 An exceptionally busy period for the Sqn leading up to the culmination of Project CENTURION and the anticipated role out of Brimstone onto Typhoon FGR4, which will in turn allow the retiral of the Tornado GR4 force in early 2019. Blessed with the recent good weather and consistent hard work to ensure aircraft availability, the Sqn has made positive progress on all current trials with the hard work and high tempo set to continue well beyond the New Year.
Meanwhile, the Sqn had a significant presence at the RAF 100 parade in London in July with the standard displayed alongside other current serving sqns in one of the biggest displays of RAF personnel and aircraft in recent history. A cadre of 25 sqn personnel travelled to Saint-Omer, France in Sept to join the RAF 100 events arranged and discover the history around the Sqn’s involvement during WWI and exposure to the wider impacts of the war. This provided an excellent opportunity for the group of predominantly junior sqn members to gain a greater understanding of the Sqn’s historical relevance. Looking forward, the Sqn is deep into the planning phases for trials for 2019, with another deployment to America due within the coming 12 months.
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Dear All, You’ll see from the attached photograph that 9 hardy souls from the Association will be taking part in this year’s marchpast at the Cenotaph in London. Given the significance of the date, 100 years to the minute since the signing of the Armistice, I think you’ll agree it is fitting that the 41 Squadron Association are represented. We will endeavour to provide some photographs afterwards, but for those watching the parade on TV we are in column C and expect to pass the Cenotaph at about 1140. You never know we might get even a mention. Kind Regards Andy  Further Information: RBL Website The timings for the day are as follows:
Former 41(F) Jaguar-era pilot, Gp Capt Mark ‘Flunk’ Flewin, assumes command of RAF Coningsby20/10/2018 Story: Royal Air Force Website  Group Captain Mark Flewin has assumed command of RAF Coningsby. The Group Captain has previously served at Coningsby, flying Typhoon aircraft with both No 3 (Fighter) and No XI Squadron. He also commanded No 1 (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth.
Gp Capt Flewin said, “I am delighted to have assumed command of RAF Coningsby and would like to formally thank Gp Capt Baulkwill for his considerable efforts over the last two years. Having been closely involved with the Station for a significant portion of my career, I feel privileged to return at a time of continued growth and in the Service’s Centenary year. It has been immediately apparent that the Station has maintained its exemplary reputation, both at home and on operations overseas, and the committed, resourceful people working here remain its greatest strength; I look forward to working closely with all those on Station and across the whole Force as I assume Command”. The former Station Commander, Group Captain Baulkwill, will now take up his new post in London on promotion to Air Commodore. He said, “As I hand over to Gp Capt Flewin I wanted to thank all of Royal Air Force Coningsby for its outstanding work, total commitment and unwavering support during my time in command. The pace for us all has been unrelenting and the demands on all of you has been intense. I know that the Station will afford the new Station Commander the very same support I received and I wish Mark the very best for next two years.”  We would like to welcome Flt Lt Linda McLean to the Association Committee as the Military secretary. Linda takes the place of Flt Lt Laura Frowen, who has been posted from 41 Squadron on promotion.
Flight Lieutenant Linda McLean in an engineer, whose short service has principally been in the ISTAR field. After completing a Master’s degree in Aero-Mechanical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow in 2013, McLean undertook Initial Officer Training at Cranwell before posting to RAF Cosford in October 2014 to complete her Engineering Officer Foundation Course; she received the Air Cdr Chris Green Memorial Award upon graduation in June 2015. In her first tour, McLean was posted as a JEngO to 5(AC) Sqn at RAF Waddington. During this tour, McLean deployed as the engineering lead on OPs on 6 separate occasions and was involved with Ex RED FLAG 16. Following a selection process by Empire Test Pilot School (ETPS) in mid-2017, McLean was selected to complete a Flight Test Engineer (FTE) course in the USA at the National Test Pilot School (NTPS) in the first half of 2018. She is now in post as a Fast Jet FTE/Trials Management Officer with 41 TES, RAF Coningsby. Flight Lieutenant McLean’s interests include playing the bagpipes with RAF Waddington Pipes and Drums, and playing rugby union and league for which she has been capped for the RAF Inter Services squad for 3 seasons. She has also recently been selected for the UK Armed Forces Rugby League squad for 2019. The following information can be found at http://australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/archive/1627-eric-gray
