80th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force cover signed by Air Chief Marshal Sir David Lee GCB CB and Sir Douglas Lowe GCB DFC AFC JS(CC)47f RAF cover for the 80th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force dual numbered RAF80(7). The photographic artwork shows a Chinook and Puma helicopter in flight. The cover has been flown in a Boeing Chinook HC Mk2 of No 27 Squadron. The cover bears two Tuvalu stamps from the RAF 80th Anniversary ominbus showing a Bristol Brigand and a Vickers Vernon both cancelled on the first day of issue 1.4.1998.
The cover has been signed by Air Chief Marshal Sir David Lee GCB CB former UK Military Representative to NATO and Bomber Command during WWII, it is also signed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Douglas Lowe GCB DFC AFC fomer AOC 18 Group and Chief of Procurement and also served with Bomber Command during WWII.
Official special numbered and certified on reverse.
Air Chief Marshal Sir David Lee GBE CB
Sir David Lee joined the RAF in 1937 and attended the RAF Central Flying School and then became an Examining Officer. He flew with RAF Bomber Command from 1939 onwards during WWII. He attended the RAF Staff College in 1942, and was then Deputy Director Plans, Air Ministry from 1943-44 and was involved the D-Day Invasion plans. He was posted as Officer Commanding 904 Fighter Wing, Batavia, Java in 1945. Post war he was on the Directing Staff of the RAF Staff College 1948-50 and then Deputy Director Policy, Air Ministry 1951-53. He was Officer Commanding RAF Scampton 1953-55. He was on the Chiefs of Staff Committee at the Ministry of Defence 1956 before becoming Air Officer Commanding, Air Forces Middle East (Aden) in 1959. In 1962 he was the Commandant, RAF Staff College and then Air Member for Personnel, MOD 1965-68. He was the United Kingdom Military Representative to NATO between 1968-71.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Douglas Lowe GCB DFC AFC
Sir Douglas Lowe joined the RAF in 1940and joined Bomber Command after passing his training. He served with No 75 (New Zealand) Squadron during 1943 and was posted to Bomber Command Instructors' School in 1945. Post war he attended RAF College, Cranwell and was on the Examining Wing, Central Flying School in 1950. He was posted to the Air Ministry, Operational Requirements in 1955. He was Officer Commanding No 148 Squadron 1959 through to 1961 when he went as a RAF Exchange Officer with the USAF. In 1963 he was Station Commander Cranwell and then attended the Imperial Defence College in 1966. In 1967 he was DOR 2 (RAF), MOD (Air) and then 1969-71 he was Senior Air Staff Officer, Near East Air Force. He was Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operational Requirements) 1971-73 and then Air Officer Commanding No 18 Group 1973-75. He was Controller, Aircraft, MOD Procurement Executive from 1975-82 and then promoted to Chief of Defence Procurement, MOD 1982-83. He was awarded the DFC in 1943 and the AFC in 1946. He was Air ADC to the Queen 1978-83.
Boeing Chinook Helicopter
The RAF operates the largest fleet of Chinook support helicopters after the US Army. The Chinook Wing, which forms the heavy-lift element of the Joint Helicopter Command, is based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire. Odiham supports three operational squadrons, No 7 Squadron, No 18 Squadron and No 27 Squadron, and the Operational Conversion Flight (OCF). Two aircraft are also flown by No 78 Squadron from Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands on support helicopter tasks.
Chinooks are used primarily for trooping and for load carrying (both internal and underslung) and can carry up to 54 troops or 10 tonnes of freight. The cabin is large enough to accommodate two Land Rovers, while the three underslung load hooks allow a huge flexibility in the type and number of loads that can be carried. Secondary roles include Search and Rescue and Casualty Evacuation (a total of 24 stretchers can be carried). The crew consists of either two pilots, or a pilot and navigator, and two Air Loadmasters. The aircraft can be armed with two M-134 six-barrelled Miniguns and an M-60 machine gun.
The Chinook is a very capable and versatile support helicopter and has been involved in most of the recent UK Operations such as the Falklands Conflict, Northern Ireland, the Gulf War, peace keeping in The Balkans, evacuation of Sierra Leone and operations in Afghanistan and Iraq (Operation Telic). The aircrew and supporting groundcrew are trained to operate in a range of conditions from living under canvas in field sites to embarking upon aircraft carriers.
Westland Puma helicopter
The Puma is a support helicopter which entered RAF service in 1971. Selection of the design arose from an RAF requirement to replace Belvedere and Whirlwind helicopters then in service and an agreement between was signed in 1967 between Westland and the French company Sud Aviation (later known as Aerospatiale) covering licence production of 48 SA.330Es which were to be known as Puma HC1s in RAF service. The Anglo-French agreement also covered the production of 292 SA.341 light helicopters (known as Gazelles). In return the French were granted licence production of 40 Westland Lynx helicopters.
The RAF has a fleet of Puma HC1 helicopters available to the frontline Support Helicopter Force. No 33 Sqn based at RAF Benson comprises the Operational Conversion Flight, the ACE Mobile Force (AMF) Flight and an Operational Flight. The remaining Pumas are based at RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland with 230 Sqn.
As support helicopters (SH) within the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), the Pumas are used in the classic support roles of tactical troop and load (internal/underslung) movement by day or night. The aircraft can accommodate 16 equipped troops or up to 2 tonnes of freight. Another major role is that of casualty evacuation for which 6 stretchers can be fitted.
Pumas were involved in Operation TELIC, the liberation of Iraq, supporting British Army patrols and carrying out casualty evacuation flights.
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