The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

Air Crew | Ground Crew | Headquarters Staff

The Aircrew of the Flight

The Officer Commanding the BBMF, Squadron Leader Al Pinner RAF, is the only aircrew member permanently serving on the Flight, the other Pilots, Navigators, Air Engineers and Air Loadmasters coming from 3 different Stations (Coningsby, Cranwell, and Waddington) flying 5 different types of aircraft (Dominie, Tutor, King Air, Typhoon, and Sentry) as their primary role. The aircrew give up effectively 3 out of every 4 weekends from May to the end of September in order to fly and display the historic aircraft of the Flight.

BBMF FIGHTER PILOTS

(Back Row - Left to Right) Flt Lt Antony Parkinson, Sqn Ldr Ian Smith,
(Front Row - Left to Right) Sqn Ldr Al Pinner, Gp Capt Stuart Atha, Wg Cdr Tony Innes.

Squadron Leader Al Pinner MBE joined the RAF in 1983 as a University Cadet whilst at Kings College London. He started formal flying training in 1987 and since then he has never been employed outside the cockpit. With over 4000 flying hours, Al is on his 6 th consecutive flying tour, all of which have been on single-seat fighters. As a Harrier pilot he has served with N o s 1, IV and 20 Squadrons as a squadron pilot, Qualified Weapons Instructor, Flight Commander and Qualified Flying Instructor. In 1996, Al was posted to Quebec , Canada , on exchange, flying the CF18 Hornet. He has flown more than 100 operational missions over the Balkans and Iraq in the Harrier and the CF18, in the roles of reconnaissance, close air support, air interdiction and air defence. This is Al's 6 th display season with the BBMF and his third as the Officer Commanding and Fighter Leader.

Group Captain Stuart Atha started flying in 1981 on Glasgow University Air Squadron. He earned his wings in 1987 and enjoyed a first tour instructing on the Hawk aircraft based at RAF Valley . From 1990 to 2003 he flew the Harrier GR5/7 aircraft as a junior pilot, flight commander and squadron commander. In that time he served on No 1(Fighter) Squadron, No 3(Fighter) Squadron and No IV(Army Cooperation) Squadron and flew combat missions in both the Balkan and Iraqi theatres. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Order in the 2003 Operational Honours List ( Iraq ) following his command of No 3(Fighter) Squadron during Operation TELIC. His staff tours have included duties at the Air Warfare Centre and service as the Personal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff. He is the Station Commander of RAF Coningsby and is the Typhoon Force Commander. This is his second season with the BBMF.

Wing Commander Tony Innes joined the RAF in 1986. Following flying training, he flew F4 Phantoms in the Air Defence role with No 92 and 74(F) Squadrons. After a short tour as an instructor at RAF Finningley he flew the Tornado F3 on both 43(F) and 11(F) Squadrons. During his time on 43(F) Sqn he completed the Air Defence Qualified Weapons Instructor (QWI) course. As a Squadron Leader he completed tours on 56(R) Sqn, as the Officer Commanding QWI training, and a ground tour in the Directorate of Air Operations. On promotion to Wing Commander he completed Canadian Forces Staff College and a tour in PJHQ as the air specialist in the J7 Training Division. He was posted to RAF Coningsby as OC Operations Wing in 2006 and has recently converted onto Typhoon. This is his first season with the BBMF.

Squadron Leader Ian Smith joined the RAF in 1983 and has been flying ever since, now with over 5,000 hours. His first posting was to Chinook helicopters in Germany with tours in Northern Ireland and the Falkland Islands . Following an instructional tour at Linton-on-Ouse he was posted to 41(F) Squadron flying Jaguars at RAF Coltishall and took part in operations over Iraq and Bosnia . A tour with the Red Arrows was followed by a year in Saudi Arabia as Team Manager for the then embryonic Saudi Hawks Aerobatic Team. Having seen the Jaguar out of Service at RAF Coningsby he was posted in 2007 to command No 1 EFTS at RAF Cranwell flying the Tutor. This is his third season with the BBMF.

