|
|
|
||||||||
SAS OPEN DAY- CREDENHILL
30 SEPTEMBER 2000
OFFICIAL OPENING
On 30 September 2000 at 11.00 hours, the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment held the Official Opening Ceremony for their new Stirling Lines Headquarters at Credenhill in Herefordshire. It was performed by both The Rt Hon The Earl of Jellicoe and the Regiments Commanding Officer. The ceremony took place next to the unit's majestic and sombre "Clock Tower", which had been re-housed in the barracks memorial garden in front of the Regimental church. Engraved on the memorial are the names of Regiment members who have lost their life after being prepared to "go beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow" which is the units aim. Included was the last name, Brad Tinnion, who gave his life in the recent Sierra Leone conflict.
Later there was a Memorial Tree Planting Ceremony for Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Mayne, a legendary figure from the units early days. He Commanded 1 SAS after becoming one of the first recruits in founder Sir David Stirlings new desert unit. A number of VIP were also in attendance, and mingled with relatives and close friends of both serving, and ex members of the SAS.
Under tents, all sections of the Regiment were represented in "Squadron Interest Rooms", where training and current video's which had been taken on operations and deployments were shown. In addition, each unit had members in uniform to answer any questions. There were also "hands on" displays of uniforms, personal equipment and medical equipment, included a communications tent which included VHF/UHF/HF and Sat Comm's, both secure voice and data. There was also a vast array of weapons to handle, or see in use on the nearby range.
Outside were a large number of vehicles used by the Regiment both at present and in the past, and if meeting and talking to members of the regiment failed to get your adrenaline flowing, there was also the opportunity to have rides in the fun fare. These included the big wheel, which gave a panoramic and stunning view over the camp!
The main arena was the focal point for various events, which commenced at 1300. The first a Regimental free-fall troop, making a precision landing after exiting a RAF C130. This was followed by a Special Forces Air and Aviation Fly past, which included Puma, Chinook, Lynx, Gazelle and the seen but very rarely recognised 8 Flight Agusta A109 helicopters. Following the fly-past's (which included a second "tactical" flyby by the C130), the helicopters landed amongst the ground displays, and were available for inspection. On the nearby helipad were the units other Agusta A109's, which were in company with two visiting Twin Squirrels, one of them being from 32 (The Royal) Squadron at RAF Northolt, and a USAFE 352nd SOG MH53 from Mildenhall.
Following the fly-past's, a Mobility Troop contact drill followed in the arena, which gave the opportunity for an extensive firefight. The Royal Signals White Helmet's Display Team then performed their motorcycle display, which was followed by the Ministry of Defence Police Dog Display Team. The Red Arrows then gave a low level display due to cloud, which was followed by the bands of the Brigade of Gurkas and the Waterloo Band of the Royal Green Jackets Royal Rifle Volunteer's, "Sounding the Retreat".
The day ended when three Agusta 109's made a low-level fly past, after a "10 man" troop had exited from them at high level, for the final free-fall display.
SUMMARY
A unique day at a unique base meeting a unique and professional team. A day that I guess will not be repeated for a long time, if ever!
RAF CREDENHILL
RAF Credenhill,, situated North West of Hereford, opened and housed No: 11 School of Technical Training in June 1940. It then supported at various times the RAF Secretarial Branch, the RAF Equipment Officers School, No: 1 School of General Service Training, the RAF School of Administrative Training and until 1985, No: 1 School of Catering until that moved to Aldershot. From March 1974 until 1982 it housed the WRAF School of Recruit Training, then in 1983 the camp saw the formation of the Youth Training Squadron (YTS). In all the time RAF Credenhill had been used, and despite the presence of its hangers, it has never housed an airstrip. In 1994 the YTS closed and the Army bought the site. After 22 SAS Regiment had obtained funding to develop the site, extensive rebuilding which started in 1997 took place. 22 SAS finally moved into Credenhill in May 1999.
SAS HISTORY
The Special Air Service began in 1941 with the formation of "L" Detachment , SAS Brigade and had it's first taste of combat when it became involved in action in the Western Desert in the July. Since then it has been on operations in Jebal, Adkar, borneo, Aden and Dhofar.
The units role changed in 1976 with the commencement of operation in Northern Ireland, and has been committed both there, and with action in the Falklands in 1982, Iraq 1991, Bosnia Herzgovinia 1993 until 1996, and up to the present time in Sierra Leone. Along side its tours of combat has also been its unending counter terrorist role.