2018/07

RAF Valley (or the yellow Savannah that RAF Valley has become) and heatwave don’t tend to go together in a sentence very often, but it does make for a very enjoyable workplace.
It has been a fantastically busy couple of months since our last communication, with strange absences of the majority of our student body at times. Some would say this makes the Squadron a paradise, a truly magical place to work, where air warning paperwork is non-existent and even Flt Lt Walker manages a once a day smile. Others prefer a daily dose of student horror as the red pen moves ever closer to the debriefing board, and the rest of us just miss having someone around to clean out the coffee machine on a daily basis. We have been happy to complete the annual Formal Staff Visit, and even emerged relatively unscathed from the prying eyes of the staff at 22 Group.
The Squadron has detached to RAF Linton-on-Ouse to prepare for the superb display that was the RAF 100 Flypast, and as I write the final preparations are being completed for two aircraft to depart to Kuwait for a role demonstration to the Kuwaiti Air Force. The Squadron has displayed over the Cosford Air Show, and is supporting the Royal International Air Tattoo, along with a huge number of our illustrious members parading through Llandudno in support of National Armed Forces Day in June.
A highlight of the last couple of months was the RAF Valley Families day, a long-time favourite which gave us all the chance to say thanks to our families for all their support, particularly whilst we are so busy!
Our core business of training the future fighter pilots of the RAF has taken a slight hit with so much extraneous activity across the country, however we are all pleased to report the completion of the 402 course for what remains of course 24, we wish them all the best in their next role. The other student courses are making progress, with OCU dates and the Typhoon force keen to get their hands on the best product possible in the shortest time possible – a task which vexes the Squadron execs daily. We sadly waved goodbye to several Squadron stalwarts over the last couple of months, losing two of our exchange officers, Major Parker and Major Kriegbaum back to the RCAF and USMC respectively. They will both be sorely missed and we would all like to thank them for their hard work, professionalism, and all around good humour over the last few years. Baywatch is still here at the time of writing – he assures us he is still leaving, but no one quite believes him yet.
August promises to settle the Squadron back into some form of normality. As enjoyable and memorable as RAF100 has been we are all looking forward to returning to training the future defenders of Britain’s skies. With the Battle of Britain celebrations not far around the corner, and a Squadron detachment to Sardinia approaching the horizon we are all excited for what the next few months will bring.
In Futurum Videre