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TTEEAAMM BBRRIIEEFF The Official Magazine of the MAMS Association Electronic Issue No 13

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CHAIRMANS NOTES

Firstly may I wish all our readers a Happy New Year and hope you had a good break over the

festive season, recharging those batteries for the year ahead.

Thankfully, the RAF MAMS Association membership continues to be healthy and we have had

a steady influx of new members over the last year. May I say a big thank you to all who

answered my plea in the last issue for more articles for Team Brief, as you will see by this

issue quite a few of you have been put pens to paper (or should I say tapping those Pc’s or

ipads for the more technical minded members). Please continue to supply the Team Brief

Editor JC with those articles.

Over the last few months we have had a few social events which I had the pleasure of

attending. The first was in November with the “64th Annual Movements Officers Reunion in

London”, then the 14th Annual WO & SNCOs Top Table in the Sgt’s Mess at Brize. At this event

I had the honour to be dinned out by the Movements Trade as one of the departing guests,

may I take this opportunity to thank all for a very memorable day and special thanks for Taff

Wood for my departing speech!!

Also in the run up to Christmas we held for the first time, a Meet and Greet at Blunsdon Arms

at lunchtime in Swindon. It proved to be a great success with a vast increase of members

coming out of the woodwork! The popularity of the event can either be due to the venue or

the lunchtime start. The committee have noted this and will look at having similar events in

the future (I believe there are some photos of the event further ahead in this edition. Looking

forward to future events for the year we have various Meet and Greets throughout the year

hopefully like the previous year we will try to hold them in different venues. The big event in

the Associations calendar will be in third weekend in May with the main event being the

Ladies Guest Night in the Sgt Mess on Sat 18 May. Full details of all the Associations and

Movements related events will of course as always be published on the Website, so please

refer for the latest information

We are always looking for willing new blood to join the RAF MAMS Association Committee, so

if you are interested please feel free contact me to find out more details.

My family and I were fortunate enough to have a break between Christmas and the New Year

in Ascension Island. It brought back some good memories whilst relaxing under the glorious

sunshine. Shown below are pictures from English Bay, its featureless landscape unchanged,

except for the adage of wind turbines!!!!!

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English Bay Camp Christmas 1982 English Bay Camp 1983

Shift at Wideawake Airfield early 1983 English Bay Christmas 1996

English Bay New Year’s Day 2013

Keep those articles coming and I hope you enjoy this issue of Team Brief.

Be safe.

Best wishes to everyone

Yours

Tony Geerah

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Membership

Happy New Year to one and all as I clear the cobwebs for my excuse of a brain at the

moment. The best Christmas present for me was the fact that the RAF have finally seen sense

and decided not to send me to Ascension for 6 months but only for 3 months, well done

Manning. Things have been very quiet on the membership front since the last Team Brief. We

have though had Shaun Walker join who is currently serving on 1AMW at Brize Norton, and

an associate member Ex WO1 (ATLO) George Hanks who has retired and is currently living in

Belgium.

The pre Christmas Meet and Greet was a great success at the Blunsdon Arms in Swindon with

some old faces coming out of the wood work. Mark Stedman who has just left the regulars

but still resides in Swindon, Chris James who was last seen practicing as an electrician but

now works for the highways agency and finally Mick Cocker who has returned from

Afghanistan to refurbish a shop in Old Town and open it to sell fishing tackle...something

fishy going on there.

I am off to Ascension shortly but will keep in touch from there.

Rgds

Steve Beaumont

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Sierra Leone Blog

Sgt Andy Pickersgill, ‘D’ Flt, 1AMW.

Walking into Ops to see a task to Sierra Leone was a bit of a change to the normal

tasking. Myself and Cpl Richie Mason were deploying for 10 days, working to aid the

International Military Advisory Training Team (IMATT) providing ‘Movements advice’

to a Battalion of the SL army prior to their upcoming peacekeeping deployment.

Information to exactly what was wanted was a little thin on the ground, we thought

initially we were meant to be assisting them loading aircraft and advising on loading

techniques. This quickly fell through after discovering that Sierra Leona has no Air

Force!!! After a bit of liaising with IMATT we decided to sort out the finer details once

we got there. After an initial delay to the task of a month or so we finally got to go (just

collecting the Visa was interesting as it was!) and sure enough once there the

experience really started.

Arriving at Lunghi international on the Friday we waited for what can only be described

as ‘a while’ for our bags in a small ‘sauna’ before proceeding to the minibus to take us

to the ferry. The ferry turned out to be the old Isle of Wight hovercraft which got us

across the harbour, the Zebra print seats impressing us immensely. We were

collected by an RMP Major from IMATT and that was our arrival sorted.

Saturday saw us taken to the Battalion’s camp a mere 18 miles from our compound,

this did however take a little over an hour due to the state of the roads, the land rover

safari earning it’s money.

We met the camp’s OC and he decided on the spot to nominate a Movements officer,

tasking him to create a MOVCON consisting of 10 officers, ensuring he learned

‘everything’ about movements over the next week! No problem was the reply from Lt

Cdr Juana, and we set to work coming up with what was actually wanted.

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The Battalion was due to deploy by Civair to Kenya and road move from there

carrying out border patrols as part of a UN peacekeeping force. The obvious thing to

teach seemed to be how to carry out an effective MCCP, thereby facilitating a smooth

transition to check in when they deployed.

