
their ability to operate together.
E
xercise Eagles Amarante
involved 1,800 troops
from 16 Air Assault
Brigade and 11e Brigade
Parachutiste. Both brigades
provide their armies’ rapid
reaction forces and are at the
forefront of Franco-British
military co-operation. Together
they form the Interim Combined
Joint Expeditionary Force
(I-CJEF) which is ready to deploy
at short notice on operations
anywhere in the world.
The two-week long exercise
started on 27 Sept, with British
and French troops converging
at Wattisham Flying Station in
Suffolk. The airfield was used
as a forward mounting base
for the joint force (built around
Colchester-based 2nd Battalion
The Parachute Regiment and
1er Regiment de Chasseurs
Parachutistes) to plan and
execute missions from.
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
Training
far we have been bringing the
force together at Wattisham,
two brigades are able to work
together, it offers a potent
familiarising ourselves with the option to our political leaders to
different equipment we use respond to international crises.”
and planning and rehearsing The partnership is part
for the missions to come.” of the 2010 Lancaster House
Major Stephan Cognon, chief
of staff of 1er RCP, said: “This
training is about improving
agreements, which set out
closer military and security
ties between Britain and
our ability to work together France. I-CJEF was validated
at all levels, from the planning as ready to deploy in 2013,
and decision making to the with Exercise Eagles Amarante
paratroopers working side- part of an ongoing programme
The ground troops were by-side on the ground. If our of joint training.
supported by British and French
aircraft, including Apache attack
helicopters from 4 Regiment
Army Air Corps; Merlin, Chinook
and Puma support helicopters
and Hercules transport aircraft
from the RAF; Gazelle and
Puma helicopters from Aviation
Légère de l’Armée de Terre;
and Transall transport aircraft
from the Armee de l’Air.
Their overall challenge
was to restore stability to a
troubled region, with a key
task being a helicopter-borne
night raid on Rock Barracks
before the troops parachuted
onto the Stanta Ranges to
assault enemy positions.
Major Chris Prior, second-
in-command of 2 PARA, said:
“Working with the French is a
fantastic opportunity and we are
sharing experiences and learning
a lot from each other already. So
LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 29
TRAINING

‘Crawl, Walk, Run’

and Fly
846 NAS Learn How to Land on Decks
Written By: Lt Natalie Grainger, 846 NAS

Eleven months after 846 Naval Air Squadron

reformed with the Merlin Mk3 helicopter, the
crews have been conducting deck landing training
on the Royal Fleet Auxilary (RFA) ARGUS.

F
or a number of 846 NAS on RFA Argus following an equally important phase was
aircrew this was the the initial training package training the aircraft engineers
first time in over three before the crews were tasked of 846 NAS to deploy onboard
years they had operated to conduct further Deck and reacquaint themselves
with a ship due to being on Landings on HMS Ocean. with operations at sea.
exchange with the RAF whilst A challenging week followed Sgt Lodge RM Aircrewman,
undergoing conversion training with a busy deck on the ‘O’ Boat 846 NAS, said: “It was a great
from the Sea King Mk4 to the as their JHC cousins, 27 Sqn opportunity for CHF Merlin
Merlin Mk3 at RAF Benson. (RAF) were also embarked with to go ‘feet wet’ and begin
Much like learning to crawl, three Chinooks conducting their to prove ourselves back in
walk and run, the first stage initial Deck Qualifications prior the maritime role, further
required the Qualified Helicopter to deploying on Cougar 15. broadening the capability of
Instructors to utilise the vast Alongside the aircrew training, the new CHF aircraft.”
deck experience with the Mk2
Merlin crews from 824 NAS
and once this ‘train the trainer’
package was complete and all
the crews had conducted the
vital Simulator Deck Landing
Practice, 846 NAS made their
way to RFA Argus positioned off
Portland for live flying serials.
Far surpassing their training
expectations, the Squadron
re-qualified five crews in
day/night and Night Vision
Devices (NVD) deck landings
within the first week alone.
A week of consolidation
training was completed

30 Issue 3, 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 31
Training

technicians, paramedics and other these two backgrounds is what

emergency services which are all
pertinent to the type of work they
carry out in their reservist roles.
When we train together there is
always a cross pollination of skills,
we get so much out of training
gives us the good results that
we have managed to achieve.”
The experience and
knowledge sharing was not only
limited to the British Army, with
four medics from the United

Best Practice
with the regular element and we States Army attached to the
also bring in our experiences from exercise as part of an exchange
a wide variety of civilian roles.” programme. Captain Michelle

Shared on Regular
Reservist Major Sam Ley, who Levesque from 224th Area
is an anaesthetist at a Glasgow Support Medical Company, based
hospital, explains how the training in Maryland, USA, discovered

and Reserve
has a direct benefit to both that whilst there are some strong
military and NHS medical care. similarities between the two
He said: “We gain so much countries, her role as a Physician

