GOLDEN JUBILEE........

[BEagle]

In this the Queen’s Golden Jubilee year, it is interesting to look back upon what we were once able to achieve to commemorate such things. Amongst several old and dusty publications which came my way 15 years ago was the July 1953 edition of ‘Royal Air Force Flying Review’. Here’s what they had to say about what was planned for the 15 Jul 53 Royal Review at RAF Odiham:

‘At mid-day, Her Majesty will inspect a parade consisting of 1125 officers and other ranks drawn from all Commands of the Royal Air Force at home, including the Women’s Royal Air Force, and take the salute at a march past.

After luncheon, which the Queen will take in the Royal Air Force Officers’ Mess at Odiham, in company with the Air Council, Her Majesty will inspect a parade on the airfield of over 300 aircraft, with their crews and maintenance personnel. The aircraft will be drawn from Commands at home, the Royal Air Force element of the Second Allied Tactical Air Force, other Commonwealth Air Forces and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Vehicles and equipments representing all branches of the Services will also be paraded. The Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service, the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, the Royal Observer Corps, the Air Training Corps and the Combined Cadet Force will be represented.

Beginning at 3.40 pm a mass formation of more than 600 aircraft will fly past Her Majesty in Review Order by types. The leading aircraft will be elementary trainers, flying at less than 100mph. Successive formations will fly at increasing speed, ending with the latest jet bombers and fighters, the last aircraft flying past at more than 600 mph. The stream of aircraft will take about half-an-hour to pass the Queen at the saluting base. The aircraft will operate from more than 40 airfields all over Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The mass formation will start to join up between Hemel Hempstead and Watford in Hertfordshire, and then set course for Odiham, the faster aircraft steadily closing in on the slower.’


So, that’s a parade of 1125 personnel, a static display of 300+ aircraft and a flypast of another 600+ operating from more than 40 aerodromes.......I wonder quite what magnificent display we’ll be able to come up with to celebrate the Golden Jubilee? In 1977 there was a static display, flypast and flying display at Finningley (the Defence Minister Fred Mulley fell asleep during the Harrier display......) – anyone know what sort of thing we’re going to be trying to do this year – if there’s anything serviceable?

[General41]

Still think it stinks that those who have not been in the services 5 years are not getting the medal, despite a high number of us having being in more than one operational theatre, unlike most adminers!!!!!!!!!!!

[BEagle]

Perhaps - but I guess that there has to be a line drawn somewhere.

However, at least the criteria are less divisive than the apparent shotgun scattering of the Silver Jubilee medal in 1977....

Personally I think that there should be a separate 'jubilee' clasp added to the Golden Jubilee medal for anyone who was also serving at the time of the Silver Jubilee....

[The Pilgrim]

And you are a general alrady!!! must have a good degree.
Personally I would prefer a pay rise.

[Flying_Padre]

Perhaps HRH will do a whistle stop tour of all operational theatres - that way with the use of smoke, mirors and the odd borrowed yank aircraft, her Royal personage will be convinced the RAF is in fact enormous <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Ideas on a post card or stuck-down envelope to:-
MOD Blue Peter Office
Whitehall
London

Happy Year to all

[D-IFF_ident]

As this is her Golden Jubilee I'm sure it will be a much grander affair than that so many years ago. More Officers and men, more aircraft, more spirit of all things British. Or, perhaps, 3 from a planned 4-ship of some obsolete fighters and best avoid the contracted-out mess food.

[EESDL]

For those of you wishing to have a good night out in Swindon, that doesn't involve a single mother-of-three, we're putting on a 'Celebratory Evening Of Entertainment' at the Wyvern, in honour of Her Majesty. Big Band, local soloist, all proceeds to RAFA.
27 Mar 02 at 7.30pm
Cost £12.00 - Concessions for OAPs and Beagle.

