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NEWSLETTER 1.2013Edited by Ray Towler

THETFORD AND DISTRICTBRANCH - 0996

Hosted Visit - 25th January 2013

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Path to Peace Concert

Standard Bearers from local Branches in East Anglia attended a Path to Peace Concert in The Apex, Bury StEdmunds on the evening of the 17th February 2013. The concert was performed by the combined VoluntaryBands of RAF Honington and RAF Wyton which also featured the Honington Military Wives Choir.

This concert was 'A Tribute to the RAF' and the performance by the combined band and choir was outstand-ing, all musicians and singers displaying a vast range of talent throughout the evenings performance before avery large audience. All proceeds from this concert will be going to the Royal Air Forces Association and Helpfor Heroes.

This was the first in a season of concerts being held in The Apex, paying a tribute to our servicemen andwomen of the Armed Forces, further concerts will be held on the following dates:

1st June 2013 - Tribute to the Army.7th September 2013 - Tribute to the Royal Navy.23rd November 2013 - Tri Service Finale.

If you wish to attend please contact:Tel: 01284 758000Website: www.theapex.co.ukemail: boxoffice@theapex.co.ukTickets £13 per concert.

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Bigger, Higher, Faster

Why do they do it? Because it's there! That's the frequent response given by those who attempt somethingthat's never been done before. To many observers it's a 'you must be mad' opinion but at the same time there'salways great interest, even admiration for the efforts of the 'record breakers'.. Take three current projects forexample.

The internet has many films showing people who jump off mountain tops, camera attached to a helmet,parachute on their backs and wearing a 'flight suit' with fillets between arms and body so that with armsoutstretched the suit forms a wing - now called 'wingsuits'. Having stepped off the mountain, the 'pilot' thenhas what must be one of the most exhilarating of adrenalin rushes possible over the next few minutes as heplummets 'under control' towards a valley floor, weaving round peaks, down valleys reaching about 100 mphbefore opening a parachute for a traditional landing. As kids, many of us thrilled at the antics of Superman -they are now becoming increasingly popular - mad!

What about Austrian Felix Baumgartiner who has been parachute jumping since he was 16 years old and now,at 45, trying to be the first man to fly supersonic in freefall! The aim is to take him to 120,000ft in a balloonin a capsule and for him to step outside and plummet earthward, going supersonic before terminating his fallin a normal parachute landing. Sponsored by Red Bull, this is a most ambitious record attempt which has beendelayed several times in New Mexico due to 'excessive wind' - maximum 2mph allowed for balloon launch -so never possible at Thetford/Honington! There seems to be some medical doubt about the impact ofsupersonic flight on the human body - mad!

In the mid-80s, I hosted Richard Noble for a day at Bruggen - he had just broken the world land speed recordin Thrust 2 (633mph). Today he is working closely with Wg Cdr Andy Green who is attempting to be the firstman to achieve 1000mph on land. Green, a former Tornado pilot, became the first person to go supersonic onland; in 1997, exactly 50 years since Chuck Yeager first went supersonic in an aircraft, Green achieved 763mph in Thrust SSC - I've been trying to find out what SSC means - possible SuperSonic Car? Now, withBloodhound SSC, Green hopes for greater speed; the rocket motor has been tested at Newquay airport (= RAFSt Mawgan) and the probable record attempt site in South Africa is being prepared at Verneuk 300 milesnorth-east of Cape Town. The initial aim is to break the current world speed record and subsequently tacklethe 1000mph 'barrier'. We can only wish him good luck and a safe drive - mad maybe, but the challenge isthere and man will always be tempted to attempt what is seen as the ultimate goal.

All this makes my record Bruggen-Honington sound pretty puny with a mere 242 miles in 25mins 40secs.Would I want to tackle any of the above current projects? - not on your Nelly!

Victor Papa Oct 2012

Branch Meetings

Branch Meetings are scheduled to be held on the second Tuesday of each month, in the Sergeants’ Mess, RAFHonington, at 19.30hrs.

Any member of the Thetford and District Branch may attend. We hold a Raffle, in aid of Branch funds andget together for a pint after the meeting.

Should you wish to attend a meeting and you do not have access to RAF Honington, please call Ray Towleron 01842 765399 and give him your details and your car details, so that arrangements can be made for you togain access toRAF Honington.

