Tapster

KENNYR

Like you Ive been continually searching for news. The site appears to have been down for several hours and I think the resident team have to eat and sleep sometime.

Keep up your sterling work chaps.

Orrabest to Spot , Sue, the Defence team and especially to all who are keeping us abreast of developments.

Taps

G&J

Your friends have always believed implicitly in your ability and your integrity, and the injustice of these trumped up charges. Now at least, even though it has been a nightmare for you both, you have been publicly ecsonerated by Mike Jones' ecsellent summing up (sorry, our keyboard has no crosses - we think it's Welsh!). And everyone, even those who don't understand RIS, can now see and clearly comprehend that there is no case to answer and never has been.

Best wishes for today, and we hope you have as relacsing weekend as you can. The spare bed is already made up for you down here in Pembrokeshire, in case you would like to get away from everything. The beer's in the fridge, and we'll be thinking of you lots.

love, Jane and Guy. (I can't send kisses, so have some hugs oooooooooooo)

PS Ben Affleck for Spot, and Gwyneth Paltrow for Sue - is Jack Nicholson horrible enough for the prosecutor? How about Danny De Vito for Al Turner? Vinnie Jones for Chris Foster is an obvious choice, though perhaps not intelligent enough (Chris deserves an awful lot of the beer!)

A I

Spot & Sue,

You don't know me (although I did bump into Doleman once in a previous life) but from one long in the tooth civvie ATCO, Good Luck - you shouldn't need it!

I, and many colleagues, have been following this since before the CM and from all those anonymous people out here, may I wish you all the best.

AI

RubiC Cube

Spot & Sue,

Your case has been discussed extensively at work and not one member of any branch or service believes:

1. that the case should have been brought in the first place and

2. that anything other than an acquittal would be a gross miscarriage of justice.

We've probably met in the dim and distant past, whether in person or over the airwaves, and I just wish you both all the best when this is satisfactorily concluded.

If it lasts until Monday, have a good weekend. If its over today, have an even better one.

RubiC Cube

call-it-5

Spot, Sue & Team

It won't be long now before you can put this whole nightmare behind you. I have been taking the updates into work every day and want to let you know that the WHOLE sqn, from SATCO down (and beleive me you have to go a long way down to reach me!) can't beleive, that given the evidence, it has got this far! However, you are nearly at the end and there can only be one just outcome.

Hopefully you are getting the feeling from this forum of just how many people, many who have never met you, are supporting you from afar. After this is all over I don't think there will be many happy hours you will be able to go to and not be bought a drink.

To the Team.

A massive thank you for all the info and updates. We needed to hear all of the details of this and without the hard work you have put in, that would not have happened.

Terminal Man

Spot & Sue,

At last - the farce draws to a close and all your friends and supporters wait with baited breath for the right outcome early next week. The roar will be heard around the world thanks to PPRune and the team's excellent updates.

God willing this will be the last weekend that you must endure with this weight on your shoulders - so keep looking forward to next weekend when the weight will be gone, the sun shining and the birds singing once more!

PS What a star you've found in Mike Jones - he deserves to be a busy man for the rest of his career and has surely taken over as the new Gilbert Blades!

aluminium persuader

Spot & Sue

I can't begin to comprehend the amount of suffering you've been through. Keep going - the end of the tunnel is nigh, and beers await.

ap.

Seniorsup

SPOT AND SUE
The end is surely close, what a great job the defence team has done our thanks go out to them all. Thanks to to the boys for keeping us up to date, my first port of call after shift has been PPrune for news, and in the last few days it's been getting better and better.
Spot keep your chin up over the w/end the result can only be aquittal we all know this.
All pur team down south are routing for you and although we cannot be with you next week your are on all our minds and in our hearts
Seniorsup

Hawkspar

It was really good to read about the Defence team in full flow! They've done a grand job.

The Prosecution is quite obviously trying to "fudge it" because they know it's the only way they'll get a result. And we all know better. "Give a prosecuter enough rope..."

And once again a big thank you to those keeping us up to date.

Thinking of you all

Kaz

railwaystand

I cannot imagine how awful this must be for Spot and family. The only silver lining is that it will make the obvious acquittal even sweeter.

Thanks to everyone for the updates. It is very difficult to get info from this distance and they have done a sterling job.

Fingers crossed for a quick result next week. My thoughts and good wishes go to everone helping, particularly to Spot, a decent bloke.

Paul Beat, if you read this drop me a PM.

Gisajob

Spot,

I would imagine that every pilot and controller reading the evidence fully understands that these two jets went VMC below. The descent profile and the evidence of the hill walkers prove that fact beyond any doubt. What happened to the jets next is conjecture and has no part to play in your CM. So, we all know that you have no case to answer, you did your job just as all other RAF ATCOs would have done. Just remember that and draw comfort from it.

Well done to the support team, you have done a fantastic job and deserve all the congratulations being heaped upon you.

What a sad time for the RAF ATC branch tho’…

Here’s looking forward to the Acquittal decision.

Keep Smiling Spot & Sue.

Gisajob

DICK DOLEMAN

Hi,

Just jumped over from posting on the update forum to clear up a question that someone has asked.

The one bit of information missing in this whole charade is "the time". The time of crash would clear up many of the questions. Seismology info was requested but no data was available.

The aircraft, we are told, did not carry reliable clocks.

Apparently, the pilot's watches were not recovered from the crash site. They might have given a clue.

I have been told that every tenth model of the F15c was fitted with a flight data recorder but how accurate this information is I do not know. One of the aircraft tail letters indicates a 10th model. However, the USAF has never volunteered any information regarding flight data recorders.

