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4 MARHAM MATTERS ISSUE 5 2017 ISSUE 5 2017 MARHAM MATTERS 5‘Deliver Battle Winning Air Power for Current and Future Operations’ www.marhammattersonline.co.uk

STATION COMMANDER'S FOREWORD MARHAM MATTERSMARHAM MATTERS CONTENTS

Station Commander’s

Foreword

EDITOR: Diane WilsonExt: 6739Email: diane.wilson704@ mod.gov.uk

RAF MARHAM WEB PAGE:www.raf.mod.uk/rafmarham

DESIGNER: Helen BushEmail: helen@

lancepublishing.co.uk

SALES MANAGER: Jayne BaileyTel: (01536) 526677Email: jayne@


PRINTER: Lance Print LtdTel: (01733) 390564

COVER IMAGE:Photograph by Ron Wong

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by the contributors to the Marham Matters are not necessarily those of the Editor, MoD, RAF or the publishers and do not reflect Station policy. All precautions are taken to ensure accuracy. Advertisements are accepted on the understanding that they conform to the British Code of Advertising Practice. This magazine is published by kind permission of the Station Commander. All Images © Crown Copyright 2014, unless otherwise stated.

STOCKISTS: The Surgery, Marham, Manor Farm Medical Centre, Swaffham, Plowright Medical Centre, Swaffham, The Surgery, Swaffham, Howdale Surgery, Downham Market, Hollies Veterinary Clinic, Downham Market, The Crossings Veterinary Clinic, Downham Market, The Grove Veterinary Surgery, Swaffham, Priory Centre, Downham Market, Lynn News, King’s Lynn, St Martin’s at Shouldham VA Primary School, Marham Infant School, Marham Junior School, Downham Market Academy, Nicholas Hammond Academy, Swaffham, Town Halls in Downham Market, Kings Lynn and Swaffham, BAE, Warton, Armed Forces Careers Office in Norwich, Cambridge and Peterborough, Royal Air Force Association in Downham Market, Downham Market Air Cadets, All other RAF bases.

18 From the Editor

Deadline for Next Issue: 12th JunePlease submit all entries for the next issue by the date stated above.

9

12

15June is the start of a busy summer for us all at RAF Marham as we see a number of key events for station personnel both on and off station. Firstly, it gives me great pleasure to welcome our new Lightning Force Commander, Air Commodore David Bradshaw, to Marham. Air Commodore Bradshaw arrives following his recent tour as Station Commander at RAF Leeming, and prior to taking up command he attended the Higher Command and Staff Course at Shrivenham. I look forward to working with the Fce Cdr over the coming weeks as he starts the work to establish the Lightning Force at Marham over the next few years.

The Annual Formal Reception allows me to say thank you to members of the community across Norfolk, who continue to provide outstanding support for all that we do at Marham. Along with updating our guests on what their station has been up to over the last year, both at home and on Operations, it will also provide with the

opportunity to add my own personal thanks for their support to Kate and I throughout our time here at Marham.

The Royal Norfolk Show will once again take centre stage at the end of the month; following the huge success of last year, I am delighted that the event organisers have again invited Marham to take centre stage for the Armed Forces element of the show. I know that the people of Norfolk are immensely proud to have RAF Marham within its county borders. Please get involved in any way you can in supporting the station over the 2 days of the show.

Finally, next month's Family and Friends Day will soon be upon us. The organising team are pulling out all the stops to ensure that we have a fantastic day. If last year's event was anything to go by, I've no doubt it will be a hugely enjoyable day and night. Don't forget to pick up your tickets for the evening concert and I promise there will be no repeat cameo performance on stage from me this year

It doesn’t seem possible that we are already half way through the year and thinking about the summer holidays which are only weeks away. Please keep a look out for the many events that will be going on over the next few months both at RAF Marham and in the local area. Don’t forget that the HIVE hold details of places to visit and events taking place in the local area so pop in to see what’s going on. Tickets

for this year’s Families and Friends Day are now available through the wing registries and deployed families can get their tickets from the HIVE. The acts for the evening event have now been confirmed with Stooshe headlining and Stevi Richie, from X Factor fame supporting. The whole day is certainly gearing up to be another fantastic event.

COVER STORY

Operation Black Buck 1 during

Operation Corporate

............................................................ 18

REGULARS

Station Foreword

............................................................... 5

News from

The Lightning Basing Team

............................................................... 8

Community Support

............................................................24

Heavens Above From

The Chaplaincy Team

............................................................25

NEWS

Honours and Awards at Marham

............................................................... 8

Op Shader Update

............................................................... 9

2620 Squadron News

............................................................ 12

Tour of Caerwent - April '17

............................................................ 13

Be our Guest Campaign

............................................................ 14

35 Years of the First Tornado

............................................................ 15

Skydive Challenge

............................................................34

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OP SHADER UPDATE MARHAM MATTERSMARHAM MATTERS LIGHTNING BASING TEAM

One of those original contracts, for various demolitions and the building of a new Access Gate for ANVIL contractors, has now reached completion. This is the first contract to be completed and therefore represents a significant milestone in the delivery of ANVIL. Although one contract has finished, there is plenty of work still to do to prepare the Station for the arrival of the F-35B Lightning next year. The Maintenance & Finish Facility (M&F), National Operating Centre (NOC) and Integrated Training Centre (ITC) are well on the way and it shouldn't be long before construction starts on the new HQ building for 617 Squadron.

Aside from Project ANVIL, the Ltng Basing Team continues to run the Transition Working Group in conjunction with personnel from the Station, Ltng and Tor FHQs, Ltng PT and DIO, the output from which

will start supporting the recently-formed 'Marham 18' Steering Group. Also in conjunction with the Station, and in partnership with the Ltng FHQ and some of the ANVIL contractors, the Team hosted a very successful Open Afternoon last month at the Sandringham Centre; the level of interest in Project ANVIL seems to be growing and the Ltng capability display proved to be a particularly popular attraction for many of our visitors.

Finally, a very warm welcome to our new Ltng Force Commander, Air Commodore David Bradshaw, who took over the role in May from Group Captain 'Cab' Townsend. As usual, please see the Marham F-35 Lightning Basing Landing Page for the latest news and pics.