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Part two - Profile Bill McGaw

So in late 1973 I received my detachment order to go to the School of Electrical & Mechanical EngineeringSEME at Bordon in Hampshire. A course of eight lucky souls assembled in early January 1974 to start beingtaught on basic optics for 6 weeks. We were all ground radar fitters and were puzzled why we were there.What we did not know at that stage but soon were made aware was that the Rapier system was opticallyguided. So we would be taught the basics before transferring to fix the Rapier Optical Tracker. The 6 weekswere interesting as were accommodated in wooden ‘spider’ buildings with no curtains. Not what we had leftbehind in our RAF accommodations. Of course another Army peculiarity was that when we first went to the‘cookhouse’ for a meal there was no cutlery on the server or on the tables. When we asked they said have younot been issued with your KFS! Anyway some cutlery was found and we ate our meal and washed up as well.Next morning we were down at the QM store to get our KFS & mug.

Anyway in our last week we were all expecting to head back to our various RAF stations when a Flt Lt arrivedfrom somewhere to announce that we would be transferring straight to the School of Electronic Engineering(SEE) at Arborfield for our next phase of Rapier training. Not I says me, I’m getting married and its allarranged etc. So after a couple of phone calls and a day later I was told I could return to Scampton and that Iwould be called for a later course at Arborfield. So I returned to the routine at Scampton, got married andsettled into our MQ. However I had not been forgotten and in July of 1974 I was off to Arborfield until March1975.

So again a sorry looking lot of eight ground radar fitters assembled on the parade square along with all thearmy trainees. We were stood at ease in an assortment of legal states of RAF dress but everyone of different.This was in contrast to the Army guys who were all in the same standard of dress. The shout went up ‘Get OnParade’. At that the Army guys came to attention and marched off in one mass. We looked at each other andscrambled after them. Unknown to us they march for 22 paces, halt, right dress and then stand at ease allwithout command. Well the confusion amongst us and the actions to get ourselves sorted soon drew theattention of the RSM. H e worked his way across the parade square and eventually settled on our section ofeight. Looking at each of us in our varied state of dress and haircuts, moustaches etc, he muttered a few wordsto his assistant that we were not to appear on his parades until were sorted out!! I have to say by the time wepassed out of our course the following March we had improved slightly and we and many other RAF peoplecaused him much grief about the place. Anyway after commuting as much as possible from Arborfield toScampton on as many weekends as I could afford (remember no M25) I returned once again to Scampton tobe greeted by the words, ’who are you’ from the new Chief in charge of GRSF. I had been gone so long I hadbeen forgotten!

Then not long after in June 1975 I was posted to join 27 Sqn RAF Regt forming at RAF North Luffenham.So we moved to live at South Witham as I underwent indoctrination into the ways of the RAF Regt at the sametime trying to assimilate 9 months training on Rapier and its associated repair vehicles and training equipment.At least all us fitters were in the same boat but the manning levels were a bit out of kilter! On EngineeringFlight as we were called we had 1 Fg Off, 5 Chf Techs, 4 Sgts, 9 Cpls, 6 Jnr Techs and one SAC. This coveredarmoury, GEF, MT, Supply and us radar guys and the one Clerk Stats. As we were the 3rd Sqn to convert toRapier and the previous two had gone to Germany we were quite please were slated to go to Akrotiri.However the previous year the Turks had invaded northern Cyprus and our deployment was reviewed and thencancelled. No problem thought as there were still two bases in Germany awaiting Rapier, WRONG! We gotthe wonderful news that the bases in Germany were ready to receive us and that we would be deployedto......RAF Leuchars. We subsequently arrived in November of 1975 to a dismal place as things had hurriedlybeen cobbled together for us from equipment space and workshops, barrack blocks and MQs. I eventually gota MQ in Glenrothes that was new town and therefore not much available in terms of shops etc. However wewere happy and apart from the Regt things we had to do life was good.

Then in April 1977 I was posted to 26 Sqn RAF Regt at RAF Laarbruch but not before returning for another6 weeks course at Arborfield on the ‘Blindfire’ upgrade for Rapier to make an all weather day/night system.Arriving at Laarbruch a bunch of us in the transit block new to German ways headed off to Weeze for a sampleof local beer. When we returned to the main gate there had been an exercise called. Explaining to the RAFPolice we had just arrived that day off the trooper he said ring your sections and find out what they wanted

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you to do. So we all rang in and everyone was told to stay in the block until end ex was called. Not me, I wastold to report to the Sqn compound after changing into combat uniform. I was issued with Tin hat, respirator,webbing outfit, sleeping bag, mess tins, KFS & mug and an SLR Rifle! Next thing I know I’m in a land roverand off to our exercise hideout for the next 2 days in all that I stood up in!! When I returned to the transitblock the rest of the new guys considered themselves lucky to be working for the RAF and not the RAF Regt.