Hope this helps.

Dick Doleman

Wrote8

Dear Spot

Back at home (and work today). Just a few thoughts:

1. The reporting and updates from your team (Dick D, Tommy T and Renrut) has been quite outstanding.

2. You also appear to have been blessed not only with an amazing family and great mates, but also superb support and brilliant legal representation (huge thanks to GATCO must be given for that last point - thank god there is such a well-intentioned group).

3. How any organisation - let alone one that you have served so well over so many years (witness the stream of well-wishes from your peers, superiors, studes et al on this site), could envisage such a debacle as a means of reconciling such a tragic event with a decent outcome is not only beyond me, but frankly makes me quite ashamed to have been part of such a shoddy service.

4. Like Dick, Micky D, Al T and many others who post here, I have seen both sides of the "fence" (not only in the military sense, having been an ATCO and SATCO, but also as a civil ATCO and Watch Manager). I find it reprehensible that you have been completely "dumped", hung out to dry and discarded by your so called superiors. I wonder if any of them would have been prepared to operate in such a complex environment as you so soon after the awful family circumstances you had endured? Funny how a "boss" can always find a good reason to do something less taxing when they want to isn't it?

5. Its of little consequence I guess, but I do find myself looking over the way I discharge my responsibilities with maybe a bit more awareness than before - I may still be a pain in ar5e to work with, but at least I try to offer something for the pain!

Finally, at the start of what may well seem like the longest and most gut-wrenching weekend of your and Sue's lives, take heart from the thought that there are hundreds of us out here wishing it over and for a just outcome to at least bring some dignity to what has been nothing short of shambolic, tawdry and shameful. You, the families of the aircrew and those who care for each one of you deserve some peace and a chance to get on with the rest of your lives. I remember best your bashful smile mate - don't let that be hidden for too long, its effect on you and those in its beam are too precious!

As Mike Tasker's favourite Val Doonican song goes "walk tall, walk straight and look the world right in the eye" (I think he has a cardigan to go with the rocking chair too!).

All the best

Stu Bingham

Dances with Boffins

Brian Young mentioned this in conversation today, so hunted down the site on the web.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1244487.stm

Here's the relevant bit.

Eyewitness Fred Lawson, who was in the area with his wife, said: "We were driving along the Linn of Dee towards Braemar and this jet came straight at us.
"I said to my wife Susan, 'this is extraordinary, it looks totally out of control', whereupon it veered way up into the sky, turned left, and went north towards Ben Macdui into a heavy snow storm.
"A second one came following it looking as if it was under control and I just said 'that's amazing'."
Mr Lawson said the planes were flying "extremely low", at a height of about 200m.
He said visibility was good when he saw the planes, but they headed towards heavy snow and blizzards.

The point is, if this pair are the F15s, then they were visual below, and thus no case.
If this pair was the Tornados, they WERE in trail, and thus the pair seen by the other eye-witnesses had to be the F15s, who were visual below, and thus no case.

This is from the BBC, Mr Crown Prosecuter, 2 days after the event.

WHY ARE YOU PERSECUTING THESE PEOPLE?

Spot and Sue

I pray that I will never experience a fraction of what you have had to go through. I will miss the events of next week, but with the support of the FABULOUS team that you have around you, you will triumph.

DWB [Flt Lt, retired, & ashamed of his former employer]

Stretch

Spot & Family

Good Luck

Stretch

jetfour

Spot & Family,

There are thousands of us rooting for you (and justice.) A long week-end but "keep the faith."

Regards,
jetfour

Lowtimer

Spot,

Just an ordinary PPL but grinding around East Anglia and up and down the East coast I get a lot of service from RAF controllers and always appreciate it. The first day I heard of this case it seemed impossible that a controller could be put in the dock as a result of flight into terrain when terrain clearance was clearly the responsibility of the aircraft.

I'm amazed the prosecution has decided to go the distance given the absurdity of the basic premise, and the pasting they've had from your excellent defence. It's dragged on far too long already - however, in our house and I'm sure in many other places where pilots and controllers drink, there's a bottle on ice, awaiting the good news. The missus and I look forward to drinking your health.

Best wishes!!

Crusty Old Git

Still a serving military Atco, who like so many was instructed by Spot late 89(those pickled walnuts were gopping!!).

Late to the site, but in time to say all the best Spot, it will go your way I`m sure. Thinking of you and Sue this weekend.

COG

Brian Dixon

Dear Spot & Sue,

The beer has been placed in the fridge ready to toast your health after this weekend. I hope that this intolerable situation is resolved as soon as possible next week.

A beer has already been raised in honour of your outstanding defence team and to your supporters on scene. A sincere vote of thanks to Dick et al, for the superb summaries posted, after what was almost certainly a long and tiring day for you all.

You should take great comfort from all the messages of support over the past few weeks. Take a look at how many people registered on PPRuNe to post their support!

To everyone - Your Health!!

Regards
Brian

Matoman

Spot,

Our paths have crossed a number of times over the years and like everyone else in the Specialisation, I hope you and Sue will draw what comfort you can from the wholehearted support of all your colleagues during this awful weekend.

Everone owes Dick Doleman, Mike Tasker and Al Turner many, many drinks for their outstanding work during this CM. I know that if I had ever found myself in the same situation as Spot, I would have felt proud and very thankful to have had men of their experience, character and integrity in my corner.

Justice will prevail, sooner or later. Either way I would like to suggest that this scandalous waste of public money should not go uncontested. We need to establish exactly who decided to launch this farce and why.

A letter to my local MP has already been drafted and I would hope many more of you decide to follow suit.

Matoman