MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

I’ll be back: military boss bids Falklands farewell

Outgoing CBFSAI Air Commodore Gordon Moulds chats with FIDF Private Jeremy “Spurs” Henry at the Battle Day parade

AS Air Commodore Gordon Moulds CBE completes his final week as the Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands (CBFSAI) he said he was going to miss the job, the Falklands and the people.

When he was the Chief of Staff and Air Commander in the Falklands in 2004, Air Cdre Moulds was the first to obtain an extension to his year-long tour, an option he would like to have exercised in his present role. However, he said, CBFSAI was one of the most sought after command tours in the British Forces and his successor, Commodore Phillip Thicknesse was “chomping at the bit to begin his tour.”

When Air Cdre Moulds arrived in June 2008 his first ceremonial role was the 26th anniversary of the Liberation of the Falklands. His final one was the Battle Day parade on Tuesday.

In 1982 Air Cdre Moulds was serving his first operational tour at Royal Air Force Kinloss and participated in a number of operations in support of the

Falklands campaign.

His career has included many fast jet hours and in 1988 he became an air defence fast jet instructor and was posted to the Phantom Operational Conversion Unit. He later converted onto the Tornado F3 fighter aircraft and became the Executive Officer of the Operational Training Unit.

The recent arrival of the Eurofighter Typhoon in the Falklands is a source of satisfaction for Air Cdre Moulds: “For me it is the right aircraft coming in at the right time as the Tornado F3s go out of service. It will provide, as locals put it, “the Sound of Freedom” over these Islands for many years to come,” he said.

The outgoing CBFSAI would not comment on the political relationship between Argentina and the Falklands but said there was no doubt about the British Government’s commitment to the Falklands, as could be seen by the fairly recent arrival of HMS Clyde and the Typhoon, and the ongoing significant infrastructure investment into Mount Pleasant.

He said considering the UK was facing a difficult credit crunch, it demonstrated a huge commitment to the Islands which, in his opinion, would continue.

Another highlight for the CBFSAI was the recent visits from the Argentine families of the fallen: “I hope people realise just how important that was for the Islands to do.”

The people who made the visit could not afford the LAN flight, he said: “They weren’t interested in politics and it’s important to keep the politics out. It was a very successful visit and one that I was proud to be associated with.

“For me it is very much honouring and respecting the military to military relationship and there is no place for politics.”

The opening of Liberty Lodge in February this year was a privilege, and a facility he intends to use when he returns.

“I have yet to use the facility because I believe it should be for veterans who have retired, as opposed to the serving military,” said Air Cdre Moulds.

Discovering efficiencies achievable through civil-military partnership was a target Air Cdre Moulds set for himself when he arrived last year.

The road to the military training area at Onion Range is a good example of that, he said. It was originally planned that the £1 million project would be carried out by the Royal Engineers, but is now contracted to the Falkland Islands Government.

The 25-30,000 tonne of stone needed for the Mount Pleasant runway renovation was going to be shipped from the UK, but, he said: “We managed to step in and get the stone sourced locally.”

Another major project which is looking very promising is a wind farm at Mount Pleasant which has approval from the MoD.

“We’re now waiting for FIG to do their work so we can sign a deal for the future service. Things look bright,” he said.

“I’m confident that my successor will continue the projects we have started and there are a few other developments we can do with the FIG in the longer term.”

Air Cdre Moulds said his only disappointment as his tour drew to a close was that since July he had been kept far too busy by the UK and he had not travelled around the Islands as much as he had hoped over the past few months.

The Falklands has made an impression on Gordon Moulds, and his wife Belinda, and he talks of when he returns, not if.

“I’ve had the privilege of flying around in a helicopter and meeting the people of the Islands. It’s fantastic. The wildlife is second to none and I’ve become a keen photographer now because of it.

“The locals make the Falklands, along with the community spirit. I’m afraid I will be coming back.”

Personally, he said, he had concerns with oil and how it might ruin the Falklands community he loves: “That’s my only concern for the future down here, not any perceived threat from across the water.”

Air Cdre Moulds’ successor, Commodore Thicknesse, joined the Royal Navy in 1978 and served on board HMS Fearless during the Falklands War, and was second in command of the Argentine prize Yehuin.

Promoted to Captain in 2003, he has spent the past year as Director of the Maritime Warfare Centre. He is due to arrive in the Falklands later this month.

Source: Penguin News