We worked on a good old PowerPoint presentation to start off with, identifying points

we were going to discuss, including an introduction to Dangerous Goods and

prohibited items. The MOVCON grew rapidly and 60 people turned up for the brief,

however we turned up and discovered a bit of a problem in that the generator had run

out of fuel and there was no money left for more, so no power was available. After a

quick phone call to OC IMATT, funds were put in place and someone was dispatched

for fuel, we got underway. The audience really were enthusiastic, keen to learn as

much as they could. The brief led to plenty of discussion and we discussed putting a

practical element to the training.

We set up a kit prep area and a check in desk, Richie and I did a bit of role play taking

the part of the passengers. We checked in and had our travel docs checked, there

was a bit of animated chatter while it was decided (for paperwork purposes) what type

of aircraft everyone was pretending to fly on, that aside, things progressed without any

hiccups. Moving onto the baggage search, we had both added a few bits and pieces

to hand / hold luggage which required sorting. This resulted in me being severely

rebuked from one individual for having ammo in my Bergan, he definitely took the

training seriously! It was good fun training and everyone seemed to be benefitting.

Once we felt they had learned how to MCCP the training came to a close. Of course

the Battalion OC thanked us for our efforts and asked us to ‘certify’ the training, paving

the way for a presentation morning! We produced and presented everyone with

certificate, which really pleased the guys involved, each one posing for a photo.

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The task really was quite unique, reminding us that once the media attention is over,

as with Sierra Leone, there is always background work still taking part, mentoring and

developing other Nations.

We were finally all finished, we MCCP’d ourselves and headed off to the airport…. of

course not before stopping off to buy tickets at the ferry crossing office, taking the

EXPRESS option…..

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FROM THE 540

By Ian Berry

1968 – 45 YEARS AGO

JANUARY

St Mawgan – Special. Fg Off John Beadman plus 3. Move of torpedoes from

UK

mainland to Ballykelly in Northern Ireland.

RAF BALLYKELLY SHACKLETON “BOMBING UP” WITH TORPEDOES

Winnipeg – Exercise Bright Water. Fg Off John Furney, Plt Off Chris Hyland

plus 4.

Deployment of 1RHA and 1BN Somerset & Cornwall Light Infantry

from

UK to Canada.

FEBRUARY

Lisbon – Special. Fg Off Dave Powell plus 5. Recovery of u/s Griffon Aero

Engine

from Portugal and delivery to St Mawgan utilising Argosy Flt 4549.

Benson/Vaerlose – Exercise Arabian Goddess. Plt Off Charles Clark plus 5.

Deployment of Advance party of 2 Div (UK) to Denmark

and

recovery of Advance party of 3Bn Royal Danish Lifeguards

back

to the UK. Argosy Tasks 4253/4/5.

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MARCH

Odiham – Special. FS Al Storey plus 2. Deployment of personnel and

equipment of

230 Sqn (Whirlwind) to Wittering on Argosy Task 4044.

Rygge – Special. Flt Lt J Binns plus 4. Deployment of personnel and

equipment of 4

Sqn (Hunters) from Gutersloh to Norway.

APRIL

Freetown – Exercise Nudge. Flt Lt D Edwards plus 5. Recovery of equipment

of the

Gambia Survey team from Sierra Leone to Luqa, Malta.

Lossiemouth – Exercise Parula. FS Bill Pirie plus 4. Deployment of personnel

and

equipment of 801 RNAS (Buccaneers) from Scotland to El

Adem,

Libya.

1973 – 40 YEARS AGO...

JANUARY

Leeming – Exercise Tigercat. Fg Off Tony Willis, FS Tony Barrell, Sgt Bob

Turner,

Cpl Norman Poole, SACs Boot Pratt & Jim Marchant. Deployment

of 48

Sqn RAF Regt (Tigercat Missiles) from RAF Catterick to Cyprus.

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TIGERCAT MISSILE LAUNCHER

Fairford – Special. Fg Off Brian Clucas, FS Taff Thomas, Sgt Ivan Gervais, Cpl

Tommy Blues, SAC Bob Ford. Deployment of ACHE from Abingdon

to

Fairford and then loading Britannia and Belfast aircraft in support of

Concorde 002 Trials.

FEBRUARY

Khartoum – Red Cross Task. Flt Lts Gordon Townsend & Gerry Keyworth. FS

Bob

Hope, Sgts Dave Wright and DK Henderson, Cpls Geordie

Sanderson &

Jimmy Jones, SAC Dave Moss plus 1. Onmove of Red Cross

relief

supplies from Khartoum to Juba in the Sudan.

Odiham – Exercise Hardfall. Fg Off Alistair Gallaugher, FS Chas Dalgleish, Sgt

Tony

Pyne, SACs Hugh Curran & Troop Smith. Deployment of 4 Wessex

Helicopters to Sola in two Belfast aircraft.

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MARCH

Atar – Fg Off Steve Richmond, Sgt Dave Barton & SAC Ian Bell. Recovery of

Joint

Services Expedition from Mauritania back to UK.

Darwin – Exercise Sunray. Fg Off Tim Leaning, FS Dave Eggleton, JT Ted

Moore &

SAC Jim Barr. Recovery of personnel and freight of 50 Sqn

(Vulcans) from

Australia to UK.

