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2017/06

The Boss is Dead – Long Live the Boss!

IV (R) Header

IV (R) Header

The winds of change have arrived at Mighty IV(R) Squadron since the last issue, as we have sadly said goodbye to our illustrious leader, Wing Commander Mounsey (and more importantly to the real driving force behind the Squadron – Mrs Mounsey and the rest of the clan!). We wish them all the best during their return to Canada, and all look forward to seeing them back as Mr & Mrs Staish in a few years – everyone knows you never really leave sunny Valley! So out with the old and in with the new, we welcome Wing Commander Caine as he takes the reins of Happy IV(R). But change is infectious, and as it happens the station may bring back some flying squadron rivalry somewhat sooner than anticipated, with the long debated squadron split now confirmed. Wing Commander Simmons is set to take control of an as yet un-numbered squadron of the finest aviators RAF Valley has to offer, and a few that didn’t make it into the Creamie pool as well. Will there be a fast jet Tiger Squadron again after so many years? Can we even comprehend a IV(R) without team cream? Only time will tell…

Handover

Handover

Unfortunately despite our best efforts Flt Lt Spence is still with us – apparently he has been posted away but likes it so much here he just hasn’t turned up to his new job. This even after we waived all tradition by bribing him with PS4 games to go, rumour has it he’s been holed up in the Mess since the last Station Dining out Night playing non-stop Call of Duty. Still, we all live in hope.

IV (R)

IV (R)

Since our last edition we have seen visits from the new AOC 22(Trg) Gp to Mighty IV(R) Squadron, Lt Gen Davis from the US Marine Corps, and also from ETPS, the RAF Benevolent Fund and the AMP’s briefing team. Alongside these, Hawk T2 aircraft have supported the Sola Airshow in Norway, Ursel in Belguim, the French Air Force National Airshow in St Dizier and the Linton-on-Ouse centenary celebrations. We have all thoroughly enjoyed the annual Formal Staff Visit – Flt Lt Corser is particularly pleased now it is all finished. Alongside this the normal task of providing world class training to the fighter pilots of tomorrow has continued at pace. We have welcomed two new batches of students, 800 course 14 with the latest instructor trainees and 401 course 27, the latest fresh faced ab-initio students from RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Last but not least, 402 course 20 have completed their Advanced Flying Training, and we wish them all the best as they move on to the Typhoon and Lightning Operational Conversion Units. Coming up the Squadron is supporting airshows across the UK, including RIAT, Biggin Hill, Dunsfold and Scampton, as well as heading overseas to Malta and Denmark. A request has been forwarded to the Met Office to give us back a little more of the sunshine we all enjoyed in June, but just in case it doesn’t return until next year we will keep planning overseas detachments. In Futurum Videre.