NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2009 25
rm As proved when he joined Mr “The Fleet Air Arm came back The Dean of St Pauls, the Right
It Moffat and Capt Eric ‘Winkle’ from the Falklands to huge acclaim Reverend Graeme Knowles, told
ve Brown – Britain’s greatest test – quite rightly so given the huge the congregation that service in
hat pilot – in a champagne toast to numbers of Argentine aircraft it the Armed Forces was often a
rs, naval aviators. faced. We were outnumbered, hidden service, which only came
ets “I think this celebration is a fine perhaps by ten to one. to light when it hit the newspapers
gesture by today’s Royal Navy – “The emphasis since has been or television.
ed they have pushed the boat out for on land-based war.” “You are sitting surrounded by
es, the veterans,” said Lt Cdr Lee. David Morgan is one of the ‘few’, Naval heroes in marble, but sitting
he It is understandable, perhaps, to borrow a distinction from an next to you is someone who may
Air that the focus at such events is earlier aerial battle, immortalised have offered that service in a quiet
on those who fly, the aces, the by Brian Hanrahan’s commentary way,” he told the congregation.
on observers, the aircrewmen, the “I counted them all out and I He said: “Our peace – yours
ve gunners, so it’s worth reminding counted them all back.” and mine – depends on those
ite people that those magnificent It was fitting that the veteran who serve us. We send them
o’, men (and women) in their flying broadcaster should be chosen to act on our behalf, and it is
se’ machines count for nothing to report on the Fleet Air Arm’s our responsibility to see they go
eet without magnificent men (and 100th birthday. out to act on our behalf fully
of women) on the ground (or steel “Should the Royal Navy still be in supported and equipped.
AF leviathan) looking after them. the business of aircraft carriers?” Service in the Armed Forces,
to “We cannot work without them he asked David Morgan. he said, required qualities of
and they cannot work with out us,” The Falklands, the former compassion, kindness, humility
bly Lt Anna Harvey, Illustrious’ deputy Harrier pilot reminded him, were and patience.
t’s air engineer officer, explained a salutary lesson “They are not negative qualities
or succinctly. “It’s a chicken and “We could not have carried – if they are not found in those
to egg situation. out that operation, retaken the who serve us, they will not do
ior “It’s nice for people to mention islands without carriers, without their job well. If we do not begin
nd us. People remember the aviators, those aircraft.” our service with the peace of
wer but air engineers and mechanics Christ at the core of our being,
ore have been lost in battle as well.”
It is a lesson we should never
forget – and hopefully those
then we will misjudge what we’ve
been called to do,” he said.
ds
It is easy at these events to in the corridors of power have
The service remembered the
ks
remember the past yet forget finally learned.
6,749 RNAS and Fleet Air Arm
Cdr
the future. By its 110th birthday, the Fleet
personnel who have lost their lives
rm
Celebrate, yes. Air Arm will have two shiny new
in 100 years of naval aviation.
sh
Commemorate, most definitely. aircraft carriers – HM Ships Queen
But do not forget the future. Elizabeth and Prince of Wales –
The traditional bosun’s call
piped the ‘still,’ as the Fleet Air
he
“We should not take our eye off and some shiny new aircraft, the
Arm Roll of Honour, six leather-
he
the ball and assume that there will Joint Strike Fighter, to fly from
bound Books of Remembrance
in
no requirement for naval aircraft them.
in the future.” “There has been a lot of debate
which list every name, were laid
on the altar in a replica of a burial
on
“It’s not something you can just about the future of the Fleet Air
at sea.
he
pull out of your back pocket. It Arm, but the next ten years should
takes a long time to build up that be a decade of ascendancy,” says
The books were brought to
St Paul’s from their usual home,
me
expertise.” Lt Cdr Paul Stone emphatically.
the Fleet Air Arm Memorial
ed,
And this from a former RAF He was the last Commanding
Church, St Bartholomew’s, at
our
man... Officerr of 800 NAS in its Sea
RNAS Yeovilton. They were left
est
David Morgan downed Harrier incarnation.
