James Stuart Watkin

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It is with immense sadness that we have to announce that our long-serving Chairman and dear friend, Stuart Watkin, passed away on Tuesday 14th November.  Stuart has been a dedicated, inspirational and enthusiastic leader and coordinator of the Friends of Leeming Aviation Group (FLAG) for many years.  He was instrumental in bringing together the Friends of Leeming and the Leeming Aviation Group, which then amalgamated to become FLAG, the thriving and popular organisation it is today.  

Throughout his tenure, he has organised highly informative visits to RAF Leeming and to other RAF and aviation units further afield, events which have been greatly appreciated by all FLAG members.  His innovative and high-quality FLAG website has been a fine example of FLAG's primary aim of promoting in the region the good reputation of RAF Leeming and the Royal Air Force.  Stuart has enjoyed the constant support of Isabel, his wife, as membership  secretary, and together they have encouraged membership levels to flourish, and generated great enthusiasm in our Group.

Stuart's contribution to the success of FLAG involved many hours of unseen work and preparation in making FLAG's visits highly sought after.  Stuart will always be remembered with fond respect and enormous gratitude for his unwavering leadership as Chairman of FLAG.                                                   ___________________

FLAG Zone    -    Events and Activities

 

 

FLAG Year 2023

Leeming visit - June 2023

June saw our second visit this year to Leeming which began by watching the C-130 Farewell Flypast. Following this sad event we were given an Intel briefing from Intel officers at Leeming covering world issues and threats. Afterwards we visited the JFACTSU Simulator with a full briefing on how it's used to train JTAC personnel. Moving to the VAS we were hosted by RN 845 Squadron who were on detachment to Leeming with their Merlin helicopters. An explanation of their operations was followed by guided tour of a Merlin. A packed day of activities ended with a visit to Hawker Hunter Aviation and viewing their Hunter aircraft in the HAS. A full and varied programme of activities and our thanks to all at Leeming who hosted FLAG.


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Merlin photo by Leeming Aviation     C-130 & Hunter photos by Colin Fawcett

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Leeming visit - March 2023

FLAG made our first visit to Leeming at the end of March which included hosting by the YUAS, Small Arms Range. MRT and Fire Section.

FLAG Year 2022

Leeming visit - November 2022

In November FLAG visited Leeming again, firstly being hosted by 2 FP to hear a briefing about the recently formed counter drone unit and then view some of its operational hardware. 

This was followed by our regular visit to the Swiss Air Force detachment at the northern HAS area to hear a briefing followed by seeing the afternoon sortie launch.

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Photo by Leeming Aviation

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Photos by Dave Thompson

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Photo by Andrew Wilson

FLAG is represented at the HDC Maple Park dedication ceremony

FLAG was represented at the naming ceremony of the new Hambleton District Council Maple Park crematorium built of the site on the WW11 bomber station RAF Skipton-on-Swale, a satellite station of RAF Leeming. The Maple Park name is in memory of all those Canadians from the station who lost their lives in the cause of freedom in Europe. A commemorative stone was unveiled by Colonel James Hawthorne, RCAF Advisor at the Canadian High Commission in London.

 

Prior to the Maple Park Ceremony, FLAG President AVM (Rt’d) Phil Roser, Colonel James Hawthorne and HDC Leader Councillor Mark Robson, laid wreaths at the cairn memorial on the village green in Skipton-on-Swale.

 

The cairn marks the site where a Halifax bomber from 433 Sqn crashed on return from a bombing mission over Europe. Two crew, the pilot, Flying Officer Jimmy Harrison and flight engineer, Sgt Dennis Whitbread lost their lives. Additionally a five year old boy, Kenneth Battensby, also lost his life when wreckage struck his house.

 

FLAG was proud to be represented at this Ceremony.

 

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FLAG Year 2021

FLAG Christmas Lunch 

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Leeming Visit - October 2021

Finally in October 21 FLAG recommenced our activities after the COVID suspension with a visit to Leeming. Members were privileged to hear a presentation by the Station Commander, Group Captain Blythe Crawford, on the activities at Leeming during 2020 and 2021. The presentation was held in the new RAFX or Innovation Hub building and included a detailed account of the role of RAFX at Leeming in developing new systems of operation for the RAF. The presentation ended with a display by the latest piece of Leeming kit, "Robodog", which demonstated its amazing abilities to all those present. 

Following this presentation we moved to 100 Sqn briefing room to hear an excellent talk by Jim Whitworth of BAE Systems about the newly formed Qatari squadron and their Hawk T167. Jim's briefing included a full description of the new Hawk's technical and operational capabilities and an outline of the developments planned by BAE and the RAF at Leeming. It was encouraging to learn that this venture will secure Leeming flying activities well into the future.

Our sincere thanks to all at Leeming who made this visit possible.