Flight Lieutenant Antony Parkinson joined the RAF in 1983 completing pilot training in Texas , USA on the Cessna T37 and Northrop T38. After weapons training on the Hawk back in the UK , he was posted to the Phantom F4 flying from RAF Leuchars and RAF Wildenrath. Further flying tours on Tornado F3 at RAF Leeming and then F16 on exchange with the Royal Netherlands Air Force at Leeuwarden were followed by an instructional tour back on the Tornado F3 Operational Conversional Unit where he was the Tornado F3 Display Pilot for the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Following a 4 year tour with The Red Arrows, he was posted to instruct on the Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Coningsby. Parky has over 5000 hours on the Typhoon, F16, Phantom, Tornado F3 and Hawk. This is his second season with the BBMF.

LANCASTER & DAKOTA CREWS

PILOTS

Left to Right, Sqn Ldr Stu Reid, Flt Lts Loz Rushmere, Rog Nichols, Neil Taylor, Miles Davey, Mike Leckey.

Squadron Leader Stuart Reid joined the RAF in 1978. He flew the Jaguar and Tornado GR1 on operational tours in Germany and has served as a flying instructor on the Hawk at RAF Valley and the T-38A �Talon' at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio , Texas . In 1997 he was posted to fly E-3D AWACS at RAF Waddington. Currently he is employed as an E-3D flying instructor on 54(R) Squadron. This is his ninth season with the BBMF and he continues to hold the additional responsibilities of �Bomber Leader', including the training of Lancaster and Dakota pilots.

Flight Lieutenant Mike Leckey joined the RAF in 1988 and his first tour was on 360 Squadron, flying the Canberra T17. After training as a Qualified Flying Instructor, he completed a tour with the Northumbria University Air Squadron. Subsequently he served with 39 (1PRU) Squadron on the Canberra PR9, flying numerous operational reconnaissance missions over Afghanistan and Iraq . After a short tour instructing with the Defence Elementary Flying Training School at Barkston Heath he returned to 39 (1PRU) Squadron to see the Canberra out of RAF service. Mike is a Lancaster and Dakota captain and this is his eigth season with the Flight.

Flight Lieutenant Miles Davey joined the RAF as a direct entrant Air Engineer in 1989. Upon graduation he was posted to the Hercules fleet at RAF Lyneham where he served 3 years on 30 Squadron before being selected for pilot training in 1994. After completing flying training in 1997, he was posted to RAF Waddington as a pilot on the E-3D AWACS. He is now a Qualified Flying Instructor with 45(R) Squadron at Cranwell, flying the Super King Air. This is his fourth season with the Flight as a Dakota captain and his first as a Lancaster Captain.

Flight Lieutenant Roger Nichols joined the RAF in 1988 and has since served flying the Hawk on 100 Squadron at RAF Lyneham flying the Hercules C-130K with 30 Squadron as a co-pilot and captain. He first flew in a Dakota at the age of 2 months when going home from Calcutta in north east India , he then regularly flew in the Dakota until the age of 10 when his family returned to the UK . Since then Roger has had a great love for the aircraft and has been keen to fly it. Following a tour on the ground at officer training he went back to flying, now as a Qualified Flying Instructor, flying the King Air in the Multi-Engine Pilot Training role. This is Roger's second season with the flight as a Dakota captain and Lancaster co-pilot.

Flight Lieutenant Loz Rushmere joined the RAF in 1992 after spending 3 years flying with the University of London Air Squadron . On completing flying training on the Tucano and Jetstream, he was posted to RAF Waddington as an E-3D AWACS pilot in 1998. After completing two tours on 8 Squadron he moved to the Waddington Standardization and Evaluation Unit as an Aircrew Checking Officer before being posted to 54(R) Sqn as a Flying Instructor in 2007. This is Loz's second season with the BBMF as a Dakota captain and Lancaster co-pilot.