However, this posting turned out to be the best one that my wife and me enjoyed the most. After finding alittle flat to rent in Wemb and then a move to the new flat in the tower block in Weeze we finally ended up ina house with garden on camp in Portal Avenue. We soon settled into the way of life with Minevals, Maxevalsand Tacevals happening regularly. Krissie secured a job in the Maas first school just round the corner. Therewas no British TV so we became regular users for the Astra cinema. During this time the trade name changedtwice from L Fitt GR to L Tech GR (Dec 1977). Then the Ground Comms and Ground Radar were mixed upa bit and then we became either L Tech TC (Tactical Comms), L Tech AF (Air Fields) and L Tech AD (AirDefence)(Jan 1978). So being on RAPIER I was brigaded into L Tech AD whether I wanted to or not! Thenin Oct 1978 I was promoted to Cpl. We were due to come back after 3 years but I was offered a chance to stayanother year as we both wanted to stay.

Then in Dec 1980 our son Gareth was born and I was able to get back from detachment in Belize for his birthin Wegberg hospital.

So in May 1981 we packed up and returned to the UK.

(Part three will be published in Newsletter 2.2013)

Veterans Badge

Applications fot the Veterans Badge should be addressed to:

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

MOD Medal Office

Innsworth House

Injim Barracks

Gloucester

GL3 1HW

Telephone 0800 169 2277

Applications are available by contacting the Honorary Secretary.

Branch Newsletter

It has been suggested that the Branch Newsletter be given a name, rather than a reference to the edition andyear.

If you can come up with something suitable I will put it to the Committee for consideration.

If possible the new name should reflect the spirit of the Association and have a link with the Royal Air Force.

Please forward your suggestions, in writing, to Ray Towler, 33A Earls Street, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2ABor by email to ray.towler@btinternet.com to arrive not later than 4th April 2013.

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What we doOur welfare mission statementThe Royal Air Forces Association is committed to providing confidential, professional and fair services tomembers of the wider RAF family from the youngest recruit to the oldest veteran and their families. On-goingtraining and support for welfare volunteers and staff ensures services are consistent and of the highest possiblestandard. All will be treated with dignity and respect at all times.The kind of welfare support provided by the RAF Association is wide-ranging: everything from providinghome visits and respite care breaks, to offering advice and, in some circumstances, financial assistance intimes of difficulty.Simply, we are here to make sure that members of the RAF Family past and present are never left alone or inneed.You can find out more about the type of support we provide, along with a few recent examples of what we’vebeen up to, here.

How we help the RAF FamilyThe RAF Association is here to help the whole Royal Air Force family, providing friendship, help and supportto current and former members of the Royal Air Force and their dependants.You do not need to be a member to receive our help. It is estimated that there are around 2.4 million ex-Servicepeople, some 40,000 currently in uniform, their families and dependants under 18 years old, plus dependantswith a disability over 18 years old, all of whom are eligible for assistance from the RAF Association.With a UK-wide caseworker network of over 570 volunteer Honorary Welfare Officers undertaking almost25,000 welfare visits annually, help ranges from simply providing conversation and friendship to preparingand submitting application forms for financial assistance.

Just a typical working year for the RAF Association!In a typical year, these are just some of the ways that we help our Servicemen and Women, past and present.You can find out more information about all of this great work on this site.· Over 67,000 members offer friendship and support to one another· Our network of over 570 volunteer welfare officers make around 50,000 welfare visits and calls· We help to secure more than £200,000 in pension and compensation claims for those facing financialhardship· With support from the RAF Benevolent Fund we provide much needed respite care breaks for around3,000 people· We give 2,400 separated RAF families the chance to enjoy quality time together· Our Miles More Minutes campaign allows over 1,600 families of RAF personnel who are serving inAfghanistan more time to talk· Our Storybook Wings initiative helps to ease the pain of separation for over 500 children with parentsserving overseas· We assist around 46 RAF veterans or their widows/widowers to lead safe, independent lives in oursheltered and supported housing· Through the RAF Families Federation we give RAF personnel and their families the chance toinfluence future policy· We support over 1,500 RAF family members on family-related concernsWe are also working in partnership with Alabaré and The Soldier’s Charity to fund a facility helping homelessex-military personnel to rebuild their lives.

