Regional newsletter issue 5 (2014)

In this Edition: ● Parade at Contalmaision ● Ben More Assynt Memorial ● Tri Service Band Camp ● Aberdeen Remembers ● ACPNS Report ● Gold Expedition in Alps ● Bisley Success Stories ● And lots more……..

REGIONAL NEWSLETTER No 5 (2014)

Local Air Cadet Officer Flying High- Being Disabled Gives You Wings

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ocal Air Cadet Officer Flying Officer Pauline Gallagher (38) has been awarded the Sir Douglas Bader Memorial Award by Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP).

The award is jointly shared with Civilian Instructor Sean Allerton of 2434 (Church Fenton) Squadron who is tetraplegic. Both are the very first recipients receiving this newly commissioned award, which is a bronze bust of wartime ace Sir Douglas Bader. Both received the award for their services to Flying Scholarships for Disabled People over a period of 10 years.

This accolade is awarded for outstanding service and achievement through volunteering and assisting others to overcome their disability and the barriers disabled people face on a daily basis. Pauline and Sean also encourage the disabled scholars through their flying training, where the scholars gain a flying scholarship that can lead to a private pilot’s licence. The award was presented by His Royal Highness Prince Faisal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Sir Andrew Poulter at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford Gloucestershire. This came as a complete surprise to Pauline who was very excited but humbled to receive it.

Pauline is an RAFVR(T) officer, serving with 2496 (Cumbernauld) Squadron, Air Training Corps as Squadron Adjutant. This year she led a team of cadets and adult volunteers on a trip to the Royal International Air Tattoo to support Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FDSP) at its annual presentation ceremony, where she and the cadets and staff were given the chance to provide a guard of honour and meet HRH Prince Faisal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Chief of the Air Staff Sir Andrew Poulter and the RAF red Arrows display team. Pauline says “I arranged all logistics for the trip, liaising with other teams to arrange accommodation and messing, and liaising closely with FSDP and RIAT for duty definitions. I also worked with my own Commanding Officer, staff and cadets for transportation and task support.

FSDP in 2004, and continued training after completing it.

She flew a light aircraft solo for the first time in April 2011, achieving a lifelong ambition. Keen to give something back to FSDP for the fantastic opportunity she received, Pauline has mentored new candidates during the scholarship selection process. She said “I am now a lead mentor at FSDP’s selection boards for new scholars at the home of Royal Air Force Officer Training at RAF Cranwell, where the selection boards are held. These can be an imposing and daunting place and can be especially difficult if you have reduced stamina or if you use a wheelchair. Also, there was a new administrator for the boards last year and she was able to rely on my experience to assist in guiding her, in her first cycle of scholarship selections. My own coaching and mentoring skills have definitely developed during this annual event.”

Flight Lieutenant Stevie Cairns, Officer Commanding 2496 (Cumbernauld) Squadron Air Cadets said, ”When the award was announced my Warrant Officer (ATC) Jim Thompson and I cheered with joy and was probably more excited than Pauline. The cadets could not contain themselves and let out a huge cheer also. We are all extremely proud of Pauline and admire her for the barriers she has to overcome in her everyday life and are delighted she has been recognised for all of her hard work in helping disabled people to learn to fly”.

Pauline, who was born with Cerebral Palsy and is hearing impaired, has close links to Flying Scholarships for Disabled People. She received a Flying Scholarship from

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Lord Lieutenant’s presentation

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r Ewen Brodie of Lethen, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Nairnshire, honoured 1068(Nairn) Squadron, Royal Air Force Air Cadets, with a visit on their parade evening on the 3rd June 2014.

After inspecting what he described as a most well turned out squadron he presented the squadron’s senior NCO, Cadet Flight Sergeant Murray, with her certificate of appointment as a Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet.

Inter Cadet Service Rifle Meeting 2014

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his year the team from 2452 (Shawlands) Squadron have not had much practice and the OC and the coaches thought they had a chance of 1 possibly 2 Cadet 100 badges. However, they were over the moon when all the cadets gained Cadet 100 badges and won the Watts Bowl which is now a cadet coached competition! Additionally Cdts Imrane and Pasha shot for the ATC "B" Team and were awarded Corps Colours.

