BBMF Commanding Officers

[Buster11]

Could anyone point me in the direction of a list of past BBMF Commanding Officers please. On this occasion Google does not appear to be my friend.

[threeputt]

Very Good friend of my dad's was the first (if memory serves) - Sqn Ldr Ken (Jacko) Jackson.

[Exrigger]

Don't know if these are of use:

https://www.lancasterassociation.co....rs-of-the-bbmf

https://www.memorialflightclub.com/b...ommanding-bbmf

[ShyTorque]

“Jacko” did my R/T licence exam many years ago, after he left the RAF and first took over as CFI at Sherburn.

I recall his dry sense of humour. During a discussion about standards of local flying his answer was “Probably have another one through the far hedge any day now…”

He wasn’t disappointed.

[Sleeve Wing]

I know that a friend, the late Pete Thorne, was one of the earliest members of what became BBMF. Perhaps he commanded the Flight for a period in the early days ?

[CAEBr]

Don't have the early years, but for this century -
2003 Clive Rowley
2006 Al Pinner
2009 Ian Smith
2012 Dunc Mason
2015 Andy Millikin
2018 Mark Discombe
2021 Marc Sugden
2024 Mark Long (Designate)

[Archimedes]

Originally Posted by CAEBr

Don't have the early years, but for this century -
2003 Clive Rowley
2006 Al Pinner
2009 Ian Smith
2012 Dunc Mason
2015 Andy Millikin
2018 Mark Discombe
2021 Marc Sugden
2024 Mark Long (Designate)

I have a feeling that Clive Rowley succeeded Paul Day ('The Major') as OC and that the latter was in post for quite some time. Others will know better, though.

[Lima Juliet]

Originally Posted by Archimedes

I have a feeling that Clive Rowley succeeded Paul Day ('The Major') as OC and that the latter was in post for quite some time. Others will know better, though.

The Major was 96-03 and before that it was Rick Groombridge (“G+10”) from about 93-96

https://www.aircrewinterview.tv/rick...bbmf-lancaster

[NRU74]

Is 'pontifex' still on this site ? He could give some useful info pre 2003.

[GeeRam]

I have a vague recollection John Ward was OC during the mid 80's...?

[Buster11]

Many thanks, Exrigger and CAEBr; your two replies give all the coverage I needed. All within 8 hours; the power of PPRuNe, eh?

[mopardave]

Originally Posted by ShyTorque

“Jacko” did my R/T licence exam many years ago, after he left the RAF and first took over as CFI at Sherburn.

I recall his dry sense of humour. During a discussion about standards of local flying his answer was “Probably have another one through the far hedge any day now…”

He wasn’t disappointed.

"Jacko" sent me solo from Sherburn. A truly formidable character.....and so was his wife, Betty! It was always "snug" in a C150 with "Jacko" along for the ride!! They don't make 'em like that anymore. His two volume autobiography is an astounding read. By incredible coincidence, I finished reading it the day he died. There was another WW2 veteran instructing there at the time....."Dinger" Bell??? Apologies for slight thread drift. Ah well.

[gwynorod]

Was Tony Banfield OC BBMF at some point?

[Haraka]

Originally Posted by gwynorod

Was Tony Banfield OC BBMF at some point?

c.1986 IIRC

[radar101]

Try this facebook page - they have been discussing it there

(16) Facebook

"Commanding. BBMF. Sqn Ldr Ken Jackson AFC 1977- 1981 Sqn Ldr C S M Anderson 1981-1984 Sqn Ldr Tony Banfield 1984-1987 Sqn Ldr Colin Paterson 1987-1991 Sqn Ldr Andy Tomalin 1991-1994 Sqn Ldr Rick Groombridge, Paul Day,, Clive Rowley, ......"

In 1987 I got Colin Paterson's posting notice by mistake - since I don't fly I thought it was a bit strange.

[pr00ne]

Originally Posted by mopardave

"Jacko" sent me solo from Sherburn. A truly formidable character.....and so was his wife, Betty! It was always "snug" in a C150 with "Jacko" along for the ride!! They don't make 'em like that anymore. His two volume autobiography is an astounding read. By incredible coincidence, I finished reading it the day he died. There was another WW2 veteran instructing there at the time....."Dinger" Bell??? Apologies for slight thread drift. Ah well.

Apols for off topic, what was the title of the book(s)?

[mopardave]

Originally Posted by pr00ne

Apols for off topic, what was the title of the book(s)?

"Fifty Two Years in the Cockpit"......vols one and two. Absolutely rivetting read.