INSIGHT

ISSUE 1

INSIGHTMAGAZINE 1
 Standing
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Family FoR
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INSIGHT
ISSUE 1 2019
In this issue…
From the Editor… 09 EX WADDINGTON

Sqn Ldr Craig LeDieu.

11 RAF WADDINGTON VOLUNTARY BAND

09 11
EDITORIAL TEAM:
WAD-InsightEditorialTeam@mod.gov.uk
12 RUNNING CLUB UPDATE
External Email:
Use personal email addresses listed
Tel: +44 (0)1522 728377 14 EX SS3 HOMETOWN STORY

Editor:
15 CSSC FENCING COMPETITION NOV 18
Sqn Ldr Craig LeDieu
WAD-InsightEditorialTeam@mod.gov.uk
17 39 SQN CHARITY AUCTION & RAFFLE
Deputy Editor:
Welcome to the first issue of Flt Lt D.J Hopkinson
Insight for 2019! daniel.hopkinson524@mod.gov.uk
17 CDR HEWITT

In this issue you will find we have

Artwork:
18 THE TRAGEDY OF KRISTIANSAND HARBOUR
some real brain teasers from the S. Oliver
Commissioning Club, if you want
20

15 17
PARLIAMENTARIAN VISIT
to give your brain a work out go Advertising by:
and see the speed/distance/time Jo Marchant
conundrum they have prepared
for you. Fear not the answer is also
Tel: 01536 334 221 21 OPERATION KITE

between these pages!

Designed by:
I’d just like to thank everyone that Amanda Robinson ON THE COVER
contributes to this magazine. We get amanda@lanceprint.co.uk
a lot of articles from a wide diaspora
and I know it takes your time to
Published by:
get them to my team. Needless to
Lance Print Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House,
say you are critical to the success
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18
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The magazine is entirely funded by advertising and costs the Station nothing to produce. Insight is not an official publication and, unless otherwise stated, views expressed in this magazine
do not necessarily represent MOD, RAF or Station policy. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the editor or publishers. Advertisements accepted
on the understanding that they conform to the British Code of Advertising Practice. Insight is produced by kind permission of the Station Commander, RAF Waddington.

4 INSIGHTMAGAZINE INSIGHTMAGAZINE 5
 MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR 25TH YEAR SAHARA TREK CHALLENGE 2019
Life-changing moments happen
every day here at the Lincs & Notts
Air Ambulance, and over the past 25
years, we have been privileged to be
part of so many people’s lives across
Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
28TH SEPT TO 6TH OCT 2019 But this year, we want to give YOU the
opportunity to experience your own
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You will witness sights other people
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hardly seem real, miles of uninterrupted
golden sand, whilst making friendships
along the way that will continue
long after the trek has finished.
The route will allow you to experience
the beautiful region of twisting wadis,
untouched windblown sand dunes,
Ingamells,
Our Chief Pilot, Llewis breath-taking sunsets, deserted villages
Lead, Rachel Hay
with Challenge Events and deep-water wells frequented
by nomads. This really is the
experience of a lifetime!
SIGN UP TODAY
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CHALLENGES@AMBUCOPTER.ORG.UK
The 100km trek over
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forming a key part of
the celebrations for
our 25th Anniversary
year. We are looking
for 25 participants, one for each year our
helicopter has been flying.
Pilot Llewis Ingamells, pictured left with
Challenge Events Lead Rachel Hay, explains:
“As one of the Charity’s Pilots I’m genuinely
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us flying. This amazing trek is a fantastic
opportunity to raise money and be part of
something special. It will not only be a truly
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raised allowing our helicopter and its crew to
keep flying and saving lives in the communities
we serve, it also promises to be an amazing
experience, with participants taking part in
something they will remember forever.”
The trek will be hosted by Travel and Trek who
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Station Commander’s
Foreword...
Gp Capt Tom Burke
MA BSc RAF
As the first issue of
the year I feel within
my rights to still say
Happy New Year to
you all!
I
have some exciting news
to tell the Station that
will positively affect you
all, over the next year RAF
Waddington will have the
largest Infrastructure budget
of any RAF Station! This last
year we have spent around
£1.65M on repairs that
needed more permanent
fixes, this new budget is
5x the previous highest
amount. We still have a
long way to go but this
should mean you continue
to see improvements across
the base and we continue
on the path we have
started with Gloucester
Block and the Integrated
Welfare Facility.   theatre. Thank you to
 
