19 April 2008
For the first event, on Saturday 19 April, the guest speaker will be Wing Commander Peter West MBE. Peter is a noted speaker at many aviation events and will be talking about his role as a Vulcan Air Electronics Officer and his time serving with the V-Force in his inimitable style. This event is also the VRT Annual General Meeting.
Peter West joined the Royal Air Force in April 1951 and served for two years as an Engine Mechanic servicing Lancaster bombers. After training as an Air Signaller and gaining his ‘wings’ in August 1954, he was posted as a sergeant to Coastal Command and joined 38 Squadron at Luqa, Malta, flying the Shackleton MR2. In 1958 he converted to Air Electronics Officer (AEO) and was posted to Bomber Command to fly in the Valiant. He served briefly with 214 (Tanker) Squadron at Marham, Norfolk, before he was commissioned as a pilot officer and joined 138 Squadron, also on Valiants, at Wittering, Cambs.
He converted onto the Vulcan B2 in 1962 and joined 12 Squadron at Coningsby, Lincolnshire, until 1966 when he transferred to 230 Operational Conversion Unit. He spent the next six years on staff duties, during which he was promoted to squadron leader. He returned to the Vulcan in 1972 when he joined 44 Squadron at Waddington, Lincolnshire, as the AEO leader. The following year he transferred to 27 Squadron, operating the Vulcan in the maritime reconnaissance role, again as AEO leader.
In 1976 he moved to Allied Forces Central Region (AFCENT) in The Netherlands as an Intelligence Officer and, in 1980, was awarded the MBE, as well as gaining promotion to wing commander. He was a staff officer at RAF Strike Command High Wycombe from 1980-83, during which time he spent three months as the head of intelligence watch at the Ministry of Defence during the Falklands War. He was posted to the NATO Intelligence Staff in Oslo, Norway, before retiring from the RAF in 1985. Peter now lives in Yorkshire.
Admission to the event is free for VRT Members, with a donation of £4.00 for non-members.
Start time is 12.00, with the entertainment beginning at 1.00pm.
The Event takes place at Hawkwell Village Hall, Main Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4EH
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