But ther
e were fall-backs of 208, because the F-117 had a targeting system in it, and it all falls back to the early experiences of tactics and things with Pave Spike and the laser-guided bombs that really prepared me for going to the USA. Then, later down the road in 93 / 94 time, I was a project pilot for the installation of the TIALD (Thermal Imaging and Laser Designation) targeting pod on the Jaguar: the first single-seat aeroplane in the RAF that had a targeting pod, and I fell back very heavily on the experiences I had from the QWI Course, from Trial Tropical, and from all the experience with Pave Spike to be able to do that, and those are the sorts of things that it set me up to do.
I have spent most of the last 25 years as a tutor at ETPS and, again, a lot of the background I had has helped me to do that. What has that job been all about? – it has been the best job in the world for going out and flying other people’s aeroplanes, and I have had the opportunities to fly a lot of aeroplanes that I won’t bore you with – we can talk about that in the bar afterwards. But it’s been fantastic opportunities, and here I am at quite advanced years. I am sure nobody of my age has ever been called a ‘boy’ before, so it’s great. My kids are now 23 and 26, and I think about what I was doing at their age. At 23, I was flying the Hunter; at 26, I was doing the QWI Course, and I am still doing the same stuff now. I am still flying Tornados for the Test Squadron; single-seat Hunters as they come in and out of the door. I have been exceptionally lucky.
But, if I look back at the single most underpinning thing in all of this, I think it was the fact that as the sole first-tourist on the Squadron, there were its Squadron commanders and execs who gave me the opportunities, who pushed me forward, soaked up the mistakes to help me to develop, and that is the single, biggest influence that you guys gave me in my career going forwards. It has been a phenomenal opportunity, and it is because of you as individual people, and the whole culture on 208. The navs I flew with, again, phenomenal support: Bobby, Dutch, Graham was my nav at one stage, Gordon Robertson and obviously, T-R for the displays as well. Huge, huge support there. I don’t think that I’d have had the career that I have had, had I not started off on 208 Squadron with those people there. So, to you all, thank you.
The President thanked the ‘Boy’ for the last in the series of ‘Life on 208’. It brought together a whole raft of stories that showed that the spirit of 208 Squadron continues. Before the assembled guests retired to the Cowdray Bar for more reminiscing, the President asked everyone to raise their glasses one more time for a toast to 208 Squadron in its 100th year:
“208 Squadron”