On the note of the IWF, we
are looking at an end of
the year completion date
after a £1.4M spend. We
will be getting a facility
that is twice the size of the
old IWF; has a much larger
coffee shop, better able to
serve the quarters; a soft
play area and bring the
Padres and SSAFA under
the same roof. All in all, a
much better facility and one
commensurate with the size
and importance of this Base.    Sqn on their performance
 
As most of you will be aware
both 8 and 51 Sqns deployed
to Exercise Red Flag in
Nevada. Before I get into
their achievements though
8 INSIGHTMAGAZINE
EX Waddington
of Waddington,
Reserve Personnel
from 2503 Squadron
Royal Auxiliary Air
your local supermarket serving the local community. Force Regiment have
recently completed
• Fresh Fruit & Vegetables • Cream Cakes
• Fresh Meat, • Groceries Exercise WADDINGTON
Poultry & Fish • Frozen Foods IMP, a Force Protection
• Fresh Dairy Produce • Wines, Beers & Spirits Exercise which
• Chilled Ready Meals • Newspapers & Magazines took place at RAF
• Lunchtime Snacks • Flowers & House Plants
Waddington.
• Freshly Baked Bread • Carpet Cleaning
D
• Home delivery • Glass Loan uring the Exercise,
• Cash Dispenser • National Lottery
Squadron personnel
• Celebration Cakes • Extended range now engaged in many
(to order) available aspects of on-base Force
• Payzone • Free Parking Protection, including the
provision of Quick Reaction
Forces, Guarding and
Convenient opening hours:
Mon – Fri 7.30am – 10pm Sat 7.30am – 9pm Sun 10am – 4pm Fire-fighting, in order to
Major credit cards accepted. maintain the security of
Main Operating Bases thus
enabling the safe conduct of
air operations.
Bar Lane, Waddington Lincoln
01522 721970
The Squadron were
I would like to mention the supported on the Exercise by
hard work and unbelievable Worried about sorting out arrangements a number of Station Agencies
flexibility of 5(AC) Sqn; at including RAF Police, along
after a separation or divorce?
the last possible moment with Military Working Dogs
they were taken off Exercise and RAF Fire Fighters.
Red Flag and, such is the Family Mediation Works
demand for their product,
were deployed back to
that entire Squadron for Contact our Family
understanding and working Mediators at Ringrose
through all the issues and Law on 01205 311511
hurdles to make this happen.   to find out more.
 
Back to Red Flag. It has
been 3 years since the E3
was last taking part in this
exercise and it is fantastic
to see it taking part
again in one of the most
demanding aerial exercises
the RAF takes part
in. Equally I have
to congratulate 51
throughout Red Flag; great
work! It was fantastic to
see how all ISTAR assets
integrated out there, both
into the wider exercise
and with crew swaps. www.ringroselaw.co.uk
INSIGHTMAGAZINE 9

