28 NAVY NEWS, MARCH 2011


Wizzer takes to the air in Lightning II


A FORMER Royal Navy pilot has taken the controls of an F-35 Lightning II and clocked up a minor milestone in the jet’s development programme. BAE Systems’ test pilot Peter ‘Wizzer’ Wilson became just the third Briton to take the controls of the supersonic stealth jet. And days after his first flight at Patuxent River,


Trailblazing appointment for Kay


became the first non-American pilot to fly the carrier variant, which is now the UK’s chosen F-35 variant. Most recently Wizzer flew in the Short


Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) mode for the first time. Following months of training on the F-35 simulators, this series of firsts were momentous occasions for ‘Wizzer’ and for BAE Systems, who play a key role in the STOVL flight test programme. Of his first flight in the STOVL


THE Royal Navy has its first female Senior Observer. Lt Cdr Kay Burbidge (above)


took over the position at 829 Naval Air Squadron, based at Culdrose,


after completing a


Flight Commander’s appointment in HMS Monmouth.


Lt Cdr Burbidge joined the


Royal Navy in 1988 as a Wren Air Engineering Mechanic (Weapons Electrical) and was selected for commission in 1995. During her time as a mechanic she worked on Hunters, Chipmunks and Devon aircraft, and on Sea King Mk5 helicopters on 820 Naval Air Squadron during the Adriatic conflict. She gained her Observer ‘wings’ in 1997 whilst on 810 Squadron, flying in the Sea King Mk6. Since completion of her


Operational Flying Training she has served with 820 Squadron in HMS Ark Royal and on 771 Squadron carrying out search and rescue duties. She later qualified as the Navy’s


first female Helicopter Warfare Instructor and since converting to Merlin Mk1 helicopters in 2004, she has served as the instructor on both 814 Squadron and 824 Squadron, teaching tactics and instructing on gunnery courses for the Merlin Helicopter Force. Lt Cdr Burbidge said: “Joining up as a non sea-going,


blue-


badge-wearing Wren, my recent appointment is a true reflection as to the advances in the opportunities available to females in the Armed Forces today.”


Trained in TRiM


THE first group of successful Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) candidates have been awarded their certificates by Capt Alastair Jenkin, Chief of Staff for the Maritime Warfare School, at HMS Collingwood. WO Rosie Dodd and POs Mark


Mawhinney and James Robson of the Warfare Training Group, and Cpl Alaine Shakespere of the Royal Marines Band Collingwood, are now officially TRiM Practitioners. TRiM is taking what is already an informal part of the mess deck and ensuring that people are mentored and monitored appropriately whether it is through the divisional, pastoral, medical or welfare systems. Or, in other words, it’s simply good man-management and caring for their people. A relatively new initiative in the


Royal Navy, TRiM was introduced to support personnel who are not just returning from or going to theatre, but dealing with abnormal issues.


The TRiM Training Team deal with approximately one course of up to 12 students a week from the Navy and Royal Marines, and currently have a near-steady state of around 85 per cent of the Fleet having a TRiM team available. As well as the Practitioners


courses, there are also Team Leaders courses and career courses such as EWOs, JCC, ACC, CO Designate, 4s, which provide OSM briefs throughout the Fleet.


They also brief the pre-


deployment course at the Mounting Centre.


Maryland, Wizzer


aircraft – he was in the air for just over an hour – Peter said the aircraft handled beautifully: “All in all it was an absolute pleasure to fly.” ‘Wizzer’ has been preparing for this


day since his arrival in the US in 2006, and has trained in simulators for five years.


150 at the age of 17, and has since clocked up more than 3,000 hours of flight time on various aircraft including the Sea Harrier and Hawk.


Wizzer made his first flight in a Cessna


After joining the RAF in 1986 Wizzer spent time as a jet instructor before starting flying Sea Harriers as an exchange officer with the Royal Navy. He subsequently transferred to the Navy and saw action in Bosnia, Iraq and Sierra Leone.


He then joined BAE Systems as a Harrier test pilot in 2000.


● Peter ‘Wizzer’ Watson in the F-35 Lightning II


Brothers compare notes on training


TWO brothers-in-arms have exchanged good practice in military training at the Royal Navy’s school for new recruits.


Capt Steve Murdoch, the


Commanding Officer of HMS Raleigh, was proud to welcome his younger brother Lt Col Mike Murdoch for a two-day visit to the Royal Navy training base at Torpoint in Cornwall.


Lt Col Murdoch is the Commanding Officer of the 1st Infantry Training Battalion, based in Catterick, charged with the overall responsibility of taking infantry recruits through their 26-week combined basic and specialist training course. During his time at HMS Raleigh Lt Col Murdoch was briefed on the Royal Navy’s nine-week initial training course for recruits, and was able to see for himself some of the training taking place. He was also given an appreciation of HMS Raleigh’s wider role in preparing Naval personnel for front-line operations during visits to the other training units based at the establishment, including the Submarine School and the Board and Search training school.


Capt Murdoch said: “It was a real thrill to have my brother visit Raleigh and to have the opportunity to share notes on how we each train recruits for service in the Armed Forces. “The Service and uniform might be different but it is very clear that the core values of commitment, courage, discipline, respect, integrity and loyalty are as relevant within the infantry as they are in the Royal Navy. “As all three Armed Forces


“My brother and I served in HMS Fearless together ten years ago, so it is another remarkable coincidence that we are now both running training establishments. “Our close personal relationship has obviously helped us to understand better how each of us go about our business in training and we hope to foster a closer working relationship between the Infantry Training Centre and HMS Raleigh in the future.” While Capt Murdoch joined


the Navy in 1980, his brother opted for the Royal Irish Rangers in 1990.


