Page 39 - Cormorant Issue 20 2017

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by the ACSC 20 RN Aviator Choir (which clearly doesn’t exist but was hastily pulled together for the evening) this was followed by a very good dinner in the Victory Dining Hall. The next part of the evening was started by an unusually ‘Joint’ choice of speaker for a Naval dinner: Air Marshal Stuart Atha CB DSO MA BSC RAF. Hugely grateful that the Air Marshal could join ACSC 20, his words on the challenges
he had faced (particularly when conducting Carrier Deck Landings in the Harrier) were very tting given the United Kingdom’s imminent return to Carrier Strike heralded by the soon to be completed HMS Queen Elizabeth. His Carrier Deck landing ‘dits’ highlighted the challenge of operating from sea and he was much funnier than the majority of other RAF of cers, so much so in fact that he was in danger of overshadowing the skit!
Never fear! The Naval Aviators rose to the occasion and put on a twenty minute sketch that highlighted the key events of the raid, poked a modicum of fun at our RAF and Army brethren, but mostly celebrated both the conduct and spirit of the Fleet Air Arm then and now.
On behalf of the Naval Aviators and the wider Maritime element of ACSC 20, thank you to all those who joined us and all those who put in so much hard work to make it happen. Wherever you are on the anniversary of this raid, please spare a moment to remember the ‘Men of Taranto’: or better still - give one of your aviator chums from ACSC 20 a call and get an invite to another dinner!