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Brize Norton becomes the new home for the RAF Hercules Force

Locals gather to mark the departure of the last of the Hercules Force from RAF Lyneham (Picture: Paul Crouch, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011)

As of this month RAF Lyneham's Hercules fleet has a new base at RAF Brize Norton which is becoming critically important as an RAF logistics support hub including the air bridge with the Falkland Islands.

RAF Lyneham's Station Commander, Group Captain John Gladston, flew the first aircraft to land at Brize Norton.

“This is our last opportunity to say thank you and pay tribute to the people of Wiltshire for all the support they have given to the station over the past 70 years. It is with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to the Hercules Force, a sentiment which I know echoes throughout the Wiltshire community”, said Captain John Gladston.

”The Hercules Force will now take a piece of our unique and proud history to RAF Brize Norton where I know they will be most welcome and I am in no doubt that it will flourish and continue to build on our proud heritage for many years to come.“

On board the aircraft were the Hercules standards from 24, 30, 47 and 47 Air Despatch Squadrons, which were paraded along with the Brize Norton standards of 99, 101 and 216 Squadrons.

They were joined by the standard for 10 Squadron, whose formal reformation parade is planned for next year as it becomes the first RAF squadron to fly the new Voyager aircraft, due into service at the end of 2011.

Formally welcoming the Hercules fleet were Air Officer Commanding No 2 Group, Air Vice-Marshal Philip Osborn, and RAF Brize Norton's Station Commander, Group Captain Dom Stamp.

”It is an absolute privilege to formally accept command of the Hercules fleet from Group Captain Gladston. Having the Hercules fleet and personnel here 'under one roof' will endorse RAF Brize Norton as the hub of air transport and air-to-air refuelling and will enable us to provide a more efficient and adaptable response to whatever challenges we face in the future“ said Captain Dom Stamp.

Air Vice-Marshal Osborn gave a speech to all the assembled personnel, highlighting the significance of the day's events:

”Today is a truly momentous day, one which marks both the final twilight of four decades of Hercules service from Lyneham and the exciting beginning of the next chapter in the proud C-130 story.

“I have no doubt that the indomitable spirit of the Hercules Force will continue in its new home, as it complements the strategic airlift and air-to-air refuelling capabilities that have characterised Brize for so long.

”Indeed, not for generations has Defence been so dependent on the capabilities now resident at Brize Norton - from the criticality of the TriStar and C-17 to the Afghanistan airbridge, through to the utterly indispensable daily contribution of VC10, C-17 and Hercules to operations over Libya.

“I also want to welcome the first echelons of 10 Squadron and our Voyager capability.

”This aircraft, based on the Airbus A330 and due in service towards the end of the year, will signal the start of a step change in capability, as we commence the transition from our venerable yet aging aircraft to a new generation of aircraft and support services.

”Therefore, it my absolute pleasure to mark today the reforming of 10 Squadron, one of our most prestigious squadrons; its proud and long history matching perfectly with the promise of Voyager and the new Brize Norton”. (Defence News).-