Medical Exercise
more experience working with Assistant is fulfilled differently
the military because working in within the British Army.
an NHS environment we don’t She said: “In regards to medics
actually see patients as badly it is honestly very much mirrored.
Written By: Julia Wilde
injured as we have done on As a Physician Assistant, I
Over 100 regular and reserve troops from 16 Medical Major Steve Wignall, Officer useful for our medics who have some adventure training, which it also gave them the opportunity operations. The great thing is notice that they don’t have
Regiment, which provides dedicated medical Commanding 19 Medical the added complication of has been a real morale boost to work closely with their we can take all that knowledge that particular position in the
support to 16 Air Assault Brigade, have been in Squadron, explained: “The first extracting casualties backwards for my soldiers because we regular counterparts and share back into the NHS and improve British Army, but they do have
Gibraltar conducting a two-week training exercise. part of the exercise concentrated to a Role 1 Post. The second have been extremely busy.” knowledge and best practice. the services. Within my components of it. I function in
on military medical skills; it has phase provided 144 Squadron For 144 Parachute Medical Major Eric Bellew, Officer hospital there have been some the United States Army alongside

T
aking part in Exercise medics from 144 Parachute been especially useful being with Role 1 validation which Squadron, which is the only Commanding 144 Parachute changes to services as a direct the Physician and work in a
Barbary Sun were Medical Squadron who are based in Gibraltar because we have essentially ensures they are able medical reserve unit with Medical Squadron, said: “A result of knowledge gained in Role 1 just like this. It has been
regular medics from in London, Cardiff, Nottingham been able to use the complex to deploy on operations with parachute capability, the exercise proportion of our reserves already Afghanistan and Iraq. We both great to be able to train and
Colchester-based 19 and Glasgow. The training tunnel system, which is a unique their regular counterparts. Finally, not only provided their essential work in the medical profession have different training that learn with them and we have
Medical Squadron and reservist consisted of three unique phases. training environment and very we have been able to carry out quality assurance validation but as doctors, nurses, ambulance we do and the combination of integrated with them also.”

32 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 33
Training
Engineers have
Ex
parachuted into their
first major exercise
since their Regiment’s
Eagle 2
name was changed to
reflect their airborne
role and heritage.
3 Parachute Engineer
Sapper
Regiment jumped into
Exercise Eagle Sapper
as it rehearsed its
role providing close combat
engineering to 16 Air Assault
Brigade, the British Army’s rapid
reaction force. The exercise
34 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
placed the unit’s 400 Regular and
Reserve soldiers on a mission
to support an ally nation facing
the threat of an insurgency
backed by a hostile neighbour.
The serials began with the
Regiment, which changed its
name from 23 Engineer Regiment
(Air Assault) earlier this year,
parachuting into the troubled
region as a show of force.
The troops then spread out
across Salisbury Plain to build
bridges across rivers, establish
water supply points capable
of providing 40,000 litres of
drinking water every day and
construct defensive positions.
The week-long training
culminated with a test of the
sappers’ infantry skills as 51
Parachute Squadron assaulted
a strongpoint prepared and
defended by their colleagues
in 9 Parachute Squadron.
Lance Corporal Ollie
Seymour, 28 from Harlow,
is part of the unit’s Recce
Troop, which established a
concealed observation post
to watch over the target for
48 hours before the attack.
The 28-year-old from Harlow
said: “As engineer recce our key
role is to look at infrastructure,
such as electricity and water
supply in an area, and establish
routes for troops to advance
along. Observing a target
ahead of an infantry assault is
a secondary capability we have
that it is good to practice. We’ve
cut out a hide inside a bush
and would happily work from
this location for up to a week,
and longer if we were dug in.
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
“It was great to have
jumped into the exercise.
Parachuting is the specialist
skill we offer as a Regiment and
we all feel proud to have that
recognised in our new name.”
Lance Corporal Mark Langley,
26 from Redditch, said: “It’s been
a varied and tough exercise.
We’ve been living on the field
and tested on the full range of
our combat engineering skills,
with a strong focus on our ability
to serve as infantry as well.
“The parachute jump went
really well for me with clear
skies, not much wind and a
soft landing. There’s a modest
pride within the Regiment
about our new name and the
recognition of what we do.”
Lieutenant Colonel John
Clark MBE, Commanding
Officer of 23 Para Engr Regt,
said: “Across the year our two
regular squadrons, supported
by our reservists, have a busy
schedule working alongside other
units in 16 Air Assault Brigade.
Exercise Eagle Sapper is our
chance to come together as a
Regiment to focus on maintaining
our core skills as engineers.
“To carry out a parachute
insertion was both an excellent
run-out for our airborne capability
and a fitting way to celebrate our
recent name change. Parachuting
defines our role, history and
ethos as a Regiment.”
LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 35
training

Ex Forlorn Hope
Written By: Kerry Randall

July 2015 saw personnel and assets from across to exercise combat recovery
the JHC convene at RNAS Yeovilton for Exercise serials in both the Maritime
FORLORN HOPE to practise joint personnel and Littoral environments.
recovery in preparation for contingent operations FORLORN HOPE was
as part of the UK Joint Expeditionary Force managed and controlled by the
(JEF) and Lead Commando Group (LCG). Commando Helicopter Force
Headquarters calling on a number
Combat Support Squadron.
Participants convened at 846
NAS to conduct briefings on
tactics, techniques, procedures
and table-top exercises which
culminated in flying and
ground serials on Dartmoor.