News from the Lightning Basing TeamHow time flies! It was just over a year ago when the first round of Project ANVIL contracts were awarded and enabling works started in earnest across the Station.

Iraqi ground forces are currently fighting an exceptionally hard battle to liberate the western half of the city, having freed the eastern side several months ago. Remaining Da’esh fighters have had ample time since then to prepare for this assault and the Iraqi soldiers on the ground face daily struggles against snipers, IEDs, suicide bombers and an enemy who knows it’s cut off and is willing to fight to the bitter end. Their task isn’t made any easier by Da’esh’s repeated use of civilians as human shields.

This last month has seen the Tornado force nearly

With the Battle for Mosul in full swing, TGRF personnel deployed on Op SHADER have been as busy as ever supporting ground forces fighting to wrestle back control of the city from the so-called ‘Islamic State’ or Da’esh.

OP SHADER UPDATE

entirely focused on the city, providing ‘Close Air Support’ to the soldiers on the ground, while the Typhoon force is supporting operations around Raqqa in Syria.

Paveway IV bombs and DMS Brimstone missiles have been used time and again to successfully strike enemy firing points, bed down locations and IED factories allowing ground forces to gain the initiative and maintain momentum. The DMS Brimstone is particularly useful due to its high accuracy and low collateral damage.

The fall of Mosul would strike a real blow to Da’esh as it was in the city’s Great Mosque of

al-Nuri where IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi appeared during a Friday prayer in 2014 to announce the formation of the new Caliphate.

It should not be long before the whole of Mosul is liberated allowing civilians to return and try to rebuild their lives.

Honours and Awards at Marham

The following Honours and Awards were presented at RAF Marham in the last month.Royal Warrant

Warrant Officer P Major CAS Commendation Corporal L Hale AOC 1 Group Commendation

Squadron Leader S J OliverFlight Sergeant D H KingSergeant P N Millichamp AOC 2 Group Commendation Detective Constable D Flower Joint Commander's Team Commendation Corporal A McArdle AOC 83 EAG Commendation Corporal J Vango Station Commander's Commendation General Duties FlightMiss Julie Cole Meritorious Service Medal Flight Sergeant D A HodgsonFlight Sergeant J A Kinghorn Clasp to Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Wing Commander T J Rand Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Squadron Leader T J CaseySergeant J L CleminsonSergeant M W LakeSergeant K LawsonSergeant C A RobinsonSergeant S J WilsonCorporal J A BillingtonCorporal N R MurrayCorporal P W MyhillCorporal P M J Reed

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TOUR OF CAERWENT MARHAM MATTERSMARHAM MATTERS 2620 SQUADRON NEWS

The gunners of 2620 Sqn have been put through their paces undertaking a comprehensive General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) Cadre. This has involved learning the characteristics of the weapon, becoming competent with assembly and handling of the weapon and most importantly the accurate application and firing of the machine gun. These gunners are now in a privileged positon of being fully trained on the GPMG adding to their utility and capability. The 2620 Sqn recruiting team have been busy engaging with people of all ages and backgrounds interested in joining the RAF Reserves and

Over the past few months 2620 Squadron RAuxAF Regiment has been extremely busy delivering a weapons cadre, recruiting Part-Time Voluntary Reservist’s (PTVRs) within the local area of Norfolk and support the 3 Force Protection Wing with defence engagement.

have recently held recruiting events at the Burghley Rat Race and within Norwich Castle Mall.

Within this busy schedule the Sqn managed to deploy its Training Officer and Training Flight Sergeant to Amman in Jordan in order to work with the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF). Here the training team advised and mentored a number of units within the RJAF on Force Protection and Air / Land Integration. The coming months will see the Sqn move into its field phase where its gunners will hone their dismounted close combat skills within an arduous training environment

'Cum Patria Mea Vocat''Cum Patria Mea Vocat'

while the recruiting team seek new members for the Sqn at events

such as the Royal Norfolk Show and the Cromer Carnival.

As others heeded the advice of other more Caerwent veteran crews the cars that were scattered about the stages retired soon started clocking up.

With another RAF crew from RAF Marham only 7 cars ahead in the running order, we were hoping for a little in house battle. But on the 2nd stage during the section within the quarry the other crew failed to turn into a right hander and went straight on leaving only the boot sticking out above the ridge of the quarry where only a tree had saved them from nose diving fully in.

Steadily over the course of the day our stage times got better and better, meaning less crews were catching

After a slow start to get to grips with the monster that is Caerwent, the first stage was slow and steady.... and probably the best decision of the day as it gave us a good understanding of how the stage maps looked nothing like reality.

Tour of Caerwent Caerwent April '17

us each stage and holding off much quicker crews.

Our starting number was No. 57 from 81 starting cars.

By the end of the day we finished 43rd overall and 13th in class from 16 starters.

So a good event for us, but not many points gained for the RAF Championship 2017 seeing me currently in 7th place.

Next event is the TSH Stages at RRH Portreath in Cornwall at the end of May.

In the meantime please visit my Youtube site, just search for Nathan.Yates.Motorsport and watch the in-car footage from events and hit the "subscribe" button.

A Feather In Their Cap

This is located on the far side of the airfield next to the new ITC build. A very distressed mother duck was calling to the ducklings but although they had followed her into the OWI they could not fly out like she did. Concerned about

their welfare the contractors made a quick trip to the nearest fishing shop and bought a landing net to solve the problem; the ducklings were individually rescued and joined their mum on the other side of the fence.

On the afternoon of Tues 9th May 17 Kemada contractors working on behalf of Severn Trent Services were alerted to a clutch of ducklings that

had become trapped in Oil Water Interceptor 7.


35 YEARS OF THE FIRST TORNADO MARHAM MATTERSMARHAM MATTERS BE OUR GUEST CAMPAIGN

BE OUR GUESTRAF Marham is not unique in its isolated

position, but perhaps is more isolated than most Units within the Midlands/

Lincolnshire counties.

The new accommodation blocks, internet access, gaming, box sets, and such like have all had an impact on the community spirit not just at most RAF Units, but perhaps country wide. It is easy for those personnel living in single accommodation and the Messes to leave work at the end of the day; head back to SLAM or The Mess and not see another soul until they return to work the following morning, or after a weekend. This sometimes makes it harder for those less confident, to actually develop a friend network that isn't digital.

