While we couldn’t really expect 2019 to repeat the glitz and glamour of the Royal Air Force’s centenary year, it was still incredibly busy.  We saw the first successful deployment of F-35 Lightning on operations; the retirement of the much-loved and unbelievably effective Tornado; the first flights of Poseidon, the RAF’s new multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft; the Typhoon Force continuing to participate in counter-Daesh operations and, for the first time, in air policing operations from Iceland; and, most recently, an RAF A400M supporting search and rescue efforts off the southern coast of Chile. 
 
When reflecting on the past year I find it interesting to observe just how important the activities of No 41 Squadron have been to the wider success of the Royal Air Force.  That the Typhoon Force could effectively deploy Brimstone (the RAF’s hyper-precision strike munition) on Op SHADER was only made possible by 41 Squadron’s extensive and intensive trial work.  Similarly, the retirement of Tornado could only occur after Typhoon could field new air-to-ground mission capabilities;
No 41’s delivery of Project CENTURION to the Typhoon Force was truly pivotal to this.  Meanwhile, the Squadron’s second home, NAS China Lake in the Mojave Desert, was hit by a devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake.  And yet the Squadron still found time to support a memorial service at RAF Coltishall to celebrate the lives of the personnel from No 41 Squadron who perished during a coach accident in Germany in 1983.
 
Our association has continued to keep former members of the Squadron in touch with each other and, of course, with the Squadron of today. It is with regret that we have seen one of the most active members of the Association, Andy Myers - our founding Chairman, step down from the role to pursue new business opportunities in Saudi Arabia.  Andy did a truly brilliant job for us for which we are all immensely grateful.  His shoes will be tricky to fill but fill them we must. Please may I encourage anyone with even the slightest interest in taking up this role to contact me for a chat.   
 
2020 will be important for the Royal Air Force. It will see the practical launch of Project
ASTRA, a bold initiative to fast track the Royal Air Force towards 2040.  ASTRA will accelerate good ideas into service and blend them with a powerful and dynamic vision for our future.  There is no doubt in my mind as to the importance of this project in ensuring the ongoing credibility of our air force. Facing new dynamics in defence and security, and a complex blurring of the lines between peace, conflict and crisis, the RAF simply must adapt to the realities of multi-domain operations.  ASTRA will ensure that its people, equipment, structures and processes are properly configured to do just that. 
As we celebrate Christmas and New Year, some 2000 RAF personnel will be supporting 15 missions, on 4 continents, in 22 countries around the world.  With very special thoughts to them, their families and the loved ones from whom they are separated, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy, peaceful and enjoyable festive season and a prosperous and healthy New Year?
 
As ever,
 
Chris H 
 
Sir Christopher Harper KBE
Air Marshal 
Hon President
No 41 Squadron Association

The images above are from Paul Briggs who administers the 41 Retro Facebook page.

The service to remember the bus crash that killed 6 people and injured many others during a Squadron exchange with 421 Sqn RCAF at Baden-Soellingen, Germany in 1983. Many thanks to 41(TES) Sqn and SOCA and many others for the excellent support they give to this event every year, which is greatly appreciated.

Regards,

​Paul

​MESSAGE FROM AIR MARSHAL SIR CHRIS HARPER
 – PRESIDENT, NO 41 SQUADRON ASSOCIATION
 
 
What a momentous year this has been.  The RAF – as you undoubtedly all know – has been incredibly busy on active operations.  Nearly 2500 people have been deployed to more than 20 countries in support of 15 operations over 5 continents.  I am sure that we all recall the horrendous use of Chemical Weapons by agents from the Russian Federation in our country in March, and by the Syrian regime in Douma in April. This, of course, was followed by precision strikes on Syrian Chemical Weapons installations by the RAF and other allies on 14 April. And, throughout the year, RAF Tornado and Typhoon aircraft and Reaper remotely piloted air systems have continued to conduct strike missions against Daesh targets in Syria and Iraq. They have been supported by Voyager and Hercules for logistic support; Sentinel, Sentry and Rivet-Joint for Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance; and an incredible number of ground support personnel from all trades.   
 
The RAF has also been pivotally involved in NATO air policing in Romania and the Baltic States; in the ongoing effort to bring stability to Afghanistan, and in defending the skies of the United Kingdom and its territories through the 24 hour, 7 day a week QRA missions mounted from Coningsby and Lossiemouth in the UK and Mount Pleasant in the Falklands. As a Service we also contributed significantly to Exercise Saif Sareea III in Oman, and to Exercise Trident Juncture in Norway.
 
In the United Kingdom, the Royal Air Force’s “RAF 100” celebration of our centenary successfully touched nearly every home in the United Kingdom.  The themes of Celebrate, Commemorate and Inspire were, I believe sensitively and highly effectively delivered with just the right balance of formal ceremony and informal outreach. Who will ever forget the coverage of the spectacular gala in the Albert Hall on 31 March, the incredible display of every Royal Air Force Squadron Standard in the Royal Courts of Justice on 1 April, and the once-in-a-lifetime events in Westminster Abbey, on and above Horse Guards and at Buckingham Palace on 10 July. 
 
