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Thanks to Steve Walker for sending me a couple of dozen photos from 1984/85. They’re all in the Harrier GR3 section of the Gallery.
  
(Not sure why these previews are rotated, but the photos in the album are fine…)
From Al Luckins, 19(R) Sqn at RAF Valley:
I thought it prudent to send another update on where we stand with events for the day itself, plus some finer details for the dinner in the evening.
We’ve now had CAS’s official reply: he will be attending the day but not the evening meal.
Parade
Although TBC, our current plan looks like this:
1300 – 1400 Guests assemble at 19 Sqn. Light refreshments available. Potential Flypast and static display.
1400 – 1530 Parade; standing down of 19 Sqn standard and concecration of IV Sqn standard.
1530 – 1700 Sqn Visit/refreshments/History Room etc
1700 – 1830 Time to change at accn and pre dinner drinks
1900 – Late Dinner
Dinner
Things are still a little flexible, but the current plan has us at a maximum of 130 guests (a Mess limitation) and therefore planning for the evening to be ‘STAG’. With funding, which should be provided from the RAF, the dinner should be in the region of £35 per head. As far as accommodation is concerned, the mess have been unable to guarantee enough rooms to cover those attending, however we have block booked any spare rooms for that evening. However, it remains to be seen how many rooms will actually be available to the association. I’m therefore proposing that your association members book into a nearby hotel (links below). Transport to and from the mess for the day and during the evening will be provided by the station.
Initial response from 19 Sqn Assoc indicates their attendance to be about 20 people. I would be interested to know what potential numbers for IV Assoc might be? At the moment I am assuming that both associations will fill about 60 places.
Hotel Links:
Hotel Cymyran
Trearddur Bay Hotel
Travel Links:
Manx2.com – airline
Virgin Trains
As ever, if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me – it should be an excellent evening!
Yours Aye,
Al
From Chris:
This is shaping up to be an historic day for the Squadron. I hope we can help get the numbers up from 20 to 130, even though it’s a bit of a trip to RAF Valley! If you are planning to attend, please complete the form on the next page to book your place: Continue reading IV (R) Sqn Standup Details: RAF Valley 24 Nov 2011
 Flt Lt Jon Egging Condolences to family and friends of Flt Lt Jon Egging who was killed in the Red Arrows crash at Bournemouth at the weekend.
Jon served on IV(AC) Sqn at RAF Cottesmore in the early nineties when the Sqn was equipped with the Harrier GR7/GR9.
BBC News Link
I’ve just heard the great news that IV(R) Squadron will be reforming later this year! 19(R) Squadron (BAe Hawk fast-jet trainers) is standing down and IV(R) will replace them. This from RAF Valley to our President, Tony McKeon:
Sir, it was my pleasure to speak to you today and to inform you that IV(R) Sqn will be reforming at RAF Valley in November 2011.
I have attached the RAF’s Briefing Note concerning the changes of Sqn numberplates following SDSR. It is a great shame that so many historic sqns will be lost, but it an honour for us at RAF Valley to become IV(R) Sqn.
And Tony’s reply:
It is really good news that IV(AC)(R) Sqn will be reforming and that there will, therefore, be a focus for the 100th anniversary. Most people will need to travel significant distances to attend any events and it would be best if we can give as much notice as possible.
I have copied this email to Chris Parker (Secretary) and Steve Cheeseman (Treasurer) who have done these tasks for a number of years. Chris has done an excellent job getting the Association website “Fourfax” up and running and, in my opinion, is one of the best Association websites. Steve has ensured that the funds, although not massive, are in a healthy position. The Committee consists of the 3 of us and we would welcome any additional members to the Committee from the Sqn’s current team that you care to nominate.
In the meantime, I will ask Chris to publish this good news in his next update to the website.
I look forward to hearing more from the Sqn and any input you would like us to make in deciding the date for “Standingup”.
Best wishes
Tony McKeon
From the Sunday Telegraph, 31 July 2011
Sir,
Not prioritising defence spending may have been one of David Cameron’s worst errors (Inside Politics, July 17); actually cutting defence is even worse.