The 'Be Our Guest' Make a Difference project is a way to bring back that good old community spirit that was ever present prior to the invention of

the Internet! In those times there was always an invite to dinner or a BBQ in Quarters or further afield, good conversation, actually really getting to know your colleagues, making it easy to spot when people were going through tougher times, a support network without even realising it and real feel good boost for morale.

So we are looking for volunteers who would be keen to host a 'Liver In' or two of any rank, for dinner, afternoon tea, games night, or anything that would entail the 'Liver In' getting out into the RAF community, meeting new people and away from the isolation of their 'room'. We would also like keen individuals who would

like to 'Be Our Guest' for free 'tucker' and a good social!

Hosts and volunteers would be paired up, a minimum of one to a maximum of eight guests. Hosts can choose how many guests they would like to host.

'Be Our Guest' events would promote the following to list just a few of the benefits:

* The building of new friendships.

* A skills network, who knows who you might meet and what they can do?

* A genuine support network for all personnel and Service families in addition to the official support networks already available.

* A stronger community spirit that draws personnel together, particular in this time of major transition at Marham, promoting a sense of value and worth for all involved.

* Making a difference in the life of a friend you just haven't met yet also has an amazing effect on volunteer hosts.

Having seen the evidence of how this simple act of kindness makes a difference to people's lives I would love to see this brought to fruition. Not just here at Marham, wouldn't it be great to have this campaign go Air Force wide, a little bit of getting back to those roots before the pace of life became as hectic as it has now become and the digital era took hold."

Contact FS Caroline Newton in the first instance [email protected]

35 OF THE FIRST TORNADO AIRCRAFT AT MARHAM

May 1983 - 2012

1983 2012

2011

Further information is available from the RAF Marham Aviation Heritage Centre.

The RAF Marham Aviation Heritage Centre is a registered charity and is open to the public from 09.00 - 16.00 every Tuesday and Wednesday, also every last Saturday of the month from 09.00 - 16.00. Entry is Free.It is located next to the main gate of RAF Marham in the old church building.There is disabled access and amenities and a small shop which sells memorabilia.

For group visits please contact the Curator on 07717 426961 or email - [email protected]

CELEBRATING

Y E A R S

First sortie of 27 Sqn aircraft from RAF Marham

Centenary tail fin on II(AC) Sqn

XIII Sqn disbandment parade

g-stockstudio/Shutterstock


OPERATION BLACK BUCK 1 MARHAM MATTERSMARHAM MATTERS OPERATION BLACK BUCK 1

Operation BLACK BUCK 1 during Operation CORPORATE 30 Apr – 1 May 1982 On the 2 April 1982 Argentina invaded the British Territory of the Falkland Islands. These islands are approx 8,000 miles from the UK and 400 miles off the southern most point of Argentina.

Bob Tuxfords Crew on the 18 of Apr 1982 Left to right Ernie Wallis, Mike Beer, Bob Tuxford, Glyn Rees and John Keable

Almost immediately the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced that Britain would form an Amphibious Task Force to reclaim the islands under government rule. The Chief of the Air Staff, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael Beetham approached the Prime Minister and informed her that ‘he had a plan that needed refining’. This plan was for a Vulcan Bomber to attack the runway at Port Stanley airfield. Ascension Island was identified as the potential Forward Operating Base approximately, 4,000 miles from the Falkland Islands involving a round trip of 8,000 miles. Integral to this bombing mission were the Victors of 55 and 57 Sqn from RAF Marham. In this article with kind permission of Rowland White author of ‘Vulcan XM607’ and Squadron

Leader (Rtd) Bob Tuxford AFC author of ‘CONTACT!’ and personal recollections of Sqn Ldr (Rtd) Barry Masefield, I will try and bring to life the rapid build up to operations, and also some of the complexities that the aircrews faced during this mission.

Early in April 1982 at RAF Marham, rumours began that its Victors would be involved in the Falklands conflict, and these were further fuelled by the directive that pilots were to regain ‘night currency in air-to-air refuelling (AAR)’. The squadron engineers set about bringing their tankers to combat readiness, which also required upgrades in the form of hastily procured Carousel Inertial Navigation systems for both Victors and Vulcans. Sqn Ldr Bob Tuxford

was called into the Marham operations building on the evening of 11 April 1982. Inside the room he was greeted by the Station Commander Group Captain Price, whilst in the background a couple of Junior Non Commissioned Officers fiddled over what looked like a Meccano infrastructure. This was to be the framework for F-95 cameras that were to be fitted inside the Bomb Aimer’s windows of the Victor for possible Photo Reconnaissance (PR) tasking. Sqn Ldr Tuxford was identified as being the most qualified skipper at Marham to put the Victor through its paces at low level. On 12 April 1982 he flew the first modified camera aircraft with authorisation to let down to 250 feet above ground level. Over the following four days, 3 more practice low level PR

sorties were flown, during which camera attacks were made against simulated coastal targets and airfields around the Scottish Islands and Northern England. In addition to its primary AAR capability, the Victor was poised to demonstrate its versatility in other roles during this conflict.

Meanwhile at RAF Waddington, the Vulcan was in its last 3 months of service, before being struck off charge in June 1982 and replaced by the Tornado GR1. This was now put on hold as the station prepared its aircraft and crews for war. The first looming challenge was that the Vulcan had not exercised its dormant refuelling equipment and systems in over 20 years. Nor did any Pilots within the Vulcan Force have any actual AAR experience. It was decided that due to the short time frame

in which to practice and hone these skills, a Victor qualified air-to-air refuelling instructor (AARI) would fly with each of the Vulcan crews. Occupying the Vulcan Co-Pilot’s seat, the AARI would oversee the Vulcan Captains whilst they gained the necessary close formation and refuelling skills to the required standard for AAR operations. The Vulcan crews were required to practice refuelling with Victor tankers by both day and night, an example of the hazards that this entailed is highlighted by Squadron Leader Barry Masefield an Air Electronics Officer in a Vulcan that was refuelling at night in April 1982: ‘I recall that during one of the night time refuelling sorties, there was a massive leak of fuel from the probe over the windscreen, virtually blinding the pilots and their sight of the Victor was just a hazy blur of lights. Contact with the hose was broken but instead of pulling back behind the Victor our aircraft surged forward until we were directly underneath the Victor and the refuelling hose started to trail down the starboard side of the Vulcan until it nestled neatly into the engine intakes, causing a big bang and a double engine flame out.A double engine failure is a concern at any time but at night with a co-pilot from a different type of aircraft sitting in the right hand seat and not experienced with Vulcan failures, it really concentrated the mind! The Victor AEO transmitted a distress call on my behalf whilst the captain and I sorted out the situation. There was a noticeable silence from the AARI as he watched a Christmas tree of lights illuminate before his eyes from all the associated electrical failures and he thought it best to say nothing whilst the crew recovered the engines and electrics. After that incident the engineers made positive efforts to resolve the leak problems and I don't recall there being too many problems after that alarming event’.

