60 FLYING HOURS AT HOME OF THE HERCULES!

Air cadets from Herts and Bucks Wing clocked up an incredible 60 flying hours between them, during a week-long summer camp at Royal Air Force Lyneham.
The Wiltshire station is home to the Hercules, the RAF’s famous transport aircraft of more than four decades service - but the 40 cadets and 10 staff from various Herts and Bucks units were fortunate to enjoy sorties in a number of different aircraft.
As well as joining the crews of a Hercules C130 K and its more modern, updated variant the C130 J, groups of cadets also travelled to nearby RAF bases Benson, to fly in one of its Puma helicopters, and Odiham for a sortie in a larger Chinook helicopter.
And the cadets got the chance to take control of a light aircraft themselves, when they joined No.3 Air Experience Flight at RAF Colerne, each joining an experienced RAF pilot for a half-hour flying lesson in a two-seater, single-engined Grob 115E Tutor.
In total, the cadets were in the air for 60 hours, but a number of other activities were also squeezed into the camp programme. Cadets visited “J School” where crews for the Hercules C130 J are trained, were let loose on multi-million pound Hercules flight simulators, and were given a tour of a C130 K courtesy of Sgt Adam Mimpress, the loadmaster son of camp commandant Sqn Ldr Paul Mimpress.
There was also a night exercise run by an Army staff sergeant based at Lyneham, various sports, an evening’s tenpin bowling at the station’s own bowling alley, a trip to Swindon for an inter-flight ‘Laserquest’ tournament and a day out at an air show at Blenheim Palace.
A host of section visits on the station included Tactical Medical Wing, the RAF Police dog section and 47 (Air Despatch) Squadron which is responsible for packing equipment to be dropped by parachute from the Hercules. Meanwhile, cadets with an interest in a particular future RAF career were able to carry out work experience, with some joining engineers, air traffic controllers, fire fighters, medics and other key personnel.
Hundreds of rounds were fired on the rifle range with the Number 8 and L98 weapons exercised, cadets enjoyed a guided tour of Lyneham’s officers’ mess – an establishment normally out of bounds to all except commissioned RAF officers – and a select handful were given the privilege of raising the station ensign.
The camp was attended by cadets from 1365 (Aylesbury), 1239 (Broxbourne and Hoddesdon), 57 (Potters Bar), 871 (Penn), 1113 (Berkhamsted), 936 (Hertford and Ware), 2203 (Hatfield), 2532 (Milton Keynes), 2204 (Chesham), 795 (Harpenden), 332 (High Wycombe), 1066 (Hitchin), 2366 (Bletchley Park), 2409 (Halton), 2370 (Denham), 1565 (Buckingham) and 2313 (The Chalfonts) Squadrons, and 2313 (Beaconsfield) Detached Flight.
Camp Commandant was Herts & Bucks senior wing staff officer Sqn Ldr Paul Mimpress, and his staff were Flt Lt Iain Hutchinson (Wing Training Officer), Flt Lt George Fitch (OC 1365 Sqn), Flt Lt Erica Vey (OC 1066 Sqn), Flt Lt Tim Hatton (OC 795 Sqn), Plt Off Clare Bull (1239 Sqn), Plt Off Ben Wilkinson (220 Sqn), AWO Mark Thorogood (936 Sqn), ASgt Teresa Fievez (248 Sqn), and Mr Howard March (Padre at 2532 Sqn).
Sqn Ldr Mimpress said: “This was an excellent camp, not least because of the fantastic amount of flying, and my thanks go to Flt Lt Fitch who was responsible for securing most of it. My thanks also go to RAF Lyneham’s station commander and personnel for being so welcoming and doing all they could to make it a fulfilling and hugely enjoyable camp for all the cadets.”

RAF Innsworth Annual Camp - Update

It is with regret that because of the severe flooding in the Gloucester area RAF Innsworth is without electricity and water and we have had to cancel the Herts & Bucks Wg camp from 28 Jul to 4 Aug 07.

In addition, Innsworth is providing accommodation for Emergency services. HQAC has not been able to identify any alternatives.

Nevertheless, we have agreed to leave the following three weeks of camps at Innsworth in place in the hope that the situation improves but we will review the situation daily.

Due to efforts of a number of people and the ACLO at Halton, we have managed to reinstate the camp forming on 28 Jul 07.

The camp will now take place at RAF Halton and run in parallel with a camp from the West of England. There will be as full and varied camp programme as can be arranged at short notice. Historically Halton has been an excellent Camp and should match if not be better than Innsworth.

