SPOTLIGHT ON 502 (ULSTER) SQUADRON AS RAF100 CELEBRATIONS TAKE OFF

It is a big year for the Royal Air Force as it celebrates its centenary under the banner of RAF100. The birthday celebrations kick off from the start of April and the centenary will be marked by events, activities and other initiatives running nationwide to the end of September 2018. The themes of the year are to commemorate the RAF’s role in defending the UK for 100 years, celebrate its continuing success and its fantastic personnel and to inspire a new generation through highlighting the amazing opportunities there are in areas like engineering.

Members of 502 (Ulster) Sqn RAuxAF have begun playing roles in this milestone year’s events and will do so through the coming months. One group has been receiving training from 206 (Ulster) Battery 105 Regiment Royal Artillery in firing their field guns in preparation for a RAF100 salute to take place at Lough Erne in June. Others have been drafted in to the national media team, following the RAF100 baton, which is being relayed throughout the UK visiting 100 sites associated with the RAF in 100 days, as well as schools, sports events and local communities. A key focus will be the Air Show week at Newcastle, County Down, this August when the Squadron will be supporting the RAF100 National Aircraft Tour – a major plus for aviation fans in Northern Ireland.

Outside the RAF100 events, 502 Squadron reservists have been supporting RAF Ops in Cyprus, Qatar and main bases in GB while focus on recent squadron training weekends has been on Individual Reinforcement Training (IRT) completion, driver training and fun and challenging sport activities. Also in the sporting field, Squadron reservist, Flt Lt Cordner was part of the RAF indoor hockey team which won the Inter-services Championship. As a result he has been chosen to represent the RAF on an upcoming tour of Japan.