Page 17 - issue22.03.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, March 22, 2019 P17

n Please note letters must be a maximum of 300 words and Post: RAF News, Room 68, Lancaster Building, HQ Air Command,
any accompanying pictures sent as attached, hi-res JPEG files High Wycombe, Bucks, HP14 4UE Email: editor@rafnews.co.uk Letters

The call goes
Memories of Nimrod out to radio

enthusiasts

IN 1935 A group of RAF
amateurs stationed at the
Electrical and Wireless School at
Cranwell began regular meetings to
discuss their technical problems.
It was decided to form a society
and in 1936 the Cranwell Amateur
Radio Transmitting Society
(CARTS) was founded under the
leadership of Wally Dunn G2LR.
CARTS’ membership grew
rapidly and a headquarters
station was established
with the callsign G8FC.
In 1937 the CARTS journal QRV
was inaugurated to keep members
at home and overseas in the picture.
The following year membership
increased rapidly and it was
recognised that a Royal Air Force
Society was needed, and so RAFARS
was founded at RAF Cranwell.
The society was suspended
during World War II and activities
were subsequently resumed in
1947. The move of No. 1 Radio
School from Cranwell to Locking
necessitated a move of HQ on
October 1, 1951. G8FC and G8RAF
moved to RAF Cosford in 1997
but the HQ remained at Locking.
During 1998, due to the closure of
I WAS associated with Nimrod support at to both the Royal Air Force and to RAF Falkland Islands back to its birthplace in Bristol. RAF Locking, the HQ moved to its
RAF St Mawgan (1969-72), so seeing the St Mawgan. Sadly, XV230 was also the Nimrod which was present location at Cosford.
photograph of XV230 in RAF News No. 1461 Later it featured in that historic photograph lost during operations over Afghanistan. As editor of the QRV magazine, I
brought back memories. over the Atlantic with the backdrop of the SS EG Stickley would like to ask serving and retired
XV230 was the first Nimrod to be issued Great Britain being towed on a barge from the RAF (Ret’d) RAF members to submit articles
– technical and nontechnical,
Veterans have anecdotal, modern and historical
about their experiences. You do not
been let down Future of RAFA
have to be a radio amateur, you only
need to be interested in this hobby
about medals or communications technology,
including cybertechnology.
All submitted articles will be
SHADES OF double is in safe hands read and contents may be edited in
standards [Op Shader consultation with the writer.
medal announcement, RAF News Should any RAF News readers
No: 1461]. There is a lengthy wish to submit articles, please
campaign which has been in I READ with some interest Also, we at Beccles Branch Credit where credit is due, I contact the editor, Stanley Anders,
progress for years by veterans for a Alan Mudge’s letter (RAF have on several occasions say, and hold out much hope for at: qrv@rafars.org.
medal that would recognise those News, edition No. 1462) and agree had visits from Ailsa and Star a tighter rein on RAFA’s affairs For further information
who had served their country (not in general with his comments Sqn Ldr Stuart Colbourne letter in the future. please refer to rsgb.org/main/get-
necessarily at the ‘sharp end’), [about RAF Association clubs]. (Ret’d), president of the We wish every good fortune started-in-amateur-radio/what-is-
without whose service the success However, I would point out that Norwich branch and vice- to all at Downham Market and a amateur-radio
of those who were would not have our current area director, Gp Capt chair of the area committee, successful 2019. See also: www.rafars.org
been possible. Ailsa Gough, has been very active both of whom have offered advice Brian Vousden
The Defence chiefs and since taking post putting to rights and encouragement to myself and President
Secretary of State for Defence many of the past shortcomings of our committee, which was much RAF Association We’re a branch
who got behind the decision to the charity. appreciated. Beccles and Southwold
award medals to those outside IT WAS very kind of Alan
the operational area and achieved You’ve been stung, again Prize was Mudge to present Downham
this after just a few months of Market RAFA (RAF News, No. 1462)
deliberation should remember reminder in such a good light. However, I
the veterans who are campaigning THE THIS Week in History of my dad must advise that we are a branch, not
for a similar medal that those now section in the last edition a club, using the accommodation at
serving are about to get. (RAF News No 1462) stated that THANK YOU for our Conservative Club as a meeting
I feel that veterans are being the first 15 Spitfires to reach Malta the copy of The venue.
let down. The Armed Forces in March 1942 flew off USS Wasp. Polish Few by Peter I hope you can publish this
Covenant is a promise by the As my novel Wings Over Malta Sikora that I won in slight correction as our HQ at
nation that those who serve or opens with the episode, I think I a recent RAF News Leicester will be going spare trying
have served in the Armed Forces should point out that they actually competition. to find out where this new club has
be treated fairly. Surely those in flew off HMS Eagle, with USS Wasp My father flew in appeared from.
charge of our Armed Forces today launching its two consignments of Bomber Command, 90 Len Algar
should lead by example. Spitfires in April and May 1942. squadron – he did 22 Chairman
Lance Smale, RAF 1960-1993 Gp Capt RJA Powell (Ret’d) missions in Lancasters. RAFA Downham Market
By email AUTHOR: Gp Capt Powell By email John Morecroft By email

Win bottle THE WRITER of our star letter or email of the month wins their choice of either a bottle
of refined Spitfire Heritage Gin or smooth Supermarine Vodka ‘built to be the best’ from
of spirits spitfireheritagegin.com. Spitfire Heritage Distillers support the Spitfire Heritage Trust.