R
ecent campaigns have
led to a reliance on
coalition joint personnel
recovery structures in the
land environment, so the aim of Ex
FORLORN HOPE was to conduct
a joint personnel recovery at
RNAS Yeovilton, in order to build
on earlier training conducted
on Ex JOINT WARRIOR.
The exercise was designed to
explore how different aircraft and
capabilities, such as the Merlin
and Wildcat can integrate with
3 Cdo Bde RM and wider Joint
Helicopter Command assets
of assets from across the JHC
including; Merlin Mk3’s, Wildcat,
Apache and Sea King alongside
a Ground Extraction Force
from 42 Cdo RM, Forward Air
Controllers (Airborne) (FAC(A)),
Isolated Personnel (ISOPERS) and
willing enemy forces from CHF’s
The Wildcat conducted
intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance sweeps of the
pick-up area on Okehampton
Range, and quickly identified
the enemy forces closing in on
the ISOPERS location. Once
the FAC(A)s had called in

simulated close air support the
recovery package of Merlins,
escorted by the Wildcat closed
to pick-up the downed crew.
Whilst on the ground, 42 Cdo
were attacked by enemy forces
as they tried to authenticate the
ISOPERS. The ensuing fire fight
was coordinated from above by
the Ground Extraction Force
Commander and the FAC(A)s,
using a pre-briefed battlefield
management plan and through a
combination of ‘bootie’ fighting
spirit and airborne fires, the
attack was neutralised. With
the enemy beaten and the
aircrew secured, it was time
to head back to the ‘floating’
call sign of ‘HMS Yeovilton’.
This was the second year
that the Commando Helicopter
Force has delivered Ex FORLORN
HOPE, building on the success
of the 2014 exercise. It proved
that with practice, personnel and
capabilities that often function in
relative isolation can be brought
together to achieve a whole
greater than the sum of its parts.
It’s a big call to place
more people in harms way
to recover others which is
why joint personnel recovery
involves a healthy-degree of
risk management. However, by
mastering this capability our
fighting men and women can go
about their business with one
fewer concern; that should it go
wrong, there’s somebody there
to get them back to safety.