APRIL

Kai Tak/ Kathmandu – Brigloc. Sgt Ross McKerron, Cpl Ian Berry, JT Gordon

Gourdie & SAC Bob Tring (Hong Kong), Flt Lt Gus

Hatter &

FS Ken Browne (Nepal). Rotation of Ghurkha troops

and

families between Hong Kong and Nepal.

Belize – FS Dave Barton, Cpl George Lynes & SAC Mac Maclean. Rotation of

RAF

Regt landrovers between Catterick and Belize.

1978 – 35 YEARS AGO...

JANUARY

Coningsby – Exercise Ferry Boat. Fg Off Mike Thomas, FS Bert Wilford, Sgt

Bernhardt, Cpl Gus Cobb, SAC Colin Pay plus 1. Deployment of

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Sqn (Phantoms) from UK to Luqa, Malta.

McClellan AFB – Special. Sgt Mick Day plus 2. Rotation of Sparrow Missile

Rocket

Motors.

Fg Off Andy Spinks relieved Fg Off Chris Burnell on Fire Fighting Duties at RAF Locking

with effect from 9 Jan 78 to enable the latter to carry out a pre-planned detachment to

Hong Kong. Fire fighting duties ceased with effect from 19 Jan 78 and both Flt Lt

Fellows and Fg Off Spinks returned to the squadron on that date.

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FEBRUARY

Woomera – Special. Fg Off Dick Leonard plus 2. Handling/support of VC10 Flt

2247 at Woomera and Edinburgh Field in Australia.

Beef Island – Exercise Greentops. Fg Off Vernon Jones plus 5. Recovery of

TCW

and 30 Sigs Regt after Comms exercise in the Bahamas.

MARCH

Lajes – Special. Sgt Gerry Meijer, Cpl Hugh Curran plus 2. Recovery of pax

and

freight of 27 Sqn (Vulcan) from the Azores to Scampton.

Guernsey – Special. Sgt Bob Turner plus 2. Collection of oil dispersant

equipment

from Exeter and delivery to the Channel Islands for use against

the oil

spillage from the MV Amoco Cadiz.

OIL SPILLING FROM THE WRECK OF AMOCO CADIZ OFF THE BRITANNY COAST

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APRIL

Masroor – Special. Fg Off Ron Turley, Sgts Gerry Meijer & Bob Turner, Cpl

Hugh

Curran, SAC Martin Gledhill plus 1. Deployment of personnel and

freight

of 13 Sqn (Canberras) from Malta to Karachi, Pakistan.

Villa Franca – Exercise Dedicated Defence. Flt Lt Geoff Elliott, FS Keith

Davies, Sgt

Terry Titterington, Cpl Ivan Vienneu, SACs Ian Newlands &

Bruce

Oram. NATO squadron exchange. 28 Gruppo IAF (F104

Starfighter)

from Italy to Bruggen and 17 Sqn (Phantom) from Germany to

Italy.

1983 – 30 YEARS AGO...

JANUARY

Stanley – VVIP Special. Deployment of Special caravan for use by the Rt Hon

Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister on first visit to the Falkland

Islands

Nairobi – Exercise Larch Pole/Strident Call. Fg Off John Buchanan, FS Gordon

Grey, Sgt Tony Searle plus 3. Rotation of infantry Units between

Kenya

and UK.

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WO Sam Heaphy, having been relieved as Deputy ACO by WO Ivan Gervais, is

appointed to take over duties of Acting Training and Standardisation Officer from WO

Reg Carey who is shortly to retire from the Service.

FEBRUARY

Key West – Exercise Western Fox. Fg Off Kettell plus 5. Deployment of

personnel

and freight of 12 Sqn (Tornados) from Lossiemouth to Florida

Keys.

Jever – Exercise Bold Guard. Fg Off Colin Waitt plus 5. Deployment of 6 Sqn

(Jaguars) from Coltishall to Germany.

The Movements world, and the squadron in particular, felt shocked at the sudden death

of FSgt Charlie Grant at his home locally. FS Grant served both as a SNCO i/c Mobile

Team and as a SNCO i/c Base Shift B. The coffin was borne by fellow squadron SNCOs

for the funeral service at RAF Brize Norton on 10th

February followed by a cremation at

Oxford.

MARCH

Patrick AFB – Exercise Trial Lobby. Fg Off Graham Howard, FS Terry Roberts,

Cpl

Sully Sullivan plus 3. Royal Navy torpedo trials in Andros.

Lisbon – Exercise Night Echo. Fg Off Mark Attrill plus 2. Deployment of UK

Troops

from 1Br Corps in Germany to Portugal.

Fg Off Jed Allen (Mobile Team Leader K) appointed Training & Standardisation Officer.

This appointment had been covered by the D/TSO (WO Sam Heaphy) since the

departure of Flt Lt Sean Culligan in Oct 81 on pre-retirement leave, due to the lack of a

suitably qualified officer to fill the post.

APRIL

Benbecula – RA Ranges. Fg Off Mark Vincenti, Sgt Hugh Curran plus 4.

Deployment of 15 Sqn RAF Regt to the Hebrides from

Lossiemouth

and recovery of 16 AD Regt RA from the Hebrides to Germany

during

rotation of Rapier Missile Units.

Coltishall – Taceval 2. Sqn Ldr Chas Cruse plus 8. Support to Brize Norton’s

taceval

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by receiving outload ammunition loads. Downloaded ammo

returned by

Road.

