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NAVY NEWS, MARCH 1997

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Golden Jubilee for RNAS Culdrose

RN AIR Station Culdrosc is planning a host of events to celebrate its Golden Jubilee this year. HMS Seahawk, to use its other name, opened on April 17, 1947, when a Fairey Firefly made the first official landing. Today, the air station is the largest helicopter base in Western Europe, but plans are afoot to recapture the spirit of its early days. On April 17th an exhibition of historic photographs will be opened by the Commanding Officer, Commodore Simon Thornewill, followed by a fly past by Culdrose's modernday aircraft.

Buccaneer On the same day, a Buccaneer will be flown into the air station by Chinook helicopter where it will remain on display. And on July 25 a special 'veteran's day' will be held for all ex-Seahawk personnel and their families when more than a dozen historic aircraft will be on show. Q For the first time in it's 25-year history, Culdrose International Air Day will be held on a Saturday -July 26. The move from the traditional Wednesday, coupled with the presence at this year's show of the Red Arrows display team, should mean a record number of visitors.

Flag returned A WHITE Ensign which flew over HMS Proserpine during the war has been handed back to Orkney. The flag was laid up at St Margaret's, Rosyth, but with the church's closure it has been given a new home at the visitor Centre in HMS Caledonia.

Submarine tragedy remembered ONE OF the worst tragedies in the early history of the submarine service was remembered at a wreathlaying ceremony at Faslane. Thirty men drowned when the K13 sank during sea trials in the Gareloch on January 29, 1917, and it was more than 54 hours before the survivors, more dead than alive, could be rescued through a jagged hole in the hull. On the 80th anniversary of the accident, wreaths were laid on their graves in Faslane Cemetery by Capt David Cust and Capt Peter Sanderson and a service of remembrance was conducted by the Revd Andrew Gallon. Forty members of the Submarine Old Comrades Association attended and after the wreath laying, the last post and reveille was played and K13's bell was sounded.

Admiral Sir Michael Layard has taken over as the new Chairman of the White Ensign Association. He relieves Mr Henry Lambert who has been Chairman since Admiral Lord Fieldhouse died in office in 1992. Q

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• Cap/ Peter Sanderson lays a wreath for a submariner who died in the K13 disaster 80 years ago

A TWO-TON model of Lord Howe's flagship HMS Queen Charlotte is back on display at Whale Island ten years after it was battered by gales which swept the South. It has been lovingly restored by the Portsmouth Royal Historic Dockyard Trust and is berthed next to the State Gun Carriage in the 1898 drill shed in HMS Excellent.

The fire was the fourth attack on the unit in the last year and came just two weeks after £3,500 was spent on improving the building. Meanwhile, the Sea Cadets are meeting in the Air Training Corps building next door and have vowed to rebuild their unit 'like Fort Knox.' The new building will have no windows and steel shutters over the doors, and local company Shield Security has volunteered to patrol the isolated area at night.

Navy Chefs from HMS Raleigh won ten medals, eight of them gold, at the British Open Cookery Championships at Birmingham NEC. Chefs from HMS Warrior, Manchester and COMUKTG were also highly placed.

Q • Gutted: the charred remains of TS Obdurate, Warrington

Divers down on numbers VOLUNTEERS are required for the Clearance Diver Branch of the Royal Navy. The small, but highly specialised team's primary role is mine and explosive ordnance disposal underwater for the Hunt and Sandown-class MCMVs and front line units ashore. Training lasts 16 weeks and covers everything from basic theory to the operation of remote control vehicles, search techniques, compression chamber operations, deep diving, 'hard hat' operations and engineering. Candidates should be able ship's divers able to pass the Divers Physical Fitness Test and be recommended by their CO. Details can be found in BR1066 Art 1005. If you fit the bill, contact WO(D) Spike Hughes at the Defence Diving School at Horsea Island on extension 4173.

NAVY NEWS cartoonist Tugg Wilson drew a crowd of young admirers on a recent visit to RN Air Station Culdrose. Tugg was presenting awards and certificates to students at 810 NAS whose flying skills are now deemed ready for front line service at sea. The students, from 73 OFT course, began their training in July last year and will be joining 814 or 820 ASW squadrons.