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RAF Waddington Voluntary Band
With so much to
celebrate in the
centenary year of the
RAF, the Band was kept
busy throughout the
Autumn and Christmas
periods.
O
n Saturday 6th
October, the Band
performed its first
free lunchtime recital
in St Nicholas’ Church,
Lincoln. The Bandmaster
initially spoke about the
music and then conducted
each piece from memory,
which featured entirely
British composers of
the 20th century. Both
the Bandmaster and
Band members received
extremely positive feedback
from the audience on the
quality of the music and
the information regarding
each of the composers. A
retiring collection made
£138.20 for the Church,
which will go towards new
hymn books for the choir
and congregation.
On Sunday 28th October,
the Clarinet Quartet played
at a very special event – the
100th birthday party of ex-
bomb aimer Les Rutherford
at the International Bomber
Command Centre.
On Sunday 4th November,
the Band held its second
‘Concert for Remembrance’
at the Terry O’Toole
Theatre, alongside the
RAF Waddington Military
Wives Choir, inviting
representatives of the
Royal British Legion to take
part. It was a sell-out and
raised £1,000 for the Legion
Poppy Appeal. The following
morning, the Brass Quartet
provided support for
RAF Coningsby’s Field of
Remembrance service, when
a wreath was laid by their
Station Commander. On
Saturday 10th November,
the Band led a tri-Service
parade of 90 personnel
down Lincoln High Street
to take part in the special
Armistice service, which
marked the centenary of the
end of World War I. On and
around the Remembrance
weekend various Band
members sounded Last Post
and Reveille in different
locations, including the
Lincolnshire Heritage
Aviation Centre at East
Kirkby. Later that month, the
Clarinet Quartet performed
background music for
RAFC Cranwell’s Honours
& Awards Ceremony and at
Lincoln Assembly Rooms
for Number 13 Squadrons’
formal dinner. Finally, on
30th November, Sgt Wayne
Lupton sounded The Last
Post for a military funeral at
Lincoln Cathedral.
On Sunday 2nd December, a
small ensemble entertained
families at the Deployed
Families’ Christmas Lunch
in the Station’s Officers’
Mess, the first opportunity
to perform Christmas music.
Wednesday 5th December
at the Brunei Community
Centre, RAFC Cranwell,
was a service of carols and
readings organised by the
Station Chaplains. The
weekend beginning Friday
7th December saw members
playing at RAF Waddington
Warrant Officers’ &
Sergeants’ Mess Christmas
1The Band leads the tri-service parade on the Armistace Day Parade to
commemorate 100 years since the end of World War I on 10 November 2018.
Draw and on Sunday 9th
December for the carol
service at RAF Waddingtons’
Church of the Resurrection.
On Tuesday 11th December,
a mixed quartet played in
the foyer of the Air Warfare
Centre’s Thomson Building to
coincide with their Christmas
Jumper charity day. On
Wednesday 12th December,
RAF Waddington held its
carol service outside SHQ
with an ensemble of 6 whilst
on Thursday 13th December
a group of 9 performed
two hours of carols for the
entertainment of customers
at Café Qualita.
The Band’s main annual
and ever popular Christmas
Concert, A Festival of
Christmas Music, was held
at the Terry O’Toole Theatre
on Saturday 16th December.
Again, it was a sell-out and
raised £1,370 for Combat
Stress. The final engagement
on Monday 17th December
was for the Senior Citizens’
Christmas Lunch in the
Warrant Officers’ & Sergeants’
Mess at RAF Waddington
when a very fine ensemble
of 7 performers provided the
musical accompaniment.
At the final rehearsal on
Tuesday 18 December, the
Band rehearsed some of
the music for the Massed
Voluntary Bands’ Concert
at Birmingham Symphony
Hall on 7 July 2019. This was
followed by chip butties,
mince pies, mulled wine and
a Band musical quiz.
After this the Jim McTier
Award for Outstanding
Contribution was presented
to Warrant Officer (and
Drum Major) Al Lowen.
Special mention was given
to Squadron Leader Sarah
O’Donnell (Band OIC), Mrs
Angela Hufton (who runs
the Clarinet Quartet) and
Mr John Clements (Bass
Drummer). During 2018,
the Band have supported
51 engagements, with 30 of
these between September
and December proving that
it is the busiest period for
the band year on year.
It goes without saying
that the Band are always
interested to hear from
potential new members,
both Service personnel
and civilians; they should
in the first instance give
the Bandmaster a call
on 01522 726056 or text
07717 422114. The Band
is a Concert Band with
particular vacancies for
cornets/trumpets and
trombones but other wind
or brass instruments are
also welcome.
INSIGHTMAGAZINE 11
Running Club Update
The RAF Waddington
Running Club continued
its endeavours in the
Lincs Service Cross
Country League with a
trip to Kendrew Barracks
in early January.
on a very cold, crisp, but bright
day we were at Thorpe Camp
for the RAF Coningsby leg of
the league. The first few runners
were obviously not paying
attention at orientation and
along with a very laissez-faire
marshal the top runners missed
an early turning and ended up
doing a good km more than the
right at the tail end of January,
which if you cast your minds
back was when all the snow
came in. So, the course was very
mixed with the snow having
frozen from the night before but
by the time of the race any grass
that was showing was quite
soft. We had a few new runners
attending and some reasonable
to a ploughed field there is no
real scope to avoid the worst
sections. We had a good turnout
of runners of all abilities and at
this point in the season are third
overall, though very close to
Coningsby in second and with
the home race to come this will
hopefully boost the numbers,
and overall position before the

