GOLDEN JUBILEE........
Thread Starter
GOLDEN JUBILEE........
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?
‘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?
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Never, Never, Land
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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!!!!!!!!!!!
Thread Starter
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....
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....
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: England
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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
Ideas on a post card or stuck-down envelope to:-
MOD Blue Peter Office
Whitehall
London
Happy Year to all
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Far far away
Age: 53
Posts: 715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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
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
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Glorious Devon
Posts: 721
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: due south
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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.
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>
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>
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Oz
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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...
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...
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
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
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: ivory tower basement
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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.
Thread Starter
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?
Are the mates in our ex-penal colony being rewarded for their service as well?
Guest
Posts: n/a
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)
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)
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: err not tellin anymore
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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">
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">
Guest
Posts: n/a
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
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