SUMMER TRAINING ACTIVITY ON 502 (ULSTER) SQUADRON

July saw the conclusion of intake no 3 for 10 reservists on 502 (Ulster) Sqn.  Next stop was RAF Halton for 8 of them and 15 days of continuous training which included Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, Nuclear, First Aid and field craft.  The return trip for them was equally fun and daunting as the minibus decided to throw its teddies out the cot and not go any further than Birmingham.  This setback proved a mere pebble on the road to home, as the ingenuity and determination of Royal Air Force Reserves overcame this, and all bar two members returned.  The remaining two stayed with the sick minibus to be brought home by the AA the following day.

July also saw the first outing in anger of the Sqn mountain bikes.  Twelve members of the sqn took on the challenges of Tardree Forest park and in an exciting day where everyone was tested by the terrain and weather it was good to see the team ethos being used.  This together with 2 sqn personnel deploying to Cyprus in support of 4626 and 612 Sqns which involved mountain biking, media support to the exercise and a spectacular flight in a 208 Sqn Hawk aircraft meant July really ended with a bang.

August saw the first weekend of intake no 4 start on the Sqn, with 16 Reservists attesting and beginning their initial Basic Recruit Training Course.  The two remaining reservists from intake no 3 attended BRTC at RAF Halton, the journey to and from RAF Halton was uneventful unlike the previous one.

September brought about the first formal parade for the squadron since being re-formed in 2013.  Thirty two proud sqn members along with 130 guests and representatives from RAFA, RAF Veterans the ATC remembered the bravery and sacrifice of ‘The Few’ during the Battle of Britain.  The parade and church service was followed by a BBQ for family and friends at the squadron HQ.