Flight Lieutenant Ernie Taylor joined the RAF in 1986, and following flying training was posted to fly the Puma HC1. Whilst serving with both 33 and 230 Sqns he flew many operational sorties in Northern Island and during the Gulf War on Op Granby. Following a tour as a Qualified Pilot Navigator instructor he remained on the Tucano as a Flying Instructor at RAF Linton On Ouse. After 8 years on the Tucano he was posted back to the front-line as the RAF's last Canberra PR9 pilot. Serving on 39 (1PRU) Sqn he flew many operational sorties over Afghanistan in support of Op Herrick. Having seen the Canberra out of RAF service Ernie is now a pilot on the Sentinel R1 of 5(AC) Sqn based at RAF Waddington. This is Ernie's first season with the BBMF as a Dakota captain and Lancaster co-pilot.

NAVIGATORS

(Left to Right) Flt Lt Bill Williams, Flt Lt Owen Harcombe, Sqn Ldr Jeff Hesketh, Flt Lt Jim Crowley, Sqn Ldr Russ Russell.

(Left to Right) Flt Lt Bill Williams, Flt Lt Owen Harcombe, Sqn Ldr Jeff Hesketh,
Flt Lt Jim Crowley, Sqn Ldr Russ Russell.

Squadron Leader Jeff Hesketh FRIN joined the RAF as a navigator in 1980 and, following training, he operated the Hercules in both the strategic and tanking roles with 30 Squadron at Lyneham, partaking in operations in the South Atlantic and the Ethiopian Famine Relief. After a ground tour with 85 Squadron Bloodhound SAMs where he was an instructor and standards engagement controller, he returned to flying duties with the Victor Tanker on 55 Squadron serving in the Gulf conflict in 1991. Since 1995 he has flown the E-3D AWACS at Waddington where he has completed operational, staff and instructional tours. He has accumulated over 7500 flying hours, flown in support of NATO and national operations and is currently the STANEVAL navigator for the E-3D at RAF Waddington. Jeff is the BBMF 'Navigator Leader' and this is his sixth display season with the Flight.

Flight Lieutenant Bill Williams joined the RAF in 1980 and, following training; he served as a Victor Navigator (Radar) before re-rolling to fast-jet ground �attack on the Tornado in 1985. He flew several tours on the Tornado GR1 at Laarbruch, Marham and Lossiemouth. Since 1996 he has been a Navigator Instructor with 55(R) Squadron at Cranwell, where he is currently an A1 QNI Teaching Advanced Fast-jet Techniques. With over 5000 hours as a Navigator, Bill is the Navigator Training and Standards Officer on the BBMF and this is his fourth display season with the Flight.

Squadron Leader Russ Russell joined the RAF on University Cadetship in 1977. Following Navigator Training he flew the Canberra on 360 Squadron for 2 years before re-rolling to the F4 Phantom, serving on 29 and 56 Squadrons. A Flight Commander Instructional Tour at RAF Finningley and a short staff tour followed this before converting to the Tornado F3 in 1998. Tours on 5 and XI Squadrons were followed by a detachment as OC 1435 Flt in the Falklands Islands . In 2004 he qualified as a low level Navigation Instructor on 55(R) Squadron flying the Dominie and is currently on the CFS examining staff at Cranwell. Russ has now flown over 4500hrs as a Navigator and this is his second season with the BBMF.

Flight Lieutenant Owen Harcombe joined the RAF in 1983 and, following training, he served as a navigator on the F4 Phantom before re-roling to the Tornado F3 in 1988. Tours on N o s 5 and 56(R) Squadron followed, before he was seconded to the Royal Saudi Air Force on Tornado F3s from 1993-1997 and then returned to serve on 29(F) Squadron at Coningsby from 1997-99. A one-year sabbatical was spent gaining an MSc in Aerosystems at the Air Warfare Centre, RAF Cranwell; a course which qualified him to spend 3 years as a Mission Systems Trials Specialist at BAE Systems Warton introducing the latest avionics systems onto the Tornado F3. He joined the Fast Jet and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit at RAF Coningsby in 2004 where he serves today. With over 3,000 hours as a fast jet navigator, this is his third season with the BBMF.