This is in the main a new group to target rifle shooting as only Cpl Qenani had shot at Bisley before. Thanks are also due to the Butts Markers Cdts Alexander Beveridge and Alice Chisholm.

Flight Sergeant Murray joined 1068 Squadron in June 2010 and has since worked hard through the Corp’s aviation training syllabus to achieve her Master Air Cadet classification and to be awarded her BTEC Level 2 Intermediate Certificate in Aviation Studies. She participated fully in Squadron activities throughout her service, competing in Wing and Region sporting events, gaining her Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme Bronze Award and finishing just about all that is required for her Silver Award. She has shown maturity and leadership and supports the adult staff in running the squadron and maintaining morale. Her achievements this year have also included the appointment as a Station Commander’s Cadet by the officer commanding RAF Lossiemouth and selection as a UK representative in an International Air Cadet Exchange that will visit Canada in July.

1333 Parade at Contalmasion 1

333 (Grangemouth Spitfire) Squadron has just returned from France where it took part in the Parade at Contalmasion .

Having been introduced at last years Remembrance Festival in Falkirk to the Mayoress of the town of Contalmaison (part of the original line of the Battle of the Somme 1916), our Cadets were then invited by the Mayoress and by the Provost of Falkirk to consider taking part in the annual commemoration of the Battle, at Contalmaison on 1 July 2014.

The particular reason for this, is that the town of Contalmaison is twinned with Falkirk and Grangemouth, as the footballers of Falkirk FC all volunteered to join the famous 'McCrae's Battallion' early in the First World War and left the town to serve with the British Expeditionary Force, suffering horrific casualties on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916.

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Pictured are the Team; Laura Shoveller, Aristidh Qenani, Rumaisah Imrane and Bismah Pasha with the Coaches Marc Argo and Khalid Ali and the Watts Bowl "I think these two photos clearly show the reason why we were there", said Plt Off Jim MacFarlane, Officer Commanding 1333.

DEDICATION OF THE NEW BEN MORE ASSYNT MEMORIAL

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n Thursday the 12th June 2014 after nearly a year of organisation the dedication of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) new memorial on Ben More, Assynt took place.

This inscribed granite block replaces a simple stone cairn surmounted by a steel cross. The cairn was a rebuild by Royal Air Force Air Cadets from Bridge of Don, of an earlier one originally put in place by RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team. The cairn was originally maintained by Air Cadets from Bridge of Don, and from 1995 by 161 (Ullapool) Detached Flight.

It marks the war grave of six Royal Air Force aircrew who perished on the 13th April 1941 while on a navigational training flight from RAF Kinloss. They were forced down by snow and the loss of an engine and crashed some 2,200 feet up on the mountain. Not found for six weeks or so and due to the inaccessibility of the site the recovery party took the decision to bury their remains at the crash site. About two years ago following an approach by Dave Whalley an ex leader of the Kinloss Team the CWGC started to investigate how they might put an official memorial on the site. They had originally placed a memorial plaque in the churchyard wall at the Inchnadamph Old Kirk due to the problems of g e t t i n g anything substantial onto the actual grave site. Some s e v e n t y years later with the assistance of a RAF Chinook helicopter from RAF Odiham and several Royal Air Force specialists the new memorial stone inscribed with the names of the fallen was flown onto the site which had been prepared by a joint work party of CWGC staff, RAF personnel and Air Cadets.

