Hello, David/Fighting First Boss, Boss of Shiny Four &OC 800 on such a historic day,
We are not only sending all the rest of the Ass’ns’ & non-attendees’ best wishes but also those from our Jever 122 Wing (that was 4, 93, 98, 118 Sqns Vampires, Sabres, Hunters & 2 Sqn Swifts in 2nd TAF 50-60 years ago) i.e. yr own Expeditionary Wing No & proudly too that of our Jever Wing = the “Jever Steam Laundryâ€, as No. IV(AC) Sqn should know since we all have met up for well over 50 years now), as also the other major Hunter Wing in 2nd TAF, 124 Wing, both of whom are/were well represented from Vampire, Venom, Sabre and Hunter 2nd TAF days and into Harrier, Lightning, Phantom& Tornado.
Linked also [on which I am sure ex-122 & 124 Wing, Air Cdre Pat King  (or six of the 10 Wittering Stn Cdrs  we have come across) will expatiate if given half a chance today]  this must also include  the 1,100 or so Hunter guys still around, expressing our sincerest condolences and best wishes again to you all of you Harrier warriors on and beyond yr Disbandment Day.
Our warmest regards again as also to all the 800 Sqn matelots and in particular all our RAF’s splendid NCO & airmen technicians. What a poignant week, even more so for you all on I, IV and 800!  It’s difficult to even think of No. 1 being ‘In omnibus princeps’ on a Disbandment Parade and so let’s hope ‘In futurum videre’ comes out for the best for UK despite all these decisions too . . . and here’s all of our hoping that Nos 1(F)’s, IV(AC)’s & 43(F)’s markings will be proudly airborne again ere long!
Al et al & no need for any reply at all (vividly recalling being on the Albion in the Med and 600’s Sea Hawks + Ark Royal 56 years ago )
The Association Dinner on the 28th at RAF Wittering has been changed to dinner in the George at Stamford on the same night. The Mess needed to know final numbers by today, and we simply didn’t have time to get the word out to everybody.
Here’s the full story from James (on the Sqn):
Hi Chris,
As we initially suspected, due to the miscommunication and time scales involved, there has been a very low level of responses for the Association dinner we were trying to organise. As it stands we have nowhere near the minimum level of attendance required so we have no option other than to cancel the dinner I’m afraid.
Instead, the Sqn is going to hold a late-notice dinner at the George Hotel in Stamford on the night. The venue is smaller and the meal will be a little more expensive but we would like to extend an invitation to those Association members who did provide returns for the Association dinner. I will contact those concerned personally and provide them with the details.
Talking with OC(IV) the plan will be to organise another dinner sometime in the next few months with enough lead time to get the information out there properly. We apologise sincerely for the cancellation but had no other option.
Regards,
James
Some further details about dinner:
Partners are welcome. We can accommodate approximate 135 people on a first come, first served basis. We’ll need about 80 people min to make it work in the mess otherwise we’ll have to explore other options. Also, I know it is very late but the Mess Manager needs to know whether we’ll make this by Thu this week (20th).
Timings for the day are subtly different:
0900 Guests arrive
1000 Disbandment Parade
1145-1300 Lunch (provided)
1230 IV Sqn building open to the association
1330 Depart for laying-up ceremony in Stamford
1400-1500 Laying-up ceremony
1900 for 1930 Dinner
Cheques should be made out to RAF WITTERING NONPAS with IV Sqn Association Dinner annotated on the back.
Hopefully that’s it for now!
James
To reiterate an earlier post, if you would like to attend please send the following information ASAP to Flt Lt Sam Vincent <4rsqn-trgofficer@wittering.raf.mod.uk> or call Flt Lt James McMillan on 01780 783838 Ext 7891 at the Sqn:
As you all know, the Squadron Disbandment Parade will take place on 28 January (see this post for booking details). However, there is also going to be a 4 Squadron Association Dinner that evening, at RAF Wittering, organised by the Sqn. (Previously I thought this was going to be a combined disbandment dinner.)
The venue is the Officers’ Mess at RAF Wittering, dress Black Tie, timing 1900 for 1930, price £40 per head. All ranks are welcome, wives/partners welcome. The mess can seat approximately 135 guests. No accommodation is available.
