NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2009 17
SAR airmen
clock up
‘There’s still life
milestones
AN observer from search and
rescue (SAR) unit HMS Gannet
has clocked up more than 5,000
flying hours.
Lt Cdr Martin ‘Florry’ Ford
in the old dog...’
joined the RN in 1979 as a caterer
before turning to aviation in 1983.
Florry’s first squadron was A ROYAL Naval Reservist Falklands and the 1991 Gulf War. instructor at the School of Army
820 NAS, and between that and
and veteran of the Falklands
But he has now volunteered Aviation in Middle Wallop,
arriving at Prestwick two years ago,
Conflict has returned to the
for a tour in Afghanistan with Hampshire, and had amassed
he has flown with eight different
units, some in conflict zones.
front line – at the controls of
663 Squadron Army Air Corps, 1,500 of his total of 6,000 flying
flying an Apache, based at Camp hours on the fearsome Apache.
He has also trained observers in
an Army attack helicopter.
Bastion for four months. “The Apache had not been
a range of helicopters from Lynx
Lt Cdr Bill O’Brien (54) retired
Lt Cdr O’Brien is one of deployed when I retired so there
to Sea Kings.
from active service in 2005,
around 600 reservists from all is an itch yet to scratch,” said Lt
In addition to his 5,000 hours having originally joined the Royal three Services in Afghanistan – Cdr O’Brien.
aloft, Florry has also carried out Marines in 1971. but the only one currently at the “I’m grateful for the hard work
more than 500 SAR missions, a His first operational tour came
controls of a helicopter.
the Royal Naval Reserve and the
record held by few in the FAA. 36 years ago in Northern Ireland,
Before signing up for this
Army have put in to make it
Earlier this year he was awarded
and he also flew during the deployment he was a helicopter
happen.
a Queen’s Commendation for “I believe I have a contribution
Bravery in the Air for his role in to make; there is still some life in
a difficult rescue in the Scottish the old dog.”
Highlands, adding to the Air Force The officer won the
Cross he won in the devastating Distinguished Flying Medal in the
Boscastle flood of 2004. Falklands while flying a Gazelle at
Colleagues, including his CO the battles of Darwin and Goose
Lt Cdr Bryan Nicholas, helped Green.
Florry celebrate the landmark At that time a sergeant in the
with a special cake. Royal Marines, he conducted a
Meanwhile the RN’s other UK number of casualty evacuations
SAR flight, 771 NAS at Culdrose for members of the Parachute
in Cornwall, can boast five aviators Regiment and resupply missions,
who have amassed more than including ammunition, at the
21,000 hours between them. front line.
Pilot Lt Cdr Stan Burgess leads Since 2005 he has been one of
the way with 7,000 hours in a variety a handful of ex-military helicopter
of ships and squadrons, while Lt instructors who work alongside
Cdr Dave Lambourne, with 5,000 their Army counterparts at Middle ● Lt Cdr Bill O’Brien in front of an Apache helicopter
hours, brings a similar wealth of Wallop to convert Army pilots
knowledge to the squadron.
from the Squirrel training aircraft
“He is a hugely popular rule of law prevails.
The third pilot of the five is the
onto the Apache.
individual who brings a great deal “The job needs to be done
CO, Junglie Lt Cdr Sharky Finn,
At the same time he joined
to an exceedingly professional properly and I believe I can make
with 3,000 hours.
the RNR Air Branch, where he
organisation.” some small contribution to that.”
The two aircrewmen have both
is an operations officer with the
When asked what is it like flying Of flying with the squadron’s
logged 3,000 hours.
Commando Helicopter Force at
in Afghanistan as opposed to the elder statesman, Lt Cdr O’Brien’s
CPO Dave Rigg and PO
RNAS Yeovilton.
Falklands, Lt Cdr O’Brien said: co-pilot/gunner Capt Chris
Jason Bibby are both qualified
Squadron Commander Maj
“The intensity is more than I Vosper said: “It is awesome, it is
paramedics, and are the men
Jason Etherington said: “Although
was expecting and is more than I a privilege.
whose role often requires them
Bill joined the Royal Marines a
recollect from the other place. “Bill is a very experienced pilot
to descend on the winch line to
year after I was born, he still has
“It is full-on all the time.” and we have become a good team.
assist injured or trapped people,
the enthusiasm and dedication
He added: “I fly an Apache so “He is very good and patient;
frequently in the most challenging
to match the younger members
I don’t feel terribly threatened, his age isn’t a factor – he just
weather conditions.
deployed to Afghanistan.