Capt Murdoch’s career has included service at sea in the Falklands and the Persian Gulf and a variety of shore appointments, including Executive Assistant to the First Sea Lord.


Lt Col Murdoch has been


● Capt Steve Murdoch greets his brother, Lt Col Mike Murdoch, at HMS Raleigh


Picture: Dave Sherfield


come under significant pressure to demonstrate improved efficiency and effectiveness, it is vital we all understand better the contribution each of us make to the wider Defence endeavour.


“So from a professional and


personal perspective there was very real benefit and enjoyment gained from my brother’s visit.” This was Lt Col Murdoch’s


first visit to HMS Raleigh. The Army officer said:


“I


thoroughly enjoyed my visit. “It was the first time I’d seen


Royal Navy basic training. “It’s a bit different to what we do


at Catterick, but our duty-of-care responsibilities and requirement to look after our young recruits and


prepare them for further service are very similar. “Two things stood out – the exceptional quality of the instructors in HMS Raleigh, who were extremely impressive, and the high quality of the entrants to the Royal Navy.


involved in a number of operational deployments to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. He has also served with the Royal


Marines at HQ 3 Commando Brigade in Stonehouse and at the Commando Training Centre RM, Lympstone.


Lt Col Murdoch assumed command of the 1st Infantry Training Battalion in January 2009 and his brother was appointed to a similar role for the Royal Navy in December the same year.


Top marks for Alistair


THE award for the top student on HMS Collingwood’s PO(EW) course has gone to LS Alistair Rogers, who is due to join Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster in the near future. LS Rogers, who joined up in 2000, was presented with the Herbert


Lott award, which is sponsored by the Association of Old Crows, an international organisation for people specialising in electronic warfare. The name ‘Old Crows’ is said to originate from the wartime codename Raven, given to Allied personnel whose job was to disrupt enemy communications and radar systems.


Cornwell VC provides inspiration


ONE of Britain’s greatest actors spent a day at HMS Raleigh as he sought inspiration for a film. Oscar-winner Sir Ben Kingsley is looking into a Great War project, and was keen to see one of the Torpoint establishment’s most prized possessions to assist his research. Boy seaman John Travers


Cornwell became one of the country’s most celebrated naval heroes and earned a posthumous Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. The 16-year-old remained at his post aboard HMS Chester despite his gun receiving four direct hits; when the cruiser withdrew Cornwell finally received treatment but succumbed to his wounds in hospital two days later. As Cornwell’s fame spread,


court painter Frank Salisbury recorded his deeds on canvas, and almost a century later that recently-restored painting is in pride of place in St Paul’s Church at Raleigh.


today’s young sailors learn about Cornwell’s dedication and bravery – and hopefully can draw some inspiration from his deeds. Having spent time in the ‘presence’ of Boy Cornwell, Sir Ben toured Raleigh’s new heritage centre and witnessed a passing out parade of sailors who had just completed their basic training. “The parade and the emotional scenes of pride and achievement will stay with me for a long time,” said Sir Ben. “The pride and dignity of the


recruits – and their friends and relatives – was an indelible image. All this heightened by awareness of Jack Cornwell’s extraordinary courage and sense of duty.”


Triumphal tour of UK


A TEAM of submariners from HMS Triumph has completed a goodwill tour across the country, visiting many of the boat’s affiliates.


The ten-man team of ratings and officers travelled more than 550 miles and visited four towns – Fareham, Malvern, Hinckley and Blackpool.


Along the way they saw a panto (The Wizard of Oz, at Malvern St James junior school), discussed links with Triumph Motorcycles, toured a football stadium (Premiership newcomers Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road), and talked to numerous schoolchildren about the work of the Navy in general and the Submarine Service in particular.


submarine’s newly-adopted charity,


Children’s Hospice,


The team also visited the the Brian House


some desperately-ill children and confirming that their choice of charity was the correct one.


Ark Royal captured in paint by hairdresser


SO there you are, in one of the chairs in MopDoc’s barbershop in Portsmouth Naval Base, with proprietor Julia Pankhurst getting to grips with your unruly barnet. Perhaps you might like a little music in the


background? How about the CD Out of a Tree by Jude – otherwise known as Julia Pankhurst? Pleased with the way the trim is going?


You could capture the look in acrylics – Julia happens to be an accomplished artist as well. And if you just want to chat, maybe about


the weekend’s football, best make it Spurs – because Julia is a direct descendent of a Tottenham Hotspur legend. Let’s get the Spurs business out the way first; Julia is the great granddaughter of Bobby Buckle, revered in certain parts of North London as the schoolboy founder of the Hotspur Football Club in 1882 at the age of 13; he was their first captain and first goalscorer and served the club throughout his life, including being on the board of directors.


● Capt Jerry Kyd, last Commanding Offi cer of HMS Ark Royal, and Julia Pankhurst with her acrylic painting of the ship


And the music? Copies of Jude’s album


are available at the shop, and Julia has caught the attention of A&R men in the past, though nothing has come of that interest – as yet. So on to the paintings, something that Julia


shone at while at school, and a pastime she has returned to with a vengeance in recent months. She was particularly struck by pictures she


saw of Ark Royal in Scotland before returning to Portsmouth for the last time to decommission, and she set out to capture the ship in paint. The resulting A1-sized picture, All Quiet


at Twilight, has attracted interest, and the last Commanding Officer of the iconic carrier, Capt Jerry Kyd, recently dropped by to sign 200 copies of the print which Julia has produced. She said other Naval personnel have inquired about paintings of their own ships as well. For more details of Julia’s artistic side, including how to order a print, see www. pankhurstpaintings.co.uk


And in the meantime Julia continues to cut hair at the Naval Base – another skill she learned she possessed in her early teens, and a useful form of income over the years as she has followed her various muses.


meeting CO Capt Steve Murdoch said


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