Of particular interest to us, No 41 Squadron has been incredibly busy at home and in the USA in furthering the operational capability of the Typhoon Force.  That the RAF has derived by far the most advanced overall capability from this aircraft is due in no small part to the efforts of ‘our’ Squadron and its people. They deserve huge congratulations for all that they have achieved. 
 
I do hope that all members of the No 41 Squadron Association will be able to draw breath, relax a little and share some precious time with families, loved ones and friends during the coming festive season. In thanking you for your ongoing support for our Association, may I wish you all a happy, peaceful and enjoyable Christmas and New Year. I do hope to be able to see you at an Association gathering in 2019. 
 
Sir Christopher Harper KBE
Air Marshal 
Hon President
No 41 Squadron Association

The Association was fortunate enough to secure several places through RBL for the Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph. For many of us this was the first time we had the opportunity to take part.

Nick Jackson
I joined the RAF in Aug 1976 as an Armourer mech. My basic training was at Halton and then posted to Coltishall in the Armoury in Feb. '77. A stint at Lossie on the Hunters (2 TWU), fitters course and then posted to 41(F) in May '82. Lots of detachments ensued with the annual pilgrimage to Bardufoss and Laarbruch. Along with varying trips to Villafranca, Deci and Vegas, I was eventually deployed with the Sqn to Bahrain in Oct '90 as part of GW1. After that, detachments to Incirlick living in tents. Although then posted to 6 Sqn in '93 still felt 41(F) gave me the best of times. Favourite parts of being on the Sqn - well I suppose there were too many to mention but living in a fishing hut in Malsevossen cooking up chilli con carn and making oobies comes close to the top. Even GW1 had its perks (as we check-in don't dig in) and getting the jitters because they had run out of John Smiths!!
Sunday was my first time doing the marchpast and as it was I had phoned my Dad the before to tell him I would be marching past with his medals on - (he's 99, captured at Dunkirk and then spent the next 5 years in camps). Shook him a bit I think. Anyway, I think we all did a sterling job at doing military waiting time and trying to keep in step.


Ed Bittel
I took over as SEngO on 41(F) Sqn in May 1985 following previous Jaguar tours at Lossiemouth and as JEngO on 20 Sqn at RAF Bruggen. 41 Sqn was a very different world to the strike-attack operations at Bruggen – no HAS ops and no QRA to support. However, with 22 Jaguars allocated to us we were always busy, especially with detachments. Highlights of the tour are many, but I would pick out meeting SACEUR, General Bernard Rogers, whilst on exercise in Norway, and receiving a written commendation from C-in-C Strike Command for our performance in our 1987 NATO Taceval in Bardufoss. Taking part in the 2018 Parade made me think not only of the sacrifices in 2 World Wars but also those with whom I served on 20 and 41, aircrew and groundcrew alike, who were taken before their time.



Al McFarland
I joined 41(R)TES from the Aerosystems Course in 2014 as the BAE Systems embed at Warton. I took on the role at a time when many of the weapons I knew from my time on the GR4 were being ported onto the Typhoon. It was a unique position to have a first look at the integration work ahead of the Squadron at Coningsby. On reflection it was very gratifying to know that we were all shaping capability for the next generation, something particularly poignant during my last tour.
I had thought that I might get the chance to someday watch the Cenotaph parade from the sidelines, but I never thought for an instant that I would be taking part in the procession. The shear scale of the event was hard to grasp, even whilst we assembled on Horse Guards parade it was hard to judge the enormity of it all until the columns moved off. The silence was all the more stark against the hustle of an absolutely packed Whitehall just moments before. My thoughts turned to those I knew lost in training, on operations and to the scourge of natural causes like cancer.


Phil Couchman
My RAF career and how I got to 41 Squadron?
I joined the RAF in 1987 as an Aircraft Mechanic (electrical).My first posting was to 41(F) Squadron on Jaguars, then posted to 13 Squadron Tornado as a ‘Junior Tech’ after my Fitters course.
During my time I was lucky enough to go on numerous detachments to Norway, Canada, Spain, Sardinia, Germany, USA and Bahrain.
I left the RAF in December 1996.
What was the highlight of your time on 41 Squadron?
Definitely the month long detachment we spent in Texas, taking part in the WWRAM (World Wide Recon Air Meet) competition. Closely followed, if not equalled by the back seat flight in one of the T2 Jaguars.
What it meant to me to be there on Sunday?
A chance to pay my respects to my great Uncle who was killed at the Somme in WW1. Plus the opportunity to represent the association at the Cenotaph in this RAF100 year.

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:

• 08:00: Whitehall opens to the public. The public are advised to arrive early to secure a good view, as space is limited. Please allow time to clear the police security procedures and you are advised not to bring suitcases or large bags.
• 09:00: Royal British Legion (RBL) detachments form up on Horse Guards Parade and in Whitehall.
• 10:00: All detachments march out from Wellington Barracks.
• 11:00: Two minutes silence marked by the firing of guns from King’s Troop on Horse Guards Parade. Cenotaph Service commences.
• 11:25: Cenotaph Service concludes and Royal British Legion detachments disperse past the Cenotaph.
• 12:30: The Nation’s Thank You procession commences
• 13:30: The Nation’s Thank You procession ends

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.”

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.