1988 – 25 YEARS AGO...

JANUARY

Bardufoss/Evenes – Exercise Winter deployment. Fg Offs Rod Stone & Steve

Harvey, FSgts Martyn Skelton & Jim Cunningham, SACs

Bobble Roberts & Andy Walters. Deployment of Royal

Marines

to Norway from UK.

Lossiemouth – Mineval. Flt Lt Simon Fletcher, Sgt Shug Shewan & Cpl John

Belcher. Deployment to Scotland as part of Lyneham Mineval.

FEBRUARY

Waddington – Taceval. Fg Off Mark Stephenson, Sgt Steve Munday, Cpl Tim

Pyne

& John Kerswill, SACs John Newton & Lex Barker. Deployment

as

part of Taceval.

Bardufoss – Exercise Arrowhead Express. Sqn Ldr David Thompson, FS

Martyn

Skelton, Sgt Colin Hawson, Cpl John Kerwsill, Paul Wilson, Steve

Grimshaw, Dixie Dean, John Farrelly & Bobble Roberts. UK

Movements

Support to an IALCE exercise in Norway.

MARCH

Cape Canaveral – Exercise Deep Effort. Flt Lt Dave Lester-Powell, FS Dave

Allen,

Sgt Ian Wilkinson, Cpls Ian Ralph & Phil Ingham & John

Belcher.

Positioning in Florida for Tigerfish Torpedo Trials.

China Lake - ALARM Trials. Fg Off Mark Stephenson, FS Don Milburn, Sgt

Ash

Ladva (MAMS Eng), Sgt John Cockrem, Cpl Tim Pyne & SAC

Lex

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Barker. Deployment of pax and freight of Tornado OEU for

missile

trials.

APRIL

Jerez – Special. FS Martyn Skelton, Sgt Phil Smith & Cpl Paul Rackley (MAMS

Eng).

Recovery of elements of Nimrod Det from Spain to Kinloss.

Edmonton – Exercise Maple Flag. Fg Off Mark Stephenson, Cpl Tim Pyne,

SACs

Joe Wilkes, Spike Maris, Steve Gardiner & Pete Cole.

Deployment of 3

& 4 Sqn (Harriers) from Germany to Canada.

1993 – 20 YEARS AGO...

VERY LITTLE INFORMATION TO BE GLEANED FROM THIS PERIOD OF THE 540...

JANUARY

Mombasa – Operation Vigour. FSgts Alec Simpson & Douggie Betambeau,

Cpl Al

Stacey plus 8. Movements support to Herc Det operating into

Somalia.

FEBRUARY

Bari/Aviano – Operation Deny Flight. Roulement of 8 Sqn (E3 AWACs) and

resupply

to HMS Ark Royal.

Tacoma – Exercise Trumpet Dance. Deployment of 7 Ghurkha Rifles to Fort

Lewis

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for Infantry Battle Group Training.

MARCH

Benbecula – RA Ranges. Deployment of tracked rapier from Germany to

Hebrides

Ranges for Live shooting.

On the 12

th March the UKMAMS Officers, WOs and SNCOs held a Dining-In night in the Sgts

Mess. The evening was attended by OC UKMAMS, Wg Cdr RG Williams, 14 Officers, 18 WOs

and SNCOs and Mr Terry Roberts, WO Retd and ex D/ACO. Farewells were said to Flt Lt

Andy Thomsom, ex OC STF, posted to RAF Coltishall as OC SCAF; WO Colin Allen, ex TSO

posted to the RAF Movements School and FS Ray Ralph, ex MAMS Ops posted to Ascension

Island.

APRIL

Bahrain – Special. Flt Lt Cumberland, FS Floyd Paterson, Sgt “Pinky” Salmon,

Cpl

Sandy Sanderson, SAC Simon Clarke plus 1. Collection of

racehorses

from the Gulf to UK on a Tristar KC1.

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1998 – 15 YEARS AGO...

JANUARY

Yuma – Exercise Hammer Fist. Fg Off Kane, FS Doug Betambeau, SACs

Hartley &

Mansfield. Recovery of 4 Sqn (Harriers) from Arizona to Wittering.

Split – Operation Lodestar. Flt Lt Arnold, FS Pete Polidano, Cpl Blythe, SAC

Dax

Mellor. Rotation of UK troops from Teeside (Catterick Garrison) to

Bosnia.

FEBRUARY

Ali Al Salem – Operation Bolton. Flt Lt Damien Alexander, FSgts Tim Pyne,

Steve

Gelder, Floyd Patterson, Jim Buchanan, Sgts Neil Baldock, Ian

Noakes, Steve Burke, Cpls Blythe, Clarke, Butcher, Lishman,

Hallatt,

Padam, SACs Spara Brooksby, Hartley, Brunell, Holtam,

Rainer,

Tobin & Whitworth. Deployment of Tornado Sqn to Kuwait in

support

of Southern “No-Fly” Zone in Iraq.

Beja – Exercise Strong Resolve. Flt Lt Ling, FS Jim Buchanan, Sgt Mick

Cocker,

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SAC Walke. Recovery of 12 Sqn (Tornados) and Fleet Clearance Diving

team

from Portugal to UK.