The Vulcan and Victor crews trained intensely during early April, and the first detachment of Victor Tankers arrived on Ascension Island on 18 April 1982. Within 48 hours of their arrival, the first of three maritime radar reconnaissance tasks were flown into the area of South Georgia and approaches to the Falkland Islands. These were intelligence gathering missions and searches for

Argentinian Fleet dispositions for the South Atlantic Task Force which was sailing towards the Falkland Islands. The Waddington Vulcans remained in the UK, training in low level conventional bombing techniques, which always included a refuelling serial: such was the intensity that some crews flew 11 times in 14 days. It was only shortly before they deployed to Ascension Island that the Vulcan crews had to adopt a higher level bombing profile from 10,000 feet because of mountainous target geography and a perceived increased ground-to-air threat.

Back at Waddington on the morning of the 29 April as the television camera crews filmed the disbandment ceremony of IX (B) Squadron inside hangar 3, the characteristic howl and thunder of 3 Vulcans taking off in quick succession could be heard in the background. What the media did not know as they captured the historic footage of the Vulcan Squadron disbanding was that the distracting roar was the sound of the heavily armed bombers leaving Britain enroute to Ascension Island. Within 24 hours 2 of these aircraft would be on the aircraft pan declared ready for the late evening Operation BLACK BUCK mission.

On the evening of 30 April 1982 the Victor crews of 55 and 57 Sqn along with the 2 Vulcan crews, made up almost 70 aircrew in the hastily erected series of tents that was the Combined Operations Centre on Ascension Island. Here they were briefed on what

at the time was to be the longest bombing mission in aviation history, to this date it is still regarded as the most complex Air to Air Refuelled bombing mission ever flown.

The following transcript from the diary of Sqn Ldr Mel James, OIC Vulcan engineering detachment describes the scene on the evening of 30 Apr 1982 when 11 Victors and 2 Vulcans started up in quick succession:

‘Crew in 2200 hours formally. 2230 hours engines start - ALL ENGINES. The pan is now a mass of anti-collision lights and engines, power sets and coolers running - the noise is incredible. Telephone/telex blackout on Island commenced 2100 hours. 2250 taxi sequence commences. 598 (Vulcan) followed by Victor followed by 607 (Vulcan) last out. All 11 tankers away without using reserves! Last aircraft airborne 2310 hours. Suddenly a silent empty ASP - that was the most incredible sight I've ever seen’

Three sections of aircraft comprising Red, White and Blue would form the outbound wave. Red and White sections would consist of 4 Victors each, whilst a further three Victor K2s would support the primary Vulcan and its reserve in Blue section. Under radio silence 13 aircraft roared into the sky, the visibility was very good and the sky seemed to be awash with flashing red beacons amidst a clutter of multi-coloured navigation lights. Shortly after take-off a Victor and the Primary Vulcan had to return due to

un-serviceability. Leaving 10 Victors and 1 Vulcan, a minimum of 10 Victors were needed to make the refuelling plan work, 1 more un-serviceability and they would have to abort the mission.

Before long Red, White and Blue Sections had formed up and were heading south, at 36, 34 and 32,000 feet respectively. The plan was to successively refuel each other along the cascading refuelling plan to enable one final tanker, ‘The Probe’ aircraft, to provide the Primary Vulcan the final fuel transfer prior to attacking the target. The Vulcan would take on fuel at a number of dedicated refuelling brackets to keep his tanks topped up throughout. The first bracket (Bkt-1) was located approximately 1 Hr 45 minutes after take-off, some 900nm south of the Island. During this bracket, two members of Red and White section refuelled the other 2 Victors in their section and then returned to Ascension. Under radio silence the formation continued South, not knowing that the 4 Victors returning to Ascension had cut deep into their reserves to supply the formation with the fuel it needed. Closely spaced at Ascension on their return, these four Victors were cleared to make successive approaches to the runway, and directed to land in sequence as there was insufficient time for each preceding aircraft to back track along the runway and vacate it for the next landing aircraft. This resulted


FORCES DEVELOPMENT SQN NEWS MARHAM MATTERSMARHAM MATTERS OPERATION BLACK BUCK 1

Continued from page 25. . .

in each Victor pulling up and stacking at the runway end whilst the final tanker landed on the remaining reduced runway length available. The potential for a ‘motorway pile up’ was perilously evident. Luckily the aircraft wave was recovered without incident, but upon their arrival it was apparent during debrief that the refuelling plan had miscalculated the amount of fuel to be consumed by the Vulcan.

Meanwhile, at Bkt-2 approximately 1800nm south, the offloading tankers began to dispense their available fuel into the two onward Victors and the primary Vulcan. Once their fuel was transferred, the Victors headed back to Ascension. Unfortunately, one of the tankers developed a fuel leak, which lead to an anxious return journey for its crew. Without the immediate despatch of a rescue tanker launched from Ascension Island, the stricken aircraft looked as though a ditching might have been a distinct possibility. Unaware of the drama which they had left behind, the formation pressed on to the next refuelling at Bkt-3. Bob Tuxford’s crew as formation leader was accompanied by Steve Biglands in their Victors with Flt Lt Withers maintaining close formation in the Vulcan. At approximately 2,500nm from Ascension the remaining 2 Victors began transferring fuel, with Tuxford topping up the Vulcan first followed by a

