Harrier Force ground crew achieve 100% success

Despite the best efforts of the Afghanistan winter the RAF team responsible for keeping Harrier GR.9s flying in support of coalition troops has achieved remarkable success.

Speaking at Kandahar Airfield, Squadron Leader Jez Kerswill, Senior Engineering Officer on IV(AC) Squadron said, ‘We have achieved 100% engineering achievement against task and we have not failed to generate an aircraft to meet a planned mission’.

Awesome package

Since arriving in theatre late last year IV(AC) Squadron based at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, has maintained a busy operational tempo flying close air support missions. ‘The overall package of the Harrier is awesome and it’s probably at its pinnacle now as a close air support platform’ said Sqn Ldr Kerswill.

He was similarly impressed with one of the latest weapons to enter the RAF inventory, the Paveway IV precision guided bomb. ‘This is the first time this squadron has employed the Paveway IV operationally. From an engineering perspective, the new munition requires more forward planning prior to launch but the armourers and avionics personnel have taken it in their stride. It is a phenomenal weapon.’

‘For me as a SEngO to be responsible for the Harrier is, without a doubt, an absolute privilege. I pushed to come to the Harrier Force to experience the challenge of this unique platform and to do so in an operational environment has been a career highlight.’

Excellent serviceability

His thoughts were shared by Junior Engineering Officer Flight Lieutenant Bob Pitelen who described serviceability as excellent. ‘We’ve been lucky out here as we are priority number one and our stores system is replenished quickly.’ He also praised the team effort which has kept the Harriers serviceable. ‘The lads are keen, they know what they have to achieve and they pull together to get the job done.’

‘The climate can pose a challenge. At the moment it changes from day to day and we work hard to ensure that the welfare of the lads is monitored.’ He added, ‘There is also the inherent risk of rocket attacks but we have some very experienced personnel who have seen it before.’

In common with the many of the ground crew Sergeant Ian Whiteman, the Avionics SNCO on A Shift, has deployed to Kandahar a number of times before. ‘This deployment has flown by and compared to when I first came here in 2004 things are a lot more comfortable now. We’ve got to know what to expect in terms of the environment. That said, this has been the first winter deployment for IV (AC) Sqn and therefore there has been a learning curve. I think we’ve done really well this time, there’s a good mix of experience and new faces.’

For Senior Aircraftsman Lee Dixon, the current deployment is his fourth time at Kandahar in six years and he also finds that things are easier than previously: ‘With all the facilities set up as we want you just slip back into it.’ He added, ‘Being on operations is why I joined the RAF and the team spirit is brilliant. We have a good group of lads out here and we have all just gelled.’

Of the personnel deployed, three quarters are from the RAF, the remainder the Fleet Air Arm.