MARCH

Tromso – Exercise Strong Resolve. Flt Lt Gary Norman, FS Tim Pyne, Sgt

Martin

Hughes, Cpl Clarke. Redeployment of SF Units within Norway.

Norfolk NAS – Exercise Tartan Eagle. Flt Lt Curry, Cpl MacDowell, SAC Baldy

(RAuxAf). Deploy elements of 40 Cdo RM to USA and recovery

of

USMC to Edinburgh as part of unit exchange.

APRIL

Curacao – Special. FS Al Salisbury, Cpls Thomson & Southwood. Recovery of

antenna from HMS Newcastle in Dutch Antilles and recover to UK.

El Paso – Exercise Roving Sands. Sgt Hoss Wall, Cpls Thomson & Blythe.

Deployment of elements of 22 Regt RA to Fort Biggs, Texas.

2003 – 10 YEARS AGO...

FEBRUARY

China Lake – Exercise Storm Shadow. Sgt Mackay, SAC Pauler & LAC

Hamilton

(Both 4624 RAuxAf). Deployment of Storm Shadow missiles to

US

Test range.

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Al Kharj – Operation Telic. Sgt Campbell, Cpl Smith, SAC Squibb. Deployment

of

Weatherhaven Shelters in support of detachment in Saudi Arabia.

MARCH

Freetown – Operation Keeling. FS Ian Dixon, Cpl Clare Marshall, SACs

Eastaugh &

Jones. Resupply to Units in Sierra Leone.

Cherry Point – Exercise Casson Falcon. FS Steve Joyce, SACs Carter &

Biddle

(Both 4624 RAuxAf). Movements support to Falklands Air

Defence

Demonstration.

FALKLANDS – INITIAL BRIEFING BEFORE FIRING

RAPIER AIR DEFENCE SIMULATOR

APRIL

Prestwick – Operation Telic. Sgt Cam Paterson, SACs Tucker & Johnston.

Positioning of 2 x Triple pallets at Prestwick for onload of Storm

Shadow

Missiles.

Calgary – Exercise Medman. FS Duncan Andrews, Sgt Nixon, SACs Mileham

& Dix.

Rotation of UK Battlegroups between Germany and Canada.

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JADTEU

The Joint Air Delivery Test & Evaluation Unit (JADTEU) is based at RAF Brize

Norton and is a Tri Service unit commanded by Lt Col. It compromises of the

following sections Airportability, Personal Parachute Test Team, Air Despatch,

Helicopter Section and the Training section.

The Airportability (AP) section is commanded by a Sqn Ldr consisting of 17

movement’s personnel, 1 engineering officer and 3 civilian staff. Thought to be

a sleepy hollow of the Trade could not be more wrong. Tasking is extremely

high with many Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) equipment and

vehicles arriving at short notice with limited time to complete the clearance and

produce the Tie Down Note (TDN) or Tie Down Scheme (TDS) to get that

equipment into theatre. Engineers are now heavily involved in the trials

process as ratings for all attachment points have to be supplied and a

certificate of airworthiness produced prior to the trials officer being able to

issue the TDN/TDS. The rest of the trial is the same as it has always been,

lashing the equipment in and then measuring angles and taking measurement,

before entering the results into the magic laptop which will then tell you if you

have passed or failed and by how much. As with everything these days it’s

then a matter of collating all the relevant paperwork for evidence which not only

ensures everything is legal but to benefit trials officers in the future if that piece

of equipment returns at a later date. The format of the TDN/TDS has changed

little but there is now a standard template to ensure that over all aircraft types

there is continuity in the layout and the wording.

Within AP is now the A400M team who with their new high fidelity Cargo Hold

Mock Up (CHMU) are plodding through the Cargo Load data Base (CLDB)

containing 650 items, to clear as many items as possible prior to the aircraft

entering service in September/October 2014. With the substantial amount of

UOR’s passing through JADTEU the opportunity is also taken, time permitting

to get theses items trialled on the A400M. When the aircraft comes into service

the A400M team will integrate into AP improving the overall manpower within

the section.

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JADTEU AP Section is on permanent 24 hrs standby to deploy the NATO

Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) to anywhere in the world. Going into

theatre is a regular occurrence to move the Rough Terrain Container Handler

(RTCH) which is JADTEU move only and to recover battle damaged

equipment required to be recovered to the UK. The opportunities to deploy on

routes around the world are few and far between these days, due to the current

financial climate and availability of frames.Recent tasks within AP have been a

selection of security vehicles for Op Olympic, several items for the new Air To

Air

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Tanker replacement the ‘Voyager’ (A330) including the ACU, De-Icing Truck,

Toilet and water truck. There was also the Foxhound which was a UOR task,

one of the many new vehicles being deployed into theatre and essential for

current operations being undertaken there. There is no doubt that the AP

section is extremely busy with all Trials Officers having a minimum of 5 – 10

tasks running concurrently.

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On the A400M side there has been the Typhoon fuselage with a proxy

undercarriage, items from voyager as with AP, and the Terrier armoured

vehicle. The Terrier was particularly important as this is the No 1 item on the

CLDB and the reason the UK A400M has a strengthened floor. This is due to

the Terrier being approximately 30,000 Kgs with a linear loading weight of

approximately 8,500 Kgs per linear meter therefore exceeding the 6,000 Kgs

per linear meter limit of the common standard floor. The UK strengthened floor

can carry a tracked vehicle weighing 9,300 Kgs per linear meter in the

strengthened part of the main floor.