ALL cadets and staff originally intending to travel to Innsworth are expected to attend the camp at RAF Halton out of respect for and in acknowledgement of the efforts that have been made to provide a camp for cadets despite extenuating circumstances and in the face of considerable and abnormal circumstances.

Reporting at Halton will be as intended for the camp at Innsworth i.e. Report to RAF Halton Airfield (WHQ) for 0900 on Saturday 28 Jul 07.

CDTS WILL NEED TO BRING A SLEEPING BAG AND PILLOW WITH THEM

Cost will remain the same and those cdts who show as "Cash to Coach" will bed to bring £57 in cash with them on Saturday morning

THE SIR ROGER AUSTIN SWORD 2006

The Sir Roger Austin Sword is awarded to the Wing showing the best improvement over the previous year in all levels of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

This year’s winner is West Mercian Wing which more than doubled its Bronze Award total from 79 to 164.

Herts and Bucks Wing was runner-up with Warwick and Birmingham Wing in third place.

This is a really pleasing result and many congratulations to all those staff and cadets who achieved this success. It is even more remarkable, this was done when one third of the Sqn's who did not register a single cadet or achieve an award.

From September, the Wing will be making a number of changes to help Sqn's run the award enabling more cadets to qualify. OC Herts & Bucks pays tribute to Flt Lt Fusedale, who on top of looking after the administration of the award, helping to promote it by visiting Sqn's on top of running his own Sqn and running the Wing Marching team has done an excellent job.

Penn Sqn welcomes Commandant

Penn’s Air Cadets continued their return to form by welcoming their Commandant, Air Commodore Gordon Moulds, OBE, RAF, to their Summer Ball and awards night. With a dress code of “black tie” or smart dresses the cadets had a great evening at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Marlow.

The Squadron’s Commanding Officer, Flight Lieutenant Brett Shepherd RAFVR(T) said that over the last couple of years it had been an honour to see the cadets of 871 (Penn) Squadron ATC, work so hard to re-build the Squadron despite needing to leave their previous accommodation and now operate from a temporary base in a school. However, the good news was that plans are now well advanced for the Squadron to gain a brand new Headquarters building in 2008.

Air Cmdr Moulds said that he was delighted to see Penn Squadron return to form and praised the hard work of volunteer staff like Flt Lt Shepherd and his colleagues. He also thanked the parents for their unstinting support of the Squadron and urged that they continue to support the volunteer Staff that keeps the Squadron active.

Then it was time for the annual awards. Among a number of awards were:

Best Cadet; Cadet Corporal Daniel Cecil
Academic Award; Cadet Jonathan Britton, who had a successful evening by also winning the male sports award and the Attendance Trophy.

The Squadron Commander’s Special Award was presented to Cadet Sergeant Zoe Berwick.

The evening was not all cheers though as the Squadron said goodbye to Warrant Officer Graham Macaree who is leaving the area and Treasurer David Coulton who seps down after many years of dedicated service.

ISCRM (BISLEY) 2007

Herts and Bucks Wing took an active part in this years ISCRM (Bisley) Shooting competition which ran 12-15 July 2007.

2 teams from 1365 (Aylesbury) Sqn coached by Fg Off Gilson and WO Holt entered the competition.

Flt Lt Oram was tasked to run the Staff competition for the weekend, and cadets from both 936 Sqn and 248 Sqn were used as markers.

For the cadets from 1365 Sqn there were Individual competitons at 300 yrd, 500 yrds and 600 yrds, and the same distances were set for the team competitions.

Using the L81 rifle the cadets had undergone training and coaching at both the Wing run Otmoor shooting days and the SAA Weekends.

With plenty of opportunities to work on marksmanship skills through regular training and pracice sessions, Herts and Bucks Wing are looking to enter a greater number of teams for the competition next year.

For futher information on this competition or any of the Shooting events please contact Flt Lt Matt Oram, Wing Shooting Officer at shooting@hbwing.org.uk

2409 Sqn Win the Morris Trophy

Congratulations to 2409 Halton Squadron who have won the Morris Trophy, which is awarded to the runner up in the Sir Alan Lees Trophy.

This makes 2409 Halton Sqn the 2nd best Squadron in the Corps, a fantastic achievement and one that everyone should be very proud.

To win this trophy, the Sqn had to win the Vampire Trophy for the best Herts & Bucks Sq,. They then had a very detailed inspection by the Regional Commandant to be selected as the best Sqn in Central & East Region and finally they had yet another inspection by the Acting Chief of Staff from HQAC's.

The staff and cadets put in an amazing amount of effort at each of the inspections and the Commandant stated that it was a very difficult to decide which was the top Sqn, with so little between them.

