Buccaneer 1981 - 1984 (11)

Back at Lossiemouth, it was down to business as a newly designated Maritime Anti Shipping Squadron [55] and on with the training for launching Paveway bombs against ships not ground based guns. So, a detachment to Gibraltar [56] went

ahead and we tried to pick up the threads again. But it was quite hairy and we upset the OC Ops at Gibraltar somewhat with incidents like returning to the airfield declaring acute fuel shortages [57]. And, occasionally infringing Spanish air space. Happily, the Air Commander Gibraltar was an old friend from Vulcan days and he was quite on our side. He announced he was returning to UK to join the last flight of one of the remaining Vulcans and he was to fly this Vulcan to Gibraltar to take up position as his Gate Guardian. Naturally, I offered to put up a pair of Buccaneers to welcome him back and so Pete Foster was able to take one of my favourite airborne [58] photographs! We rounded off the detachment and celebrated our return to normal squadron training with a photo [59] of the whole squadron. Back at Lossiemouth the next important items on the agenda were the formal declaration to NATO that we were operational as a Maritime Squadron and that demanded more training in the hostile environment [60] of the North Sea, North East of Aberdeen. Tragically, during this final work up period, Sqn Ldr Bill Graham and Flt Lt Tony White were killed when their Buccaneer hit the sea during just such a training sortie. Both men were sorely missed, particularly as the date for our formal declaration to NATO approached. Despite the awful effect their loss had on the members of the Squadron, we pressed ahead with the final training for the declaration and also with the preparations for the Presentation of a new Standard. The ceremony went ahead and Sir Humphrey Edwards-Jones, a former Spitfire pilot and 208 Flight Commander presented the Standard, the one you see [61] here this evening.