would hopefully be summery and it gave time to contact relatives and let them organise their travel. Sadly some of the relatives were not located but four families hoped to get there and in fact three did make it. A hoped for helicopter lift was ruled out due to Civil Aviation regulations meaning a three hour trek in and three hour trek out afterwards for those who were fit enough to make it. For those unable to get up the hill an identical service of dedication took place in the Inchnadamph Old Kirk at the same time as the hill top service. On the day the weather looked debatable. The cloud was low and getting lower but Assynt Mountain Rescue Team (AMRT) leader Sue Agnew and some of her team were confident and at 1030hrs following a welcome and a safety brief some thirty folk, including relatives, RAF regulars, Air Cadets and Staff and CWGC staff, guided and supervised by AMRT set off into the mist with another eight or so staying behind. The day improved and by the time of the service the tops were clear of cloud and the beauty of this site could be appreciated by those in attendance. Under the guidance of the AMRT all who had trekked in returned safe and well. Incidentally this is probably the largest party to make its way up to the memorial so our thanks to Sue Agnew and her team. Also thanks to Richard McKendrick of Inchnadamph Hotel for providing free coffee and tea and the use of the Hotel’s facilities during the day. Thanks also to Helen Morrison for arranging the use of the Old Kirk and all the other advice and to John Murray the Lochinver Police Officer for the road safety escort while the hill party was moving about.

We will remember them Flying Officer James Steyn Pilot Officer William Drew Flight Sergeant Brendon Kenny Sergeant Charles Mitchell Sergeant Jack Emery Sergeant Arthur Tompsett

The next stage was the dedication and the date chosen was the 12th June 2014. The days would be long, the weather

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Tri-Service Band Camp

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6 young musicians, aged between 12 and 17 drawn from six Sea Cadet Units, two ACF Battalions and three ATC Wings joined forces in July to play at four

engagements during the week long camp held at Barry Buddon.

The first event was a Beating Retreat for the guests of HMS Montrose. The ship was moored at Montrose and the full Band played on the quayside whilst the guests and Ship’s company watched from the ship itself, the evening ending with the Sunset Ceremony.

On the Thursday, the Concert Band (that is, all but the Corps of Drums) travelled to Edinburgh to provide the music for the Gold DofE Presentations Ceremony in the gardens of Holyrood Palace, probably the first Cadet Band to play at this event.

On the Friday, all of the Band was on parade again to provide music for those VIP guests attending the naming ceremony of HMS Queen Elizabeth. The final engagement was on Saturday in Dundee, to coincide with the city’s Armed Forces Day. The full Band played in the parade, before giving a performance in the City Square for guests and members of the public.

The Tri-Service Military Band will be assembling again next month to play in Edinburgh as part of the ceremonies on Sunday 10 August.

At the moment, there are no further engagements scheduled for this year as it is important that the three elements of the Band retain their own identities. However, the next large Concentration, which will include beginners, is scheduled to take place at Barry Buddon next April in either the first or second week.

Finally, I should make mention of all of the Adult Volunteers who gave their time to support and help with the Band last week and most especially the Bandmaster, WO(BM) Robert Cowan who not only arranges all of the music for the Band, but continues to be a source of inspiration to all of the participants.

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NATIONAL BAND COMPETITION 2180 SUPPORT HELP FOR HEROES

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he ACO National Band Camp that recently took place at RAF Halton to share on the Region Facebook page. Three cadets and one member of staff from Scotland and Northern Ireland Region recently attended the ACO National Band Camp at RAF Halton. Cdt FS Ross Ewing from 1743 (Crieff) Sqn played in the National Concert Band whilst Cdt FS Liam Nagle and Cdt Sgt Daniel Steele, both from 2535 (Livingston) Sqn, played in the National Marching Band.

espite being on Summer Stand Down and with 8 cadets travelling back from Camp 2180 (Galashiels) Sqn were out today helping raise funds for Help for Heroes.

The Army Officer is a former 2180 Cadet who is with 11EOD Regt Royal Logistics Corp

Sgt (ATC) Welsh assisted with both bands. The week concluded with a performance at HMS Excellent by both bands. The National Concert Band also used the week to prepare for a professional CD recording in October.

The camp saw the debut of the Corps Ceilidh Band, directed

by Cdt FS Ewing. On one of the nights the whole camp came together for a ceilidh which was a resounding success and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Go to the Regional Facebook site to watch a short clip of Cdt FS Ross Ewing playing the euphonium solo 'Carnival of Venice' with the ACO National Concert Band.