I
n case anyone had any
doubts who the previous
occupants of the Base were
then the gym gave it away with
the name emblazoned across
the floor. The weather was very
favourable, and the course was
basically the perimeter of the
old airfield with a finish across
the front of the hangars on
the waterfront and then back
toward the gym.
Later in the month, just after
the first snows of winter and
slower runners which mixed
up the positions a bit in the
mid field, even if the whippets
were in their usual places at the
front by the end. The course
itself was a mixed surface
around woods and fields and
was probably flatter than the
Kendrew Barracks course, and
definitely squelchier in places in
the woods.
Thorpe Park Start
The season was interspersed
with the RAF Cross Country
Champs held at RAF Halton
success from RAF Waddington end of the race year.
with Flt Lt Kieran Priest, Sgt
Rob Sim and Cpl Helena
Schofield all being picked to
represent the RAF at the Inter
Services Championships.
The next race back in the
normal season was at ATR
Grantham where the Army held
it over the usual course which
seems to include a hill with its
own water supply as it doesn’t
matter how dry the rest of the
route is, the hill is always wet,
slippery and being adjacent

12 INSIGHTMAGAZINE INSIGHTMAGAZINE 13
EX SS3
Hometown Story
Flight Lieutenant Dave
Wisson is one of approx.
5,500 troops that
deployed on Exercise
Saif Sareea 3 (Swift
Sword 3) in Oman late
last year.
T A
his is the UK’s biggest
military exercise in 17
years which has seen
troops from the Royal Navy,
British Army and Royal Air
Force training alongside
their Omani counterparts.
The exercise aims to
demonstrate that the UK
has the capacity to deploy
globally at short notice as
well as strengthening the
historic defence relations
with Oman.
Dave joined the RAF 7 years
ago, and never imagined he
would be working in such
a complex environment,
ensuring that the 8 Typhoon
Aircraft that have been
deployed are able to operate
effectively and provide air
support to troops on the
ground. He said:
“The heat takes a while
to get used to, the HAT
(Heat acclimatisation
training) was a massive
help in getting me
accustomed to the
temperature. I’ve worked
with the Omanis before
and I’ve always found
them welcoming and
helpful. One of the things
that struck me was how
long handshakes last
in this country, which
can last over a minute,
which takes some getting
used to!”
14 INSIGHTMAGAZINE
CSSC Fencing Competition
November 2018
The Waddington fencing was an impressive arena
for those who had not
club is very inclusive;
been before. Throughout
we have RAF fencers, the day there was a high
dependants, MPGS and standard of fencing
Civil Servants, as well and the competition
as fencers from Digby experience was something
Coningsby and Cranwell that every athlete needs
as part of their education:
who will occasionally
fencing in a competition
pop over to fence. is completely different
from training. Elizabeth
Ainsworth managed to
few months ago,
gain 2nd place in the
one of our Civil LCp Mouncey foreground left; Sqn Ldr Walden
presiding; Miss Ainsworth rear left women’s foil and 3rd in
Servants, Elizabeth
both epee and sabre. She
Ainsworth, mentioned as painful as driving to the Having not been for
outshone the men who
a Civil Service fencing barracks in the first place. some time this was a
both finished mid-ranking!
competition in London that Nevertheless, we arrived particularly moving
Flt Lt Wisson grew up
she had seen advertised. at Saturday lunchtime and well put together Fencing is a fun and
in Dumbarton where he
To be eligible to compete in preparation for the exhibition. The intricate explosive sport that
attended Dumbarton
you just needed to be competition on Sunday. The blow by blow account of combines speed,
Academy, a world away
members of the Civil Service plan was to be as touristy the Iranian Embassy siege tactical awareness
from the intense Middle
sports association, known as possible, but spending as alongside the description and coordination. The
Eastern heat and austere
as CSSC. This costs £3.95 a little as we could, knowing of the brutally efficient Waddington fencing club
conditions which UK troops
month and gives you access how expensive London’s industrial process that operates on Mondays from
are currently training and
to many useful benefits tourist attractions can was a Nazi concentration 1930 and Thursdays from
operating within. This year,
including access to English be. We started by going camp really had a powerful 1630. We always need
the world record for “hottest
Heritage. Wanting to keep across to the Tower and effect on us all. beginners and full training
recorded night” was set in
Elizabeth company and then coming back to the and equipment will be
Oman with an overnight
have a weekend in London, Imperial War Museum. The next day saw us given. Please give Sqn
temperature of 42.6°C
Sqn Ldr Dom Walden and traveling to the Leon Paul Ldr Dom Walden a call on