last transfer the ‘Probe’ tanker. At approximately 40 degrees South, the formation entered an area of intense weather frontal activity. Convective high level cumulo-nimbus cloud, unseen as the weather radars had been turned off to maintain ‘silence’, caused the aircraft to gyrate like bucking broncos. Momentary flashes of lightning illuminated the black sky, St Elmo’s fire characterized by erratic sparks and jagged fingers of lightning danced around Tuxfords front transparencies. In the near-impossible conditions for air-to-air refuelling, At mid bracket, Steve Biglands’ Victor broke the tip of its refuelling probe, making further fuel transfer impossible. The refuelling plan in tatters and the mission close to failure, Tuxford made the decision to swap position with Biglands’ aircraft, and attempt to take back the fuel that he had just offloaded. Whilst the Vulcan crew looked on helplessly, Tuxford positioned his aircraft behind Biglands’ hastily-trailed hose, and braced himself for the most difficult refuelling of his entire career. The desperate scene is depicted on the front cover of this magazine, and is taken from a painting commissioned by Rowland White entitled “40 Degrees South” (reproduced by kind permission of the renowned aviation artist Ronald Wong). Tuxford persevered after several missed contacts, but managed finally to take back at least part of the fuel required to continue the mission.

Shortly afterwards, with calm skies and a clear horizon restored, the Vulcan was called in to check the serviceability of Tuxford’s hose. As this proved indeterminate, a test transfer of 5,000 lbs was given to the Vulcan to ensure the final transfer could be undertaken with confidence. After comprehensively checking his fuel state however, it was now clear that the fuel remaining in Tuxford’s tanks was drastically less than that which had been expected. Tuxford perceived the situation as two-fold. As the formation leader he could have aborted the mission whilst he still had sufficient fuel to return to base and call off the raid, or continue whilst his reserves rapidly dwindled to the point that a safe recovery to Ascension was not guaranteed.

Tuxford was now faced with a predicament, if he transferred the fuel that the Vulcan needed at Bkt-4 his own aircraft would be left with insufficient fuel to return to Ascension Island. His gut feeling was to put all his trust in the years of experience in the Tanker Force, or more precisely the air commander and his operations team on Ascension Island. Without declaring his hand, he addressed his crew asking for an honest take on the situation. One by one, they unanimously stated that ‘having gone that far, we might as well see it through’. At the final bracket approximately 500nm northeast of the target, Tuxford transferred what he

calculated to be sufficient fuel to enable the Vulcan to accomplish the strike on the target. Whilst Withers knew that his Vulcan hadn’t received the scheduled onload of fuel according to his tanks, he didn’t know at the time just how precarious the Victor’s fuel state was.

After casting off the bomber, the atmosphere was subdued in Tuxfords aircraft as he put it into a cruise climb that would give him the best range capability. It was paramount however that his crew maintained radio silence to avoid compromising the Vulcan’s presence and intentions. With 20,000lbs of fuel less than expected in his tanks, Tuxford’s crew realised that they could only get to within four or five hundred miles from Ascension without the assistance of a rescue tanker. The atmosphere changed instantaneously when, 45 minutes later, the code word ‘Superfuse’ was intercepted from the Vulcan post-strike. This signalled a successful attack. There was a suddenly a great deal of euphoria in Tuxfords aircraft. Knowing now that the mission could be compromised no longer, Tuxford desperately

called for a tanker to rendezvous with them around 3 hours south of Ascension to enable their safe return. In addition, they relayed the Vulcan’s lower fuel state be passed to the inbound recovery wave that was flying towards the planned recovery rendezvous with the Vulcan. Three hours later with barely one hour’s fuel remaining on board, Tuxford successfully rendezvoused with and refuelled from the scrambled tanker.

A total of 18 sorties were launched during the night of 30 April and 1 May 1982, the participating Victor crews flew in excess of 109 hours, with five crews in excess of 10 hours. Some 23 individual air to air refuellings took place with a total of 635,000 lbs of fuel being transferred. The resulting action of BLACK BUCK 1 was that Port Stanley airfield was significantly damaged, and the useable runway denied to fighter aircraft for the rest of the war. More importantly, Britain and the Royal Air Force in particular had demonstrated not only that it had the capability to bomb the invasion forces at extreme distance, but also it had the will to do so. Furthermore,

this could be construed by the enemy that the Argentine mainland was a potential target too. The day following BLACK BUCK 1 the Argentinian Air Force’s only dedicated fighter interceptor squadron, Gruppo 8 equipped with Mirage III fighters, withdrew from Rio Gallegos in the south of the country where it was to have supported operations over the Falklands. To meet the new potential threat the unit redeployed to Comodoro Rivadavia much further north. Apart from a single skirmish near the end of the conflict, Gruppo 8 would play no further part in the fighting.

For Squadron Leader Tuxford’s courage and leadership he was awarded the Air Force Cross for gallantry, and his crew the Queens Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air.Squadron Leader Withers was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and his crew a Mention in Dispatches. Squadron Leader Dick Russell AFC of 232 Operational Conversion Unit RAF Marham was awarded a Mention in Dispatches for his role as the Air-to-Air Refuelling Instructor on Withers’ Vulcan, the evening of BLACK BUCK 1 being his 50th Birthday.

Forces Development Squadron Presents...

LEARNING CENTRE OPEN DAY

Wednesday 21 June 11:00am to 3:00pm Sandringham CentreFor all RAF Marham personnel & families

20 Colleges, Universities and Education providers will be present to provide information on career and training

opportunities.

Including: Open University, College of West Anglia, Staffordshire University

and more...