 

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FLAG Presentation to Group Captain Blythe Crawford

During our Leeming visit FLAG took the opportunity to say farewell to the outgoing Station Commander, Blythe Crawford, and present him with a farewell gift of a book of photographs featuring North Yorkshire by Joe Cornish. Our President is shown presenting Blythe with our gift. We wish Blythe all the best in the future and thank him for his constant support for FLAG during his time at Leeming.

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 Photos by FLAG & SAC Leah Jones, RAF Leeming Photo

In January 2021 Derek McDonough our FLAG Secretary gave an illustrated zoom talk about the last CAPEVAL at Leeming and also the training undertaken for deployment by Expeditionary Air Wings. Derek's last deployment was with Leeming's 135 EAW in support of the RAF southern policing operation in Romania. He talked about his experiences during this operation which was illustrated by many photographs. Examples of the presentation photos are shown below

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FLAG Year 2020

 

 

Our first Leeming visit of the year, scheduled for March, was unfortunately cancelled due to the Covid crisis.  As noted on our Home Page FLAG activities are suspended until the position is clarified later in 2021. However FLAG continues to support everyone at RAF Leeming and to this end we have made two donations to station charity events.  


Firstly, two guys LCpl Callum Brown and LAC Alex Crossley did a 7.5 km tab around the station, carrying 40kg each in extremely hot conditions to raise funds for BLESMA.  Their time was an amazing 1hr 8mins with support from B Flt 34 Sqn.  Congratulations to both guys!


Secondly, a 12 man team from 34 Sqn raised money for RAFA by undertaking a virtual cycle ride with two of the teams doing 1,929 miles between them. Overall £4,522.24 was raised for RAFA which supports the RAF family. Congratulations to those guys of 34 Sqn.


In supporting the wider Royal Air Force family, later in the year FLAG also donated towards the appeal by the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln. 



Photos below - Leeming Facebook

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Photos  below - W.O.  Rob Williams, 34 Sqn

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FLAG Past

A selection of articles and images from past FLAG events

More past images are in our Gallery page

Air Vice-Marshal  P. W. Roser CB, MBE, RAF (Retd) becomes FLAG President

 

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FLAG is delighted to announce that AVM Phil Roser has agreed to become the first President of Friends of Leeming Aviation Group. The appointment of Phil Roser as President of FLAG in 2015 is particularly appropriate as it is exactly 25 years since Friends of Leeming was established as a result of his initiative when Station Commander at RAF Leeming. Our thanks to Phil for his acceptance.

AVM Phil Roser joined the Royal Air Force in 1966 as a cadet at the RAF College Cranwell. After flying training he did tours with seven fighter squadrons, flying the Lightning, Phantom and Tornado F3 all in the air defence role. Operational missions included QRA in Germany, Cyprus and the UK and patrolling the NATO No-Fly Zone over the Former Yugoslavia when he was the first RAF detachment commander in southern Italy. He was a weapons instructor on the Lightining before becoming the C. O. of No 111 (F) Squadron at RAF Leuchars. The painting shows his personal F4 Phantom painted for the 70th anniversary of 111 Squadron in 1987. Phil then become Station Commander at RAF Leeming when it operated the F3 Wing as well as RAF Regiment, UAS, an Army unit and much more. Despite his heavy operational duties he found time to establish FOL for which we are eternally grateful.


In addition to flying fast jets, as a graduate of the RAF Advanced Staff College and the Royal College of Defence Studies, Phil has undertaken many desk tours during his career with the RAF. He has served both at HQ Strike Command and the Ministry of Defence, including at the latter as Military Assistant to the Minister for the Armed Forces. The final ten years of his thirty seven service saw a number of postings in the international field. These included being the UK Liason Officer to United States European Command in Stuttgart, senior airman in the NATO Stabilisation Force HQ in Sarajevo and Deputy UK Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee in Brussels. His final post was Chairman of the Senior Directing Staff of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. During these three and a half years he was also Chairman of the Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly and a Trustee of the Royal Air Forces Benevolent Fund.


Phil was awarded the MBE in 1983 and was made a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath in 2003, retiring in that year before moving to North Yorkshire with Andrea his wife. Both are active locally in community events such as Rotary and also leading monthly walks in North York Moors, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District.

2015


October 2015


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FLAG RAF Fylingdales visit

 

 

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FLAG members visited RAF Fylingdales on the North York Moors and were given a briefing on the role of the station followed by a tour of the Ops Room. Our thanks to Flt Lt Richie Weeks and everyone at Fylingdales for making us so welcome.

FLAG RAF Leeming visit

 

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FLAG Christmas Lunch at RAF Leeming 

 

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The 2018 FLAG year ended once again with our annual Christmas Lunch in the Officers Mess at RAF Leeming hosted by FLAG President, Air Vice Marshal (Rtd) Phil Roser. Guests attending were the Station Commander, Group Captain Blythe Crawford with his wife Sally, Station Warrent Officer Andrew Beattie, as well as our FLAG Officer Flt Lt James Harris and our Leeming year host Fg Off Matt Magee. Following another excellent lunch we were given a fascinating talk by Flt Lt Chris Fawcett about his experiences on Expedition Himalayan 2018. Our thanks to all at RAF Leeming who made the event such a success.