(108.7°F) at its coolest.
LCpl Si Mouncey, plus 5 After the Crown Jewels, Fencing Centre in North 8329 or SAC Jake Bramley
fencers from Digby and White Tower and a London, this is the UK’s on 6221, or otherwise
It’s not his first experience of
Cranwell decided to enter. quick photo-stop at the premier fencing salle and just turn up at the gym.
the desert, having previously
Monument for a son’s
served in the Army with
Trying to get a bi-purpose a school project we then
the Royal Engineers in Iraq
parking space in Wellington made our way to the
in 2006 and additionally
Barracks, Victoria, is nearly Imperial War Museum.
has served in America,
Canada, France, Germany
and throughout the UK in a
career that has taken him all
over the world.
Exercise Saif Sareea 3 is the
climax of years of planning
and represents a way-point
to an even closer, and
broader partnership with
Oman, whilst underpinning
the UK’s enduring defence
commitment to the wider
Gulf region.
Miss Ainsworth (R) and Sqn Ldr Walden (2nd R) with Digby fencers From Left: Miss Ainsworth, LCpl Mouncey, Sqn Ldr Walden
INSIGHTMAGAZINE 15
 39 Sqn
Charity Auction and Raffle
To mark the 100th
Anniversary of the Royal
Air Force, personnel at
39 Squadron organised
a charity auction and
raffle which took place
at the Squadron’s
RAF 100 celebrations
last year.
M
any local businesses
donated items and
experiences ranging
from signed sporting
goods and electrical items,
to supercar rental and
helicopter tours.
The auction and raffle
combined raised a grand
total of $7,500 which
was been split between
three charities. Monetary
donations were made to
the USO and RAF Charitable
Trust and some much
needed outdoor furniture
was purchased for a local
elementary school.
OC 39 Sqn said “It’s been
a great effort by the small
team here at Creech AFB.
They raised an outstanding
amount of money for some
very worthwhile charities,
reflecting the Sqn’s
commitment to support
the needs of the local
community here in Nevada
as well as traditional service
charities back at home”.
Cdr Hewitt
Commander Dave
Hewitt from the Air
Warfare Centre at
RAF Waddington is
about to put his feet
permanently ashore as
he retires from the Royal
Navy following nearly
42 years of Service.
C
dr Hewitt joined
the Royal Navy as
a Junior Seaman
Second Class in June 1977;
his first posting being HMS
BERWICK, the anti-submarine
frigate. Several drafting’s -
predominantly destroyers
- followed along with a stint
with the Fleet Electronic
Warfare Support Group.
Awarded the South Atlantic
Medal for his deployment
on HMS GLASGOW during
the Falklands conflict,
Cdr Hewitt features in the
book One Hundred Days by
Admiral Sandy Woodward.
The book recounts how
Leading Seaman Hewitt
reacted to being targeted by
Argentinian Super Etendards
by ‘sprinting up the steep
ladders from the operations
room to help re-load the
ships decoy system with
chaff. He is quoted as saying
‘I had never moved at that
speed in my entire life!
Cdr Hewitt was selected
for Officer training and was
commissioned in Dec 1998.
Throughout, he continued
his work in the Electronic
Warfare (EW ) domain as a
Warfare Officer, becoming
a deep specialist, and for
his last 8 years working in
the Joint Electronic Warfare
Operational Support Centre
at RAF Waddington as
OC Executive Wing and
Senior Naval Officer for
Lincolnshire.
His devotion to the Senior
Service and EW have been
recognised at the highest
levels: he was awarded a
Queen’s Commendation for
Valuable Service following
his deployment to KOSOVO
and received an MBE
for Services to Defence
Electronic Warfare in 2015.
Brigadier Mark Proctor
Commander Joint Cyber and
Electromagnetic Activities
Group said:
Cdr Hewitt’s vast Electronic
Warfare experience has been
instrumental in guiding
current operational support
and significantly influencing
the future of Defence
Electronic Warfare. Cdr
Hewitt’s warfare experience
& deep specialist knowledge
will be sorely missed and he
is wished the very best in his
life after the Royal Navy.
INSIGHTMAGAZINE 17
The Tragedy of
Kristians and Harbour
Throughout the autumn
and winter of 1939-
40, the period of the
phoney war proved to
be very quiet for the
Hampdens of 44 and
50 Sqns based at RAF
Waddington.
T
he main task of
the Hampdens of
No 5 Group was to
attack German shipping
– particularly the capital
ships of the Kriegsmarine,
but as the War progressed
the German Navy did not
sail. The vast majority
of aircrew casualties at
this time were caused by
aircraft accidents and an
unfortunate incident when
returning Hampdens were
misidentified as Dornier 17s
by inexperienced Spitfire
crews and two 44 Sqn
aircraft were shot down.
This all changed on 9th April
1940, when the German
Navy sailed en-masse for the
invasion of Norway.
On 12th April 1940,
Waddington’s Hampdens
were tasked to find
and attack the German
Battlecruisers Scharnhorst
and Gneisenau. Taking off
at 0820 in the morning,
Twelve Hampdens, seven
from 44 Sqn and five from