ISSUE 5 2017 MARHAM MATTERS 25‘Deliver Battle Winning Air Power for Current and Future Operations’ www.marhammattersonline.co.uk24 MARHAM MATTERS ISSUE 5 2017

COMMUNITY SUPPORT MARHAM MATTERSMARHAM MATTERS COMMUNITY SUPPORT

HeavensAbove

Visit: www.carillionamey.co.ukTel: 0800 707 6000 or

01517 281630Facebook: www.carillionamey/

facebook

Repairs Maintenance RequestsOption 1 (24/7, 365 days a year)

Allocations, Move Appointments, Furniture, Retention and Other Help with SFAOption 3 - Option 3 (Central region - Marham), Open Monday to Friday from 8.30am till 3pm

RAF Marham CA Local Customer Service CentreMel Reed, 3 Woodview Road, RAF Marham, Kings Lynn, PE33 9NP (Monday 9am till 3pm & Tuesday to Friday 9am till 12 noon)

WELFARE ADMIN SUPPORT &APPOINTMENTSTeresa SmythTel: 01760 337261 Ext: 6578

WELFARE WORKERSCarol BullasTel: 01760 337261 Ext 6900Adele BerrymanTel: 01760 446348Tracyanne WheelerTel: 01760 446051

SSAFA VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATOR Tel: 07984 908622

SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM, WATLINGTON Tel: 0845 456 4567 or 101

WO PMS WO Ian Ashman Tel: 01760 337261 Ext: 7231

RAFP COMMUNITY OFFICER Cpl Seb Daubney Tel: 01760 337261 Ext: 7227

PCSO Claire LawsDownham MarketTel: 101

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY SUPPORT - OCFlt Lt Gary WalkerTel: 01760 337261 Ext: 7491

or 95951 7491Mob: 07740 799593Email: [email protected]

COMMUNITY SUPPORT ADVISORMaydie SmithTel: 01760 337261 Ext: 7425Email: maydie.smith594 mod.gov.uk

HIVE INFORMATION OFFICERSarah ReidTel: 01760 337261 Ext 6136Or 95951 6136Email: [email protected]

MARHAM LODGES / CONTACT HOUSESZara MurfittTel: 01760 337261 Ext: 7136or 95951 6136 Email: [email protected]

STATION YOUTH WORKERIan SavageThe HIVE Office, RAF Marham, Kings Lynn, PE33 9NPMobile: 07850 973228Email: [email protected]

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICERJocelyne Newman Tel: 01760 337261 Ext: 6082Email: [email protected]

HOUSING SCSO Flt Sgt Terry Norman Tel: 01760 446052, on

base 95951 6052 Email: [email protected]

Twitter: scsomarham

CARILLIONAMEY SFAContact Details

CarillionAmeyContact Us…We Deliver, We Take Ownership, We Improve, We Achieve Together

HOUSING REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE• 0800 707 6000 (Option 1)

Open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Alternatively you can email the team at: [email protected]

ALL OTHER HOUSING ENQUIRIES• 0800 707 6000 (Option 3)

Open 0830 - 1500hrs Monday to Friday. Followed by: Option 1 for South West, Option 2 for South East, Option 3 for the rest of the UK. Alternatively you can email the team at: [email protected] or fax them on 0151 728 1001.

LOCAL CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRESYou can find your nearest Local Customer Service Centre at the following link: www.carillionamey.co.uk/service-family-accommodation/contact-us/local-customer-service-centres

FEEDBACKTo raise a compliment or complaint call: 0800 707 6000 (Option 5) or email us at: [email protected]

CONTACTING US FROM OVERSEASIf you are contacting us from overseas please call: (0044) 0151 728 1630

OTHER WAYS TO CONTACT US• www.facebook.com/

carillionamey• www.carillionamey.co.uk• www.twitter.com/

carillionamey• CarillionAmey,

Swales Pavilion, RAF Wyton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28 2EA

Rim

aB/S

hutt

erst

ock

Ed Sheeran may have sung, You Need Me, I Don't Need You, but I’m not sure I’d want to make that an anthem of life! John Donne’s old poem gets nearer to it:‘No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;’

His point is this: we don’t live in isolation. Truth is we need each other. In different ways and to varying extent we live our lives in relationship to one another. One of the great things about being part of the RAF family is that it brings with it a community to be a part of. One of the difficulties of being in the RAF is that we can feel separated from our wider family and detached from the area in which we live. As chaplains we regularly see people who experience loneliness, people who feel cut-off from those around them.

It’s hard to find yourself picked up and placed in a place you don’t know, amongst people you don’t know and to be expected to just cope with it. It’s why the work of Community Support is important, it’s why the RAF invests in some of the community facilities that we have. It’s also why the clubs

and societies are important. It’s all about creating and harnessing an environment in which we can make and maintain relationships; it’s about friendship.

Any relationship of any significance requires that we work at it. Relationships go wrong when we don’t make any effort to build them or to invest in them. It’s hard to maintain friendships or family relationships if we never talk or only talk about tasks that need doing. Relationships are a living thing and need the work that goes with that.

One of the things I find so attractive about Christianity is precisely because it isn’t about rules that are to be blindly followed. Rather it is about a relationship with a God who makes himself known and wants to be known by the people in the world. And to his own people he promises this:‘I have loved you with an everlasting love;I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’And the really great news is that’s a relationship we’re invited to join.

Padre Geoffrey

St Margaret’s Church, RAF MarhamSunday Church Services

Sunday 11 June– 10.00amHoly Communion

Sunday 18 June – 10.00amMorning Worship

Sunday 25 June – 10.00amHoly Communion

Sunday 2 July – 10.00amFamily Service

Sunday 9 July – 10.00amHoly Communion

Sunday 16 July – 10.00amMorning Worship

Newly Relaunched – Midday @ Midweek Wednesday lunch and Bible study, 12.00pm-12.45pm. Do join us! A light lunch is provided.

FROGS

During term-times, FROGS, our parent & toddler group takes place between 9.30am-11.00am in St. Margaret’s Church.

Tickets

£10

Theme:

Dress to

ImpressTickets available from PSF, Louis and the Hive.

FREE Entertainment included in the ticket priceFood (Smoking Joes BBQ) and drinks charged separately, Cocktails, Dodgems, Photobooth, Inflatables, Live Band The Fuzz

Thursday 6th July 2017

Louis BAR & The Grafton CluBatthe

1730-2300hrs

#JRSB17


MARHAM MATTERS COMMUNITY SUPPORT COMMUNITY SUPPORT MARHAM MATTERS

Keeping your home safe while you’re awayIf you’re leaving your property empty when going on holiday, or just if you’re away

for the day, follow these simple steps to keep your home secure…

Who else knows you’re away ………

If your neighbour is on holiday and you see someone acting suspiciously around their property please call 101, or 999 in an emergency.

Just before you leave….

Piles of letters behind your door are sure signs that a property is empty. Royal Mail offer a ‘Keepsafe’

service and will hold onto your mail until you return.

