MACR Craig Bampton

Is in his fourth season on BBMF. Whilst trained as a fixed wing Air Load Master Craig is currently based at RAF Odiham as a Mobile Air Operations Team Leader (MAOT). A MAOT interfaces between Support Helicopters and Forward Battle Groups providing advice to all user elements within a Battle Group. At Headquarters level we advise senior commanders on how best to use the asset they have available, particularly on deliberate operations. At company and platoon level we are involved in teaching Landing Point Commander and Rigger Marshaller courses; with these individuals then becoming the main point of contact for the aircraft within the Battle Group. In his spare time Craig is a qualified Emergency Response driver and Training Coordinator for First Response helping East Midlands Ambulance Service.

FS Paul Simmons

Joined the RAF in 1990. After training he was posted to Puma Mk1, serving on 230 Sqn at RAF Aldergrove. In 1994 he transferred to Chinook Mk2 serving on 18 Sqn at RAF Laarbruch, the last helicopter squadron to be based in Germany. Having served on both 18 and 27 Sqn at RAF Odiham he completed tours in the Falkland Islands,Bosnia and Kosovo. In 2000 he became a Qualified Helicopter Crewman Instructor (QHCI) on the Chinook Operational Conversion Flight (OCF) before becoming the Crewman insstructor. In 2004 he was posted to 216 Sqn at RAF Brize Norton operating Tri-Star. He is now Head of Fixed Wing Flying Training at 55(R) Sqn at RAF Cranwell instructing Weapon System Operators on Dominie. This is his second season with BBMF.