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It’s not all work and no play, there are several expeditions arranged by all

sections throughout the year and there is also the JADTEU golf society. More

relevant to AP section, they put a team in for the Dave Wall Golf this year

doing quite well but failing to bring any prizes home. As a section there is a big

biking fraternity. They take part in the London to Brighton charity bike ride

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yearly raising money for the British Heart Foundation. There is also the yearly

Coast to Coast bike ride which is a unit expedition, but is predominantly

organised by and attended by the AP Section.

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MY LIFE IN THE ARMY AND THE RAF

By

George Hanks

1. Mar 62 – Jan 66. No 1 Strategic Reserve Movement Control Squadron,

Wilton.

Sep 62 – Feb 63. ATLO, RAF Colerne working with Hastings.

The only soldier “living-in” on the base and just promoted to Lcpl. I was also

the only JNCO in the cpl’s Club with one stripe and that caused a bit of a

fuss as JTs (one inverted stripe) were not JNCOs and could not be

members. It was the terrible winter of 62/63 and I was involved in delivering

emergency rations to the families of those aircrew stranded elsewhere due

to the adverse weather conditions. Much to my surprise I was sent a letter

of thanks by the station Commander.

2. Mar 65 – Jan 66 I was detached to ATLO RAF Benson where my job was

preparing tie down plans for Army vehs on Argosys.

3. Feb 65 I was posted to SABC Singapore based at Changi and was the

RAF/Army rep (Cpl) at Paya Lebar civil airport (British Eagle air trooping). I

was the youngest Cpl in the Cpl’s Club and served as Army/Entertainments

member. I was also a member of Changi Theatre Club (where I was tricked

into directing a play at the ripe old age of 21) and the Go – Kart Club. I was

posted to 131 Flt RCT at Wildenrath as Chief Clerk Aug 68 as Sgt. I was

promoted to Sgt five weeks before leaving Changi and I walked into Sen

Foo Tailors as a Cpl and out as a Sgt 5 mins later!!! I worked 24 hours on

and 48 off for two and half years and it was certainly the best time I had in

my 23 years in the Army.

4. Once again on an RAF base (Wildenrath) although with Army aviation. A

member of the Little Theatre Club and entertainments member of the Sgt’s

Mess.

5. Jan 71 – Jan 72. I was the Gulf Movements Finance Clerk

With Joint Movements Staff Bahrain. Due to the pending closure of the

base I was underworked and use dto help out at RAF Marraqa. I was one of

the last 12 pers left there (last British Force Bahrain) to close it.

6. Mar 72 – late 74. I served with 500 Mobile Movements Troop RCT, BAOR

(SSgt) were I did detachments to France, Denmark, Norway, Canada and

Cyprus (RAF Akrotiri Port).

7. Would you believe it I was posted to 29 MC Regt RCT at South Cereny but

went straight to ATLO RAF Brize Norton. Four months later I was promoted

to WOII and moved to the Regt’L HQ as WO/Ops.

8. July 77. Promoted to WOI and posted to British Army training Unit Suffied,

Canada. My post was Mov/WOI and I was very involved with Calgary

airport and MAMS . During the winter there was little movement of troops

and it was mostly freight that was handled. I used to supervise the handling

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of the VC10/HERC which upset one or two MAMS officers who did not like

the idea of the army doing that. My reaction to that was to say that we were

all in the same job. Then came the day of reckoning when a VC10 arrived

and the MAMS team was nowhere to be seen. I briefed the VC Capt. and

told him that the MAMS team had been delayed and due to arrive shortly.

The MAMS officer (who did not like my powers)(to me responsibilities) finally

arrived looking very embarrassed and was amazed when I told him that I

had dealt with the situation. Why “had I not dropped him in it” he asked

later, to which I replied “I am a senior WOI and would not dream of dropping

a colleague in it!” What would I have achieved? Nothing! We became good

friends and I wonder if that Flt Lt will read this and remember me? The

reason I tell you this, is because I always believed in Joint Movements and

worked with many MAMS teams and ATLOs. I never once met a MAMS

team that did not give of their best. Just one more comment! I never liked

the use of the word “Boss” and to me officers were SIR as I was to my

subordinates. They say that “familiarity breeds contempt but I have to admit

I never saw any evidence of that with MAMS teams.

9. Dec 79 – Jun 82 HQ RCT ANTWERP, Belgium.

Aug 82 – Jan 84 HQ SW District, Bulford

Mar 84 Retired. THE END

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Subject: UKMAMS ASSOCIATION John, I have forwarded your email to DLP, although he will only be at Shrivenham for a short time now before he leaves the Service on redundancy. Hope that you are well; I took over at AIR this Jul. It was a few years ago when we were on the same team together with Frank, but I'm not sure that we ended up doing any tasks together! Anyway.... All the best. Tony Group Captain Tony Vine

From: Sam Heaphy

Hi John,

Thank you for your info regarding the brief. I really enjoyed it.

thanks again mate sam

From: David Stevens

Subject: Team Brief

Hey John I wrote you before I opened the Team Brief. Congratulations on a masterful

production and very interesting!!! Video good but boy, service people have no chance 'treading

the boards' - almost a complete lack of animation - the staion commander especially - he

missed a golden opportunity here to sell!!............lol Just my view you understand.