Flight Lieutenant Jim Crowley joined the RAF in 1968 and, following navigator training, he was posted to the Canberra PR9 serving on 58, 39 and 13 (PR) Squadrons in Malta and Cyprus . Tours on 208 Squadron and 237 Operational Conversion Unit, flying the Buccaneer S2B followed; Jim was the Buccaneer display navigator for the 1978 and 1979 seasons. A tour as an instructor on Attack Squadron 128, equipped the A6E Intruder, based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island USA was his next port of call. After a brief break from the RAF, he saw active service during Operation DESERT STORM where he commanded elements of 27 and 617 Squadrons flying the Tornado GR1. After a myriad of staff tours Jim became a navigation instructor with 55(R) Squadron at Cranwell where is currently an A2 QNI teaching advanced fast-jet techniques. Having accumulated over 6000 hours of fast jet flying, this is Jim's second season with BBMF.

FLIGHT ENGINEERS

Left to Right, FS Brendan O'Sullivan, FS Dave Mort, S/L Ian Morton, Master Aircrew Tony Dale and Master Aircrew Mark Emmott, pictured seperately.

Squadron Leader Ian Morton joined the RAF in 1973 as a Direct Entrant, Sergeant Air Engineer. He is one of the few remaining Air Engineers who trained on the Varsity before flying worldwide on the �Shiny� VC10s of 10 Squadron from Brize Norton. A then completed a tour as an Air Engineer Instructor/Pilots assistant on the Dominie at Finningley, before he was commissioned and returned to VC10s as an OCU Instructor. A culture shock followed when he swapped his best blue for an immersion suit and bone dome to fly in the AEW Shackleton, achieving 1400 hrs 'piston', before the aircraft's retirement in 1991. Since then, apart from a short tour as head of Air Engineer training at Cranwell, he has occupied all appointments open to him whilst flying on the E-3D AWACS at Waddington. This will be his fifth and last, full season with BBMF as Flight Engineer Leader. He retires from the RAF in 2009, having accumulated over a year in the air in his flying log book.

Master Aircrew Tony Dale joined the RAF in 1983 as an aircraft electrician. He completed tours maintaining Phantoms at RAF Wattisham, RAF Wildenrath and the Falklands . This was followed by service at the Hercules Role equipment section at RAF Lyneham and then RAF Laarbruch, in Germany , servicing the Tornado GR1 before training as an Air Engineer in 1991 at RAF Finningley. He then spent 8 years on 8 Sqn, operating the E-3D Sentry, before an overseas tour with NATO at Geilenkirchen flying the B707 in the transport and cargo role. He returned to RAF Waddington in 2005 to fly the E-3D with 23 Sqn, where he is currently the Air Engineer leader. This is his first season with BBMF.

Master Aircrew Mark Emmott joined the RAF in 1982 as a Radar and Communications Technician. Following Air Engineer training he was posted to the Nimrod at RAF Kinloss, where he served on 201 Squadron and 42 (R) Squadron, the Nimrod OCU. A move to the E-3D AWACS followed with operational and instructional tours on 23 Squadron. He is currently the Engineer Leader on 54 (R) Squadron, the E-3D AWACS OCU and has amassed over 6000hrs. This is Mark’s fourth season with the BBMF.

Flight Sergeant Brendan O'Sullivan joined the RAF in 1981 as an RAF Halton Airframes and Propulsion Apprentice and worked as ground crew on Victor and Canberra aircraft. Selected for Air Engineer training in 1989, he completed the training course at RAF Finningley before being posted to 70 Sqn, RAF Lyneham operating the Hercules C130. He has completed subsequent operational and instructional tours on the VC10, Sentry AEW Mk1 and at the Air Engineer training school at RAF Cranwell. Having successfully completed the Aerosystems Course at RAF Cranwell, he has returned to E-3D instructional duties on 54(R) Sqn where he is the Deputy Air Engineer Leader. Having been on the BBMF briefly in 1998, he returned for the 2007 season and is now in his second full season on the BBMF.

