Ian Macfadyen gets a Nice Surprise !!

[gayford]

http://www.windsorex...or-24072014.htm

And about time too, have a long and happy retirement Sir.

[CoffmanStarter]

Gayford ...

Your Link appears to be broken ...

Surprise knighthood for retiring Windsor Castle governor (http://www.windsorexpress.co.uk/News/Areas/Windsor/Surprise-knighthood-for-retiring-Windsor-Castle-governor-24072014.htm)

[langleybaston]

Guetersloh Lightnings c. 1967 perhaps? Rings a bell.
19 squadron?

[glad rag]

The run down of the F4 was far from glorious for us 'erks. Tired airframes and systems meant long days and longer nights for those who toiled, without support it must be said, towards the end.

Despite the hours, frustrations, HPS and gas,gas,gas one moment is still clear today as it was almost 30 years ago....

So, the Stn Cmdr was out to lunch, in the northernmost outpost of RAF Leuchars at the Sqdn feeder in fact.

Things weren't too bad [ok once you'd checked the bread for mould] in the feeder, hot free grub can go a long way to keep your average 'erk happy with his LOT [sorry Courts ;) ] and this day were were told to be on our best as the staish was coming and "behave", so, stuff that we thought...

Anyway in comes harry the staish, gets his slops and then with a nod, walks past the aircrews little partitioned den and straight to the set of pulled together tables, where us oily 'erks were, by now, realising it was game on...

The tables were pretty rammed [we were a brotherhood after all] but undaunted Sir Macfadyen grabbed a chair in passing with the words "move over lads".

Conversation at the table was perhaps slightly stilted [I would like to think most were tinkering how to say something meaningful without swearing] but it certainly made a strong impression on the boys, such a little gesture meant so much...

He left with a wry smile and a good idea of the problems we faced. :ok:

His affectionate nickname was macfadyin the bad yin to us 'erks.

[Wholigan]

Bloody good news. Congrats Fadge.

[Alex Lovell]

From a personal point of view I owe him a lot of thanks for his help to me in 2011

Congratulations!!

[Wander00]

Brilliant! Could never understand why it took so long. Never forget the grin with which he greeted me on arrival at Watton when we became part of Strike Command, and he arrived as ADC to our new CinC. He had been an SUO on I think D Sqn at the Towers when I was a fairly junior cadet on "A", but he was a gentleman even to junior cadets back then. Many congratulations.

[Courtney Mil]

Absolutely fantastic news. Carol and I offer our warmest congratulations to both Fadge and and Sally. Will you be Sir Ian or Sir Fadge?

[MPN11]

Guetersloh Lightnings c. 1967 perhaps? Rings a bell.
19 squadron?
And then The 74th Fleet of Foot at Tengah, IIRC.

Whichever, congrats Sir. :ok:

[cuefaye]

Long overdue - congratulations!

[smujsmith]

Top result,

I never met or served under the man, I did deliver some important equipment on his way to his past five years, and was honoured to meet his lovely wife. All the best for your futures both.

Smudge :ok:

[goudie]

Good story's here about a man who was, obviously, the epitome of a RAF Officer.
Congratulations Sir.
I was fortunate enough to serve under a few good officers of his ilk.

[Wander00]

Hope Fadge gets to see the messages

[Rocket2]

Many congratulations Sir from Mr & Mrs R2 - hope we meet up again soon

[grobbling about]

As a first-tourist JEngO on the RAF's premier fighter sqn (the one with a chicken on the tail) I first met Sir Ian when he took over command of the Air Forces of the Kingdom of Fife. For several days he arrived on the squadron, planned, briefed and walked out, only to walk back in following a crew-in snag. Oh the joys of the mighty F4.

Then, on a further attempt, I heard that the Staish was crewing out again this timedue to a hydraulic problem. Sensing the opportunity for some career building face-time I donned ear-defenders and bravely walked out to the line to find him kneeling under the wing of the aircraft watching hydraulic fluid dripping from a mainwheel well. I joined the Staish under the wing and after a few moments uttered the phrase "you really should stop doing this to my aircraft, sir"....I thought the glare lasted for ever but it was probably only milliseconds before the smile broke through.