Still, each to their own........... Brilliant production - The Team Brief - I mean. Thanks David

Hi John

Congratulations on a first class edition of Team Brief. Especially liked the Aden memories

from Dick LLoyd. The good looking SAC beside Tommy Thompson in the photo on page 41 is

none other than my good self. I have racked my brain to try and remember the names of the

other Not Knowns and whilst their faces look familar I cannot place them. Jim Brett was my

shift Cpl and I also worked for about 9 months in Load Control along with Dave Allen and Tony

Last.

Regards

Colin Allen

42

Hello John, As interesting as I find the various issues of theMAMS bulletins, I often think that the general tone is somewhat retroactive and this is, of course, as it should be for an association of serving and former RAF movers. However, from the perspective of readers like myself who served from 1964-69 and have largely been away from the UK getting on for half a century (does that seem as ancient as it seems to me on the re-reading?) I have often wondered about the new generation of "movers" relative to the "wrinklies." Would it be possible, I wonder, to have an article or two on what it's like to be a "mover" in today's RAF? Certainly, learning a little of how the trade is presently structured, the seemingly continuing trend of relying on civilian/auxiliary staff and the lack of opportunities for overseas service now that several decades have gone past since the Empire contracted. What are their living conditions like now especially in the context of the old five to a room accommodations we were accustomed to in the olden days although the takeover from the USAF of Brize Norton was certainly an education on how the other half could live. I think I've given the general gist of my thoughts; do you think there would be any general reader interest in this? In any event, thanks for taking the time to consider the matter. Kind regards, Terry Bell

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Ex JOINT WARRIOR 12 – No. 1 Air Mobility Wing

With Defence firmly focused on Afghanistan and Iraq over the last decade or so, many

contingent capabilities have understandably taken a back seat. This is equally true of 16 Air

Assault Brigade who are now refocusing the Airborne Task Force (ABTF) training to meet post-

Op HERRICK requirements, such as Rapid Air Landings (RAL). RALs are part of a package of

aggressive airfield landings of combat troops, fighting vehicles and equipment into potentially

hostile territory, typically on a C130 aircraft. This is exactly the kind of key skill No.1 Air

Mobility Wing (1 AMW) are here to deliver; using our unique blend of air movements

expertise and enhanced military preparedness we assessed our skill sets and re-generated the

tactical air landing training package, loading it with two teams of movers. Having completed

10 days of dry runs on a static C130, the team went on to do dry drills with 5 Scots, part of the

current ABTF before conducting live RAL serials with 3 Para at RAF Brize Norton. Below is a

short sample of the variety of air movements work and level of Army co-operation 1 AMW is

increasingly involved in. As we look beyond Afghanistan and reset for the next challenge, 1

AMW will be ready to deliver a force whenever and wherever required.

Flt Lt Matt Beauchamp – OC E Flt, Mobile Air Movements Sqn

On a sunny Friday in Spring, 17 personnel from 1 AMW deployed to Prestwick Airfield near

Glasgow to set up a Mobile Air Movements detachment in preparation for the launch of an

airborne assault. According to the scenario, a “hostile” airfield would be seized, and then

used as a launch pad for further offensive action deeper into enemy-held territory. Once the

airfield was captured, a smaller team of 4 movers went forward to the Forward Operating

Base at West Freugh in order to pull in further supplies, while those that remained at

Prestwick acted as an Air Port of Disembarkation and prepared and despatched whatever was

required.

Over the 6-day exercise all ranges of payload were processed and despatched onto two

C130Js. Once the Pathfinders and Paras had conducted an airdrop onto the target, 5 Scots,

ably assisted by 1AMW, carried out a rapid assault utilising the RAL method of delivery with

Infantry, CVRTs and WMIKs being deployed, before a range of resupply was sent forward. This

ranged from 6 Ton Trucks to JCBs and from Land Rovers to Pinzgauers. Owing to the pace

required and limited frames, aircraft turn rounds were exceptionally fast, with almost every

on-load and offload completed with engines running, a great way to concentrate the mind.

44

Keen to enhance Anglo – French relations, 1 AMW also helped to prepare several loads for

French Air Force (FAF) Transvaal C160 aircraft working in conjunction with RAF aircraft. This

required our troops to learn to use the various FAF loading equipment aids and techniques. A

great deal was gained from this rare opportunity, especially by the younger members who

had never had the chance to work with foreign military aircrew before. During the week, all

members of 1 AMW consolidated new skills and brushed up on older ones. All were pushed

to their limits, with cargo and vehicles turning up all through the night, usually unprepared for

travel by air. Nevertheless, with some hard and frantic work in a short space of time, all

required loads were corrected, loaded and sent on their way.

At the end of a hugely successful week, 1 AMW lived up to their motto: “first in, last out”.

Having set up the operating airhead before any other personnel had arrived at Prestwick

Airfield, 1 AMW loaded the final C130J and waved goodbye to Scotland. A hard but

rewarding 6 days that had demonstrated once again the value of live training for all involved.

SAC Leighton James - E Flt, Mobile Air Movements Sqn.

