HEADQUARTERS STRIKE COMMAND MOBILE NEWS TEAM ITEMS (TAPE 1) [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: HEADQUARTERS STRIKE COMMAND MOBILE NEWS TEAM ITEMS (TAPE 1) [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: BFE 389
  • Other titles: RAF STRIKE COMMAND, HIGH WYCOMBE VIDEOCASSETTE COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Individual news items produced by the Mobile News Team (MNT) at RAF Strike Command, covering a wide range of RAF activities.
  • Description: I. Profile of the PBDS (Prototype Biological Defence System, set up in a camouflaged field base in Kuwait: this isolated facility is at the forefront of the war against chemical attack. Exterior and interior shots. Flight Officer Dave Vick, the Commanding officer, discusses its role and procedures which can be carried out. Facilities for staff on site (television etc) are shown. Fight Lieutenant Chris Bishop discusses the increase in threat status. II. Operation Resonant South: report from Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, where Tornado aircraft of IX Squadron are part of the RAF detachment. Group Captain Cook BTEC RAF (Detachment Commander at Ali Al Salem) discusses the seriousness of the task. Squadron Leader Anthony Beasant, Officer Commanding TAC STO (Tactical Survive to Operate) talks about the increase in the terrorist threat since the attacks in Yemen [ie the bombing of USS Cole in Aden, 12 October 2000]. Shots of accommodation for the RAF detachment, which are shown as very grim, although new permanent facilities are promised. [Presented by Squadron Leader Mike Cairns for MNT] III. Tornado GR1 aircraft of IX Squadron flying from Kuwait to the no-fly zone in Southern Iraq. Wing Commander Greg Bagwell (Officer Commanding IX Squadron) discusses their role, and highlights the difficulty facing ground crews. Interviews with Flight Lieutenant Neil Armstrong, Junior Engineer Officer IX Squadron and John McGowan, latter using email to keep in touch with home. (NB The Tornado flights shown here were, at the time, covert "no publicity" missions.) [Presented by Squadron Leader Mike Cairns for MNT] IV. Members of II Squadron RAF Regiment drop into Sierra Leone on exercises. Squadron Leader Pound, OC II Squadron discusses the live firing and jungle warfare components. The RAF are supported by the Royal Navy in the form of the frigate HMS Iron Duke; on board, watching a gunnery exercise, is President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who is interviewed. Training of Sierra Leonean troops. Interview with Alhaji I B Kargbo, editor of "The New Citizen" newspaper who praises the British troops while criticising the former ECOMOG forces which had occupied Sierra Leone. Reverend M I Hadin of Saint Philip's Church in Freetown discusses willingness to heal old wounds, and the need for forgiveness and stability. [Presented by Squadron Leader Howard Leader 7644 Squadron for MNT] V. Further report from Sierra Leone, again focusing on II Squadron RAF Regiment and the role of HMS Iron Duke in helping to bring stability to the region. Includes an interview with Officer Riley on board HMS Iron Duke. VI. Malta: Jock Brown DFC (80) and Peter Rudd DFC (79), two veteran Mosquito pilots from the wartime deployment of RAF 23 Squadron, revisit the island. They pay a visit to the current 23 Squadron, going on board one of their E3 Sentry aircraft. A side trip to Sardinia takes them to the cemetery at Cagliari: graves of D A Kimpton and R A Nash are seen. Back in Malta, the two veterans lay wreaths at the RAF Memorial in Valletta. Interviews with the two men, and with Wing Commander Ned Kelly. [Presented by Squadron Leader Mike Cairns for MNT] VII. Members of 99 Squadron in Charleston on the USAF training scheme for the Boeing C17 Globemaster aircraft, soon to be based at RAF Brize Norton. Squadron Leader Al Green, OC A Flight No 99 Squadron, describes the aircraft; Flight Lieutenant Dave Thompson, ALM leader, discusses the fact that the C17 only requires one loadmaster and has a boosted combat offload capability. Hal Beamer, the Boeing site manager, is also interviewed. Shots (including interiors) of the vast C17. Interviews with Squadron Leader Keith Hewitt (99 Squadron Pilot) and Wing Commander Malcolm Brecht (Officer Commanding 99 Squadron): both praise the aircraft. [Presenter Flag Officer Susannah Streeter for MNT] VIII. Second item about the C17 Globemaster, this time concentrating on the relationships between the RAF crews and the USAF pilots and personnel training them. Interviews with Squadron Leader Al Green, C17 pilot Lieutenant Matt Anderson USAF, and Wing Commander Malcolm Brecht of 99 Squadron. Badge of 15th Airlift Squadron, the "Global Eagles". Colonel Karl Young of 437th Airlift Wing USAF describes the assistance which will be given to RAF Brize Norton after delivery. Malcolm Brecht discusses differences in procedures between the RAF and USAF. [Presenter Flag Officer Susannah Streeter for MNT] IX. Third item about the C17 Globemaster, concentrating on the RAF ground crews shadow their US counterparts. Corporal Carl Scarisbrick (Avionics Technician), Corporal Alister Birmingham (Aircraft Electrician) and Junior Technician Stephen Millington (Aircraft Technician) (all 99 Squadron) discus their training. Classroom work: interview with Philip Richardson of the Boeing subsidiary AAI, who is the C17 Maintenance Training Leader. Various simulators are shown: flighder trainer, engine trainer annd undercarriage trainer. Interview with John Pippin of AAI, Maintenance Instructor. [Presenter Flag Officer Susannah Streeter for MNT] X. Fourth C17 item, discussing the "seasoning training period" at Charleston prior to return to Brize Norton, and how members of 99 Squadron will pass this expertise on to other RAF colleagues. Interviews with Flight Lieutenant Ken McCredie, training pilot, and OC Wing Commander Malcolm Brecht about the retraining. Simulator