ABERDEEN REMEMBERS 23:00 that was set, upon which was passed World War 1 unfortunately started. The piper broke the silence which enabled CWO Whitford to lay a wreath below the words "THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY AND FOR FREEDOM".

This was a solemn moment with many a peaceful tear being shed by those in attendance. Let us not forget the 21 million people who died during WW1, almost 17 million military personnel and over 6 million civilians.

For their commitment, dedication and ultimately their lives we should at least remember and say thank you.

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2288 VISIT HMS MONTROSE

berdeen City held an hour long vigil last night to commemorate the commencement of World War 1. It was a touching and emotional hour that I personally will never For the first time in six years, HMS Montrose returned home to Montrose. 13 staff and cadets were lucky forget. enough to get a guided tour of the ship from the, giving them a flavour of life aboard a Royal Navy vessel and Myself and another silent onlooker stood at the rear of the an insight into the state of the art infrastructure behind Memorial Hall as people of all ages filtered in and filled the the Type 23 Frigate. The ship has just finished taking ever increasing number of seats. At 22:45 the Lord Provost part in BALTOPS 14, an (Continued on page 8) was led into the chamber by a lone piper and CWO Whitford of 1990 (Ellon) Squadron, Lord Lieutenants Cadet for 2014.

After a very emotional reading, majority in Doric, a 2 minute silence was held to remember the deadline of

NEXT EDITION OUT IN SEPTEMBER ALL ARTICLES VERY WELCOME

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Air Cadet Pilot Navigation Scheme

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was 17 years and 2 months old when on the 12 July 2014 I completed my Air Cadet Pilot Scheme with my solo flight around Dundee.

On my course I was joined by Corporal Connor Boyle of 867 (Denny) Squadron and Sergeant Murray Weir of 2452 (Shawlands) Squadron, both from West of Scotland Wing and CWO Alice Allen of 1119 (Shrewsbury) Squadron and Sergeant Adam Auden of 1092 (Bridgend) Squadron. We all passed our Aviation Law Exam and were all able to fly solo at the end of our second week of training.

The weather was reasonably kind to us and we were able to fly every day, including the weekend. The training provided by the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme is a compressed version of the Private Pilots Licence (PPL) training. It is designed to enable Cadets to fly solo within 12 hours, rather than the 30 hours normally required as part of training for the PPL. There is a lot to learn in the two week period. Each flight involves a pre-flight planning session where Cadets have to appreciate the various skills to be learned during the flight and when you are at the controls of the plane, there is a lot to take in. Following each flight there is a de-brief and review of all of the flight.

The Cadets also have to spend a significant amount of time revising the various books on Aviation Law in preparation for an exam which must be passed before you are allowed to undertake your solo flight.

I was really pleased to pass my exam first time but was then a bit disappointed when the weather conditions didn't allow me to fly solo the following day. I wasn't particularly worried about flying solo, my instructor Sol, wouldn't let me fly until she was sure I was safe to do so.

The flight itself is around ten minutes and involves you obtaining clearance from the tower, taxiing out to the runway, taking off, turning and flying a circuit of the airfield, landing and taxiing back to the airfield. My instructor was waiting on the apron outside the tower when I landed. She was available to talk to me should I have needed any coaching or help during the flight.

The flight was much easier than I expected, I was quite pleased with my landing and I was proud to be presented with my wings later in the day. The Air Cadet Pilot Scheme is only my first serious step towards becoming a pilot, I will apply for other scholarships and I aim complete my PPL while I am still an Air Cadet and I still hope to join the RAF after university. I really would recommend applying for the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme to any other Cadets. I have been lucky enough to participate in quite a number of Cadet camps, courses and similar activities but I think ACPS has been the single best thing I have done in my life so far.

The staff at Tayside Aviation are excellent and the accommodation arranged was at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in

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Dundee. It was a nice hotel with a swimming pool and leisure facilities. As with many of the Air Cadet courses, one of the best parts of the ACPS scheme is meeting other Cadets. Earlier in the year I had completed and passed the Qualified Aerospace Instructor Course at Linton-on-Ouse and I actually knew four of out of the five Cadets on the course before we started. By the end of our two weeks, we had formed a good little team and we studied together and supported each other. I was really pleased when all of our team managed to fly solo by the end of the course.

