16 Dec 11 - End of Year Report from "The Boss"
The Boss - Wg Cdr Tucker-Lowe - now safely returned from leading the Squadron's contribution to "The Libyan Unpleasantness" sends his wishes at this festive time of year.
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II(AC) SQN UPDATE
The Squadron has now settled in to life back in Marham. It is good to be back amongst family and friends. Our thoughts have now turned to the future II (AC) Squadron operation of preparing and supporting the ground holding brigade in Afghanistan during 2012.
We have welcomed a number of new personalities into the Squadron and have said farewell to individuals who move on to other posts within the Royal Air Force. As a result of the recent activities we have also added two names to the small but growing list of individuals who have completed 100 operational sorties. This is no mean feat considering that these generally have to be achieved within a 24 – 30 month period. One individual who left us for pastures new managed 99 operational missions during his time with us; it was sorely tempting to produce a new board just for him.
It cannot have escaped your notice that we also approach our Centenary year and we are keen for it to be a prestigious event amongst other activities gathering interest that are planned within the Country around the same time. Work to ensure this happens is taking place but I implore you to be a part of the celebrations in whatever way you can. If you need to update your membership prior to the events taking place then this is a good time to do it. Also, if you have any thoughts or good ideas and wish to help put them in to practise the dedicated committee will always be pleased to welcome the support. It is very likely that some events will take place over the actual date and we, as a Squadron and association, including friends far and wide will be able to share the moment in a way befitting the ethos of the Royal Air Force.
The centenary however will not be exclusively celebrated in May 2012. A number of activities are planned at other stages including a memorial unveiling at the Arboretum in Staffordshire close to the beginning of autumn. This website will be crucial to providing information so I suggest you monitor it regularly. When more information becomes available I will ensure every means available will be used to ensure you are informed and we very much look forward to seeing you at some stage within the next twelve months.
As the year draws now to a close I would like to take a moment to reflect on our activities. Thank you for all your support to those currently serving on the Squadron. I am convinced that without your support, we would not have been able to achieve the extraordinary success we did in this remarkably challenging year. On behalf of everyone on Shiny Two I wish you all a Peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The Boss
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13 Oct 11 - The "Italian Excursion" - The Boss Reports
Mission Accomplished - Having gotten their collective breaths back and following a heartfelt welcome home to RAF Marham, the Boss shares thoughts with us after the recent deployment to Southern Italy.
"As the sun finally sets on our deployment to Southern Italy in support of Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, I thought it would be worth taking a moment to reflect on my first eight months in post. It seems such a long time ago that we were sitting with bags packed to take part in Exercises in France followed by an exciting detachment to Cold Lake in Canada only for world events to overtake us and whisk the Squadron into an operation from a completely unexpected quarter.
Our time in Italy will be one that I remember forever, for many reasons. First and foremost it is important to highlight that we made such a positive difference. Our role in the operation certainly ensured that innocent Libyan civilians were afforded protection; we saved lives every day. Everything asked of us was achieved professionally and competently. Many new boundaries were crossed and hurdles negotiated with individuals in every area of Squadron life stepping up to the plate and succeeding. I will never tire of telling my team and wider community how well the whole Squadron performed.
The Boss and the "Scoreboard"
Back in Marham the rear party ensured we returned to a fantastic welcome home event and they prepared the ground admirably to allow us to go straight on leave without having to glance over our shoulders once. The stories of exotic trips on post operational leave are now coming thick and fast with many people choosing to holiday as far away from the UK as possible - one Squadron member even found himself visiting the South of Italy!
The normalisation of personnel back into a sense of routine is now almost complete and we look towards a future that is being prepared slowly in conjunction with many world-wide events. What remains firmly in my mind is the forthcoming series of events that we will all undertake together; to mark the Squadron’s 100th Anniversary. It is still a little premature to confirm dates for the proceedings, but rest assured they will go ahead and as soon as they can be confirmed I will ensure you all know of them.
Best wishes from everyone on Shiny Two."
Wing Commander Nick Tucker-Lowe
Officer Commanding II(Army Cooperation) Squadron
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25 August 11 - St. Rigomer des Bois Remembers
The folks of St. Rigomer des Bois - the French village where Flt Lt Bill Black crashed with fatal consequencies in 1944 - continues to honour his memory. Clive and Dianne Brooks representing the Association recently paid a visit and a report on what they found can be seen under the "Sagas of Two" page. Click on "Bill Black - Pt. Passim" to read all about it.
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31 May 11 - News from RAF Marham; an Update from "The Boss"
Aware that current news from the Squadron has been a bit sparce over the years, the new Boss - Wg Cdr Tucker-Lowe - decided on taking up the reins that regular news updates fed to the Website would be the order of the day. Unfortunately, no sooner had the statement been made that the present bit of unpleasantness in Libya kicked off and all the good intentions had to take a back seat in order for the squadron to attend to more pressing matters. However, despite having to cope with this North African commitment along with all the other stuff, the pledge to the Website has been revisited and we proudly present the first of what is going to be a regular feature; an Update from "The Boss".