scenes. Sergeant Martin Kemp ALM and MALM Brian Birkin-Hewitt, both loadmasters from 99 Squadron discuss their experiences "squeezing in" to USAF training. Squadron Leader Keith Hewitt talks about what will happen after the Squadron receives delivery of the C17s back at RAF Brize Norton. [Presenter Flag Officer Susannah Streeter for MNT] XI. The island of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, home to the DERA-run Benbecula Range. Here, members of 2623 Squadron RAFA Regiment attend the first Rapier firing camp in the Regiment's history Squadron Leader G Jones (OC) and Sergeant P O'Brien are interviewed. The camp, shared with 16 Squadron, involves the loading and firing of Rapier missiles; the soldiers load their Rapier missiles on to the launch platforms and fire against half-scale targets. Interview with Corporal M Hargreaves. Close-ups of Banshee and Falconette remote target aircraft. Air Vice Marshal Barry Newton (Honorary Inspector General of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force) visits, and sees the Squadron in action. [Presenter Mike Drewett for MNT] XII. Royal Visit to RAF Lyneham: Air Vice Marshal Newton discusses the visit by HRH Prince Charles the Prince of Wales. Medical Squadron prepares for the visit (mocking up bomb injuries, using red syrup for blood and a sausage to tepresent an intestine). Prince Charles arrives, is greeted by Air Vice Marshal Newton and is introduced to Group Captain Bob Kemp, the inspector. Quarter Guard, from 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron, and Flag Officer Dave Gillam are in attendance. Action demonstration by 2624 Operations Support Squadron. Visit to 612 Surgical Squadron Royal Auxiliary AIr Force: interview with Squadron Leader Tom Day (OC) and demosntration of casevac (casualty evacuation) by 4626 Medical Support Squadron. Members of 4624 Movement Support Squadron load a Hercules aircraft. Interview with Flight Lieutenant Dan Coulson of the Hercules Reserve Airlift Flight. Prince Charles meets other units over lunch (not seen) before departing in his official car. Interview with Group Captain Bob Kemp. [Narrated by Squadron Leader George Cunningham for MNT] XIII. Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Goose Bay, in Labrador, Canada: RAF Tornado undertakes a training sortie. Wing Commander Robert Bright discusses the prospects for greater use of the facility and possible expansion. Squadron Leader Mark Hollingsworth discusses possible changes in in manning requirements and facilities. Squadron Leader David Jones, OC Operations, discusses how Goose Bay is not only a good training asset, but is also a valuable local asset; Deputy Mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Ron Bowles, agrees. [Presenter Squadron Leader Howard Leader 7644 Squadron for MNT] XIV. Environmental questions for British service personnel at Goose Bay. Elaborate precautions for new arrivals from the UK who have to walk through several trays containing disinfectant to stop the spread of foot and mouth disease - interview with Sergeant Chris Tubby (RAFP) about the precautions. The importance of ensuring that flight planning does not affect local wildlife: interview with Hanif Manji, Environmental Health and Safety Manager from the Department of National Defence (Canada) [Presented by Joe Shepherd from MNT] XV. Arrival of the first RAF C17 Globemasters for 99 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton. Guard of Honour greets their arrival. Interview iwth Wing Commander Malcolm Brecht (CO 99 Squadron) about the tough training schedule (see earlier items); also interviewed are General Robertson USAF and Group Captain Neil Jagger. [Presenter Flag Officer Susannah Streeter for MNT] XVI. Wing Commander Mark Roberts (OC 12 Squadron) discusses Exercise Western Vortex at CFB Goose Bay, Canada; interview with Ron Bowles, Deputy Mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. [Presenter Squadron Leader Howard Leader 7644 Squadron for MNT] XVII. Re-edit of item XIII: Squadron Leader Mark Hollingsworth and Squadron Leader David Jones discuss possible expansion. [Presenter Squadron Leader Howard Leader 7644 Squadron for MNT] XVIII. Members of the RAF Regiment visit Northern Romania where they attend the opening of a children's home in Baia Mare, funded by donations from the RAF Regiment themselves. In a ceremony, Wing Commander Andy Ormerod formally opens the home. Romanian children gather round the camera. Interviews with Georgette Mulhare (director of Hope and Homes for Children, Romania), Corporal "Eddie" Edwards and Sergenat Roy Blake. [Presenter Ed Marshall for MNT] XIX. Report on the conclusion of Exercise Saif Sareea in Oman, a test of the joint rapid reaction force concept, including the building of a forward operating base in the desert. [Presenter Flight Lieutenant Mary Bennett for MNT]
  • Alternative Title: RAF STRIKE COMMAND, HIGH WYCOMBE VIDEOCASSETTE COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: BFE 389
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © Crown copyright. IWM (BFE 389)
  • Featured Period: 1990-2000
  • Production Date: 2000-10-31
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Royal Air Force, Strike Command Media Ops Corporate Communications (Production sponsor) Royal Air Force, Strike Command Media Services (Video) (Production company) Royal Air Force, Strike Command Mobile News Team (Production company) Kearns, Mike (Production cast) Leader, Howard (Production cast) Streeter, Susannah (Flying Officer) (Production cast) Drewett, Mike (Production cast) Cunningham, George (Squadron Leader) (Production cast) Shepherd, Joe (Production cast) Bennett, Mary (Production cast)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: Beta-SP Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Tape length: 90
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    BFE 389

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