RAF Leuchars MRT gone but never forgotten
I am working on a lecture about Resilience in Edinburgh in February.
“LEADERSHIP IN A CRISIS – HOW DO YOU PREPARE YOUR TEAMS FOR THE WORST” and it is amazing how many characters mould you in life and beyond and what an untapped talent we have within this small country
“Working with great people makes you a better person; you learn a lot and it also gives you the experience and confidence to move on with your own life.”
I was just looking through some old photos what a great bunch of characters so many memories, really working hard to get those thoughts down in a book, I owe it to them and their families who gave so much.
We were lucky to have during my time at RAF Leuchars the Wessex helicopter stationed there and we made great friends of the crews and ground crews. It was the same at RAF Valley and at Kinloss when the Sea King came into use. These were incredible days of big winters and long call – outs and great camaraderie with the RAF Mountain Rescue Teams and our civilian counterparts many are still friends today.
A huge history of RAF Mountain Rescue that dates back in Scotland from 1944 to today where RAF Lossiemouth MRT are still in action today.
My pal Willie MacRitchie ex RAF Kinloss/ Lossiemouth MRT summed it up with these great words when Kinloss moved to RAF Lossiemouth:
“The kit on the outside and the equipment may have changed.
Underneath the heart and soul of the teams remains the same”
The RAF Lossiemouth MRT at the Anson Crash high in Assynt in 2013. The old memorial is now gone and replaced by one that will need little maintenance when we are all long gone. All the crew are buried here.
The RAF Mountain Rescue Teams have no specific area unlike our civilian counterparts.
“They have no area as such so must be able to operate in any environment all over the UK in day or night and in all weathers. They have a one hour readiness state. Many a time the Helicopter arrived and this became 15 minutes! Not long to sort out your life?
Bill Gault MBE the main man and a power during the Lockerbie. Disaster. He was the liason between the coal face and the heirachy of Police and Emergency services. A well kent face in SAR as a SAR helicpter man.
Bill Gault MBE. RAF MR after Lockerbie
You must be able to think on your feet and have the mental stamina and leadership to cope with whatever occurs”.
It is great to see RAF Lossiemouth MRT and RAF Mountain Rescue still out there and carrying on a great tradition. RAF Teams 2017: Lossiemouth/Valley/Leeming
RAF MRT Annual winter course in action.
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