Short Range Management Course

There is a Short Range Management Course taking place at Wattisham over the weekends of 20-22 July & 27-29 July.

The closing date for applications is Friday 6 July. Places are available, And anyone wishing to apply should contact me ASAP. The next course will not be before January, and these courses are likely to take place at most twice a year.

Prior attendance at a Basic Coaching Course is recommended but not mandatory.

If anyone has any questions, or needs more information please let me know.

Flt Lt Oram

RIAT

After significant work with the RAF Charitable Trust, HQAC has organised free entry to RIAT subject to the follow on one or both days for a group taken by ATC Adult Member (Staff or Instructor Cadet) who has a ticket, all cadets in uniform gain entry free of charge.

Wing Organised Visit RIAT

There are still places available for cadets to attend the Airshow at RAF Fairford 13 – 15 Jul 07.

The party will be leaving RAF Halton on Friday 13 Jul 07 at 18:45 hrs, returning at around 20:00hrs on the Sunday.

Accommodation has been arranged at the Air Cadet camp at RAF Fairford. The dress for the visit is DPM S95. Due to the location and public views, the standard of dress must reflect the high standards and expectation of the Corps. Civilian dress is required for the evenings, and cadets are expected to travel on the Friday evening in civilian dress. Due to constraints with travel, please advise the cadets not to carry too much luggage.

The trip will involve an element of fund raising at the Airshow, with spare time to enjoy the displays. If cadets wish to bring spending money with them, this is their responsibility.

Please forward names by email to sr.cooper1 @ ntlworld.com.

Terry Eyre Trophy Best Sporting Region

Dear All

I heard today from HQAC that the Terry Eyre Trophy for the best sporting region in the Corps has again been won by Central & East Region. This really is a fantastic achievement and I would be grateful if my thanks and congratulations can be passed on to the Wing Sports Officers, coaches, cadets and supporters. We achieved a score of 104 Points with Wales and West and North Regions coming equal 2nd with a score of 88 so we did really well!

I would like to pay particular tribute to the excellent work done by the Regional PEdO Sqn Ldr Wendy Truman MBE very ably assisted by her deputies Flt Lt Sue Turner and Flt Lt Kevin Bunn, but this is a true Team Effort which underscores the importance of the work done by Wings and indeed Squadrons. We recently won the Overall Athletics, having only won one Class, as a direct result of the effort put in by each and every cadet, quite simply every point counted!

Once again my thanks for the support given to the sporting programme, and many many congratulations to all those involved.

A great result!

Jon Ford
Gp Capt RAFR
Regl Cmdt C&E

Cadets welcome Polly Vacher to Herts & Bucks Wing

Cadets from three Herts & Bucks Wing Squadrons were at Panshangar airfield on Monday to welcome aviatrix Polly Vacher to this Wing.

Polly is currently flying around all the 206 airfields in the UK to raise awareness of the charity Flying Scholarships for the Disabled.

Panshangar was Polly’s sixth [and last] airfield on Monday and she was able to give time to the cadets. After a short chat about the work of the charity Polly told the cadets about her two solo round the world flights and then took the cadets to see her single-engined Piper Dakota, the same aircraft that she has used for those epic journeys.

The cadets were from 220 (St Albans), 1166 (Welwyn Garden City) and 2203 (Hatfield and deHavilland) Sqns.
Cadet David Tucker from 220 (St Albans) Sqn said: "It was great that us cadets were able to get involved with the Wings Around Britain project by welcoming Polly Vacher to our local airfield. We all found talking to her about her challenge very interesting."
Cadet Giles Silom (14) added: "Hearing about all the planning involved in the scheme and what flying to almost every corner of the country is like was fascinating.

Herts & Bucks cadets at a wet Waddington airshow

Ten cadets from Herts & Bucks Wing, led by Flt Lt Simon Cooper RAFVR(T) and Warrant Officer Glen Judge supported last weekend’s Waddington Airshow. The Air Cadet personnel were there to help raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund. During the day the stand was visited by Commandant Air Cadets, Air Commodore Gordon Moulds MBE, RAF. Herts & Bucks Wing has long worked with the Commandant in support of these charitable ventures. An unexpected visitor to the Exhibition Hangar was former Prime Minister, Baroness Thatcher. While at the RAF Benevolent Fund stand she signed some limited edition prints of aircraft flown in the Falkland Islands campaign, in this its 25th anniversary.

One of the cadets’ duties was to collect funds in buckets. For this they spent a long time out in the rain, which was seen by the crew of the static display Chinook helicopter, and they offered the cadets a short, private tour of their aircraft. The weather was so bad that the second day of the show was cancelled due to flooding.