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II(AC) SQN UPDATE
On the 11th of March 2011 I was honoured to chair my first II(AC) Squadron Association meeting in RAF Marham. As you can imagine much of the talk was of the 100th Anniversary plans for 2012 and specifically how we can commemorate the date whilst deployed and then, in true RAF-style, continue the celebrations on our return. Little did we realise that within one week of the meeting all the talk would be of a No-Fly Zone over Libya in support of United Nation Resolutions with II(AC) Squadron playing a pivotal part in planning at Marham and subsequent deployment to Gioia Del Colle in Italy.
I am conscious that since the Second World War any written article for the Association could start by highlighting what busy and unpredictable times we live in and that the Squadron still continues to be a force multiplier ready to stand at the forefront of the RAF Tornado force. But as I sit here on 13 May 2011 (a Friday, no less) having just wished OC 3 Squadron a happy 99th Birthday I think the statement is as true now as it has been at any period throughout our illustrious history.
It gives me great pleasure to let you know that II(AC) Squadron lead the way in supporting this operation from a British perspective and in conjunction with the Typhoon element also stationed here, and rightly talked about often in the British press, have so far succeeded in positively ‘making a difference’ to the lives of the people of Libya. I am sure in the not too distant future you will enjoy watching, listening to and reading the many accounts of this operation and specifically II(AC) Squadron’s involvement, whether conveyed publically by the media or personally through tales from the Squadron.
So what of the future? When we return from Gioia Del Colle in due course, the thoughts of family and well earned leave will surely dominate everyone’s agenda. This will be followed by a period of training to prepare for another deployment in the New Year. The anniversary plans are still being worked upon in the background and with the support of the Association a variety of events are being planned that I’m sure will appeal to all members, not least a planned unveiling of a memorial at the Arboretum and a weekend of family activities based in and around Marham.
I will update this part of the Association webpage periodically but will leave you with the best wishes of all serving members who continue to keep the good name of the Squadron at the forefront of all activities within the RAF.
Happy 99th Birthday to all past and present on ‘Shiny II’
The Boss
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16 Mar 11 - 100th Anniversary
Are you an ex-Two Squadron member who is now a "Captain of Industry"; something "Big" in the City or maybe have just fallen on your feet with that big Lottery Win? Most important, are you willing and able to use your influence and position within your organisation - or through that other well-known route, the "Network" - to identify and/or generate sponsorship to provide funds that will finance the considerable expense of next year's celebrations? (The Squadron's 100th Anniversary, that is; not the Olympics!)
There are a few specific projects in the Pipeline (the Arboretum Memorial and the publication of the updated edition of Hans Onderwater's book, "Second to None" are a couple that come to mind) that need to be funded and it will be a pity if such ambitions were to fall at the wayside but for the provision of a bit of finance.
If you believe you are in a position to help then kindly get in touch and a gilt-edged invitation from the Boss will be yours by return of post.
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12 Jan 11 - Sqn Ldr W I Harris - RIP
It is with great sadness that the death of Ivor Harris is announced. Ivor who recently celebrated his 90th Birthday passed away in hospital close to his home in Trowbridge, Wiltshire on 6th January.
An Obituary commemorating Ivor's life will be published later.
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21 Oct 10 - Aviation Love-Fest
Whilst we wait with baited breath and a little trepidation for the impact of the Strategic Defence Review and the implications for II(AC) Sqn and the future of RAF Marham click here for a little diversion and a reminder (maybe) of times when being involved with aircraft was a pleasure!
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21 May 10 - Arboretum Memorial
As part of the events being organised to celebrate the Squadron's 100th Anniversary in 2012 arrangements have been put in place to have a memorial built at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire.
A group comprising of members from the Association Committee have already visited the site and a Stonemason has been commissioned to carved the tribute in Granite. The design has yet to be finalised but the requirement is to have a stone which will take the form of a "Roman Two" and have names inscribed of those who have perished in the service of the squadron since its formation.
Such an undertaking is clearly going to require considerable finance and already appeals have been made through the newsletter to members and also for Lottery funding in order to lessen the demand on existing Association funds.
To those of you who have responded to the appeal, the Association is very grateful for your donation. For those of you - Association Members or not - who may not have heard of this endeavour, then this is an unashamed attempt to get your attention and, hopefully, a contribution to assist in the funding of what will be a fitting tribute to our own.
There is an account set up to receive your generous donation so before the new Government devises further measures to relieve you of your assets please make any cheques payable to:
II (AC) Squadron Association Memorial Fund
In anticipation, Thank You.
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20 May 10 - Membership Details
Some folks have complained they have not been receiving Newsletters or other notifications. Investigation into the reasons why invariably reveal that we are holding incorrect e-Mail addresses due, mainly, to folks having changed their providers and have not advised us of the event.
If you believe you may fall into the category of "The Unknown" can you kindly drop a line to the Membership Secretary to confirm you are still with us. To make things easy for you just click on the envelope. 
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21 Mar 10 - All Tie-d Up!
After a long and frustrating negotiation we have, at last, found a supplier to produce II(AC) Sqn ties at a reasonable cost. There are two versions, one to enable us to identify Aircrew, is a fetching Maroon and the other, for the rest of us, is an attractive Dark Blue. Both carry the Hereward knot as a repetitive theme.
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Price for either is £17.50 which includes P&P and handling.
Orders to the Secretary and allow a few days for this most covetable item to drop through your post box.
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Squadron memorabilia. The complete
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"Where are they now?". Comrades seeking old comrades |
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