Hawk Sqn Cdrs 14
Wing Commander C R Kidd
BEng RAF
1 May 2015 -
Wing Commander Chris Kidd was educated at King Edward VI School in Bury St Edmunds and was awarded both RAF Sixth Form and Flying Scholarships before gaining a Private Pilots Licence at Dundee Airport in 1994. He was awarded a University Bursary and commissioned into the RAF in 1998 after graduating from the Nottingham Trent University with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering and completing elementary flying training on the Bulldog as a member of East Midlands Universities Air Squadron.
Following Officer training, Wing Commander Kidd completed flying training on the Tucano and Hawk, gaining his wings in October 2000 prior to being selected to fly the Tornado GR4. After graduating from the Tornado GR4 Operational Conversion Unit in 2001, his first frontline tour was on 14 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth. During this tour he completed multiple large force exercises including both Red and Maple Flag in addition to operational deployments to the Middle East, where he flew combat sorties over Iraq in support of Operation RESINATE (South) and Operation TELIC.
In 2005 Wing Commander Kidd was posted to 19(F) Squadron at RAF Valley where he became both a Qualified Flying and Tactics Instructor, and a Qualified Weapons Instructor on the Hawk T1. He completed this tour as OC Weapons Instructor Flight, responsible for instructor training and the running of the Hawk QWI course.
Wing Commander Kidd returned to the frontline in 2008, where he was appointed as the Training Officer and subsequently the Instrument Rating Examiner for 31 Squadron at RAF Marham.
During this tour he flew combat sorties over Iraq, in support of Operation TELIC, and Afghanistan, in support of Operation HERRICK before posting, on promotion to XIII Squadron as OC Training, where he returned in short order to Afghanistan for another operational tour. However, as part of the 2010 SDSR, XIII Squadron was scheduled for closure, and in 2011 he was posted to IX(B) Squadron. Whilst serving on IX(B) Squadron Wing Commander Kidd again flew on operations, mounting Storm Shadow missions from the UK and deploying to Gioia Del Colle all as part of the Tornado GR4 Force’s contribution to Operation ELLAMY.
In 2012, Wing Commander Kidd was posted to HQ Air Command, RAF High Wycombe, where he served as the Attack Desk Officer within A3 Operations. During this tour, he provided RAF support to French Counter Insurgency Operations, supported disaster relief efforts in the Philippines and laid the groundwork for Operation AZOTIZE, the RAF contribution to Baltic Air Policing.
Promoted to Wing Commander in 2014, he deployed to ISAF Joint Command, Kabul, where he served for 6 months as the Deputy Chief of Fixed Wing Plans. During this time he was responsible for the synchronisation and apportionment of NATO air effects to support national elections, air support to the drawdown of Bastion and the operational drawdown planning of theatre wide Close Air Support assets; he was awarded the NATO Meritorious Service Medal for his efforts. Wing Commander Kidd returned to RAF Valley and took command of 208 Squadron in May 2015.
Wing Commander Kidd's interests include mountain biking, snowboarding and red wine (not necessarily in that order!), and he has recently taken up distance running to combat his mid-
