N.-\\'\" NI-I\\"S. _lL,'I.Y 2000
THERE
seems
this month.
to be a
recurring theme
The aircraft isn‘t ours, but the guys at the controls are. The RAF can't do without some matelots and marines to run their drones over Afghanistan (see page 9). And nor could they do without our WAFUS on Merlins in Iraq either. We touched briefly upon the work of 1419 Flight (that's their bird of prey crest pictured) back in our February edition. Well. with the main British presence in Iraq coming to an end. it's time to praise the efforts of the small bunch of dark blues amid a sea of light blue. khaki and sand. The RAF operate the Mk3 version of the Merlin fundamentally the same aircraft as the RN‘s Mk1. except that all the submarine hunting wizardry in the back of the cab is replaced by space for up to 22 troops in full kit. To meet the ever-increasing demand for air power east of Suez, Whitehall snapped up half a dozen Merlins no longer wanted by the Danes. More Merlins meant more aircrew hence the call for personnel from the Fleet Air Arm to plug the air and ground crew gap. —
—
After conversion training at RAF Benson which is to the Air Force Merlin squadrons what Culdrose is to the RN's the grey Merlin crews became green Merlin crews... and found themselves in Basra. —
-
Talk about a baptism of fire... “Within two weeks of joining the squadron I was lying on the floor in full body armour with 17 rockets landing in the compound just 20 minutes after getting off the plane in Basra," said PO Billy Barnham. —
''I thought: Well at least I'm not in Culdrose." AET ‘Gou|dy' Gould added:“Dodging 200-plus rockets in two months definitely makes the time pass quickly out in
Iraq but it's all character-buildingstuff
—
so
I've
been told! “On the plus side the scran was champion." Rather than form a separate RN flight, the Fleet Air Arm team in Basra have merged with their RAF counterparts giving both a glimpse of life on the other side of the hill. “It gave us a lot of responsibility and was a very steep and challenging learning curve.“ said PO Barnham. His boss, acting W01 Nikk Lovelock-Jeffels an ex REME man turned RN Merlin engineer -
—
—
turned head of 1419's engineering detachment added: "It's been a truly Tri-Service experience the kind of challenge that I relish, leading an RAF detachment. supporting Army -
-
operations, under daily indirect fire. It's been an honour and privilege."
The Merlins have served as workhorses in Basra acting as flying buses for troops, flying ambulances for the wounded, flying —
transporters carrying supplies. “The flying has been demanding with long days spent in the aircraft." said airman Lt Sean
Carnew. "Of all the tasking assigned it is the Immediate Reaction Team role Medevac which is most demanding and rewarding with many of the landing sites in Basra being quite small and very exposed to possible insurgent attacks. "All in all I've learned a lot during my time with —
—
the RAF, skills and lessons which I am looking fonrvard to taking back to the grey Merlin world." There has. of course. been a fair bit of banter between the Crabs and WAFUs.
‘‘If someone had told me two years ago thatthe RAF operated and maintained aircraft within the line of indirect fire. I would have told them to pull the other one!" said PO Steve Stopforth.
But he added: “Having completed my third tour most of it on my belt buckle taking cover I now have a great respect for our light blue cousins and a medal that i am truly proud to have received." The Senior Naval Officer, Lt Cdr Charlie Parrock. praised all when he said: ‘‘I have been immensely proud of what the RN personnel have achieved. "Such is the innovative and determined nature of the Fleet Air Arm that on arrival we almost completely took over what was a struggling main engineering cell. and were integral in turning it around into its current success. “The Air Force is the first to agree that without the dedication, leadership and grit of our invaluable team, the operational output of the Merlin force would not have been possible.“ —
—
1419 are still operating in Iraqi skies; they're flying from Kuwait in support of the British draw-
down.
0 A Merlin of 1419 flight throws up a wall of sand as it sets down in the desert near Basra Pu.:lv..n- Cnl Iwtnrlv" Cnlr-‘nun, FIAF
IS HERE
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