Australians at War Film Archive Transcript of Interview Eric Gray Archive number:1627 Preferred name:Ricky Date interviewed: 10 March, 2004 Copyright UNSW Canberra 2018 Transcription Tape 01 01:00:38:00 We are starting now, so can you just give me a summary of your life? Yes well I was born in Brisbane and brought up in a small country town of Gore, and moved through as my father moved through from butchering business to butchering business and we eventually finished up in Toowoomba. My entry into 01:01:00:00 Toowoomba was by horse. I rode a horse from Toowoomba by sulky [light buggy], mare, from Toowoomba to? I'm sorry, from Allora to Toowoomba that about 30 odd miles, 35 miles. I was about 10 years of age then. And then I worked after school I was in a printing office and later on as war broke out and I got on reserve for RAAF [Royal Australian Air Force] aircrew in 1940 and I was called up in 01:01:30:00 1941, July 1941. And I spent the, after getting my wings in Australia on Wirraways I was transferred to, took a posting I should say to England and did some refresher flying over there and then joined a RAF [Royal Air Force] Spitfire Squadron, 41 Squadron. And of course I was fortunate to see the war through from when I got over there to 01:02:00:00 end of 45 and I was discharged from, got my discharge from or repat discharge I should say from the squadron to Britain prior to coming back to Australia. So I arrived back in Australia in 1946. The following article was originally published by Leonardo MW Ltd. Last week saw the conclusion to a spectacular series of events that marked the Royal Air Force’s Centenary, RAF100 - a campaign which Leonardo has been very proud to support. The campaign has been ongoing since 01 April, the date on which the Royal Air Force was formally created in 1918. On 20 September, a Leonardo team representing sites from around the UK, attended a series of poignant First World War commemorations in St Omer, France, and the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ieper (Ypres), Belgium. St Omer is known as the ‘spiritual birthplace’ of the Royal Air Force with its operational base for most of the First World War on the outskirts of town, the Bruyères Aerodrome next to the local race course. Four current-day RAF squadrons, represented on the day, trace their beginning directly to the aerodrome. Our team attended a service of commemoration at the St Omer Cathedral, a local exhibition, then a memorial service at the Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, during which schoolchildren laid flowers at the RAF and other air service graves. The day closed with a dedication ceremony, unveiling a plaque at the Aerodrome in the presence of ministers, personnel of all ranks, and The Viscount Lord Trenchard, the grandson of 1st Viscount Trenchard, the first Chief of the Air Staff and the ‘Father of the Royal Air Force’. The strength of the UK - France relationships then and now were demonstrated by the warmth of the hospitality from the local community, and by the fly-pasts by both Air Forces.  RAF100 ceremony at the Royal Air Force’s very first operational base at Bruyères Aerodrome, St Omer, on the anniversary of the last aircraft from 41 Squadron leaving in 1918  Leonardo team attending the RAF100 celebrations in St Omer, ‘spiritual birthplace’ of the Royal Air Force. Left to Right:Eddie Wilson-Chalon, Josh Sleeman, Sam Orr, Lynda McVay, Douglas Meikle, Yolanda Bullen, Arvind Mahendran, Jack Hempsall, Mark Gunning, Aran Bains On the following Saturday and Sunday the Imperial War Museum at Duxford hosted its Battle of Britain Air Show with aircraft from throughout history thrilling a total of 50,000 visitors. It was an amazing flying programme which included the season finale of the Leonardo sponsored, RAF Typhoon Display Team, and 18 Spitfires flying, each with its own story told to the crowds. There was even more for visitors to see in the Museum’s hangars, including iconic aircraft from our company history including the Airco DH9a, the Westland Lysander as well as the Westland Whirlwind and Wessex helicopters. Also, following its first appearance at Farnborough Air Show this year, the concept model for the UK’s next generation combat air system, Tempest was on display. The Air Show reflected the RAF100 themes of Commemorate, Celebrate and Inspire. Continuing Leonardo’s work in support of the Inspire theme, our team of STEM ambassadors from across Leonardo’s Apprentice and Graduate community once again did a fantastic job engaging the public with a range of exciting, interactive activities. Highlights included our Eurofighter VR Maintenance Training competition, seeing youngsters battling to beat the clock in preparing e the aircraft for flight, our ever popular thermal imaging technology, Leonardo Helicopters’ aerodynamic wind table, as well as our ‘future selfie’ kiosk all of which successfully drew in the crowds! The finale to the Centenary celebrations was played out in spectacular style with a stunning flying display by the RAF’s Red Arrows, which had visitors truly spellbound, and marked the end to what has been a remarkable and poignant campaign. Thank you to everyone in Leonardo who has contributed throughout this year.  RAF100 celebrations in St Omer  Imperial War Museum's Aircraft Display including Westland Whirlwind (on the right)  Concept model for the UK’s next generation combat air system, Tempest   Leonardo's UK STEM ambassadors inspire youngsters
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Rich Cooper/COAP Association BlogUpdates and news direct from the Committee Archives
May 2020
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