Warrant Officer Dave Marshall (RAF BBMF Engineering Officer)

Joined the RAF in 1976 as a Direct Entrant Propulsion Fitter. Early postings included Coltishall (Jaguar) and Cottesmore (Tornado GR1). Posted to 29(F)Squadron in January 1987, for a 4 year tour on Tornado F3s. A further posting at Coningsby saw him serve on the Tornado F3 OCU, before moving onto RAF Odiham as a Cadet Force Liaison Officer. In 2000 he returned to Coningsby, working in Eng and Supply Wing, then onto the Tornado F3 Operational Evaluation Unit (OEU) as Junior Engineering Officer. Following amalgamation with the Strike Attack OEU in 2004, the emergent squadron was re-badged as 41 (R) Sqn and then operated Tornado (F3/GR4), Harrier (GR7/9/9a) and Jaguar GR3. A move to RAF Wyton followed, working in Defence Equipment & Support, developing Airworthiness policy. Dave has served in the Middle East, the Mediterranean, the Falklands and the USA. He became SEngO BBMF in Oct 2008.

Flight Sergeant Dick Chaffey MBE (FS RAF BBMF)

Joined the RAF in 1984 as a RAF Halton (Airframe/Propulsion) apprentice. Graduated and served on Buccaneers & Hunters of 12(B) Squadron Lossiemouth, before moving onto Tornado GR4 in ASF Cottesmore then to Bruggen Germany with 14 Squadron. Returned to the UK St Athan in 1996 and was a member of the Lancaster Re-Spar Team before returning overseas back to 14 Squadron. After the Kosovo Conflict joined XI(B) Squadron before returning to the UK and Marham in 2001. A year later after returning from The Gulf War PtII joined Strike Attack Operational Evaluation Unit working with Tornado, Harrier and Jaguar initially at Boscombe Down before moving to Coningsby in 2004 when the unit became 41(R) Squadron. Dick has completed numerous tours in the Middle East, and deployments around Europe, Mediterranean and the USA. This is his third season with RAF BBMF. Away from work, Dick enjoys travelling, motoring especially historic cars and can always be found doing a spot of DIY... at home and at work!

Chief Technician Paul Blackah MBE (Airframe Specialist and Engineering Controller)

Joined the RAF in 1975 as an airframe fitter. He has served at West Raynham, Brize Norton and Benson on Bloodhound missiles 85 Sqn, VC10's second line and Andovers second line and with 115 Sqn before joining RAF BBMF in 1993. He converted to Full Time Reserve Service in 2001 and this will be his 18th season with the RAF BBMF. He lives locally with his wife and four children and has extended his interest in historic aircraft to include the restoration of the Messerschmitt Bf109 G2, Black 6, Bf109 and more recently as co-author of the Haynes manual of the Lancaster, Spitfire, Bf109 and is currently working on the manuals for the Hurricane and the Dakota. His current passion is the restoration of Spitfire MkXVI, TE311 that he hopes to see flying by 2012.

Sergeant Gary Millman

Joined the RAF in 1990 and, after training, was employed on second-line servicing of the Harrier at Wittering. Having completed technician training at Cosford, served with the RAF BBMF from 1996 to 2001 on his first tour with the Flight, as an airframe technician. On promotion to Corporal was employed servicing Tornados until 2006 when he was promoted to Sergeant and placed in charge of the Visiting Aircraft Section at RAF Leeming. In 2008 he was posted to 3 Squadron at Coningsby to work on the Typhoon. In 2010, he was offered the chance of a second tour with the flight, this time as the Mechanical Trade Manager responsible for both airframe and propulsion systems on the RAF BBMF aircraft, and with 6 Corporals and 10 technicians on my team. He says "Not only is it a huge privilege to work on the historic aircraft, knowing what they stand for, but this is also one of the few engineering environments remaining in the RAF where ‘hands on’ engineering skills are used to the full."

Sergeant Justin Staveley

Joined the RAF in 1990 as an electrician, after completing trade training first posting was to the Bay at RAF Marham. On promotion to Corporal he moved to St Athan, Tornado Major servicing, and three years later to 6 Squadron RAF Coltishall. Here he worked on Jaguar aircraft spending a lot of the time on Ops in Turkey. In 2004 was promoted to Sergeant and moved in to the Bay at Coltishall. On closure of Coltishall he was sent back to Marham, once again carrying out Tornado Major servicing. Justin is married with 1 child, a little girl nearly 4 years old.

Corporal Andy Bale

Was born in Worthing and he joined the RAF in 1985. After completing trade training at Cosford he worked on the second line maintenance of F4 Phantom flight systems equipment at Wattisham. In 1990, he was moved onto the first line maintenance of E-3D AWACS ‘Sentry’ aircraft at Waddington. At the start of 2007 Andy converted to RAF reserve service and continues with the Flight as an Avionic specialist. This is his twelfth season with the RAF BBMF, having joined the Flight in October in 1999. Andy is happily married and in his spare time enjoys cricket and motor racing.