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Our aims and values

The RAF Family and its importance in helping create an effective Air ForceFor Service personnel to be at their most effective, it is recognised that the Royal Air Force has to provide thenecessary community support structure for their families.The development of a strong sense of community and feeling of wellbeing amongst all Service personnel andtheir families helps make our Air Force better by encouraging unity, and helping to ensure that the men andwomen who come into service want to stay..With such a feeling of community, forces personnel can focus on their work, knowing that their families canaccess the support they need, when they need it – whether it is while they are actively serving, or after theyhave served.Service charities and organisations such as the Royal Air Forces Association, Royal Air Force BenevolentFund and the Royal Air Force Families Federation play a key role in this wider Royal Air Force community.This community is more commonly known as the Royal Air Force Family, and all the organisations workclosely with the Royal Air Force to provide the necessary welfare and support to all who are part of it.The RAF Association is committed to supporting the RAF Family, whether currently serving, or former-serving, in a wide range of ways, delivering help and support where it is needed.

The RAF Association is here for everyoneFor a young child missing their parent on overseas operations.For a WWII veteran needing a shoulder to lean on.For more telephone time when you’re deployed overseas.For injured RAF personnel fighting to get back on their feet.For Armed Forces Compensation Scheme advice.For your family, for your friends and for you.

Serving Personnel – Membership Fees through Payroll Giving

Those serving members who have elected to pay their membership fee through their salary under CharitableGiving (Give As You Earn) may have noticed a slight increase in their monthly contributions which will havegone up from £1.77 per month to £2.03 per month. Following a resolution at Annual Conference in 2006 itwas agreed that the membership fee would be automatically increased every 2 years in line with the RPI.Therefore, the annual membership has gone up from £18/year to £19.50 wef 1 Jan 13.   The effect of thisincrease means that we have raised the £1.77 to £2.03/month wef everyone’s Jan pay statement.

What you donate each month is the gross amount and you will automatically get tax relief at the basic rate of20% in the month that you pay i.e. gross payment £2.03 – 20% = £1.62. This equates to you paying net £19.44a year (which is as close as we can get to the £19.50).

As we only had confirmation of this increase going through JPA very recently (by the staff at SPVA) we arein the process of ensuring that we inform everyone through all available channels; website, Air Mail Connect,RAF News, Air Space, through RAFALOs by e-mail, etc.  We have also asked HQ Air Command to ask fortheir help in informing

Newsletter 2.2013

It is requested that any items for the next Newsletter (2.2013) be forwarded to the Editor, Ray Towler, 33AEarls Street, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2AB or by email to ray.towler@btinternet.com to arrive no later than 5th

April 2013.

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At the Annual General Meeting, held on Tuesday 12th February 2013,the under mentioned Members were elected as Committee Members,

and/or appointed to an Ancillary position.

Branch CommitteeHonorary PresidentGroup Captain Miller

Honorary Vice PresidentWing Commander J. East

Life Vice PresidentAir Commodore R. Bogg

ChairmanMr. John MacPherson.

Vice ChairmanMr. Nigel King.

Honorary SecretaryMr. Raymond Towler.

TreasurerMr. Nigel King.

Committee MembersMr. Tony HigginbottomMrs. Mary Mearns

Ancillary appointmentsHonorary Welfare Officer Warrant Officer R. Hargreaves.

Membership Secretary Mr. William Neve

Wings Appeal Organiser. Mr. Raymond Towler.

Deputy Wings Appeal Organiser. Mr. William Neve.

Area Conference Delegate. Mrs. Mary Mearns.

Joint ATC Liaison Officer. Mr. John Goldsmith.

Joint ATC Liaison Officer. Corporal. Denise Boneham.

Deputy Welfare Officer Mr. Ian Welch

Standard Bearer Warrant Officer Bob Hargreaves

Standard Bearer Flight. Sergeant. Mick Luke

Media Liaison Officer. Mrs. Vanessa Love..

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Provisional Calendar of Events - 2013