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46

Episode 3 of my Mobile saga

JOHN CONDUIT's UKMAMS TASKS 1989

Dates Route Aircraft Team Task

From To

24 Jan 90 24 Jan 90 Lyneham-Gatow-Lyneham Herc FO Flint, FS Breithaupt, Sgt Frewin, SAC’s Wark, Murphy

25 Jan 90 8 Feb 90 Lyneham-Gander-Homestead-

Gander-Dulles-Scott AFB-Belize-Kingston-Belize-Dulles-Lyneham

Herc Sgt Frewin, SAC Wark Started off as a frame change in Homestead,

Went a bit mad after that

17 Feb 90 19 Feb 90 Lyneham-St Johns-Boston-

Lyneham Herc SAC Ferguson

27 Feb 90 2 Mar 90 Lyneham-Lajes-Marham-Brize Herc/Tristar SAC’s Butler, O’Neil

8 Mar 90 13 Mar 90 Lyneham-Gander-Bermuda-Grand Turk-Port of Spain-

Bermuda-Lyneham Herc

PO Licence, SAC’s Wark, Roberts, Reader, Loach

20 Mar 90 21 Mar 90 Wittering Road FS Breithaupt, SAC’s Roberts,

Wark

27 Mar 90 28 Mar 90 Tac Demo Herc Various

47

30 Mar 90 30 Mar 90 Lyneham-Twenthe-Wattisham-

Lyneham Herc

Cpl Harvey, Cpl West, SAC Wark

2 Apr 90 2 Apr 90 Brize-Edinburgh-Brize TriStar SAC’s Wark, Reader

3 Apr 90 4 Apr 90 Tac Demo Herc Various

6 Apr 90 6 Apr 90 Lyneham-Bardufos-Lyneham Herc FS Breithaupt, SAC Wark

14 Apr 90 21 Apr 90 Lyneham-Goose Bay-Offut-Las

Vegas-Lincoln AFB-Griffiss AFB-Goose Bayr Lyneham

Herc FO Flint, Cpl Howard

28 Apr 90 28 Apr 90 Lyneham-Coltishall-Sembach-

Lyneham Herc Cpl Howard, SAC Wark

29 Apr 90 2 May 90 Lyneham-Gander-Eglin-Gander-

Lyneham Herc

FO Dainton, Cpl Whitton. Cpl Amies, SAC’s Metcalfe, Smith

11 May 90 11 May 90 Lyneham-Wildenrath-Vaerlose-

Lyneham Herc FS Breithaupt,

14 May 90 17 May 90 Brize-Griffiss AFB-Albuquerque-

Grifiss AFB-Brize VC10

FS Breithaupt, FS Wilson, SAC Roberts

48

19 May 90 20 May 90 Lyneham-Lossiemouth-Gibraltar-

Lyneham Herc

FO Woodward, SAC’s Gash, Ferguson

30 May 90 31 May 90 Lyneham-Honnington-Lyneham Herc Various

8 Jun 90 18 Jun 90 Lyneham-Keflavik-Goose Bay-

Calgary-Gander-Brize Herc/TriStar

S/L Hewat, FO Harrington, Cpl Harvey, Cpl Brown, SAC’s

Walker, Mooney

27 Jun 90 1 Jul 90 Lyneham-Akrotiri-Lyneham Herc +12 Exercise

6 Jul 90 8 Jul 90 Manston Road SAC’s Risk, Latham

10 Jul 90 16 Jul 90

Lyneham-Keflavik-St Johns-Winnipeg-Fairchild-New Orleans-

Nassau-Grand Turk-Roosevelt Roads-Bermuda-Lyneham

Herc F/L Higgins Trainer

27 Jul 27 Jul Lyneham-Odiham-Lyneham Road/Herc FO Flint, FS Breithaupt

1 Aug 90 2 Aug 90 Wattisham Road Various

12 Aug 90 7 Sep 90 Brize-Akrotiri-Thumrait-Akrotiri-Sigonella-Brussells-Lyneham

VC10/Herc Various Op Granby

49

14 Sep 90 22 Sep 90 Tac Demo Herc Various

25 Sep 90 30 Oct 90 Lyneham-Gander-Patrick AFB-Cape Canaveral-Andros (Lots)-

Gander-Lyneham Herc

FS Wilson, SAC’s Neat, Lockett

20 Nov 90 20 Nov 90 Lyneham-Leuchars-Nice-

Lyneham Herc

FS Parkin, Cpl Darling, SAC Tremain

22 Nov 90 27 Nov 90 Lyneham-Benbecula-Wildenrath-

Lyneham Herc F/L Barth, + 4 Aux

17 Dec 90 17 Dec 90 Lyneham-Sembach-Lyneham Herc F/L Higgins, SAC Fowler

21 Dec 90 24 Dec 90 Brize-Athens-Dharan-Athens-

Lyneham DC8/707 FO Dunn, Cpl Gidney Op Granby

50

ASSOCIATION LADIES GUEST NIGHT

The association will be holding a Ladies Guest night

Where RAF Brize Norton Sgt’s Mess

When Saturday 18 May 2013 1900 onwards

Dress Ladies-Cocktail Dress Gents-Suit/Lounge Jacket

Cost £30 per head (this has already been subsidised £10 per head by

the association)

This will be a Carvery

Please arrange your own transport

The association may also hold a Meet & Greet on the Friday 17 May, also at

RAF Brize Norton, this will probably be in the “Swamp”

In the first instance please email the following information to our Treasurer

Names of those wanting to attend the Ladies Guest Night

Names of those wanting to attend the Meet & Greet

I look forward to seeing a few old friends on the night

All the best