A letter written by Admiral Sir John Jervis recounting his victory at the Battle of St Vincent 200 years ago my soon be offered for sale. Ashe Lincoln (89) one of Britain's longest serving QCs, is considering whether or not to part with the letter, believed to be worth around £10,000.

HMS Nelson is holding an auction of nautical memorabilia in October in aid of King George's Fund for Sailors. A wide-ranging search is on for all items connected with the sea and seafarers, especially silver and brass, trophies, ship crests, paintings, books and papers, medals and uniforms are sought after. If you would like to make a donation or want further details, contact Lt DA Hall, HMS Nelson, Queen Street, Portsmouth POI 3HH Tel 01705724175.

Three societies have contacted Navy News to appeal for new members. They are the Military Heraldry Society, The Crown Imperial Society and the Indian Military Historical Society. Details of all three are available from Publicity Officer Lt Cdr WM Thornton, 37 Wolsey Close, Southall, Middlesex UB2 4NQ.

High flyers The Turner Trophy for best pilot went to Lt Adrian Marquis, the Robin Babstock Trophy for best observer went to S Lt Dave Potter and the Guy Edwards Trophy for best aircrewman was presented to LACMN Jason Bibby.

A silk panel which once decorated the funeral carriage of Lord Nelson in 1806 is returning to London after more than a century in Australia. The panel, which was taken abroad by a collector in 1840, is to be sold at Spink on March 18 and is expected to fetch up to £30,000.

'Sick' Mrs Eileen Owens, Vice Chairperson of Warrington Sea Cadets told Navy News: "The person who did this must be sick. "I feel very angry, but at the same time I feel sorry for them. What kind or person would do something like this? They can't be all there." Mrs Owens would like anyone who can help with the refurbishment of the unit to contact her on 01925 632203. Anyone with information regarding the attack should ring Detective Sergeant Paul Rumney of Warrington Police on 01925 652222.

The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Jock Slater has opened a £45,000 display on 'The Royal Navy of Today' at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeoyilton. The display brings the museum right up to date and uses CD ROM, multi-screen video and large-scale models to capture visitors' attention.

Tugg can still draw a crowd

• HMS Excellent's Commodore Peter Tribe and Lt Cdr Brian Witts welcome Queen Charlotte back to Whale Island.

The full-size working replica of Captain Cook's ship Endeavour will sail up the Thames on March 25 after an epic voyage from Australia. The bark will be open to the public at Greenwich Pier from March 28 to April 13 before setting off on round-Britain voyage calling at 14 ports.

ARSONISTS caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and destroyed irreplaceable memorabilia when they set Warrington Sea Cadet Unit ablaze. A plaque, medal and photograph in memory of a former cadet who was gunned down by the IRA while on duty in Northern Ireland was lost along with dozens of trophies and awards from the unit's 75-year history.

ROYAL VISIT TO WHALE ISLAND

The Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society and the Royal Armouries are sponsoring a £1,000 short story competition for 1997. Stories of no more than 1,000 words are invited on the theme of either military life, wartime or peace. For details call the competition secretary on 0113 243 3300.

ARSONISTS SET SEA CADET UNIT ABLAZE TS Obdurate's entire collection of musical instruments was destroyed and furniture, books, radio equipment and training aids and were all reduced to ashes. Firefighters from four stations tackled the blaze and managed to save two thirds of the building with the help of breathing apparatus and hi-tech equipment. But the fire was so severe that the whole front of the building will have to be demolished and the roof replaced completely.

In brief

• Left to right: Lt Tony Hebworth, LACMN Graham Jones, Lt Pete Haywood, Lt Adrian Marquis, S/Lt Dave Potter, Tugg, LACM Jason Bibby and Lt Al Knight. Picture: RNAS Culdrose Photographic

Rails used to launch the world's first guided missile at Sheerness, Kent, will be included in a study of defence relics funded by Lottery money. The track formed part of a launch pad for the 19th Century Brennan Torpedo which was used to defend Naval establishments.