Letter from the Squadron - 2013

…... for charity.  Phil has since left 208 Sqn and is currently serving 12 months in the Falklands. Unfortunately as 208 Sqn was on the verge of being disbanded it has not been possible to support a display during the 2013 season but we remain hopeful if not confident for future seasons.

As the Sqn drew down over the course of 2012 we saw plenty of staff and students leave the unit with many of them moving onto new and exciting roles.  Several members of the Sqn were selected for exchange posts, with Flt Lt Andy Watson heading to California to fly the F-18, Flt Lt Nick Jewsbury heading to Canada also to fly the F-18, Flt Lt Dave Griffiths heading to France to fly the Alpha Jet and Flt Lt Will Rickets heading to Holland to fly the F-16.  One of the Sqn’s ‘creamie’ instructors has also been selected for an exchange, with Flt Lt Will Macdonald due to take up a post later this year as an AV-8B Harrier pilot with the United States Marines.  In due course Will should progress to fly the F-35 Lightning II.  Several of the recent Navy students, including Lt Rob Hunt who provided the photo below, have now started their carrier training with the United States Navy on the Goshawk.  They too should progress to the F-18 in the fullness of time.

Despite the long list of departed instructors those that remain have still managed to squeeze some opportunities for fun and adventure out of the Sqn, with detachments to Gibraltar for air combat training and tours for QFI training. There have been Overseas Training Flights to Sweden, Italy, Malta and Hungary along with a mountain bike expedition to Italy, sailing in the Channel Islands and skiing in Austria.  Although there has been plenty of fun there has also been some serious work with Flt Lt Jules Fleming recently returning to the Sqn following an Out of Area Detachment to Qatar working in the Combined Air Operations Centre and Sqn Ldr Jamie Buckle recently returning on promotion after a short posting with the Marines in Plymouth.

So after a year of uncertainty and doubt, 208 Sqn can now start to rebuild its strength as we prepare to meet the new training tasks which should continue to grow over the forthcoming year.  I look forward to being able to update you about our progress at the annual dinner in October.

- Wing Commander Nick Gatenby

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