36 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 37
TRAINING
a nge
Fre nc h E xc h
W i ldc at
for The A r m y
dall
Written By: Kerry Ran
French test pilot and
a flight test engineer
students have spent two
weeks with 652 Squadron
Army Air Corps, at RNAS
Yeovilton, assessing
the Wildcat AH1 for
their end of course
assessment report.
C
aptain Gwenaël Teveu,
Marine Nationale
(French National
Navy), and Stéphane
Rousson (Airbus Helicopters),
are students with EPNER (École
38 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ
du personnel navigant d’essais
et de réception) based at the
Istres Le Tube Airbase, France.
EPNER is the French equivalent
to the UK’s Empire Test Pilots’
School (ETPS) based in Boscombe
Down. The Empire Test Pilots’
School is a Military commanded
Test and Evaluation (T&E) flying
training unit run in partnership
with QinetiQ, as part of the Long
Term Partnering Agreement.
As one of the four leading
test pilot schools in the world,
EPNER maintains close links
with the other three schools;
the Empire Test Pilots’ School
(ETPS), the United States Air
Force Test Pilot School (USAFTPS)
and the United States Naval
Test Pilot School (USNTPS).
Lt Cdr Lee Evans RN, Rotary
Wing Test Pilot Tutor and Flight
Commander for ETPS explains;
“We invite the other T&E
schools to come to the UK to test
military or civilian aircraft as part
of their final exercise. In turn, this
allows ETPS to send our students
overseas so they can also test
aircraft we wouldn’t normally
have access to, such as the French
Tiger Attack helicopter, the
French NH90 or the Rafale. In
America we’ve conducted student
evaluations of the V22, Blackhawk
and F18 among others.”
“The ETPS course begins
with full time academics before
students learn how to safely
assess and report their findings
on aircraft performance, stability
and control, and mission systems.
The training also requires the
students to broaden their
aviation experience and fly a
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
range of aircraft with different
handling qualities. The students
fly a variety of different military
and civilian aircraft types, from
around the world, throughout
their training – sometimes up to
24 during the year long course.”
“Use of modern military
aircraft throughout the ETPS
course is paramount for training
effective T&E professionals, we
are extremely grateful that 652
Sqn AAC have been able to host
ETPS and EPNER in what I know
is an extremely busy training
and trials period for them.“
The students of all four schools
must complete an assessment
at the end of the test pilot and
flight test engineer course. They
are given a scenario in which to
test an aircraft they have never
flown before, including six hours
flying and 20 hours ground/
simulator assessment time,
during which they assess the
aircraft against a specific role.
“The aircraft the students
assess must be completely new to
them, they’ve got to understand
the aircraft and role and do a
lot of work before they even
get to see the aircraft. When
they arrive at the host unit they
understand the aircraft a little,
go in the simulator, take the
aircraft flying and then have six
hours to do the assessment.”
“Once they have landed from
the last flight the students have
ten days to write the report,
which includes a lot of data
and analysis. This report is then
presented to an audience made
up of senior test pilots, engineers,
academics and invited guests.”
“The students are testing
everything; cockpit, flying
controls, how it is augmented
with the automatic flying control
system, engine and rotor
performance, the EO system, the
navigation system, the moving
map, the night interoperability,
getting in and out, emergency
exits – everything is tested
against set standards. It’s a huge
amount of work for them.”
Capt Gwenaël Teveu serves
in the French Navy, on the
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
Navy Base BAN Hyeres, Côte
d’Azur. After joining the Navy in
2003, completing flying training
in 2006, he held a variety of
posts from flying the Dauphin
as a Mission Pedro (search and
rescue) to his most recent post
flying the Eurocopter AS565
Panther with 36 Squadron
before joining EPNER.
Capt Teveu explained more
about the EPNER courses; “There
are two courses with EPNER, one
long course which is 11 months
and the short which is for six
months. The main difference
between the courses is that
we on the short course are not
able perform all the same tests
in flight as those who do the
long course. We are limited to
performances and assessment of
the systems in the helicopters. We
concentrate on enabling systems
as opposed to pure handling.
So our work here on the Wildcat
AH1 will only assess the mission
systems and performances.”
After his first flight in the
Wildcat AH1, operated by
the Aviation Reconnaissance
Force, Capt Teveu said;
“We have only performed
one flight so far so it is a bit too
early to form an opinion, but
despite there being similarities
to Lynx such as the automatic
flight control system, the systems
are very interesting - which we’ll
cover more in the report!”
“The language difference is
a challenge, especially in flight.
On the radios it is quite difficult
to understand and this is a key
safety point that we brief before
flying with the safety pilots
to ensure that everyone fully
understands what actions will be
carried out during the flight.”
“Everyone has been very
welcoming, very warm. They have
been supportive with making
helicopters available for us and
spending time going through
the all the systems which helps
with the work we are doing.”
On completion of the course,
Capt Teveu will be join the CEPA
(Centre d’Expérimentations
Pratiques de l’Aéronautique
Navale) to fly the Lynx where
he will be in charge of the
evaluation of system upgrades
to the French Lynx.
Stéphane Rousson has worked
for Airbus Helicopters, located
in Marignane near Marseille, for
over ten years. He is a trainee
for flight test engineering on
the production line for light
helicopters. During his time
with Airbus Helicopters he
was also an aircraft prototype
engineer, managing the aircraft
preparations for flight test
engineering and worked in
the research and development
department for safety analysis.
After his first flight in the
Wildcat AH1, Stéphane said;
“It’s interesting because it’s
very different to the helicopters
we make in France in my company.
My first impressions are that the
cockpit avionics and mission
systems are very interesting with
a lot of functions to assess.”
“We have performed the
first flight today to test the
performance and engines and
it seems to be good. Over the
allocated flying period we will
be assessing the performances
of the helicopter; the mission
systems, and so on, against
a mission scenario set by the
EPNER Instructors for the French
Army for training purposes. The
mission scenario will include
requirements such as how it would
operate in a hostile environment
for example. We then provide
the global assessment during
the presentation, it’s very
important in the assessment
to provide confidence in the
aircraft relating to the mission
set by the instructors.”
Stéphane explained more
about the language challenges;
“The language barrier may
be a problem. It is difficult to
communicate during the flight
but this is briefed to everyone
beforehand and it gets easier
to understand each other
as the flight progresses.”
“During the flight planning
briefs we must ensure that
everyone fully understands
what we are going to be doing
and that we use standard,
common phraseology and
fully apply the methodology
learnt during training.”
“However, working here in
the UK is very good, we learn
more about how the mission
systems work on aircraft that
we have not seen before, and
to know what functions the
helicopters can provide to the
crew. It is interesting to learn
more about the human interface
philosophy differences between
manufacturers and customers.”
On completion of the course,
Stéphane will return to Airbus
Helicopters to work in the
production flight department
as a flight test engineer for the
production of light helicopters.
When a helicopter is assembled,
he will ensure it is fully tested,
that all the functions, vibrations
and the performances are
good so when the production
flights are performed the
company and customers can
be sure all the requirements
and all the functions are safe.
The test pilot and engineer
training is incredibly demanding
and hard work. During the
assessment period the students
work long days, learning about
the new aircraft they have
been assigned, completing the
assessment, analysing the data
and then writing up the report
ready for the presentation.
This ensures those pilots,
aircrewmen and engineers
responsible for the test and
evaluation of the aircraft flown
by the British Armed Forces and
her Allies across the world are
the very best, fit for purpose
and the safety of the aircrew
and troops is assured.
LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 39
training

King of the

Mountains
Written By: Lt Cdr Rob Trewinnard-Boyle

Operating out of GAF
Kaufbeuren, home
to the Luftwaffe’s 1st
Technical Training
School for Tornado and
Eurofighter, two Sea
King Mk4 helicopters,
aircrew and engineers
from 848 Naval Air
Squadron deployed on
Exercise MOUNTAIN
EAGLE to hone their
specialist flying skills.
practice the art of safely flying
in a challenging and unfamiliar
environment which is vital for
the pilots and aircrewmen of
CHF. Deploying to foreign
exercises like MOUNTAIN EAGLE
is ideal for us to train and to
provide wider opportunities
for our Squadron.”
During the detachment,
personnel from 848 NAS
participated in adventurous
training as part of Exercise
BAVARIAN SURPRISE at the
come back again.”
Remembering events 70
years previously as Allied
Forces swept through Bavaria,
848 NAS personnel also
took the opportunity to visit
the concentration camp at
Dachau and The Eagles Nest
at Berchtesgaden, Hitler’s
Alpine retreat. Reflecting on
the atrocities committed at
one site was in stark contrast
to the beautiful mountain
scenery at the other.
This was the last planned
overseas detachment for the
Junglie Sea King prior to their
retirement next year.

