Hawk 2001 - 2003 (6)

Listen to Flight Lieutenant Henry Botterell reading his WWI citation here:

In August 2001 there was another change in RAF policy that marked the end of an era for 208 Squadron. Up to this point, RAF fast-jet pilots had been awarded their ‘wings’ at the end of their course on 208 Sqn. However, from then onwards, there were to be awarded their ‘wings’ at the end of Basic Fast Jet Training at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, before arriving at RAF Valley. Thus 208 Squadron lost the traditional Wings Ceremony. However, in true 208 (18) style, the Squadron went out with a bang, holding a ‘SuperGrad’ at which wings were awarded to some 60 trainee pilots on 5 concurrent courses – the biggest graduation of fast-jet pilots in the history of the RAF! (17). The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, officiated at the ceremony, with the blessing conducted by the Chaplain-in-Chief. The mother of all graduation parties followed! Undoubtedly, the removal of the Graduation Ceremony threatened the Squadron ethos, but we made sure that the traditional end-of-course celebrations continued, with a (19) 9-ship flypast and dining-in night with the Squadron Standard displayed.

August 2001 also saw RAF Valley’s 60th Anniversary celebrations, which was opened by a formation of 16 Hawks in the form of the number ‘60’ In the lead was, of course, 208 Squadron in the shape of the ‘6’ (20). Regretfully, the weather was awful, which made the flypast somewhat sporty and spoilt many of the pictures, but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of some 30,000 spectators, including some Association members, who were estimated to have watched.