Some of the Cadets undertaking ACPS had also completed their Gliding Scholarships and this would certainly have helped them with many of the skills needed for ACPS. I hadn't completed the course but I had completed QAIC and I had been lucky enough to have been on a number of air experience flights, so I think I was able to pick things up reasonably quickly.

On other A C P S courses, if the Cadets had perfect weather and were able to pick up the information quickly, they could complete their solo flight with time to spare and a number of Cadets on previous courses were also lucky enough to use up their remaining time by taking extended flights around Tayside or down to Edinburgh.

When I started in Cadets more than four years ago, my cousin urged me to apply for all of the courses and opportunities that came up. I have completed my Air Cadet Leadership Course, Qualified Aerospace Instructor Course, Cadet Methods of Instruction and First Aid courses. I have been lucky enough to attend camps throughout the UK and Rheindahlen. Some of the courses including QAIC, ACPS and IACE can only be applied for once you are 16 years old. I did apply as soon as I was 16 years old and as a result I have had a busy but fantastic year with Cadets. I'd give other Cadets the same advice I was given. The ACO offers great opportunities and you should find out about and apply for all of those that interest you.

Earlier in the year I was given a reserve place for the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE) and I then was pleased to be offered a place. I will be going to Alabama in the United States of America in July 2014, Sgt Jack Gray 1333 (Grangemouth Spitfire) Squadron

DOE GOLD EXPEDITION IN ALPS EXERCISE MORAY WARRIOR outh East Scotland Wing cadets and staff have returned from a successful expedition in the German / Austrian Alps.

The expedition was based in GarmischPartenkirchen in Bavaria, Southern Germany over nine days. The ultimate goal of the expedition was to fulfil the requirements of their qualifying Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Expedition which culmination of months of training which included practice expeditions in the highlands of Scotland. On arrival in Germany the team had a day of acclimatisation before departing on the four day expedition, which included temperatures above 30+ degrees though with scenic views and visits through the Bavarian Towns, Villages and meadows of heights above 1000m.

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On their successful completion of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition the team got involved in some local volunteering and helping the Alpine Mountaineering Club restore and maintain paths at 2385m. Visits were also made to Zugsptize at 2962m the highest mountain in Germany and also a high ropes course and the local towns in the area including Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Mittenwald.

The strategically important position of RAF Lossiemouth on the northern Scottish coastline makes it an ideal location to maintain aircraft and crews on high alert, in order to scramble and intercept unidentified aircraft approaching UK airspace. This is the basis of QRA and is a duty that has been maintained by the UK on a 24/7 basis for decades.

On their last day before departure to the UK they presented a presentation on how they met the purpose of the Gold DOE Expedition to attending the staff and representatives from the Haus der Athleten Youth Hostel.

A range of potential scenarios will be tested and there may be a requirement for some night flying and essential aircraft engineering immediately following any sorties. There may also be higher one off noise levels as jets scramble to intercept simulated incoming ‘threats’.

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The Expedition would like to thank the Ulysses Trust, Royal Air Force Charitable Trust and HQAC who supported the expedition. The expedition was supported by CI Paton, 870 Sqn and Flt Lt Paton, Deputy DOE Officer, South East Scotland Wing. Safety cover was provided Sqn Ldr Barry Mcadam, Regional Adventure Training Technical Officer, Scotland & Northern Ireland Region.

REGIONAL FIELD DAY 2014 SUN 14th SEP at MOD CALEDONIA

AF Lossiemouth is ready to undergo its biggest challenge in recent years as Exercise Moray Guardian begins in earnest.

The eleven day exercise, which will run from 11th to 22nd August, is the final test prior to the transition of Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North (QRA) duties from RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth. Its primary aim is to provide an opportunity for Typhoon crews and the wider station to be formally assessed before RAF Lossiemouth takes on QRA responsibility from September.