E
xercise MOUNTAIN
EAGLE was designed
to introduce recently
qualified Sea King
crews to, and refresh the more
experienced crews on, the
challenges of flying through
mountainous terrain and the
associated weather conditions
whilst teaching the tactical skills
required for insertion of troops
into this unforgiving environment.
With great weather and good
aircraft serviceability, the Sea
King crews flew approximately
8 hours a day, flying through
valleys, landing in dry riverbeds
and perching on high mountain
peaks. Flying in dramatic
settings and with the challenges
of high altitude mountain
flying, it was demanding but
enjoyable for all involved.
Lt Alex Craig, 848 NAS
QHI and Detachment
Commander, said;
“We are here to learn and
nearby Naval Outdoor Centre. For
several junior Squadron members
this was their first foreign
detachment and being able to
participate in rock climbing,
kayaking and klettersteig
routes in glorious Alpine
weather during the exercise
was a fantastic opportunity.
By rolling personnel between
BAVARIAN SURPRISE and aircraft
maintenance at Kaufbeuren, the
maximum numbers were able to
attend the Adventurous Training,
building confidence, leadership
and developing new skills, while
ensuring the flying training in the
mountains continued unabated.
Wtr Daniel Wade said;
“Learning to kayak down
the white water rivers has
been a great challenge and
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.
It was a great opportunity
to do something different,
I’d recommend it to anyone
and definitely want to

