Royal Air Force News Friday, November 1, 2019 P17
News News Bulletin
Hadassah’s grad all over
First Blood on the Pan
AIR FORCE Rookie Hadassah Gesage celebrated with her family after graduating from basic training at the top of her class. The 27-year-old recruit from Sheffield scooped the Mayor of Aylesbury Trophy, awarded to the highest scoring cadet on the testing 10 week Phase I training course at Halton She was presented with the award by Thompson intake reviewing officer Air Cdre Simon Harper. PHOTO: LUKA WAYCOTT ● See p23 for latest graduation news from Halton and Honington.
THE UK team bidding to smash the world land speed record in a 1000 mph rocket car piloted by RAF man Wg Cdr Andy Green have arrived in South Africa. The supersonic Bloodhound will begin testing on the Hakskeen Pan on a 10-mile stretch of dry river bed in the Kalahari desert in South Africa before mounting their record bid early next year.
Vet Stan’s the man
96-year-old takes Cadets crown Simon Mander
Reserves honour the fallen to mark 95th Tony Durrant RESERVISTS GATHERED at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark 95 years since the founding of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. A service attended by personnel from the 30 Reserve squadrons and five associations was held at the RAuxAF’s dedicated memorial at the 150-acre Staffordshire site. Chairman of the RAuxAF Foundation, Gp Capt Richard Mighall, said: “The men and women of today’s Royal Auxiliary Air Force are, as were their predecessors, a credit to our nation. “In Winston Churchill’s words they are ‘twice the citizen’.” The service was taken by Padre the Reverend Mike Elliott of 600 Sqn and wreaths were presented. Recently-laid memorial plaques were also dedicated to former RAuxAF personnel. 7644 Sqn media officer Flt Lt Cameron Rennie died last year while on a
TRIBUTES: Flt Lt Rennie, above, and SAC Livingstone, inset below.
tour of duty. The last two RAuxAF personnel killed in operationsl action were SACs Gary Thompson, 51, and Graham Livingstone, 23, of the RAuxAF Regiment who were killed in a Taliban bomb strike in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2008.
COASTAL COMMAND veteran Stanley Clark is the latest contender for the title Britain’s oldest surviving Air Cadet. Competition was sparked in July by 93-year-old former RAF Volunteer Reserve Flight Engineer Ken Muddimer’s claim to the epithet in RAF News. His bid was challenged by 94-year-old Bomber Command hero Peter Morris on the letters page of the last edition. Now, the family of 96-year-old Stan have stepped forward on their dad’s behalf to state his credentials for the crown. Daughter Pam Lambert said: “Our family read the articles in RAF News on the oldest surviving Air Cadets with interest and realised that our father, Stanley Philip Clark, belongs to this happy band. “He is 96 years old and joined 475 ATC Squadron Birmingham in 1941 at the age of 17. In Dad’s words he became ‘totally involved.’ “They had lectures and training two nights a week, football and cricket on Saturday afternoons and parade every Sunday.” She said Stan enjoyed drill instruction and was soon promoted to sergeant. He joined the RAF later that year and subsequently served in 228 Squadron at Pembroke Dock as a fitter on
Sunderland flying boats. In January 1945 he embarked for India serving in 1431 Special Duty Flight and a year later in 242 Squadron. He was demobbed in 1947. Mrs Lambert said: “Dad loved his years in the ATC and RAF and despite recent failing health is still able, at times, to recall these memories.” The family, Pam, other daughter Sue Collinge and son David Clark all
signed a letter to RAF News paying tribute to ex-airmen and women. “We are Stan’s children and have written this on behalf of our dad and our mum, who is a sprightly 93-year-old, and who have been blessed with a marriage of 72 years. “Our family feels enormous pride and gratitude for our parents’ generation, and we would like to pass this on to all RAF veterans who have served our country so well,” said Mrs Lambert. RECORD BID: Stan Clark above, and, inset left, as a young airman. Inset, above, our story about Ken Muddimer