Keep your curtains partly open but move items such as car keys, laptops and jewellery out of sight.

Unplug all appliances to protect them from

power surges. Check that your home insurance covers you against theft or loss while you’re away.

Give your house keys to a trusted neighbour

so if there is an emergency, access

to your home can be quickly arranged.

Spare a few minutes to walk around your home to double check everything is safe and secure. Worth every minute for peace of mind!

If you’re planning on making a quick getaway in the morning, don’t leave luggage in your car overnight. Leave it in the hall.

If you take a taxi or public transport, be careful not to discuss your

holiday plans with the driver or other passengers.

Security lighting will deter people from coming close to your property so make sure it works. You can also use time

switches on indoor lamps to give the appearance that

someone is home.

Keep tools under lock and key so they can’t be used to break into your

house, and lock your garage and shed with proper security locks.

Be careful what you post on social media – only tell people you know about your holiday plans and don’t

post your holiday pictures until you’re back home.

Don’t write your full address on your luggage tag for others to see.

Home-Start Swaffham and District are in urgent need of volunteers from the RAF Marham Community to support families with young children in the area in need of help.Home-Start provides assistance to young families who are finding it difficult to cope and in the past a number of individuals from the Station have signed up as volunteers but with postings that number has slowly dwindled.The only real qualification to become a volunteer is to have ‘parenting’ experience. Those signing up to the scheme will asked to undertake a preparation training course and will be offered the opportunity to gain additional qualifications

through which they can also gain CERTA accreditation. Once a volunteer signs up they will be expected to commit themselves to approximately two hours per week and of course to assisting others who are in need of confidential, non-judgemental support. This will involve visiting families in their own homes, usually once a week, and working with them together in creating a secure childhood for their children. All who volunteer will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and although the work is entirely voluntary travel expenses are paid.Anybody interested in becoming a Home-Start Volunteer can call in to the Hive for further details or email Home-Start direct at [email protected]

Home-Start Swaffham & District in Urgent need of Volunteers

Marham Flyers 10K & Duathlon

Brick - 20K Cycle 10K Run

Sunday 25th JuneDuathlon 10:30am start

10K startEntry Fees: Duathlon £20 (All entries)

10K Affiliated Members and Service etc £14

Others £16

Entry Forms available from the HIVE or download from

www.marhamhub.co.uk/fun-run-2017.html

The Crossings Veterinary CentreSaint John’s Way, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 0QQ

01366 382219 (24 hours emergency cover)

Professional and Personal• Modern, spacious purpose built premises • All staff and facilities on one site

• Easy access with dedicated parking including disabled spaces• Fully independent • Free consultations with nurses

• Mixture of open surgeries and appointments for your convenience • Full medical and surgical facilities • Dedicated sterile operating theatre

• Dedicated dental suite • Full x-ray facilities • Ultrasound facilities• In-house laboratory • ECG facilities • Separate dog and cat wards

• Isolation ward • 24 hour nursing cover available• Computerised record keeping • Pet Passport and Export Services

• Only 2 veterinary surgeons ensuring continuity of care

Opening Times; Monday to Friday 8.30am-6pm Saturday 9.30am-12.30pmConsultations; Open surgeries; Monday to Friday 9am-10am

Saturday 10am-11.30amAll other consultations by appointment

Go to www.crossingsvets.co.uk for all the latest surgery

news Email: [email protected]

Our new purpose built premises continue to receive plaudits but many clients still comment on the easy access and ample parking which we are able to provide with our convenient location on the outskirts of town. We continue to maintain the personal and professional service that our clients are accustomed to. We warmly welcome new clients who wish to register with us.

This is our new ‘state of the art’ digital X-Ray machine. It allows us to take very high quality images at a fraction of the time of manual processing, ensuring rapid diagnosis. The images can then be viewed on a computer screen and manipulated to get the maximum information. If necessary the images can be sent via email or disc to a referral centre for assessment.

Large Range Of Trophies In Stock Squadron crests engraved Crystalware & Engravable Glassware

Discounts Free engraving on most items Pewter Tankards & Hipflasks Sale Trophies always in stock 101 Norfolk Street King’s Lynn, PE30 1AQ 01553 773355

DEWHURSTS TROPHIESEST 1968

[email protected]

Alterations and repairs to clothing undertakenGarments made to order from any of our fabrics

Tel 01366 3871471 Lynn Road, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 9NJ (by the traffic lights)

Open Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5.30pmSaturday 9.00am – 5.00pm Closed Wednesday & Sunday

For all your sewing needs• Large selection of

clothing fabrics available

• Extensive range of haberdashery

• Craft and project books

• Burda, Simplicity and New Look patterns in stock

• Sewing kits and baskets

• Sewing Machines

Sewing Classes and Workshops now availableNEW SUMMER FABRICS NOW IN STOCK

Motorcycle servicing, repairs, spares, tuning, modifying,

restoration.For more info please see our websitewww.icenimotorcycles.co.uk

Narborough Garage, Main Road, Narborough PE32 1TE

Tel: 01760 444359

Insurance Approved • Accident RepairsRestoration • Air-Con Charge • Body Kits

Specialists in fibreglass repairsChris Brown (Downham Market) Ltd

Sovereign Way, Trafalgar Industrial Estate, Downham Market, Norfolk PE38 9SW

Tel: 01366 386608 Fax: 01366 386005www.chrisbrownuk.com


COMMUNITY SUPPORT MARHAM MATTERSMARHAM MATTERS COMMUNITY SUPPORT

On Saturday 24th June 2017 Newmarket Races will be holding a Heroes Day where they are inviting members of the Armed Forces, Emergency Services and NHS to come racing for FREE.

To redeem this offer please go to www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk select

Heroes Day and type in HERO at the checkout to claim your free tickets. A maximum of 2 tickets per eligible person can be claimed and children under

the age of 18 are welcome free of charge too.

Please note that identification will need to be taken on the day to allow access.

This advance offer ends on Monday 19th June

Heroes Day at Newmarket Races

We have recently received a surge of suggestions to Make a Difference to our personnel and their families. These new ideas have yet to be investigated and prioritised but some have progressed since our last update.