Some believe that the advice of the former chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, to withdraw the Harrier was born of inter-service rivalry, directed at the Navy. Sir Jock’s advice to retain the Tornado has proved wrong; its shortcomings are said to include a poor serviceability record that has affected missions in Libya and Afghanistan.
The Tornado is not a dedicated ground attack aircraft, but the Harrier is, and current operations require ground attack, with all the precision that the Harrier can deliver, and which the public demands, to avoid collateral damage. We look to Mr Cameron to put this right.
Andrew Dow
York
Paul Fearn (@pilotpjf) asks on Twitter:
@fourfax my father is wondering if anyone here remembers him from 4 in Germany late 70s name John Fearn
He’s not in our database – please ask him to sign up on our Registration Page!
From Jim Arkell:
Hi!
Â
Apologies for this rather ‘random’ round-robin e-mail but I’m trying to rally support for the inaugural HFA reunion at RAF Wittering on 16 Jul 11.  It promises to be a great event kicking off at 1600hrs with a performance by The Blades, BBMF Spitfire, followed by hangar party with band, disco, raffle, food and drink (including a specially-brewed bottle of VSTOL ale)!  Cost for attendance is £11 per person – a snip!
Â
All you have to do is go onto the HFA website at www.hfassoc.org  If you are already registered, just log on and click at the bottom of the first page.  If not, registration is simple.  Tickets can be purchased right up until Friday 15th!
Â
Cheers and hope to see you there!
Â
Jim Arkell
Â
PS: Apologies to those of you who know about the event but can’t come.  Please forward to your friends in the Harrier Mafia.
From the Daily Telegraph:
In a report published today, the National Audit Office (NAO) cast doubt on the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the decisions ministers took about the future of the Armed Forces.
A continuing crisis in the defence budget raises the prospects of more major cuts, the watchdog said. It also accused ministers of denying auditors access to Whitehall papers on key defence decisions.
Under last year’s review, ministers decided to go ahead with plans to spend £6.2 billion on two new aircraft carriers, even though, according to the NAO, military chiefs would have preferred the money to have been spent on smaller warships.
The first carrier was due to enter service in 2020 but, to save money, the second was unlikely to sail and instead would be kept in a state of “extended readinessâ€. The review also immediately scrapped the Royal Navy’s Harriers, leaving Britain without a working carrier. Continue reading Defence review ‘flawed by drive to cut costs’
From the Daily Telegraph:
The Ministry of Defence is “actively seeking” foreign personnel to pay for “surplus” training places left by British personnel dismissed earlier this year, a minister has admitted.
The Daily Telegraph revealed in February that scores of RAF pilots in training are being sacked to save money.
A defence minister has now admitted that because the trainees were dismissed at such short notice, the staff and equipment for their training are still in service and must be funded.
To help meet those costs, foreign pilots will be trained. Trainee pilots from countries including Algeria and Kenya are understood to be taking up the vacant training places at RAF bases.
As part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, some 170 trainee RAF pilots were told in February that they are being made redundant.
Read more…
From the Daily Telegraph:
First there was the Government’s humiliating U-turn on its decision to sell large tracts of Britain’s forests. Then David Cameron was obliged to go back on his Justice Secretary’s plan to slash prison sentences for those who plead guilty early. Now we have the unedifying spectacle of the Government being forced into major concessions on its NHS reforms. No matter how much Downing Street’s spin doctors try to convince us otherwise, the message is clear: this Government is for turning. Except, that is, when it comes to the area that can least afford to be subjected to the whim of passing political fancy: namely, the defence of the realm.
With every day that passes, the wanton destruction visited upon our Armed Forces by the Government’s inept handling of last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review becomes more evident. The Royal Navy has insufficient ships to patrol the high seas; the Royal Air Force lacks the planes to defend the skies; while the Army, which was supposed to have escaped from the cuts relatively lightly, does not have the money to equip all its soldiers properly. More…
Read the original article
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