RAF Lossiemouth’s Station Commander, Group Captain Mark Chappell said: “Exercise Moray Guardian marks a significant point in RAF Lossiemouth’s calendar.

Both RAF Leuchars and RAF Lossiemouth personnel have done a lot of hard work over the past few months to reach this stage, and I’m confident that this Station will be ready to take over Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North duties in September.

This exercise is the final opportunity to assess our preparedness for QRA (I) N and I’m happy that our personnel and processes are ready for the task. We will be carrying out a number of exercises which may on occasion be noticeable to the public. But all the work we do is essential, and ultimately puts us in the best position to provide the service to the United Kingdom that the Royal Air Force was primarily created for – that is, the protection of our airspace.”

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2180 SUPPORT FOR RAFA WINGS APPEAL

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adets from 2180 (Galashiels) Squadron Air Cadets handed over a cheque for £945.10 to the Chairman of Royal Air Forces Association Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders Branch Mr Bob Bertram when he visited the Squadron on 23 June . The funds were collected at a recent Bag Pack at Tesco in Galashiels and Bob took the opportunity to thank the cadets for their work and the customers of Tesco for their generosity.

Mr Bertram said: “It is truly wonderful to see such support towards Wings and of course the RAF Family. It’s a matter of personal pleasure to return to the Squadron in Galashiels where I spent many years as an Officer and to see it doing so well. On behalf of the Committee and indeed RAFA we thank the cadets and staff for the time and effort spent by everyone involved and assure you that the all money raised will all go directly towards Welfare Support throughout RAFA. Well done and thanks to everyone who has taken part in Bag Packing.”

Bob, who was a former Commanding Officer of the Galashiels Squadron, inspected the Cadets on parade and saw variety of activities in which the Cadets are involved including flight simulators and radio work.

SUPPORT FOR CHARITY AIR AMBULANCE 1297 BISLEY SUCCESS

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o while VGS flying is on standdown, our staff haven't stopped flying! One of our Flight Staff Cadets has been given the opportunity of a lifetime to fly across the Atlantic from Canada in the Piper Comanche pictured on top to raise money for Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance. FSC Rose (pictured on the bottom), who has been with 662 VGS since November 2011, will be the final passenger on the "Fly Round the World in 80 Days" trip undertaken by Dave McElroy in aid of the Air Ambulance.

The trip will take FSC Rose from Toronto in Canada, to Greenland and then onto Iceland before returning to Perth Airport around the 10th August.

He will be accompanying his former Squadrons mascot home which has been circumnavigating the world with Dave.

If you would like to help fundraise for the Air Ambulance you can visit his Just Giving page at the following address: https://www.justgiving.com/MichaelAtlanticCrossing/ We wish FSC Rose the best of luck with his trip and safe flying.

(Continued from page 5) annual multinational maritime exercise in the Baltic Sea with NATO and Partnership for Peace allies.

The Squadron was also presented with the Ship's Badge, which will join the array of unit emblems on display in the unit. Many thanks to the crew who took time to show us all round.

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adets and Staff from 1297 (Stonehaven) Sqn have recently returned with another haul of awards from the Inter-Service Cadet Rifle Meeting (ISCRM) at Bisley, Surrey. This is the National Championships for full bore target rifle shooting (L81-A2) at ranges of between 300yds and 600yds and comprises over 100 teams from the ATC, ACF and SCC. This year the Sqn achieved its best ever overall team placing of 10th (6th in ATC) and the entire A-team were rewarded with the coveted Cadet Hundred badge (F/Sgt J Campbell, Cdt E Blackwood, F/Sgt C Avis, Cpl A Cunningham). Campbell and Avis also won Cadet Hundred badges in 2013.

This year’s Bisley success came after the squadron’s A-Team won the S&NI Regional Target Rifle Competition in June.

1297 Sqn has a long history of competing at Bisley and has won a whopping 19 Cadet Hundred badges over the last 6 years!

Congratulations to all cadets of 1297 A-Team, B-Team, Butts Markers, Support Staff, Coaches and a big thanks to Flt Lt Duncan Campbell, OC 1297 Sqn, for his dedication and leadership.