Farewell Maritime
 

To my colleagues and commrades on 201, 120 & 42 Sqns.

Farewell to Martime's finest.


From one who cannot be with you tomorrow to witness the passing of this country's proud MPA tradition, I wish you all the very best.

Be strong of heart when our Standards are cased for the final time, hopeful that one day they will be paraded infront of a new generation of maritme aviators.

Hic et Ubique.

I echo that remark...... Good luck guys and have one for me.

Good luck and best wishes to all on parade today and not forgetting those who have worked hard behind the scenes to make it all possible.

This is a sad end for the worlds best maritime force and I for one will have a very heavy heart after spending over 20 years involved with the Mighty Hunter and RAF Kinloss.

I look back with fond memories of a wonderful station and all the amazing people who I have had the pleasure of working with down the years - thanks one and all; I will miss each and everyone as you move on to pastures new.

My sincere and very best wishes

QTRZulu

AR

Best wishes to all, & I hope for a re-birth of RAF Maritime in the future.

Is that 'Drake's Drum' I hear beating......................

HB (ex St Mawgan Nimrod Line, late 70's)

Good luck in the future to all at Kinloss.

I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve with so many good people.

Hic et Ubique

:D

May I echo all of the above sentiments. The end of an era, of which the RAF can be justifyably proud. I hope the goverment does not come to regret the loss of capability and especially the expertise, dedication and professionalism of all those that served in Maritime. Hold your heads high at Kinloss. Those who know are aware of the importance of the role and that maritime crews often went well beyond the extra mile to ensure the security of the UK. My best wishes to all that I worked with in the air and on the ground on 120,210,42,206 and the OCU.

This is not my photo, but it seems appropriate (apologies if the copyright is held elsewhere). It will also strike a chord at Waddington next month.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...610_1689_n.jpg

Its 61 years since I first proudly joined my first Maritime Squadron. Im very proud to have been associated with the finest. Bitterly dissapointed to see its demise.May the Phoenix rise from the flames of political stupidity.
Ex 2o2. 205. 206 and the fighting 42snd.

Old Hairy

Goodbye 42, CXX and 201.:(

Well done OC42 and everyone else on parade; you all did us proud.:D

That blasted volcanic ash made an appearance in 4 Hangar earlier this afternoon. I certainly got a bit in my eye!

Duncs:ok:

Never been "maritime" but was in 18 Gp for a while. End of an era, RIP to those who fell - bonne chance to those remaining.

Farewell to the Best of the Best
 

Like Duncs I too suffered from that darned ash in the eyes. For a group of men and women who have been sold down the river by a despicable bunch of politicians, they held their heads up high. Although, I was heavy of heart I was proud of you all this afternoon. If there is any justice in the world we will return and yet again wipe the floor with our most able and benevelont allies in the Fincastle.

:{:{:{

One of the most welcome sights on a long range, over water SAR mission , was the mighty hunter. The march through Forres on Tuesday was equally gratifying and extremely well done. Probably the best aircrew marching in the world! Noticed lots of people suffering from that Icelandic dust in the eyes as well!
:D

Aircrew marching?????
 

......I heard (from a usual reliable source) that the SWO had "borrowed" some aircrew to bulk out and "smarten up " the station support flight; and according to that worthy "I never ever thought I'd hear myself say that".
As the others have said it really was very well done - all of it.

Will I survive the hangar party tonight??

The Ancient Mariner

I can hand on heart say that as one of those in the parade today I was truly humbled, honoured and just a little bit sad as the Squadrons said farewell.

The standing ovation as we proudly marched off to an uncertain future certainly brought a lump to the throat and that dammed volcanic ash did get everywhere didn't it!

I am extremely proud to have played such a small part in an all round excellent send-off.

Enjoy the night everyone, we've earned it and deserve it.

I would like to echo the sentiments above, served at Kinloss for a couple of years until demob in '79, spent many happy hours and some great detachments with 120, 201 and 206. I wish all you guys and gals all the best for the future, it was an honour to have served with you.

Very sad - only the SAR sqns linger on as the last vestige of a light blue maritime capability. It's not looking good for the ex-RNAS sqns is it? Only 202, 203, 206, 207, 208, 216 and 230 remain, and all of those could feasibly be gone within 5 years:{

Whatever the future holds, enjoy the party tonight guys.

Good luck and 'Haste Ye Back' Maritime.

Saddened to see the report on Reporting Scotland tonight. Had a great time there from 81-84, at what could be best described as a social club masquerading as an RAF Station.

A few pics as a thanks and a tribute to a great place.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../Nimrod-01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../Nimrod-02.jpg

My last good memory of Kinloss was on this day in 2009, when I went up to photograph the planes in for an exercise. We were treated to a morning and an afternoon sortie by two different airframes, and they both did 6 touch and go's on their return. After getting the obligatory side on record shots, I got right on the centreline on the approach at the bay end to get some shots. I noticed a woman standing off to the side with a small compact camera. I walked over to her and said something along the lines of come over here and you'll get a really good shot. This is the shot I got, and I will always remember the look on her face after the Nimrod passed over our heads.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../Nimrod-03.jpg

Photos
 

Great shots - thanks:ok: :D

Having served at Kinloss from '92 to '99 on the Nimrod Software Team I have some great memories of life at ISK. As previously mentioned it was a great social club. I have no regrets about joining the RAF in '84 and none about leaving in '99. I also have to say that as each year passes I am more and more relieved that I decided to get out of the RAF when I did.

The writing was on the wall when I left. We had LAC's arriving on station with a seriously bad attitude, engendered from the softly softly approach which had been adopted on training stations.

I really wouldn't want to be involved in the politically correct, "touch feely", emasculated organisation that bears the name today.....

Farewell to the mighty one, fantastic squadrons and some wonderful memories.

Godspeed to all those who are venturing into the unknown.