Box Office: 01793 524481
Ticketmaster: 0870 6063570
<a href="http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk" target="_blank">www.ticketmaster.co.uk</a>

And before you question my incentives, those who know me know blah blah..........Just thought it would be an easy way to raise much-needed funds.
AND I'M NOT A LUVVIE

[Flatus Veteranus]

Ah! The 1953 Odiham Review flypast. Did any other PPruners take part? I flew boxman in the leading (Middleton) box of the 25 Group Meteors. Driffield and Worksop contributed the boxes in Vic on us. We were based at Oakington for the rehearsals and the flypast itself and had a wonderful break from the AFS grind. The flypast was brilliantly organised by 11 Group and, for me, the memorable feature (apart from some hairy moments when some formations got a bit too intimate with each other during a rehearsal when the weather was marginal)was the standard of station-keeoing by the "heavies" (Lincolns, Shackletons, Hastings and Washingtons). They used to rumble over the top of Oakington while we were having our lunch.

[only1leftmate!]

Oi General

you can have mine if you promise not to **** your pants with excitement.

[Ex F111]

I was rather hoping for a day off myself.

Let the Reds do the work [as usual].

[henry crun]

I wasn't in the 1953 flypast but watched the dress rehearsal after conveniently fainting (?) just before the first aircraft (a Sycamore) flew past trailing the royal standard.

If anyone is still interested in the event there is an excellent book available called Coronation Wings by Eric Bucklow, isbn 0 951899 6 0 Published by Hikoki Publications in 1998,
email address [email protected]

It has many photos of the ground display with each aircraft listed by serial and position, plus diagrams of the layout etc

It also gives a complete rundown of every aircraft type and serial number that took part in the flypast, pilots name and squadron or unit.
Also included is the map layout of the stations and routes that each formation took.
FV, from this book I see the your leader was GG Farley and there is a photo of your 12 ship formation.

[BEagle]

Excellent! Just ordered a copy from amazon!!

[1.3VStall]

FV,

Driffield, Worksop, Oakington.....doubt if many of today's youngsters realise we once had RAF stations in such places. Add Middleton St George, Acklington, Strubby, Manby, Ternhill, Bassingbourn...oh bu**er, I'd better stop drivelling on before I come to such lovely long-gone places as Chivenor, Gaydon and Little Rissington!

(BEags, let us know what you think of the book - I find myself quite tempted even though they say nostalgia is not what it used to be).

[ 03 January 2002: Message edited by: 1.3VStall ]</p>

[Cougar]

G'day guys,
Which medal would this be? You can't be serious that you get a gong for being in the services during the golden jubilee? <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> Next thing you know we'll be getting them down under for being an associate-jubilee-member-country-of-some-description...

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

1.3vStall - actually Terhill is still very active as a military field. It is the Relief Landing Ground for DHFS at Shawbury. It has a fully equipped tower plus PAR and artificial slopes for landing practice.

It is also the home of 632 VGS with 4 Grob 109b Vigilant T Mk1's and the airfield where I first soloed and where my instrucing career began.

It is a source of constant interest to me to 'spot' old RAF 'dromes up and down the country as I tool around in my 737. Funny that for a country LITTERED with big old airfields we are reportedly and patently short of runways...

WWW

[bluntie]

Hmmmm..."Still think it stinks that those who have not been in the services 5 years are not getting the medal, despite a high number of us having being in more than one operational theatre, unlike most adminers!!!!!!!!!!! ".

Methinks that there is a quote that cannot be backed up in fact. Without adminers the rest couldn't function. (old theme, I know!). "Most adminers" have been in plenty of operational theatres, usually for longer periods than aircrew. Despite your inaccurate waffle, I agree that the 5 year limit is wrong, although a pay rise or a day off would be better than another gong.
:)

[BEagle]

Bluntie - you're certsinly right on this occasion. If HM is gracious enough to grant the award of a medal to commemorate her 50th year on the throne, the sorting criteria should NOT include any branch bias. We are All Of One Air Force after all.

Are the mates in our ex-penal colony being rewarded for their service as well?

[solotk]

Well now the latest buzz is that the reserve forces, some of whom have considerable regular and reserve time, may not get the medal at all, as there are "Not enough to go round"

Great, cheers MOD for making a goodly chunk of qualified manpower, who give up their spare time, in defence of the realm, feel like second class citizens.