Flight Sergeant Dave Mort joined the RAF in 1981 having served an engineering apprenticeship with BOAC and then British Airways. Following Air Engineer training, he was posted to LXX Squadron at Lyneham, operating on C-130K Hercules in both strategic and tactical operations which included the South Atlantic airbridge, and Ethiopia famine relief. A tour as an Air Engineer Instructor on Dominies at 6FTS Finningley, was followed by 4 years on the NATO B.707 Trainer/Cargo aircraft at Geilenkirchen , Germany . With the exception of a short tour on VC10s with 101 Squadron at Brize Norton, he has been based back at Lyneham since 1993, operating the C-130K in both operational and instructional duties with 47, 57(R), and LXX Squadrons flying worldwide missions, including operations within Former Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently an instructor on LXX Squadron, with 8000 flying hours, this is his first season on BBMF.

AIR LOADMASTERS

(Left to Right) Sqn Ldr Marcus Lee, Sgt Steve Duncan, Flt Sgt Craig Bampton and Flt Sgt Ian Price

Sergeant Steve Duncan joined the RAF in 1998 as a direct entrant Air Loadmaster. Prior to this he served in the Honourable Artillery Company and was granted the status of Freeman of the City of London . Initially posted to the C 130K on 30 Sqn he then transferred to the C 130J on 24 Sqn. During his time on the Hercules he undertook operational flying in the Balkans and carried out in theatre detachments in both Iraq and Afghanistan . Posted to 55(R) Sqn he was initially employed as a ground and flying instructor for ALM's. He is currently involved in training WSOp students in the airborne environment. In this his 4 th season, Steve has taken on the additional responsibilities of ALM Leader, responsible for the training and standardization of all the ALMs.

Squadron Leader Marcus Lee joined the RAF in 1985 and after training as an Air Loadmaster was posted to the C130K Hercules, serving with 24 Squadron at Lyneham and 1312 Flight in the Falkland Islands and becoming a tanker instructor and route trainer before moving on to the Hercules OCU as an instructor and examiner. He was commissioned in 1998 and returned to 24 Squadron to see the C130J into service. In August 2002 he was posted to 55(R) Squadron at RAF Cranwell as Head of Air Loadmaster Training and Training Officer for the Generic WSOp course. Posted to Training Standards and Regulations, HQ 2Gp, RAF High Wycombe in September 2005, in April 2006 he was promoted to Squadron Leader and moved to Air Transport and Air to Air Refuelling Current Capability. This is his fourth season with the Flight.

Flight Sergeant Craig Bampton joined the RAF in 1997 as a direct entrant Air Load Master. Having completed initial training at RAF Cranwell he was posted to RAF Lyneham to operate the C 130K Hercules on 24 Sqn. Whilst on 24 Sqn Craig completed a detachment with 1312 flight in the Falklands and flew on operations in East Timor (Australasia). After a successful tour on 24 he was posted to Altus , Oklahoma to train on C-17s. As part of the initial cadre he worked with the United States Air Force based in Charleston, South Carolina before returning to the UK on the first RAF C-17 in May 2001. Having enjoyed wide and varied tours on 99 Sqn Craig is now a PA on 55(R) Sqn instructing Weapon Systems Operators (WSOp) on the Dominie.

Flight Sergeant Ian Price joined the RAF as a Weapons technician in 1989. Following tours at St Mawgan (42 Sqn) and Wittering (No 1(F) Sqn), he under took Air Loadmaster Training in 1995. Posted to the VC10 at RAF Brize Norton he completed two tours, performing duties in the Air transport, Air to Air refuelling and VIP roles. In 2001 he was selected as initial cadre on the C-17 and following his training in the USA, was posted to 99 Sqn. During his tenure on 99 Sqn he completed detachments in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The last two years on 99 Sqn he was the senior Air Loadmaster Instructor. In September 2007 he was posted to his present position at RAF Cranwell as Head of Air Loadmaster Training with 55 (R) Sqn.