March 2013 5 March ` Branch Committee Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 13.0012 March Branch Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 19.3015 March Branch Lunch The Fox, Honington 12.0020 March Informal Social Evening Sergeants’ Mess 19.3028 March Graduation Parade & Hosted visit RAF Honington 08.00April 2013 9 April Branch Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 19.3019 April Branch Lunch Norfolk Terrier 12.00May 2013 2 May RAFALO’s Quiz Night Sergeants’ Mess 19.00 3 May RAF Honington 76th Anniversary INFORMATION ONLY 8 May Fund-raising Evening Sergeants’ Mess 19.0014 May Branch Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 19.3017 May Branch Lunch Sergeants’ Mess 12.0022 May Thetford Branch 63rd Anniversary INFORMATION ONLY31 May Graduation Parade & Hosted visit RAF Honington 08.00June 2013 4 June Branch Committee Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 13.00 5 June Informal Social Evening Sergeants’ Mess 19.30 6 June Wings Collection Tesco Store, Thetford All Day 7 June Wings Collection Tesco Store, Thetford All Day11 June Branch Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 19.3021 June Branch Lunch The Fox, Honington 12.0029 June Branch Stand – Armed Forces Day Thetford Market Place All Day29 June Armed Forces Day Ceremony Thetford War Memorial 11.00July 2013 6 July Inter-Branch Social event - BBQ The Fox, Honington 12.00 9 July Branch Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 19.3012 July Branch Lunch Norfolk Terrier 12.0019 July Graduation Parade & Hosted visit RAF Honington 08.00August 201313 August Branch Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 19.3016 August Branch Lunch/Presentation Sergeants’ Mess 12.00September 2013 3 September Branch Committee Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 13.00 4 September Wings ‘Kick-off’ Social Evening Sergeants’ Mess 19.30 6 September Wings Collection Sainsbury’s Store, Thetford All Day 7 September Wings Collection Sainsbury’s Store, Thetford All Day 8 September Barnham Fete Barnham Social Club 10.0010 September Branch Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 19.0015 September Battle of Britain Day INFORMATION ONLY15–21 September Wings Week INFORMATION ONLY14 September Wings Street Collections Thetford 09.0014 September Branch Stand Thetford Market Place 09.0015 September BoB Remembrance Service St. Cuthbert’s 10.3020 September Branch Lunch The Fox, Honington 12.0028 September Wings Band Concert Carnegie Rooms,Thetford 19.30

Note: This calendar is provisional and subject to changes, through Service contingencies and/or events out-side the control of the Branch.

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RAF Air Sea Rescue Memorial Stone

The Humber Branch of the Air Sea Rescue and Marine Craft Unit association is on a mission to raise morethan £2,000 for a memorial stone to be placed at Ross castle, Cleethorpes overlooking the sea. The stone willremember all those who served in 22 ASR Grimsby and 1110 Marine Craft Unit at Immingham. DuringWorld War II the rescue services were the saviour of over 13,000 aircrew. In addition they rescued hundredsof victims from ships which had been struck by mines or sunk by torpedo. If any Branch or individual wouldlike to contribute to this memorial stone would they please send a cheque, made payable to the Air Sea RescueMemorial Fund, to Mr Trevor Smith, 89 Seaford Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 0NE. Trevor can be contacted on01472 504778 for further information.

RAF Swing Wing Concert -16th March 2013

The RAFA Downham Market Branch are holding a concert in aid of Wings Appeal, featuring the RAF SwingWing, at the Thomas Clarkson Academy, Corporation Road, Wisbech, PE13 2SE on Saturday 16th March2013 beginning at 7.00 p.m. Tickets are priced at £10.00 per person and can be obtained from Jan or RayHutchison on Tel No: 01945 584595.

Wings Over Lincoln

The RAF Waddington Voluntary Band will be performing at Lincoln Cathedral on Saturday 20th April7.30pm. Tickets £12, £8 and £5 available from the Cathedral shop Tel: 01522 561 644

70th Anniversary SkydiveDevang Valand based at Central Headquarters is raising money for the RAF Association's Wings Appeal bytaking part in the 70th Anniversary Skydive! So if you have a few pennies spare and would like to sponsor himplease follow the link below:http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DevangValand

RAF Association Funding Opportunity

Members will be aware that the Repatriation of fallen service personnel is now done through RAF BrizeNorton. There is a Repatriation Centre in the town of Carterton, close to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. TheMayor of Carterton has approached a number of agencies and charities to assist with the refurbishment of theassembly area for the Repatriation Centre . The current facility (a local social club) is proving too small forfamilies and friends of the soldiers, marines and airmen whose bodies are being repatriated, and additionalfacilities are needed for the representatives of the RAF Association, Royal British Legion and others who lendtheir support. The building refurbishment and extension will cost £50k and to date there are pledges totalling£20K.

The District Council in West Oxfordshire will begin work once the level of pledged monies reaches £30K,and the Mayor is keen to get the project underway as soon as possible.

The suggested donation from organisations which can offer support is £5k. If any Branch would like tosupport this project from their funds, would they please contact the Area Director in the first instance.

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Branch Lunch - 15 February 2013

Official hand-over to USAAF - 29 April 1944

Blast from the Past

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Path to Peace ConcertThe Apex - Bury St. Edmunds - 17 February 2013