50 Sqn, flew to the area
in four vics of three – the
standard attack formation
during the early War years.
However, unable to sight
the German capital ships,
the leader of the formation,
Sqn Ldr JJ “Woggie” Watts
of 44 Sqn, elected to fly
on to attack the secondary
target: German shipping
in the Norwegian harbour
of Kristiansand near Oslo
where a German task force
including an infantry
regiment of the 214th
Infantry Division had
recently landed.
18 INSIGHTMAGAZINE
Arriving in the area just after
noon, Watts spotted German
shipping about 20 miles
away and a quick sweep of
the bay found two German
heavy cruisers at anchor.
Watts immediately ordered
the sections into line astern
and the formation attacked
at 9,000 feet, which was the
optimum height for release
of the bombs that they
carried, but also giving the
German flak gunners an easy
target and their fire became
more accurate as successive
sections flew in to bomb.
Adding to the confusion,
Luftwaffe Bf-109 fighters of
II/JG77 arrived on the scene
just as the first section was
completing their attack.
Spotting the threat, as soon
as he had finished his attack,
Sqn Ldr Watts descended
to sea level and set course
for home with his section.
Plt Off Taylor in the second
section was not so lucky.
Hit by flak from the ships,
his aircraft fell behind the
others in his section and he
was pounced upon by the
fighters and crashed into
the sea. The third section,
led by Sqn Ldr Good of 50
Sqn, managed to bomb
unscathed, but were soon
attacked by fighters and
the Hampden of Fg Off
Robinson caught fire and
fell blazing into the sea. Plt
Off Bull’s Hampden was also
damaged, but he managed
to join up with his section
leader, and they made their
escape to open sea. Not
one Hampden of the final
section survived. Sgt Wild
and Plt Off Thomas both
went down into the sea:
the aircraft of Canadian Fg
Off Donaldson was able to
reach land, his still burning
Hampden crash landing onto
a small Norwegian island,
although his lower gunner
was killed and his upper
gunner/wireless operator
badly burned.
Meanwhile, the seven
surviving Hampdens set
course for home, but when
only 100 nm north east of
Newcastle, Plt Off Bull’s
badly damaged Hampden
ran out of fuel which had
leaked from the damaged
tanks. Making a successful
ditching, Bull and his crew
were seen to evacuate their
aircraft and climb aboard
their survival dinghy –
their position was radioed
ahead so that they could be
picked up. Another aircraft,
flown by Plt Off Homer, had
suffered engine damage and
with his engines overheating
and running short of fuel
he managed to reach land
and touched down safely
at RAF Acklington. Of the
twelve Hampdens that had
set off from Waddington
that morning, only five
landed back at Waddington
to the dismay of the Station
– the War had arrived with
a vengeance.
The trials of 50 Sqn did not
end with the landing. Having
reported the position of
Plt Off Bull and his crew,
the Sqn expected that they
would be rescued – however,
the rescue services claimed
that the sea was too rough
to send out small boats and
the weather also prevented
rescue by seaplane. The
Navy also refused to go to
the crew’s aid – stating that
the position given was in a
known minefield. As a result,
Bull and his crew were not
picked up and despite an air
search by Waddington crews
over the next few days (50
Sqn even using their Sqn
hack – an old Avro Anson
which they ran out of fuel
and crash landed on return),
Bull and his crew were not
seen again. A furious Gp
Capt Anderson, the Station
Commander at Waddington,
wrote a strongly worded
letter of complaint to
Bomber Command, and
although search and rescue
procedures were completely
reviewed and improved
as a result it was of no
consolation to 50 Sqn who
had unnecessarily lost four
of their colleagues. The Sqn
set about designing their
own rescue equipment
which could be dropped
from a bomber to downed
airmen, and this entered
service later in the year. By
this time, 50 Sqn had moved
on to RAF Lindholme, and
“Lindholme Gear” became
adopted as standard search
and rescue equipment for
the RAF for many years.
After the attack, many
tales of individual heroism Sqn Ldr “Woggy” Watts (left) who lead the raid and junior pilot Plt Of
came to light – in particular WJ “Mike” Lewis (centre) who acted as his observer for the attack on
the gunners who fought Kristiansand Harbour. HM King George VI presents a DFM to Cpl John “Jock” Wallace of 50 Sqn for
off German fighters were his actions during the Kristiansand attack.
recognised with Cpl Wallace
and Cpl Caldicott both being
awarded an immediate DFM.
A further DFM was awarded
to Sgt Clayton, a junior pilot
flying as an observer, who
moved his Vickers K gun
and its ammunition from
its forward mounting in the
nose to a hatch behind the
pilot’s seat which he then
used to defend against the
beam attacks – no mean
feat in the confined space
of a Hampden’s cockpit.
Indeed, German records
show that the Hampden’s