40 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 41
training
Ex Skargard Finn
The Stockholm Archipelago (Skärgård) consists of
30,000 small Islands off the East coast of Sweden.
On the 31 Aug, 12 personnel from 5 Regt AAC
and 2 instructors boarded a plane in Dublin to
undertake an 8 day Sea Kayaking expedition.
F
ollowing an early start
in Aldergrove, 3 bus
journeys, a flight, a
night in a hotel, and
then a taxi boat we were united
with our steeds for the week.
Approximately 16 feet long, our
boats were loaded with kit, food
and water before we left our
bearded Viking fixer on the Island
on Runmarö and headed south.
The Stockholm Archipelago has a
reputation for being a sheltered,
warm and pleasant place to take
your family on a canoe camping
adventure. If however, you go in
the autumn, expect high winds,
plenty of rain and exposed
crossings with fairly high sea
states for novices in heavily laden
kayaks. The locals thought we
were nuts; which was fitting as
we later changed the route due
to adverse weather conditions.
Even so, we still had a 1 km
open crossing in sea state 3 to
reach our first campsite. Wild
camping is legal on virtually all
of the Islands so we paddled
for a few hours before looking
for somewhere to call home for
the night. Eventually, cold and
soaking wet we settled for a deer
track five metres from the water’s
42 Issue 3, 2015 / LZDZ
edge. Tents were assembled, moved aside and the winds
food cooked and most were in dropped enough to start our
bed by 8 wondering why they journey again. This time paddling
volunteered for the expedition. far into the unpopulated mass
The morning after was wetter of tiny Islands, taking turns at
and windier than the night before navigating and leading with the
and we only managed an hour sunshine breaking through and
and a half of paddling before the smiles starting to appear. After
instructors told us to get off the a more productive afternoon we
water as it was getting too risky arrived at a suitable campsite – an
to continue. Thankfully, an old Island approximately 100m long
summer house was available for and 50m wide with a small wood
shelter and much needed lunch. in the middle. It was infinitely
A few hours later, the clouds better than the first night and tow
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
lines went up all over our rocky
home for the night to dry kit.
Food and water were our
main concerns on this trip (along
with capsizing) and was planned
by ‘paddle buddies’ (pairs who
shared tents and looked after
each other on the water). Though
we had plenty of food, there are
no natural sources of fresh water
in the Archipelago so we were
carrying all of our drinking water
whilst cooking and washing with
sea water. We had marked the
locations of settlements which in
the tourist season are populated
and have wells often over 100m
deep to access fresh water. We
managed to fill up on day 2 but
our first big water stop was on
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
day 4 when we turned up to the
small island of Bullerön. This
was also our first real campsite,
complete with ‘longdrop’
ablutions, a public sauna and
fire pit. The public sauna has
a supply of logs which you
cut yourself to stoke the small
burner which in turn heats rocks
onto which water is poured. In
no time the small wood cabin
was red hot and full of Swedish
yachters and 5 Regt personnel,
alternating between the hot
room and the much cooler sea to
get the full experience. Between
us and the boats moored on
the Island for the night we
managed to drink the well
dry, thankfully with our water
supplies almost back to full.
On day 6 the weather turned
again, rain hammered kayak
and paddler for 2 hours before
we searched for shelter in the
village of Sandhamn, often called
the St Tropez of Sweden. Here
our small plastic boats were
dwarfed by expensive yachts and
speedboats. Being outside of the
tourist season most of the cafés
and shops were closed, however
we eventually stumbled on one
which was happy to accept
14 very cold and wet soldiers
who needed to sit out a storm.
Complete with spraydecks and
sodden ‘Cags’ we shuffled into a
room which was half art gallery,
half café. It was owned by an
Eventually, cold and soaking wet we settled
for a deer track five metres from the waters
edge. Tents were assembled, food cooked
and most were in bed by 8 wondering
why they volunteered for the expedition.
ex professional Swedish female
volleyball player who provided
us with hot chocolate, cake and
smoked salmon tails until we
were warm and only slightly
damp. Leaving was difficult
but we had to cross to more
sheltered water as the winds
were due to pick up again. We
set up camp in a nature reserve
before getting back into our
kayaks for an evening lesson
on towing a casualty. In order
to qualify for a K2F or S3N a
syllabus has to be followed,
and our instructors were keen
to equip us with the necessary
skills to complete the trip safely.
This camp became known as
‘Wolverine Island’ after one
came into the tents whilst we
were asleep and stole some
dried pasta, flapjack and one
of Lt Mike Askey’s boots (which
was subsequently recovered).
Previous campsites had been
named mosquito, ant and
spider for obvious reasons.
After a last night complete
with an inappropriately large
campfire and bottle of Pol Roger
we paddled back to Runmarö
early in the morning. A swift
de-kit and a 2 hour journey by
boat and bus later we were back
in Stockholm at Maude’s Hotel.
Those with enough energy had
a hot shower before taking
in the sights of Stockholm.
Others curled up in bed for a
few hours before making their
way to the ‘Hairy Pig Deli’ in
the ‘oldtown’ for our end of
expedition meal and a few beers
to celebrate our challenging
but successful 100 Km kayak
in the Baltic sea. There are 12
members of 5 Regt AAC and 2
instructors who now truly know
the meaning of ‘it’s Baltic’.
”
LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 43
training
Reserve Paras
Train in Spain
Reservists from 4th
Battalion The Parachute
Regiment (4 PARA) are
training on the dusty
plains of Spain alongside
their regular counterparts
from the Spanish Army.
E
xercise Iberian Star
has seen some 135
soldiers from 4 PARA,
which has detachments
based across the country,
deployed for two weeks of
training with the Brigada
Paracaidista “Almogávares” VI.
The exercise ran in
two phases, starting with
familiarisation training with La
Segunda Bandera Paracaidista
“Roger de Lauria” at Torrejon,
near Madrid. The paratroopers
fired each other’s weaponry
and swapped tactics, while
44 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ
4 PARA soldiers earned
Spanish parachute wings
by jumping under Spanish
canopies from a Spanish
CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
4 PARA then moved south
to Chinchilla, near Albacete, for
field training with La Tercera
Bandera Paracaidista “Ortiz de
Zarate”. The joint force jumped
into a simulated mission to test
their ability to work together.
Lieutenant Colonel
James Loudoun, 4 PARA’s demonstrating the freedoms
Commanding Officer, said: and frictions that working with
“This exercise has been an a NATO ally can bring. For the
excellent opportunity for 4 PARA individual paratrooper, their
and developed the morale, horizons have been broadened
motivation and professionalism by learning about the different
of our paratroopers. equipment and tactics used
“Training with our Spanish by another army. Finally, by
counterparts from the Brigada bringing together paratroopers
Paracaidista has improved the from our locations across
battalion’s knowledge base, by the country for a demanding
exercise, it has developed our
cohesion as a battalion.”
Private Ryan Anderson, a
25-year-old facilities manager
from Croydon, said: “It’s
been an interesting and fun
experience to come to Spain
and work with a different army.
The language barrier has been
there at times, but we’ve worked
together well to reach an
understanding of the differences
and similarities between us.
“I’ve always been interested
in the military, but other things
happened in my life and I didn’t
join up. I joined the Reserves
last December, and it’s given
me the best of both worlds.”
Private Tom Emsley, 23 from
Leeds, said: “We’ve worked on
the basic skills like patrolling
and setting up harbour areas
with the Spanish paratroopers.
This training is important
because, if we were to go on
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
operations with the Spanish,
we already know about them
and how they operate.
“I’m a plumber by trade, but
currently unemployed. Serving
with 4 PARA shows employers
that I am commited to work
and I’ve gained some extra
qualifications to go on my CV.”
Captain Luis Sanchez Garcia,
of “Roger de Lauria” II, said: “It’s
important to train with our NATO
allies and it has been interesting
to learn about 4 PARA. We
have slightly different tactics
and equipment but it has been
an easy relationship between
us, because paratroopers are
the same type and quality of
soldiers in every army.”
Further
Information
4th Battalion The Parachute
Regiment is the reserve
battalion of The Parachute
Regiment, the British
Army’s airborne infantry. 4
PARA is based at Pudsey in
Leeds, with detachments
at Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Croydon, White City,
Liverpool, Newcastle
Upon Tyne and Rugby.
LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 45
training
Joint Helicopter Force
Cougar
Gets Ready for
Written By: Kerry Randall
During September a
Joint Helicopter Force
(JHF) from the JHC
has been on exercise
across the south
west of England in
preparation for Cougar;
the Royal Navy’s major
deployment to the
Mediterranean this year.
A
s part of Exercise
South West Sword,
helicopters from
the JHF have been
flying missions over the beaches
and training areas of Devon
and Cornwall, working with the
46 Issue 3, 2015 / LZDZ
Royal Marines of 3 Commando
Brigade and the Amphibious
Task Group (COMATG).
During the week long
manoeuvres, RAF Chinook and
Army Air Corps Apache aircraft
have operated from the flight
deck of HMS Ocean, along with
Wildcat AH Mk1’s of 847 Naval
Air Squadron and Merlin Mk 2’s
of 814 Naval Air Squadron who
are also embarked for the Cougar
deployment. This Combined Air
Group makes up the aviation
component of what is called
the Joint Expeditionary Force -
Maritime (JEF (M)), which is set
to leave UK waters and head
south for exercises with French,
American and other NATO forces
during October and November.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark
Johnson Royal Marines,
Commando Helicopter Force
(CHF) Chief of Staff and
Commanding Officer of the JHF
said, “This initial phase of our
deployment, called Ex South
West Sword has been essential
work up training for all of the
crews and engineers involved
with the JHF. Deploying on
such a major deployment like
Cougar with so many different
aircraft can be demanding;
but it offers the Force a great
opportunity to work together
in a maritime environment.”
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
In total; two Chinooks from
28 Squadron RAF, four Apaches
from 656 Squadron Army Air
Corps and four brand New
Wildcat AH MK 1 from the
Commando Helicopter Forces’
847 Naval Air Squadron made
up the principal players in JHF2.
These aircraft were supported
by engineers for all the aircraft
types, operations staff and the
CHF Commando Mobile Air
Operations Team (MAOT); The
JHF is a sizeable Unit onboard
HMS Ocean and HMS Bulwark.
It was also the first
deployment for the Wildcats
in their maritime role and they
are busy honing their skills with
the Apaches and Chinooks.
Lt Col Johnson continued,
“The deployment is crucial for
our collective training and force
preparation, ensuring continual
availability of the JEF (M) lead
element, with particular focus
on the integration of joint
enablers such as the helicopters
of JHF. Cougar offers JHC the
opportunity to work in the
Joint, Combined and Embarked
environment whilst carrying out
Littoral Manoeuvre (LitM) and
Amphibious training.”
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 47
Sport

