RAF officers are given their wings

8:56am Friday 19th October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Dan Bean, dan.bean@thepress.co.uk

Flight Lieutenant Hunkin, Flt Lt Surtees, Flt Lt Gemmell. Front, from left, Flt Lt McEwen*, Fg Off Mather*, Flt Lt Chalkley*, Wg Cdr Dale, AVM Bagwell, Gp Cpt Cooper, Sqn Ldr Gardiner, Flt Lt Branson*, Flt Lt Deen* * Graduating students Flight Lieutenant Hunkin, Flt Lt Surtees, Flt Lt Gemmell. Front, from left, Flt Lt McEwen*, Fg Off Mather*, Flt Lt Chalkley*, Wg Cdr Dale, AVM Bagwell, Gp Cpt Cooper, Sqn Ldr Gardiner, Flt Lt Branson*, Flt Lt Deen* * Graduating students

THE latest class of fast jet pilots has graduated from a North Yorkshire airbase.

Nine graduating officers were awarded their Wings at a ceremony at RAF Linton-On-Ouse by Air Vice Marshall Greg Bagwell, the Director of Joint Warfare with the Air Force.

Group Captain Dave Cooper, station commander, said: “As one of the world’s oldest military flying training schools we take great pride in the quality of our training, which is reflected in the achievements of these young men. I was delighted to welcome AVM Bagwell to RAF Linton-on-Ouse to present Wings to our graduating pilots.”

Wing Commander Baz Dale, officer commanding 72 (Reserve) Squadron, said: “These young men are all high calibre officers, and their families may feel justifiably proud of their achievement. This is the first graduation for over a year, and marks a return to a steady flow of student pilots after the drawdown caused by the Strategic Defence & Security Review.”

The new pilots will continue their training before advancing to RAF bases around the world, with some learning to operate the RAF’s unmanned aerial vehicle, Reaper, and others going on to the Lightning II.

Comments(8)

maybejustmaybe says...
9:42am Fri 19 Oct 12

Would that be the same pilots dogfighting over York this morning?

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Mister Sheen says...
10:05am Fri 19 Oct 12

Yeah, I saw that. Just rung the Press to get them to investigate. Thought they were going to collide on a number of occasions, or stall given the slow speeds they were going at! And over a heavily populated area as well. I blame the new Top Gun sequel.............

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Ignatius Lumpopo says...
10:35am Fri 19 Oct 12

Great weren't they? I reckon they were two USAF FA22s, taking in the sights. Pretty impressive. I could hardly hear the sirens going down Gillygate over the noise of their jet engines.

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Anniegetyourgun says...
2:44pm Fri 19 Oct 12

Wing Commander Baz Dale, officer commanding 72 (Reserve) Squadron, said: “These young men are all high calibre officers, and their families may feel justifiably proud of their achievement.

In the photo there must be a guy in a skirt - how diverse the RAF is!

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CHISSY1 says...
6:13pm Fri 19 Oct 12

"Well done all of you"
Its easy to say something nice,unlike other posters pathetic attempts at being funny".

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Mister Sheen says...
6:30pm Fri 19 Oct 12

Sorry Chissy, you're right. Meant to say "Jolly well done chaps!".

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Omega Point says...
7:43pm Fri 19 Oct 12

Anni.... that will be Sqn Ldr Gardiner. Not a graduating student but a senior officer, as with the Wing Commander and Group Captain.

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Omega Point says...
7:45pm Fri 19 Oct 12

Sorry meant to add, that grad officers are asterisked,as per caption

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