gunners shot down four of
the attacking fighters with a
fifth being written off after
50 Sqn pictured on 9th April 1940. Four days later they would lose 4 out of 5 aircraft
making a forced landing due despatched to Kristiansand with 13 of their number killed in action and 3 as POWs.
to damage.
INSIGHTMAGAZINE 19
Parliamentarian Visit
Several members of
Parliament visited RAF
Waddington recently
as part of the Armed
Forces Parliamentary
Scheme (AFPS) – a
scheme which has
existed for over 25 years
raising the awareness of
Parliamentarians about
the Armed Forces and
the work that we do.
D
uring their visit, the
Parliamentarians
were hosted by
Raytheon Systems Ltd and
shown a demonstration
of the Sentinel Mission
Simulator before receiving
capability briefs from
5(AC), XIII Sqn and as 1ISR
Wing. Established in 2016
1ISR Wing processes and
disseminates information
collected by 1 Group
intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance aircraft,
providing operationally
20 INSIGHTMAGAZINE
relevant intelligence
products to decisionmakers.
After a full days programme
our visitors left with a far
better understanding of
the environment in which
military personnel work,
and the key role that
RAF Waddington plays in
UK Defence.
OPERATION KITE
You are Patrick Grant,
commander of Drug
operations for Eastern
Europe. You have been
summoned to Paris
from your Berlin HQ by
Sir Percy Edwards for
an emergency briefing.
You are shown into
the bug proof centre
room of the Paris safe
house and receive the
following briefing.
Sir Percy: “Sit down Patrick
and let me put you in the
picture. Over the past
tenyears we have managed to
get three of our agents into
important positions in the
capitals of the USSR, Hungary
and East Germany. They have
been sleepers so far, but we
have intended to start using
them shortly.”
Self: “Something has gone
wrong then?.”
Sir Percy: “Yes, what do you
know about ‘Operation KITE’?”
Self: “Never heard of it, Sir.”
Sir Percy: “I’m not surprised,
it’s our most secret operation
for years. We’re managing
to track the main dealers
and their consignments.
This is providing us with
invaluable information and
it must, on no account,
be compromised.
Self: One of the messages
we intercepted told us that
Agent X, our top man in
Moscow, had been captured
at 1800hrs on the 2 March.
Fortunately, just before he
had taken the new drug,
which will render him
unconscious for at least five
days, so we have some time
to play with.
Sir Percy: Agent X knows
the identity of all three of
our sleepers in Moscow, East
Berlin and Budapest. From
when he wakes up it will
only take 24 hours to get this
information from him and to
arrange for and execute the
capture or assassination of
the sleepers.
These sleepers cannot be
contacted by any means
other than by a face-to-face
personal conversation. We
cannot use radio, dead letter
drops, newspaper notices or
anything like that.
All of the agents are very
influential in their own
countries and will be able to
engineer their own escape
if warned at least six hours
before the deadline. You’re
my best field agent, and
one of the only men I can
trust. I want you to travel
into eastern Europe to warn
these men.”
Self: “Right Sir I’ll get onto it
straight away.”
You return to the control
room of the Paris safe house
to consider your actions. You
must decide how you intend
to travel in the Eastern Bloc.
You can use the train,
aircraft, car or a boat. You
have contacts throughout
the Eastern Bloc and will
have no trouble getting
a car in all of the capital
cities except Warsaw.
To use the train or aircraft
you will need papers and
travel permits, which will
take two full days to prepare.
You have had advance
warning of the use of a
fingerprint unit at Warsaw
Station for 36 hours on the
7th and 8th March, i.e. from
midnight on 6/7th March
to 1200hrs 8th March.
You decide to check on the
air fare and find that Moscow
is the only airport in Eastern
Europe that will be open
for the next week due to
strange climatic conditions
and the flight takes 8 hours.
The boat is standing by
at Calais and is fast. It
can take you as far as
Gdansk in Poland, but will
return immediately.
It will take you two hours
to contact the agents once
you have arrived in each
city. The trains are regular,
and you should not have
to wait in the stations.
It then occurs to you that
the World Trade Fair is on
in Moscow, and it would
not be safe to move out of
the city on the train until
0800hrs 8 March because of
the security precautions.
You draw a map of your
possible routes and fill in
the times it will take you to
travel each route. You then
remember that it will take
you at least an hour to make
each border crossing in the
car and that you haven’t
included this on your map.
It is now 0945hrs on 3 March,
you give yourself 15 minutes
to think about what you
are doing, and then make
your decision at 1000hrs.
Answer on page 22.
INSIGHTMAGAZINE 21
OPERATION KITE
109 NEWARK RD. NORTH HYKEHAM,
LINCOLN LN6 8QT

