Page 42 - The Cormorant Issue 14

Dambusters’ Dinner
By Wg Cdr Mark Rodden
Overnight on the 16th/17th May 1944, No 617 Squadron led by Wg Cdr Guy Gibson, and using Barnes Wallis’ innovative “bouncing bomb”, launched three waves to target the dams of the Ruhr Valley, which provided the power supplies to Germany’s industrial heartland. Of the nineteen Lancaster Bombers that launched, only thirteen returned, but by late morning the Squad- ron had breached the mighty Eder and Möhne dams causing chaos to the German war machine.
On Wednesday 15th June 2011, the Royal Air Force contingent of ACSC 14 hosted their fellow Services, international students, and staff in the annual celebration of the Dambusters Raids. Just under 260 people gathered for pre-dinner drinks outside the mess in preparation for a series of flypasts and displays by a Lancaster, Hurricane and pair of Tornado GR4s, with the latter serving as a noisy “call to dinner”. The Mess Staff provided an excellent meal that was interspersed with vignettes on the raids, a riposte
The Möhne Dam post-raid
Dinner Guests, Top Table and the Dambusters Committee
from the Luftwaffe, and music from an Ensemble Band of the RAF Regiment. The main speech of the evening was given by the Guest of Honour, Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group, Air Vice Marshal Greg Bagwell CBE, who delivered an excellent speech which poignantly reflected upon the Dambusters’ Raids and of the wider efforts of Bomber Command. The Mess was privileged to dine with two 617 Squadron Second World War veterans, Squadron Leader Tony Iveson and Air Commodore Langston, as well as Sir Barnes Wallis’ daughter, Dr Mary Stopes-Roe.
Following dinner, it was time to retire to the Henderson Bar to continue the celebrations which, in the true spirit of jointery, was supported by Lt Cdr ‘DJ’ Turner who entertained us on the piano. The success of the event would not have been possible without the support of: our sponsors MBDA, SERCO and ESS; the ESS Function’s Manager Ele Baker; the support received from all the ESS and SERCO staff; the BBMF, IX(B) Squadron and the Ensemble Band of the RAF Regiment; Mr Peter Vacher heavily subsidising the costs of his Hurricane’s flying display; and the efforts of the Dambusters Committee. A very big thank you to all those involved.
Defence Policy and Strategic Programming (DP&SP) – An Industrial Perspective on ACSC
By Linda Redmond
Integration Manager – BAE Systems (Military Air & Information)
Each year, defence industry delegates join the Course for the DP&SP Stage which is designed to examine the principles of allocating and managing defence resources in order to deliver policy. One of those delegates was Linda Redmond from BAE Systems who offered the following perspective.
I have worked for BAE SYSTEMS for 27 years, starting as a tech- nical apprentice and working up to a Group Leader position. I’ve been involved in a number of projects, including the Type 45 Destroyer and in a huge variety of areas, such as weapons inte- gration, stress, design and so I’ve had different experiences and interaction with overall Defence Policy. I have also worked on a number of Hawk contracts, including the design, production, and release to service of the Hawk T.Mk.2 for the RAF. Currently, I am involved with producing a solution for the RAF MFTS Aircraft
Service Provision Training Pipe Line which is a very interesting programme and relates very well to this course, as it involves many aspects of the overall MOD Defence Policy.
I was only invited to take part on the Course the month before it started, so I had little time to prepare. The pre-course paper- work advised that the Course would be highly academic. Having been trained and still working as a practitioner rather than an academic, this made me a little apprehensive. I did not really know what to expect as I had not been on any previous MOD lead courses.
On arrival at the Defence College at Shrivenham I found eve- ryone friendly and inviting, and after the first day it was clear that I need not have worried. The Course provided me with an
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