Page 11 - issue08.03.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, March 8, 2019 P11

News

News Bulletin NATO DEFENCE TALKS

Typhoon tie-up lifts Anglo-German pact

THE HOME of the RAF’s Typhoon Force in May this year.
Force at Coningsby is to be twinned The two ministers met at RAF
with a German airbase as United Brize Norton, recently twinned with
Kingdom defence chiefs reinforce its German counterpart at Wunsdorf,
military ties across Europe ahead of for talks on defence cooperation.
Mr Williamson said: “The world
Nights at museum Brexit. Secretary Gavin may be darker and more dangerous
Defence
Williamson announced the tie-up than at any time since the fall of the
YOUTH GROUPS aged 7-15 are as he met German defence chief Berlin Wall years ago.
being offered the chance to set Ursala Von Der Layen for talks to “But by strengthening our
up camp after hours at the RAF combat the growing cyber threat partnership with Germany we can
Museum, Cosford, to sleep among and policing of Nato airspace across uphold European security, defend
the aircraft, tanks and missiles. Eastern Europe. the international rules-based order
The popular ‘Pillows and Pilots’ The Lincolnshire fast jet station and look forward to brighter skies
sleepovers take place on April 13 will be twinned with the German of peace and prosperity.”
and May 11, from 6.30pm to 10am Typhoon base at Laage. The two nations signed a Joint WHO DARES TWINS: Gavin
the following day and are suitable The move comes as the British Vision Statement on increasing Williamson meets German
for brownies, guides, cubs, scouts swing role fighters prepare to take defence cooperation in October last counterpart Ursula Von Der Layen
and cadets. Go to: rafmuseum. over the role of patrolling the skies year after agreeing similar terms at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
PHOTO: CPL ADAM FLETCHER
org/cosford for more details. over Estonia from the German Air with the French government.
‘Just go for it’

ROLE MODEL: AM
Sue Gray, inset,with The
The UK’s first-ever three-star female officer Queen in 2018

Air Marshal Sue Gray issues call to women

serving in the British Armed Forces

Staff Reporter her important new role leading the Defence Safety
Authority.
AIR FORCE engineering chief Sue Gray has been promoted “Her promotion is proper recognition of her
to the rank of Air Marshal to become the most senior female outstanding contribution to the RAF and Defence, as
officer in the British Armed Forces. an engineer, as a leader and as a superb role model.”
In a move described as ‘historic’ by defence chiefs, the 56-year- As the RAF’s most senior engineer Air Marshal Gray
old will take up the role of Director General of the Defence Safety is also the Service’s leading advocate for encouraging
Authority as the British Armed Forces first ever three-star youngsters to take up science and technology.
woman commander. She added: “I have a lot of contact with the
She said: “I am incredibly proud to be the younger generation – who never fail to
most senior female military officer in the impress me and fill me with confidence
British Armed Forces. for the future.
“Throughout my career I have been “As an Engineer Officer in the Royal
fortunate to have a job that was more Air Force I am part of a team, who succeed
of a way of life, working with like- together, I have been privileged to lead
minded people in an exciting and highly successful teams, military and civil
rewarding environment.” service, through some challenging
Speaking to reporters after situations on operations and back
being notified of her promotion at home.”
she added: “I want a legacy that Defence Secretary
encourages all women in all services Gavin Williamson
to go for it, frankly.” added: “This is an
Air Marshal Gray joined the historic moment
RAF in 1985 after graduating from as we see the most
Newcastle Polytechnic and served on senior female
Chinook and Puma helicopters before appointment in the
taking a masters degree in aircraft design. British military.
She worked on the VC10 aircraft and “Air Marshal Gray’s
served during the height of the first Gulf War, career shows that with hard
returning to the frontline in Iraq during Operation work, skill and determination,
Telic in 2003 as as chief helicopter engineer. gender is no obstacle to achieving the
She was just the second woman to hold a two-star post within top ranks in the Armed Forces.
the British military when she was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal as “I hope that young girls will look
Director of Combat Air in 2014, overseeing all new combat aircraft up to Air Marshal Gray and see that a
– including the F-35 Lightening. career in the Armed Forces will offer
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier them every opportunity to succeed,
said: “I offer my most sincere personal congratulations to Air irrespective of their gender and
Marshal Gray on her promotion and I wish her every success in background.”