SOLUTION WHITES OF LINCOLN

VEHICLE REPAIRS & SERVICING
Aims 1. To warn the three sleepers by 1200hrs 8th March of the situation.
Factors (The agents are in Berlin, Budapest and Moscow.)
GARAGE SERVICES, TYRES, MOTS,
EXHAUSTS, TIMING BELTS, STEERING,
2. To get yourself back safely.
SUSPENSION, ELECTRONIC
Transport 1. Aircraft - Paris to Moscow 8hrs, docs available 1000hrs 7 March. DIAGNOSTICS,
2. Train - Docs available 1000hrs 7 March ENGINE REPAIRS
• Warsaw not available between 0000hrs 7 March until 1200hrs 8 March
• No move before 1100hrs 8 March, Moscow  
MOTS FOR MOTORBIKES, CARS LARGE VANS
AND MINIBUSES
3. Car - 1hr to cross each border check point, but can leave Paris straight away. SERVICING, EXHAUSTS AND DIAGNOSTICS
ALL MOT’S £25 AND 10% OFF ANY REPAIRS
Comms 1. Not available, it takes two hours in each city to contact the agent.
TO ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL
Help 1. Car available in every city except Warsaw.   WWW.WHITESOFLINCOLN.CO.UK
Deductions Avoid Warsaw.

01522 686230
Courses Open Time now: 1000hrs 3 March  
Deadline: 1200hrs 8 March
1. Car - Paris to Berlin (31hrs) Arrive 1700hrs 4 March
Leave Berlin (meet contact) 1900hrs 4 March  
Berlin to Budapest (32hrs) Arrive 0300hrs 6 March
Leave Budapest 0500hrs 6 March BEING POSTED? NEED TO SELL YOUR CAR QUICKLY? To Advertise in the
Budapest to Moscow (57hrs) Arrive 1500hrs 8 March
2. Airline - Leave Paris 1000hrs 5 March Call Mathew on 07860 363002 next issue of Insight
Main office line FREEPHONE 0800 118 2527
please contact.
Arrive Moscow 1800hrs 5 March
Leave Moscow 2000hrs 5 March We will give you a price guide over the phone
(no train - fair, use car)
Settle outstanding finance
Moscow to Budapest (57hrs) Arrive 0500hrs 8 March
Consider any part exchange
No matter what age or mileage
Tel:
Leave Budapest 0700hrs 8 March
Budapest to Berlin (train 20hrs) Arrive 0300hrs 9 March
Leave Berlin
3. Train Leave Paris
0500hrs 9 March
1000hrs 5 March D&M T WING 01536 334221
Paris to Berlin (21hrs) Arrive 0700hrs 6 March
Mobile towbar fitting service
Email:
Leave Berlin 0900hrs 6 March
Witter, Brink, & PCT Towbars supplied and fitted
Berlin to Budapest (20hrs) Arrive 0500hrs 7 March Van Ply lining and extra seat fitting.
Leave Budapest
Budapest to Moscow (24hrs) Arrive
0700hrs 7 March
0800hrs 8 March
Service discount available
01529 306670
Jo@lanceprint.co.uk
(can’t leave Moscow until 0800hrs) Mobile 07740 683867
Email dandmtowing08@btinternet.com
Leave Moscow 1000hrs 8 March
Unit 3, Pride Court, Sleaford Enterprise Park,
Sleaford NG34 8GL
Course Selection: Web dandmtowing.co.uk
Choose course C, in order to make the deadline.

22 INSIGHTMAGAZINE