On another note, my wife joined me at Leuchars for her introduction to RAF life. She subsequently found herself in Ninewells Hospital with complications prior to delivery of our first child. Sally was a regular visitor, leaving Mrs Grob with an indellible image of the RAF family and a model to follow in the future.

Fantastic news.

[dragartist]

Can you folks who know him ask him to publish a book with all his Falkland island photos. He came to the Victory Club to give us a fascinating talk on the subject. A recurring theme in his talk was the make shift ablution blocks.


Real down to earth chap and a well deserved and long overdue award.

[1.3VStall]

ga,

Good post, but 92 Sqn was the RAF's top-scoring squadron in WWII - and in the Cold War with a Jaguar kill!:) Hence the RAF's premier fighter squadron: no arguments!

Oh - and many congratulations to "Fadge", a fellow glider pilot.

[matkat]

remember him as the staish at Leuchars I maybe wrong as a lot of beers and years have gone by but did he not take over from the 'Scottish officer'? either way at total great OC and congrats from an erk to.

[grobbling about]

Probably not too many beers Matkat. Sir Ian replaced the honourable Timothy E but was subsequently replaced by the Scottish Stn Cdr.

[matkat]

Thanks for that GA.

[teeteringhead]

Did not someone suggest on the recent thread on the HCAP Royal Banquet that "Sir Fadge" was long overdue?

Maybe HM reads Pprune :eek::eek::eek:

[Wander00]

A certain Air Attache got a similar, albeit slightly lower grade, surprise when HM visited Paris recently. Congratulations Air Cdre J... M... CBE

[X767]

Having started my RAF career with Ian on D squadron at RAF Cranwell in 1960, he has always impressed me as a thoroughly professional pilot and leader.
This award is well deserved - well done Sir Ian and Lady Sally !!

[Flying Lawyer]

Excellent news!

Sir Ian had already retired from the RAF before we met but my experience of him through the Honourable Company of Air Pilots fully reflects the compliments paid by those who served with him.


Hope Fadge gets to see the messagesI've sent him the link.

[Wander00]

FL - great - many thanks


W

[Sandy Wings]

Delighted for you and Sally well deserved indeed!!! Was lucky enough to be presented my wings by Ian.
Best wishes from SW and Mrs SW!!!

[Fg Off Bloggs]

Worked for him in OR when he was ACDS OR(Air). An absolute gentleman and a good boss. Last saw him when I reincarnated into a senior roll at DIOT and he came to review a graduation parade. By then he was an Air Marshal and by then he was on gardening leave in his last months in the service void of the trappings of senior rank (ie. no ADC or PSO). Before he retired he was desperate to review the cadets at graduation as he wanted to parade with his father's sword one last time, I seem to recall. He duly arrived and overnighted with the Comdt in The Lodge. On the morning of the parade he pulled his No1 out of its suit bag and was appalled to see that he had brought his old AVM uniform rather than his spankingly smart AM uniform! Undeterred he slipped into his tired costume and climbed on board the limo with the Comdt for the short drive to the parade square in front of CHOM. It was my duty to greet him and then follow the Comdt and the RO to the dais along the carpet in front of the grandstands. As I did so, I was amused to note that not only was the AM posing as an AVM but the backside of his trousers had a huge gash in them and his shirt tail was poking through! He didn't appear to give a damn (if he actually knew)!

Good old McFadge - a great man and well worth the knighthood - never could understand why they changed the rules about automatic for a 3-star just before he got his 3rd! If anybody deserves it, he does!

Bloggs

[manxcat]

This is a very well deserved honour for a truly selfless man.

I first met Sir Ian in 2001 when he was Lieutenant Governer in the Isle of Man, and I attended an Air Power lecture he delivered at the Manx Museum. So inspiring was the topic and his anecdotes that I ended up on IOT the following year.

Such was the mark of the man, whilst I was off-island, that akin to being a nominated individual when OOA he called Mrs manxcat to check on her and my young son's welfare. Unbeknownst to me Sir Ian also called DIOT to determine my progress in training which led to much eyebrow raising by the DS that an AM would be asking after me while on FLC.

I later came across Sir Ian several years later during one of his many charitable ventures when I was involved with the RAF Disabled Holiday Trust and he was in attendance on behalf of the RAFBF. Even then he remembered me - the mark of great leader of men.

From what I've read, he was one of the best CAS we never had. Very many congratulations Sir Ian on your Knighthood.