although the flying environment is gets more respect because of his
771 trains Baggers – p18
“Well-known as an excellent
quite hard work sometimes. experience.
marina
Career paths
Qualified Helicopter Instructor
“We are here to support the “It is just a shame he is so slow
throughout the Army Air Corps,
guys on the ground. We are here to running to the aircraft – I think his
Lt Cdr O’Brien can claim to have
support the Afghan people. Zimmer gets in the way...”
finally cross
assisted in the training of almost
“I believe the average Afghan, The Apache is currently used
every Apache pilot within the
like any other human being, just as an armed escort for the lightly-
squadron; his technical knowledge,
wants to put food on the table, armed support helicopters and to
TWO officers with parallel career
experience and maturity are well
send his children to school, know provide armed ‘overwatch’ and
paths have finally worked in
valued.
that his family is safe and that the support for friendly ground forces.
complement posts – just as one
was set to leave the Service.
Navy veteran
Lt Cdr John Law and Cdr Phil
Neptune calls the tune
Ireland went through Dartmouth
together (1984-85), then Officer
leads campaign
HMS NEPTUNE called the tune Neptune also came second in the
after taking the honours at the RN best soloist category and third in
of the Watch course (1985-86)
A NAVY veteran is the man behind Volunteer Band competition in the best drum major.
and Clearance Diving (1990-91).
a growing campaign to gain official Portsmouth with a big-band take “It was quite an achievement,”
Phil introduced John to John’s
recognition for the market town of on Van Halen’s Jump. said C/Sgt Mark Flintoff, Neptune
future wife, and the officers
Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire. All nine bands from around the Band Master.
were best man at each other’s
Bill Thomas, a transport UK took part, but it was the only “It was the first time in ten
weddings.
manager with Transline, served in group from north of the border years we have won the trophy
Together they have racked up
the Navy in the 1960s and 70s. which got their hands on the Lear and it was down to the hard work
50 years in the Navy, and almost
● Who better to spray wild fi re into the night sky than a couple He has written to the Queen and
Wilkinson Dirk Trophy. and talent of our members, as
38 of clearance diving.
of Reservists from HMS Wildfi re? Logs Sarah Stebbing and the leaders of the Labour and Tory
As well as picking up first place well as an entertaining concert
But now John has left his
Carol Hawes had been on stewarding duty at the Bournemouth parties asking for the town to be
for best concert band performance, programme.”
assignment as Senior Warfare
Air Festival, directing visitors to RFA Mounts Bay and other renamed Royal Wootton Bassett in
Officer (Minewarfare and
Service attractions. As night fell, attention turned to the town’s honour of the tributes and respect
Clearance Diving) to FOST
sea-front gardens, where the RN team were unable to infl ate shown by townspeople when
(MPV), and Phil – as Commander
the Fly Navy 100 balloon (the previous evening they had joined the bodies of soldiers are driven
Sea Training FOST (MPV) – was
in with a ‘night glow’) so the crowds were entertained with a through on their way from RAF
delighted to present his old friend
burst of fi re from the burners instead Lyneham, the air station to which
with a leaving gift.
repatriated bodies are flown.
Megan’s in (passport) control
SHE was not even the oldest student this exercise off the ground and they
on the exercise, but 21-year-old know how badly any ill-discipline
Megan Keeling was in charge. would reflect on them”
Megan, a midshipman who has So, have there been any problems?
just graduated from Southampton “Well, our sailing instructor didn’t
University in Ship Science and is yet turn up at the airport in UK because
to begin her Initial Officer Training of a domestic crisis and one of our
at Dartmouth, signed up for a week- girls had mistakenly put her passport
long adventurous training exercise in in with her washing and the airline
Gibraltar. would not accept her mangled
And despite a lack of formal passport,” said Megan.
training, she was in command of “And since we arrived, another of
the 24-strong Thunderer Squadron the girls has lost her passport, so, all
student team – seven female and 17 in all, passports have been something
male students, most of whom have of a problem area for me.”
just finished their first university year. As well as AT, the exercise has
“This is my first expedition,” said included visits to the Royal Gibraltar
Megan (left), a former Sea Cadet. Regiment, RAF Gibraltar, Gibraltar
“I volunteered to run this AT Squadron and historical sites.
exercise but, in law, I am not just “I’m enjoying the exercise, but
running it, I am also the commanding probably not quite as much as those
officer – which is slightly scary!” who have a bit less responsibility,” she
“Discipline is not a particular said. “But, if it all goes well, it will be
problem because the students know excellent experience for my Dartmouth
how much work has gone into getting course and for my naval career.”
016-017_nn_oct.indd 2 21/10/09 11:10:05
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