FLAG President at the Leeming Handover Ceremony 2018


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FLAG President AVM (Rtd) Phil Roser was a guest at the Leeming Station Commander Handover Ceremony on Thursday 22 Nov 2018. Outgoing Stn Cdr, Air Commodore David Arthurton OBE, handed his official duties to Group Captain Blythe Crawford OBE

Further photos are on our Lee Zone 1 page.

 

FLAG RAF Coningsby visit 2019

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Photos - Dave Thompson / Leeming Aviation

The February sunshine provided a suitable backdrop to our first visit of the year when FLAG members were guests of 29 Squadron and the BBMF at RAF Coningsby. A briefing about OCU ops was followed by a guided close up of a Typhoon in their hanger. Following lunch in the Officers Mess we visited the BBMF hanger for a tour as well as watching the Dakota in the circuit prior to the Sheffield flypast the following day.

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FLAG congratulates our liaison officer, Flt Lt James Harris on achieving 4000 hrs

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Our FLAG liaison officer, Flt Lt James Harris, celebrates achieving 4000 hours on the Hawk T.Mk1 with his 100 Sqn boss Wg Cdr Nick Badel and fellow officers from the squadron. Since joining the RAF in 1985, James has flown the Bulldog, Jet Provost, Tornado GR1, Tucano, Hawks T1 / 120 and Mushshak - almost 6000 hrs in total

His vast experience has included flying and instructor tours in the UK as well as an exchange tour with the South African Air Force.

James said: "I love flying the Hawk and have great guys to work with at a great location. It's a privilege to go flying."

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FLAG RAF Scampton visit 2019

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FLAG's second visit of the year was to RAF Scampton where our hosts were  were the RAFAT - "The Red Arrows". We first attended their pre flight briefing before moving outside to watch the practice sortie by "gypo" section in which coloured smoke was first used pre-season. We were given a commentary on the performance by Red 10, Sqn Ldr Adam Collins, which made the display very personal. Although members had watched the Reds many times as spectators at various events, seeing the performance from the inside was both special and a privilege. Our thanks to all the Reds for their hospitality and making it a very special day for FLAG members.

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Photos - Colin Fawcett

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Following our visit to the Red Arrows we adjourned to the nearby Dambusters Inn in Scampton village for an excellent lunch break. Apart from the excellent food and drink served at the pub, the landlord has created a fascinating museum of memorabilia devoted to 617 Sqn and Bomber Command. Well worth a visit for this alone. During the afternoon we were guests of Scampton Heritage Centre where our guides gave us a tour of all sections of the Centre. Our thanks to the guides who made the tour so informative and interesting.

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    The famous "bouncing bomb"as used in the Dams Raid by 617.                                  A FLAG member tries out the Hawk for size

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The heavy cost of Operation Chastise is clearly shown on the Memorial Board and Guy Gibson's office as it was in 1943.

FLAG RAF Leeming visit 2019


HORNET'S LAIR

2019 ended with the FLAG visit to Leeming where we experienced close up the operations of the Swiss Air Force Hornets as illustrated in this F/A-18 emerging from its HAS. Our thanks to all the Swiss officers who hosted us and made what all members said was an amazing and privileged visit.

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Following our visit to the Northern HAS we adjourned to the rather warmer 100 Sqn briefing room to hear presentations from our two liaison officers. Harry Pilling gave us an excellent description of life as a fast jet pilot on the Squadron which was followed by Derek McDonough describing his involvment with the upcoming 2020 NATO evaluation at RAF Leeming. 2020 is a special year for Leeming as it marks the 80th anniversary of the station's operations. Derek briefed us on plans for these celebrations which include invitations to the RCAF to participate given the wartime links with the Canadian Bomber Squadrons at Leeming. FLAG looks forward to next year and involvement in these celebrations.

Our President presents the FLAG sponsored "Contribution to Charity" Award at the Leeming Awards Evening each November

 

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Group history

 

Friends of Leeming Aviation Group (FLAG) was formed on the 1st of April ,1998 from an amalgamation of Friends of Leeming (FOL) and Leeming Aviation Group (LAG).  Both groups were interested in RAF Leeming with some diverse and some common interests.


FOL was formed in 1990 on the initiative of the station commander Group Captain P.W.Roser. It was mainly aimed at the local community but was open to anyone with an interest in RAF Leeming. Regular station visits were offered along with special facilities for members at the annual air day. A quarterly newsletter gave an insight into life at Leeming.


LAG was formed in 1994 by local aircraft enthusiasts whose focus was on aircraft movements rather than life at RAF Leeming. A monthly newsletter was published detailing movements at Leeming and beyond. Later, visits to airshows in the UK and Europe were added to the group's activities.

By the end of 1997 both groups saw the benefits of having a single group linked to RAF Leeming and FLAG was formed.


Our hosts   -   100 Squadron