four Argentine aircraft – two He has clocked up more than
on display after the service in
helicopters, two Skyhawks – in 3,500 flying hours in more than
the candle-lit Crypt of St Paul’s,
his 800 NAS Sea Harrier over the 100 different types of aircraft.
beside Nelson’s tomb and close
Falklands. He still flies today – a veteran
to those of Jellicoe, Beatty and
● Sea Kings of 771 and 849 NAS lead Lynx from 702 NAS and Jungly Sea Kings of the Commando
Sea Hurricane in his spare time –
Cunningham, all Admirals of the
Helicopter Force in Balbo formation over HMS Illustrious at Greenwich (out of shot are the Merlins of
and tests aircraft for BAE, as well
Fleet who had a special interest
824 NAS leading the fl ypast)
as continuing to serve his nation
in aviation.
in the RNR.
Among those leading the
“This is an exciting age. New
prayers of intercession were
aircraft carriers which will always
Captain Brown, the Fleet Air
draw the crowds. Now add a
Arm’s most decorated pilot, and
very, very good aircraft in the
Sea Harrier pilot Commander
Joint Strike Fighter and it should
Abe Orchard, author of the most
be a really important period
recent volume on modern-day
for the Fleet Air Arm,” the pilot
Fleet Air Arm operations, Joint
emphasises.
Force Harrier.
“The Fleet Air Arm has always
Actress Kristin Scott Thomas,
been the lesser understood part
daughter of a Fleet Air Arm pilot
of the Armed Forces.
who died in a Sea Vixen in 1966,
“It’s important to bring these
and step-daughter of a pilot
historical deeds to the public
who died in a Phantom in 1971,
conscience.
read ‘the aviator’s poem’ John
“There is a strand of aviation
Magee’s poem High Flight.
other than flying from the land. Oh! I have slipped the surly
“We have a deep, deep bonds of Earth
heritage, a vast amount of history, And danced the skies on
a rich culture. All this needs to be laughter-silvered wings...
celebrated.”
And it was. Aboard Illustrious
After the service, the Prince of
(there was a birthday dinner for
Wales took the Royal Salute as
350 guests). Over Illustrious (the
the Guard from HMS Illustrious,
flypast and a stunning firework
serving members of the Fleet Air
display to bring the curtain down
Arm and veterans marched past
on the day). And in the hallowed
the cathedral as the Band of the
surroundings of St Paul’s.
Royal Marines played Heart of
More than 2,000 people
Oak.
gathered in Sir Christopher
HMS Illustrious is affiliated to
Wren’s great house of worship,
the City of London and members
among them the Prince of Wales,
of the ship’s company supported
the Duchess of Cornwall and the
the service, lining the steps
Duke of York, Admiral Stanhope,
of St Paul’s as guests arrived.
veterans and family members,
Afterwards receptions were held
and dignitaries from the City of
at the Guildhall, Merchant Taylors’
London.
Hall and Skinners’ Hall.
The Queen’s Colour of the Fleet
“This is a great occasion. It’s
Air Arm was presented at the
wonderful seeing so many people
● A 771 NAS Search and Rescue Sea King – painted in original 1969 livery – performs in front of 9,000
Dome altar during the first hymn.
here to celebrate,” said Capt
people during a display laid on over the birthday weekend on the Thames and (below) HMS Illustrious’
Brown.
ship’s company line her upper decks for the carrier’s arrival at Greenwich
“The fly-past over Illustrious
showed the helicopters in all their
glory – I just wish we’d had the
Harriers as well.”
He added: “I had a wonderful
day in the ship. Just to see the
enthusiasm and dedication of
young men and women around
the flight deck gave me great
hope for future generations.”
pictures: po(phot) christine wood, and la(phot) kelly mcalinden, hms illustrious; la(phots) caroline davies and knotty knott, frpu east; oli scarff, getty images; paul osborne
023-025_NN_June.indd 3 20/5/09 18:47:01
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52