Soldiers Do Battle on the Sports Pitch

Written By: Gareth Palmer

1
6 Air Assault Brigade
held a Festival of Sports
at Merville Barracks
in July, with troops
competing in rugby, football,
hockey, tug of war, aquathon,
tennis and volleyball.
The competition was won
by 13 Air Assault Support

Tour of Britain Regiment Royal Logistic Corps,

who were presented with the

Sprints Down Commander’s Cup by Brigadier

Nick Borton DSO MBE.

Wattisham’s Runway
Private Joel Whiteman, said:
“It’s great for the Regiment to
win the overall competition and
Written By: Gareth Palmer
the bragging rights for the year!
Apache attack a fantastic spectacle to have Boxing and rugby league are my fierce but fair competition that’s
helicopters made the Tour of Britain sprint pass main sports but I played hockey brought everyone out of a busy
way for bicycles on through Wattisham and a very today after only a couple of hours working routine to enjoy doing
12th Sept as the different event for our soldiers coaching over the last week. something different together
Aviva Tour of Britain and families to enjoy. Our runway It was great to try something and build their team spirit.
sprinted down the has given a unique challenge for different and we all gave it our
runway at Wattisham the race, as it rare to get such best at all of the sports.”
Flying Station. a long and straight stretch of Warrant Officer Class 1 Joe
road to race along, while riding Foreshew RAPTC, who is in

A
n enthusiastic
crowd of soldiers
and their families
welcomed 120 of
the world’s top cyclists as they
raced through Wattisham, the
first time the Tour has passed
through a military base. The
base’s 2,400-metre runway
provided a unique setting for an
intermediate YodelDirect Sprint.
into the wind makes it that much
harder. But the professionals
are only did it once, whereas at
the SSAFA Wattisham Triathlon
we do it four times every year,
so I have no sympathy!”
The stage, broadcast
live on ITV4 and British
Eurosport, was the seventh and
penultimate day of the Tour,
taking riders 142 miles from
charge of physical fitness and
sport for 16 Air Assault Brigade,
said: “This competition has
provided an excellent opportunity
for our men and women to
showcase their fitness and
sporting prowess. We’ve seen

