10
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1977
+SINCE ITS FORMATION IN 1920 THE SQUADRON HAS SEEN MOST OF ITS SERVICE EAST OF SUEZ''. PERHAPS THE MOST TESTING PERIOD WAS BETWEEN 1942 AND 1945 WHEN 28 SQUADRON MADE A NOTABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEFEAT OF THE JAPANESE FORCES IN BURMA BY ITS CLOSE TACTICAL SUPPORT OF THE 14TH ARMY.
+ THE NEW STANDARD WHICH YOU HAVE JUST RECEIVED BEARS FOUR BATTLE HONOURS FROM THAT CAMPAIGN, TESTIFYING TO THE SACRIFICE, BRAVERY AND SKILL OF THE MEN WHO SERVED IN BURMA.
+SINCE MAY 1948 THE SQUADRON HAS BEEN STATIONED IN HONG KONG WHERE IT HAS BEEN A GREATLY VALUED AND RESPECTED PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE GARRISON. IN YOUR WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY THE 615 RESCUE CALLS WHICH YOU HAVE ANSWERED SINCE 1968 SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, AND YOU HAVE HELPED IN MANY OTHER WAYS FROM LIFTING HEAVY CIVIL ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT TO RUNNING PARAPLEGIC SPORTS.
+BUT OF COURSE YOUR MILITARY ROLE COMES FIRST. WITH THE SIZE OF THE GARRISON REDUCED, ITS MOBILITY IS VITAL, AND THIS 28 SQUADRON PROVIDES WITH ITS HELICOPTERS AND I REALISE THAT TO FLY THEM IN THE CONDITIONS OF TERRAIN AND CLIMATE OF HONG KONG REQUIRES HIGH LEVELS OF SKILL, TRAINING AND MAINTENANCE, AS WELL AS STRONG NERVES. IN AN OPERATIONAL SQUADRON OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE THE WORK MAY OFTEN BE DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUS BUT NEVER DULL.
+NEXT YEAR YOU WILL MOVE TO SEK KONG. I HOPE YOU WILL FIND THERE THAT CONDITIONS OF WORK AND LIFE ARE AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER - AND CERTAINLY QUIETER - THAN HERE AT THE EDGE OF A BUSY AIRPORT IN THE CENTRE OF THIS CITY.
+ THE STANDARD WITH WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TODAY SERVES AS AN EMBODIMENT OF YOUR SQUADRON'S TRADITIONS. YOUR EQUIPMENT, TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS CHANGE, BUT THE QUALITIES WHICH YOU NEED TO MEET THE CHALLENGES WHICH FACE YOU ARE THE SAME AS THOSE WHICH YOUR PREDECESSORS DEMONSTRATED OVER THE BURMA JUNGLE IN 1942. YOUR STANDARD, JEALOUSLY GUARDED AND RESPECTED, WILL REMIND YOU OF THEM.
+I OFFER MY BEST WISHES TO ALL MEMBERS OF 28 SQUADRON, PAST AND PRESENT, AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND I HOPE THE SQUADRON WILL LONG REMAIN HERE TO SERVE HONG KONG AND ITS GARRISON.+
/11
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.