If you would like to attend please send the following information to Flt Lt Sam Vincent <4rsqn-trgofficer@wittering.raf.mod.uk> or call Flt Lt James McMillan on 01780 783838 Ext 7891 at the Sqn:
Name:
Contact Number:
Email:
Car Model:
Car Registration:
Obviously time is now tight so please book quickly so we can get an idea of numbers.
BTW, the timings for the day are:
0900 Guests arrive
1000 Disbandment Parade
1145-1300 Lunch
1230 Sqn open to guests
1330 Standard party departs for laying up ceremony in Stamford church
1900 for 1930 Association Dinner in Officers Mess
Yorkshire based Jet Art Aviation LTD have just completed a 12 month restoration of Hawker Siddeley ‘T-Bird’ Harrier XW269. This aircraft represents one of the rarer variants of this Classic British Aircraft, being one of only a handful of two seat examples.
The aircraft has undergone a 12 month restoration to externally complete static display standard finished with an early T2 nose and repainted to early T2 specification with 3 tone camouflage paint finish. This is as the aircraft entered service with 4 Squadron RAF in 1971. A full set of external stores: 100 Gallon Drop tanks, SNEB rocket pods and Aden cannon gun pods fitted to the belly.
XW269 served a long and interesting flying career having flown with: 4 Sqn, 1 Sqn, 3 Sqn, and the Strike Attack Operational Evaluation Unit (SAOEU) being used for weapons trials and testing under tactical conditions. The aircraft was finally used for ‘Night Bird’ AV8/GR5 Harrier trials with forward looking Infra Red being tried and tested on this very aircraft. This aircraft was last flown in 1997 after 26 years of service.
The aircraft was acquired by Jet Art in November 2010. It is now the only first generation two seat RAF Harrier Aircraft finished to T2 specification any where in the world making this aircraft totally unique. With the early paint scheme and 4 Squadron markings Jet Art Feel this is a fitting tribute to the early days of the Royal Air Force Harrier force who operated from RAF Germany.
I’ve been enjoying looking at your site and wonder if you or any of your members can help me? I’m a vehicle restorer and I’m trying to learn more about a ex-RAF fire vehicle known as the TAC-T (Truck Aircraft Crash – Tactical). I own the two remaining examples of the 15 built in the early 1970s and I’m restoring one to original condition. I understand they were built mainly for use with Harriers (GR1s) on dispersal and I’d love to track down any photos your members might have? They were usual as the tanker trailer they were coupled to had a powered axle making them 6×6. They were based on a series IIa Land Rover. I know Harrier units used the TACR-1 on dispersal but they are not to be confused with these! There are some pictures of the type and the restoration here:
http://album.sixappealwheel.org/album159/TACRgreenhttp://album.sixappealwheel.org/Paul-Hazell-Albums
Any information or recollections or passing this onto members would be of help!
Thanks, Paul Hazell
The Government have altered how your Military Pension is affected by annual inflation. They have changed the link from RPI to CPI which will decrease the value of your pension year on year. Below are some examples of the loss, which have been supplied by the Forces Pension Society, illustrating the cost of the change from RPI to CPI:
a. Disabled double amputee 28 year old Corporal £587,000 by age 70.
b. 40 year old Sergeant Royal Marines £212,000 by age 85.
c. 40 year old Squadron Leader £319,000 by age 85.
Please sign the petition which is very easy to do, simply click on the link below:
The petition site has a blog along with a question and answer facility, do please use it.
To help make the petition grow please pass this information on to friends and colleagues. Support from both ex military and none military personnel for the petition is important as we believe the pension is a strong part of the Military Covenant which our Government is signed up to.
(The government have currently withdrawn the E-Petition facility on the government website that is why this facility is being used. Should No. 10 reinstate their site details of this petition are capable of being excepted by the governments site.)
The final Harrier flights took place today, at RAF Cottesmore. The combined Squadrons – 1(F), 4(R) and 800 (RN) launched 16 aircraft but the weather wasn’t good enough for them to recover in a single formation. Instead, they arrived back as four 4-ships.
This is the last ever hover.
Stuff taken on my phone (including short videos) can be seen on my Posterous blog.
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