But then again, if certain General staff fossils had their way, reserve forces would all be cooks and nurses. How soon they forget Kosovo, and the 5,000 bayonets short they were for that little bunfight

Tony
(seething)

[Gash Handlin]

Pongo,

I've been waiting for that news ever since Trust Me Tone backed down and agreed that the brave boys in blue deserve the medal with just 6 months to go, I was wondering how the hell they'd manage to get enough cast in the short time remaining.

Silly me, I should have known that the reserve forces would get dumped again. The other good rumour I heard recently was that the TA is going to have its role changed to purely home defence, I wonder where all the guys filling posts overseas that the regulars cant because they're understrength are going to come from. But it's ok, I'm sure if it ever does become policy then someone will have thought of that <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[solotk]

Yes, I've heard the same thing too. Then again, we're supposed to be an armoured infantry unit. I applied for a Warrior commanders course, only to be told "No chance".

I find it amazing, elements of the Regular Army (Old fossils)complaining that the TA is a drain on their resources, but trawling like ******s to fill manpower slots. A word to the MOD. We give up our spare time, and few of us,especially the self-employed with companies to run, can afford to deploy for a year as space-fillers.

We are trained to fit into the line, and if MOD, would consider short term deployments, from 4 weeks to 3 months, they'd have a lot more bods signing up for an FTRS type engagement.

I just think the whole thing needs to be run more on National Guard lines, I've worked with them, and we have gone into the pay and conditions at work aspect, and frankly, and this will come as no big surprise, they are valued, we are not.

So being tasked as Home defence yet again, will just lower morale, but at least that's better than the other persistent rumour, that there is another "Options for change" review in the wings.

Tony

[Ralf Wiggum]

General Whoever,

"Still think it stinks that those who have not been in the services 5 years are not getting the medal, despite a high number of us having being in more than one operational theatre, unlike most adminers!!!!!!!!!!!"

You don't want a shiney pice of tin for HRH 50th. They don't really stop bullets!

So much time in and you already feel you understand every Branch/Trade in the mob. Quite right Bluntie & Beagle, I've only managed 21 years to date and I wouldn't imagine slating a Branch or Trade with such abhorent ignorance. All for one ...

[Muff Coupling]

It would appear the civil uniformed services (Fire, Police etc)are to get the medal! But not the "Home Guard"
Whats that all about then? <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

[Flatus Veteranus]

Henry Crun

Thanks for the heads up on the book; will order. Geoff Farley was a bloody good operator and a very nice guy. I wonder what became of him?
Sorry about my late acknowledgement. This box of tricks caught a bad dose over Christmas and had to go to a clinic. <img src="redface.gif" border="0"> <img src="redface.gif" border="0"> <img src="redface.gif" border="0">

[ChristopherRobin]

Number Crunching....

How much do you think it costs for the medal? I don't know, but it's probably peanuts compared to this - you won't (or maybe you will) believe your eyes...

Amount awarded to Forces to help in the fight against Terrorism by HMG - - - £100 million pounds.

Amount required to pay Business Consultants for 6 months' work in the Defence Logistics Organisation last year?


you guessed it! £100 million pounds!

...so you can't blame them for wanting to save a few quid here or there, errrrr hang on...I'll get me coat.

[Fg Off Max Stout]

4 years as a member of the RAFVR doing EFT on the UAS and 18 months doing BFT AFT etc in the RAF don't add up to me collecting my first bit of metalwork. It grips to know that some traffic warden somewhere will be wearing their gong with pride whilst a good proportion of the forces won't be. Better extend my commission to 25 years and hope HM hangs in there until her next jubilee. <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

[Wee Jock]

We all got a day off for HM's Silver Jubilee, seem to remember getting drunk in the NAAFI. The medal distribution was only a handful per unit and people like the SWO (remember them?) copped them. The best bit was definitely the Red Mullet falling asleep during the display at Finningley. She didn't look best pleased...

<img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">