St Andrew’s briefing room was highlighted as in need of redecoration. A number of volunteers, including armourers, logisticians and family members joined in to give the briefing room and hallway a spring clean. This has resulted in a fresher and more welcoming atmosphere appropriate to the various soft skills courses that are held in the Chaplaincy.

One new suggestion is for a mentor scheme to support first-tourists and newly promoted personnel. The mentors would be volunteers who would support

developing these personnel, leading to more confident and capable servicemen.

It has also been highlighted that areas of the married patch are becoming unsightly owing to littering, especially following periods of high winds. We are looking for a group of volunteers to get together and undertake a sweep of the patch in order to make it more appealing for those living there. Look out for more information on this in the near future.

All the projects are listed on MOSS along with the latest updates. If you would like to get involved in any of the projects, please contact the respective ProjO. The more suggestions we receive, the better we can make RAF Marham so please continue to submit ideas through MOSS or by emailing the HIVE on [email protected]

Make a Difference Suggestions

The Make a Difference campaign gave me an idea. A congregation member of Marham village Holy Trinity Church had mentioned how nice it would be if the residents of the village could receive copies of the Station Marham Matters publication. Mrs Lesley Freeman, a local resident, had indicated to me that on various occasions she had been approached by other residents asking whether something could be arranged for the delivery of the magazine as it often contained interesting articles which the local community would find beneficial. I approached my Section, South Side Squadron Stores, which is part of the Logistics Supply Squadron (LSS), and made a few enquiries. After consultation with the Media Communications Officer, Flt Lt Gary Walker and OC MMF, Fg Off Martin, we received the go ahead to distribute the magazine around the village.

A team of six Suppliers headed out to the village of Marham to deliver the magazine. Whilst still supporting the day to day running of the Flying Squadrons, the team delivered to every residence of the village over the course of two days. We had some really interesting encounters with a few of the residents who all seemed very

grateful for the effort in getting this publication to their doors.

This will now be delivered by volunteers from across LSS on a monthly basis ensuring the residents of Marham have the opportunity to read about what is happening ‘at the top of the hill’. I hope this will further enhance our relationship with the local community and keep them informed of the events, achievements and transformations across the Station on a monthly basis.

Cpl FreemanLogistics Supply Squadron

LOGISTICS SQUADRON CONTRIBUTION

TO THE MAKE A DIFFERENCE CAMPAIGN

FATHERS DAY PARTYFOR DEPLOYED FAMILIES

Sunday 11th June12 noon - 4:00pm

in the Sandringham Centre

★Cream Teas★★Ice cream Van★

★Children's Entertainer★★Bouncy Castle★★Face Painter★

★Disco★

IRINA

BELETSKAYA/Shutterstock

32 MARHAM MATTERS ISSUE 5 2017

MARHAM MATTERS COMMUNITY SUPPORT

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Family, Wills and Probate, Property, Commercial Property, Crime, Personal Injury, Employment, Dispute Resolution and Company and Commercial Law

CONVENIENT TOWN CENTRE LOCATIONS

Kings Lynn: (01553) 778100Thetford: (01842) 756100

Wisbech: (01945) 464331Peterborough: (01733) 865880

www.mcp-law.co.uk

BISHOPS TRAVEL

Barnfield Farm, 263 The Drove, Barroway Drove, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 0AN01366 324307 07767304684 www.bishopstravel.co.uk

Taxis, Minibuses, Coach Hire, Private Hire, Airport Transfers

We are a family owned and run business and have been successfully trading for the past 30 years.

Bishops Travel have a wide range of vehicles available for hire to suit every occasion

Do you have a special occasion coming up and you need reliable transport? no journey

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THE OLD GRANARY ANTIQUES

CENTREKing’s Staithe Lane

KING’S LYNN Tel: 01553 775509

Selling antiques and collectables

Open Mon - Sat 10am to 4.30pm

J. W. SARGEANTFamily Butcher

The Best Traditional Butcher in the Area

FAMILY RUNEstablished for over 75 yearsWe produce all our own cattle and only use farm

produceFREEZER AND COOKED

MEATSto suit your requirements

Stow BridgeNr Downham Market Tel: (01366) 382232

VAN PELT PORK BUTCHERSProviding customers with

top quality local farm fresh pork and pork produce

Renowned for their famous sausages and excellent

homemade pastry selection

Outside catering & hog roasts

108 Norfolk Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1AQ

01553 773536

ARMED FORCES DAYSATURDAY 24TH JUNE 2017

To advertise in the next issue of this publication, please contact

Jayne

Tel: 01536 526677

Email: jayne@


34 MARHAM MATTERS ISSUE 5 2017 ‘Deliver Battle Winning Air Power for Current and Future Operations’

MARHAM MATTERS SKYDIVE CHALLENGE

I mentioned this to Kate Davies and she suggested asking her husband and then maybe getting the Station Exec’s involved. Since then, a date has been set to later on this month at the venue UK Parachuting in Beccles, Suffolk. There are 7 of us in total jumping including the Station Commander, we will be arriving early to book in and receive the mandatory safety brief along with a small amount of ground training. After getting kitted out with our safety gear and jump suit we will all board the aircraft together with our instructors and ascend to around 13,000ft above the Suffolk countryside!! Then the real fun begins...

The side door of the aircraft will be opened and one after the other we will all jump out experiencing around 30 seconds of freefall before the Instructor opens the chute at around 5,000ft. We will then gently float back to the earth, hopefully in the landing zone! Lisa Hunt our Regional RAFBF Fund Raiser is attending and will have a stall with some freebies and a bucket. All skydivers will have an RAFBF T-Shirt to wear over their jumpsuit and there will be plenty of opportunity for photographs. Ben Elephant

Last year I carried out a tandem skydive to raise money for the RAFBF Kili Climb, I joined the Marham committee as the BAE Systems representative in November last year and decided to put forward the idea of organising a skydiving RAFBF event.

will also be there on the day to support the parachutists. We aim to raise collectively a minimum of £700 for the charity but anticipate a much bigger total post event. The Station Executives will be coming round with their sponsorship forms so please show your support and ‘sponsor an Exec near you’!! I am Ex RAF myself and it’s really important to support the work that the RAFBF undertake, this event is quite different from the norm.

SKYDIVE CHALLENGE

£free operation black buck 1 • op shader update • 35 years ... · wish to fulfil your flying...

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