A breakaway group of
three cyclists lead the main
peleton down the runway and
into a stiff headwind. British
rider Alex Dowsett, from the
Movistar team, was first across
the finish line, which was
marked by a pair of Apaches.
Colonel Jason Etherington,
Commander of Wattisham
Army Medics
Fakenham to Ipswich. France just before midnight.
He said: “The team was
superb; everyone was up for
Swim English Channel it and no-one wanted to let
their colleagues down.
We’d all trained hard, but it
A team from Colchester-based 16 Medical
was a tougher challenge than we
Regiment has swum across the English
expected with the tides and wind
Channel, battling high winds and the
strongest spring tide of the year on the way. taking us on a long zigzag across
the Channel. It was a fantastic
on spotting drills - to focus to know how demanding it was and once I got swimming I
on how to keep an eye on the before I got started,” he said. quickly settled into a rhythm.
boat in the waves - and bilateral “The second I jumped into the It was good to be with friends
breathing, to break the habit of
always breathing form one side
water and the cold hit I wanted
to get out, but I didn’t want to
when you’re freezing cold
and exhausted and we were
and make it easier to swim in let the team or myself down all elated to finish.”
waves. Both skills really paid off.
“Swimming at night in
heavy waves is an interesting
experience, and you find out a

E
Flying Station, said: “It’s been xercise Serpents Swim
saw the mixed team
of eight medics swim
from Dover to Calais
as a relay. The crossing took 17
hours 20 minutes in total, with
each medic swimming at least
two hour-long sessions before
handing over to a colleague.
With the tide dragging them
off route, the medics swam
an estimated 40 miles to swim
the 22 miles from Dover to
Calais. They also had to battle
winds of up to 23 knots that
whipped up heavy waves.
Lieutenant Colonel Philip
McNee, Commanding Officer of
16 Med Regt, started the swim
off from Dover’s Shakespeare
Beach at 6.30am on Friday
(28 Aug) and they arrived in
feeling to finish but we were all
asleep on the way back, there
was no cigars and champagne!”
Sergeant Craig McDougall,
a 37-year-old radiographer
from East Kilbride, is a
qualified swimming coach and
oversaw the team’s training.
“Open water swimming is very
different to swimming lengths in
a pool,” he said. “We’d trained
lot about yourself when you’re
cold, wet and alone in sea! It
was a challenge, but one that
we all massively enjoyed and
I’m so proud to have finished.”
Sergeant Mike Brewer, a
30-year-old biomedical scientist
from Swindon, was one of the last
swimmers to get in the water.
“I had seen people swimming
for six hours and it was daunting

48 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 3 2015 49
Sport
Triathlon Success Boosts
Army Benevolent Fund
Written By: Kerry Randall
The Aviation
Reconnaissance Force
(ARF) recently held
a Triathlon at their
home base in the
RNAS Yeovilton, raising
funds for the Army
Benevolent Fund The
Soldiers’ Charity.
T
he Soldiers’ Charity
began as the Army
Benevolent Fund in 1944
and for over 70 years they
have provided lifetime support
to serving and retired soldiers
and their families. The scope of
their work is huge; supporting
individuals in need, from mobility
assistance and respite breaks to
care home fees and education
50 Issue 3 2015 / LZDZ
bursaries, they also provide
grants to other Forces charities.
Brig Nick Knudsen, Somerset
County Chairman for the ABF,
The Soldiers Charity said;
“The ABF is the principal
charity for the British Army,
charged with looking after all
soldiers, ex soldiers, their families
and dependants who are in
need. Each year we give up to
5,000 grants and support over
80 other military charities, here
in Somerset we look after a fair
number of people and the ABF
needs about £40,000 a year just
to meet our basic requirements
for Somerset. The support from
1 Regt AAC is a great boost to
our fundraising in the county
and very much welcome.”
Organised by Captain Rob
Gittoes, Army Air Corps, the
triathlon consisted of 400m swim
for novices and 750m swim for
experienced triathletes, 20km
bike and 5km run and with over
80 competitors taking part, a
fantastic £1270 was raised for
the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.
Capt Rob Gittoes,
Aviation Reconnaissance
Force Adjutant said;
“I’ve been taking part in
triathlons at my local club since
2009 and joined the AAC Triathlon
team in 2012, becoming team
captain shortly after. This led to
the Army Triathlon Association
and that got me thinking about
organising an event for my local
base. I wanted the triathlon to
also benefit the ABF, the Soldiers’
Charity and as a result we have
raised over £1200 for the charity.”
“The inaugural Yeovilton was
held last year with 38 participants,
this year we had 84, with half
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
You could be
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apt meia
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Apr & Oct £255
being novices and the other half
made up of sprint distance racers
May & Sept £290
June £330
up to national level athletes, July & Aug £410
tri service and international
competitors too. So in only
two years this event has grown
significantly and we will continue
off this success next year, with the
help of the Army Benevolent Fund
to make it bigger, better and raise
more for the ABF.” He added.
WO2 Tim Couzens, 1
Regiment Army Air Corps,
took part in the event. As a
triathlon first timer, he said;
“As the words ‘How hard can
it be?’ left my mouth, I knew
I would regret them, and sure
enough as Capt Rob Gittoes
gave the standard response,
‘Prove it then!’ I knew I couldn’t
back down. I thoroughly
enjoyed taking part and
definitely will do so again next
year. It was a great experience
and I highly recommend for
anyone to have a go.” To book accommodation please contact Judith Hall on 01536 711884
Apartments can also be booked very competitively at judith.hall6@btinternet.com