President: Air Chief Marshal Sir William Wratten;
Chairman: Group Captain John Gilbert;
OC 19 (F) Squadron: Wing Commander Brian Braid RAF;
Secretary: Wing Commander Andy Kirk;
Social Secretary: Flight Lieutenant Steph Seale-Finch RAF;
Historian: Derek Palmer;
OIC Web Site: Flt Lt Ian Wilde RAF (Retd)

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

The past year has proved to be a difficult one for the UK economy, and a difficult one for our Association. It has had its highlights, notably where Association members have enjoyed joining in events hosted by the Squadron at Valley. On the other hand, we were obliged, for the first time, to cancel our planned Annual Reunion Dinner as the numbers wishing to attend failed to reach a viable minimum for the event.

On the plus side, seven Association members made the pilgrimage to Valley in August to attend the Squadron's (and Station's) mini Air Day. The Squadron made us most welcome and we enjoyed a splendid flying display programme with participants from across the RAF and allied air forces. The timing of the event was to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the first RAF Spitfire being delivered to 19 Squadron, and the highlight of the day was OC 19 in a Hawk resplendent in a WW2 camouflage paint scheme flying as a pair with a similarly clad BBMF Spitfire as you can see below.

The Squadron also came to our rescue when the Annual Reunion Dinner we had planned for October at a hotel near Cosford (and its magnificent aircraft collection) failed to attract sufficient members. Through some clever negotiations by Andy Kirk, the Association's financial losses were kept to a minimum, but we cannot sensibly continue to invest in such events if our membership no longer wishes to support them. For the handful of couples who had committed to attend, the Squadron's Ladies Night in the Valley Mess later in the month proved to be a most enjoyable alternative and a welcome opportunity to catch up with a few old friends and today's Dolphins.

We have been fortunate with the strength of our links to the 19 Squadron community at Valley and I take this opportunity to thank Adrian Hill for his personal support during his tour as OC 19. Ade moved on in January, on promotion to group captain, to an appointment at Air Command - so congratulations on that. I would also like to welcome Wg Cdr Brian Braid as the new OC 19 and, on behalf of the Association, wish him a successful and enjoyable tour leading the Squadron. While mentioning the old and new Squadron bosses, I would also like to thank Flt Lt Kevin Donaghue, the Squadron Adj, who has been an ever-helpful and enthusiastic go-between fostering the Association - Squadron relationship.

Next, let me indulge in a little bit of personal nostalgia. While searching through some old photographs, I came across two which show the Phantom line up during the Squadron's 1979 APC at Akrotiri, and a Diamond Nine flown during the same detachment from Wildenrath. Happy days! If any other members have photos which bring back memories of their time on 19 Squadron, I'm sure we could include them in future issues of the Newsletter.

And now I must turn to the difficult question of future activities and support of our Association. Your committee effectively comprises Andy Kirk, Derek Palmer (who have both served since the Association's creation in 1991) and me, acting under the guiding hand of our President, Sir William Wratten. With some soul-searching, we have concluded that the poor response to the Cosford Annual Reunion Dinner may have been a one-off with many of our usual stalwart attendees having other more pressing calls on their time on 4 October. Accordingly, we have gone ahead planning for a 2009 Dinner and have booked the dependable Falcon Hotel in Stratford for Saturday 3 October. I look forward to seeing many of you at the event. However, if we encounter a similar lack of interest as last year, we will have to consider throwing in the towel.

When I took up the role of Association Chairman in 2000, I said that I would relish the role of bringing together people with a common thread of shared interest and history in a spirit of ongoing camaraderie. However, I also recognised that we were an ageing group with an inevitably declining active membership. Your President and Committee now feel that the time has come for the Association to ask itself whether it wishes to have a long term future. The crunch issue is that members must use it, or risk losing it!

I would personally be sad and disappointed if the Association folded or faded away, and I would ask members to get in touch with me or Andy Kirk to give us some feedback of your views. We are both content to continue to serve on your Committee for this year, but would also welcome any volunteers who believe that they can breathe new life into our activities.

John Gilbert

19 Squadron has endured a busy period over 2008/9 both on the ground and in the air. Over the last year the Squadron has seen many faces come and go, including a change of Officer Commanding the Squadron in March 2009. Gp Capt Adrian Hill left the Squadron in Jan 09 having been recently promoted to undertake a ground post at High Wycombe. His successor, Wg Cdr Brian Braid joined the Squadron in Feb 09, having completed a ground tour at PJHQ, Northwood. Wg Cdr Braid has already completed an instructional tour on 19 Squadron and after a short refresher officially took Command of the Squadron in Mar 09.

