 The Royal Air Force and Virgin Orbit have selected the RAF pilot to be seconded to the company’s ground-breaking small satellite launch programme. The partnership between the RAF and Virgin Orbit was unveiled at the Air and Space Power conference in July and following a tough selection process, Flight Lieutenant Mathew ‘Stanny’ Stannard has been selected. Flight Lieutenant Stannard is currently a Typhoon pilot with one of the RAF’s test and evaluation squadrons and is scheduled to join the pioneering Virgin Orbit programme next year, pending final US and UK regulatory approvals. Read more: http://bit.ly/RAFVOPilot  
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Retired WW2 Hurricane and Spitfire Pilot, Peter “Percy” Proctor has recently passed away. Peter had recently had his 97th Birthday. Peter’s funeral will take place at 12.30on 23rd September at: Marshside Road Methodist Church 1, Marshside Road Southport PR9 9TL He is pictured here receiving an Award from RAFA with ACM Sir Mike Graydon at the XI Annual Association Reunion in 2017. For anyone interested, Peter’s memories of flying Spitfires and Hurricanes can be read here.  The Battle of Britain: On this day in 1940, the Luftwaffe mounted its biggest daylight attack on London, conducting 1,020 sorties over the skies of Britain. In response, Fighter Command launched 705 sorties, claiming 56 Luftwaffe aircraft. Although the Battle of Britain would continue, this day proved to be decisive and convinced the German High Command that reports of ‘Fighter Command’s impending demise had been greatly exaggerated’. For detailed analysis and narratives on the events of the Battle of Britain, read the RAF CASPS Battle of Britain Special Edition Air Power Review. https://www.raf.mod.uk/what-we-do/centre-for-air-and-space-power-studies/documents1/air-power-review-vol-18-no-2-battle-of-britain-75th-anniversary-special-edition/ Pictures: © IWM (HU 49253); © IWM (CH 1561); UK CROWN COPYRIGHT / MOD. Courtesy of Air Historical Branch (Royal Air Force). In a mere four months, eleven pilots of 41 Sqn would not survive the conflict. Here we recognise the Squadron aircrew, EngO and IntO from the Battle of Britain alongside others of note during the War.
RAFBF Information:For partners of people serving in the RAF, there can be several challenges from dealing with deployments and frequent moves to paying for childcare and planning for the future.  Through research we have carried out, we're aware that the most significant barriers to partners moving forward are not a lack of experience or qualifications, or writing CVs or interview skills, but identifying what they want to achieve and the routes to do this. Our new programme, Thrive, aims to help partners overcome these barriers and aims to also:
Workshop coursesThe workshops at RAF Leeming, RAF Halton and RAF Benson will focus on the following:
Sign up to ThriveTo apply to take part in our Thrive programme, simply fill in our online form.   We recommend attending all five workshops in the series in order to gain the maximum benefit from the programme. However, each workshop will be stand-alone if you prefer to attend just one.
Each workshop will last for two hours, which includes a break, with an additional hour of informal networking and coffee afterwards. The workshops are free to attend, and childcare will be arranged or provided for those that need it. If you would like more information about our Thrive programme, please contact Damian Pinel, RAF Projects Manager on 020 7303 3434 or 07702883641 or email damian.pinel@rafbf.org.uk. Images from: https://twitter.com/ChrisPerkins53
Further information: http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/scottow/scottow.htm  We can help you work things out. Watch the video below and read more information on the Fund's relationship support services in partnership with Relate. If you'd like a member of their team to contact you, you can get in touch by calling 01302 347 476. Please quote 'Relate19' as your reference.
23-25 July
On 23 July, two McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2s of No.41 Squadron arrive at Akrotiri to furnish tactical reconnaissance support for British forces on Cyprus following the Turkish invasion of that island. Subsequently, on the night of 24-25 July a further twelve Phantom FGR2s from No.6 Squadron and No.228 Operational Conversion Unit were despatched to the island to provide additional offensive support and air defence for United Nations operations. Although no offensive support sorties were flown, combat air patrols were mounted in support of Canberra and Nimrod reconnaissance sorties by Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft from Malta and to guard against possible infringements of British Sovereign Base Area airspace by Turkish aircraft. The Phantom detachment to Cyprus was drawn down during August, with the final aircraft and crews returning to the United Kingdom on 12/13 September. After a 12 year build my Spitfire EB-N as flown by Tony Lovell, 41squadron, Catterick, finally took to the skies on the 13th of May this year. An LAA inspector, Don Harker recalled to me when he was a young boy walking through Middlesbrough, watching a Spitfire shooting down a JU88 over the Eaton Hills. We traced the name of the pilot flying it (Tony Lovell) and managed to contact his niece who gave permission to display it as her Uncle Tony’s Spitfire. The commemoration flight will take place on the 18th of August, the day before what would have been Tony Lovell’s 100 birthday. Tony Lovell who survived the war and was killed in a flying accident the day after the war ended. Many pilots had some artwork on their aircraft nose, so when I contacted Tony’s closest relative, his niece, Helen Daw, she said that her uncle Tony was devoted to his mother who he called Cherub. So I had a picture of a cherub painted on the nose of my Spit. I was told by Helen that August 19th would have been Tony’s 100th birthday but looking at my records it should be the 9th of August, not the 19th! We still plan to do the dedication flight on Sunday the 18th at Fishburn airfield. Helen Daw and her family will be there as will relatives of Ben Bennions who flew in 41 squadron with Tony Lovell. We have a local folk duo coming to perform the song they wrote about my Spitfire, Tony Lovell and other RAF pilots of the Second World War. As Tony was a deeply religious man I also have my friend who is a vicar coming to do a short memorial service.
This summer will see the Royal Air Force Museum paying homage to one of the most iconic aircraft ever built with a programme of family events and activities dedicated to the Spitfire. The Museum is home to a large collection of Spitfires, including the world’s oldest. This summer it will explore the history of the Spitfire and the story of those RAF servicemen and women who worked with this wondrous aircraft. Weekend festivals, thought provoking storytelling, close views of real Spitfires, and a series of nostalgic events including a Battle of Britain Day will transport visitors back to a time when the Spitfire protected Europe’s skies. Visitors will also be able to take the pilot’s seat and enjoy a 6-minute Spitfire flight through the Museum’s new virtual reality experience (Cosford only), take a selfie in a Mk XVI Spitfire (London only) or enrol in the Museum’s Spitfire Academy Adventure, its latest immersive experience that combines all the demands of an escape room challenge with the fun of a treasure hunt (London only).  London Spitfire 10K 2018For more information about the Museum’s Summer of Spitfire programme of events and activities at both the RAF Museum London and Cosford visit rafmuseum.org. Events are subject to change, flypasts are weather dependant. The Museum is open daily from 10.00am. Admission is free.    RBL Poppy Breaks
As part of their Poppy Breaks programme, the Royal British Legion is kindly sponsoring 7 weeks of activity breaks for Service dependants in July/August 2019. These Poppy Breaks, co-ordinated by RAF Community support on a tri-service basis and delivered by the Youth Hostels’ Association, provide excellent opportunities for young people to participate in a wide range of activities appropriate to their age and abilities. There are still some places available and the closing date for applications is 25 June 2019. |
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Rich Cooper/COAP Association BlogUpdates and news direct from the Committee Archives
September 2019
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