In the air, 19 Squadron has continued its struggle with Welsh weather, and the seemingly never ending stream of new students eager to get to the Front Line. Over the last 12 months, the Squadron has graduated 37 students, of which 16 were posted to the Tornado GR4, 9 to the Harrier, and 6 to the RAF's latest front line aircraft, the Eurofighter Typhoon. In addition to the Ab Initio student training, the Squadron continues to train new instructors returning from the front line and has provided valuable training to other service personnel particularly in the Close Air Support role.

The year also saw the establishment of the Hawk TMk2 Development Team within the Squadron, who are managing the introduction of MFTS and with it, the replacement of the Hawk T1, which has given over 30 years of service. The MFTS project will see a huge change in how training is conducted at RAF Valley, and changes are already taking place with both the infrastructure and aircraft. The replacement, Hawk TMk2, is now flying on 19 Squadron and is being integrated fully into RAF Valley operations under the careful management of the TMk2 Development Team. Developing the future MFTS syllabus and generating enough instructors to teach on the Hawk TMk2 will be the initial priority, although student training in the new aircraft is due to start in November 2011.

On the ground, the Squadron has moved location from the south side on the airfield to the old Operations building, adjacent to SHQ. The move took place in April 2008 and the Squadron is now feeling at home in its new surroundings.

Looking ahead, 19 Squadron are anticipating a busy Summer's flying, and fingers crossed mother nature will grace Anglesey with some good weather! There are some social functions coming up, where we are always pleased to meet our association members and enjoy a beer or two!!

B R BRAID
Wg Cdr
OC 19(F) Sqn

27 Aug 09 (Thu): Stn, Sqn Families Day and V.A.S. Photocall, RAF Valley. Should any Association Member require accommodation for this event (night prior or on the day) please advise me and I will book accordingly. It is worth noting this event will probably see the Officers Mess booked early on - as well as being fairly full anyway.

2. 16 Oct 09 (Fri): Sqn Dining-in Night, Ladies Guest Night, Officers Mess, RAF Valley. A calling notice will be sent prior to this event with RSVP's to our Sqn Entertainments Member, Flt Lt J M 'Ted' Taylor-Head. If replies are by email to myself that's fine too - all depends how you wish to coordinate this from your end. (Replies on both to me please, Andy / Sec)

Best Wishes, Brian Braid.

Dear Members,

It is with sadness that I have to report the passing of former Dolphin Harry West.
It is with some trepidation that I have booked another Association Dinner at the Falcon Hotel, for the night of Saturday 3rd October 2009. I have pre-booked 12 double rooms, and of course I will need to know as soon as possible whether you plan to come. They are an excellent facility and have looked after us well in the past - even better since I moved our plaque to a more visible spot on the hall wall!

If there is insufficient support for our dinner at Stratford, I can thoroughly recommend the events at Valley, having been to both!

Andy Kirk
andrew276@btinternet.com (new)

……………………………………………………………………………………...............

DINNER BOOKING FORM for 3rd October 2009 at the Falcon Hotel, Stratford Upon Avon (now a 4* hotel following upgrade to rooms).

To: Andy Kirk, Brooke House, Godolphin Cross, Helston, Cornwall, TR13 9RE. (andrew276@btinternet.com - new address!)

From: ……………………… Email: …………………..……… Telephone: ………………..

Address:…………………………...………………………………………………………….

…………………………….…………………………. Postcode: ……………………………..

Room price for Bed and Breakfast (double occupancy) is £72.50 pppn per night, plus dinner extra £10.00. £145 pppn for 2 nights; £195.00 pppn for 3 nights; dinner only 25.00 pp. £17.00 pppn single supplement.

Q Please book me Friday / Saturday / Sunday nights for 1 / 2 people (delete as appropriate).

Q Please book dinner only for 1 / 2 people.

Q I enclose a deposit of £25.00, cheque made payable to The Falcon Hotel please.

Q Please book me 1 / 2 place(s) at the Valley Sqn Families Day on 29th Aug 09.

Q Please book me 1 / 2 place(s) at the Valley Dining In Night on 16th October 2009.