Corporal Nigel Bunn

Joined the RAF in 1979 and has served at Linton-on-Ouse and Coningsby working on Jet Provost and Phantom aircraft. He joined the BBMF in 1988 after a tour on Shackletons at Lossiemouth. He is now a full-time reservist and is one of the RAF BBMF’s most experienced engine technicians with nineteen years of experience on the Flight. Nigel has a good sense of humour and likes to play practical jokes on the rest of the Flight. He enjoys walks in the countryside with his dog and enjoys flying radio controlled helicopters in his spare time.

Corporal Bela MacCluskey

Joined the RAF in 1995 as a Propulsion Technician. He worked in Module Repair at RAF Lossiemouth until 1999 and from there was posted to RAF Cosford to complete further trade training. Bela spent 9 years working on the Tornado F3 and during this time was deployed to the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, Zaragoza and Belgium. In his spare time he enjoys gold, football and keeping up his level of fitness. This is his second season with RAF BBMF.

Corporal "Lingy" Lingwood

Has served 20 years in the Royal Air Force and whilst originally from Morcambe, Lancashire, now lives in Norwich with his fiancée Karen, cat JJ and a lazy 40 year Tortoise called Andy. Having joined the RAF in 1990 starting at RAF St Athan on JP T Mk 3a he moved to RAF Laarbruch in 1994 serving on No 3 (Fighter) Squadron Harrier GR7 and deploying on operations all over the world including the Bosnia conflict and Op Warden. In 1998 he joined the Jaguar force at RAF Coltishall serving on 41(Fighter) Squadron and deployed on operations including Op Resonate North and Op Telic. With the closure of RAF Coltishall he was posted to No 2 (AC) Squadron Tornado GR4 and continued on operations around the world, mainly on Op Telice. Lingy is an avid surfer and continues to represent the RAF as such. This is his second season with the RAF BBMF.

Corporal Norman Pringle

Joined the RAF in 1979 and has served at Brize Norton, Valley, Abingdon and Coningsby. After working on VC10 aircraft he was subsequently employed as a specialist airframe repair technician and in various second line bays. He joined the RAF BBMF in 1996 and transferred to Full Time Reserve status in 2002. This is his fifteenth season on the flight. Norman in married, his wife is Head Teacher of a local school and he has two teenage children. His time out of work is spent supporting Market Rasen Rubgy Club, currently Chairman of the Junior Section and coach of the under 17s.

Junior Technician Ben Jones

Joined the RAF in June 1998 as an Airframe Technician. Ben spent his first two years at RAF Lyneham working 1^st line maintenance on the Hercules aircraft. After passing his fitters course Ben was posted to RAF Brize Norton onto 101 Sqn working 1^st line on the VC10 aircraft for 2 years then heavy rects for a further 2 years. Ben was deployed with the VC10 during the Iraq conflict and was awarded the Iraq medal for his participation. Ben was then posted to the Oxygen bay working predominantly with high altitude oxygen equipment. Ben enjoys a busy family life with his wife, 2 children and 2 cats, finding time to play and watch sports such as rugby, football, american football and racquet sports. This is Ben’s second season with the flight.

Senior Aircraftman (Tech) Edward Cash

Joined the RAF as an Airframe Technician in 2001. Upon completion of his trade training as an airframe technician at RAF Cosford he was posted to RAF Marham where he has worked in several of the second-line bays supporting the Tornado GR4 aircraft. Edward is from Bardney in Lincolnshire and is an avid Lincoln City supporter. He enjoys music and is accomplished in the piano and clarinet. Edward fulfilled a life long abmition of joining the RAF BBMF in 2009 and this will be his third season with the Flight.

Senior Aircraftman (Tech) Chris Cochrane

Joined the RAF in Jan 2000 as a Propulsion Technician. Upon completion of trade training at RAF Cosford, he was posted to 43(F) Squadron at RAF Leuchars working on Tornado F3. During his time on 43(F) Squadron, he was deployed to Saudi Arabia, Canada,Cyprus, USA, Qatar, Dubai and India. In May 2007 he returned to RAF Cosford to complete a muti-skilled course and converted to ATM (Mechanical). Chris joined the RAF BBMF in March 2008 and this will be this fourth season. Apart from being a busy family man, Chris is a keen classic car enthusiast and has successfully restored a Triumph Dolomite Sprint and a Triumph Stag.

Senior Aircraftman (Tech) Andrew Dodd

Joined the RAF in September 2001 as a Propulsion Technician. Before he joined the RAF he was in the Territorial Army in an infantry regiment serving the West Midlands Regiment (Sthe Stafford's) D Coy from May 1999 till September 2001, this saw him take part in detachments and exercises. After trade training at RAF Cosford 2003 he was posted to RAF Lyneham 47/LXX(ENG) Squadron working on C-130K Hercules, in December 2006 he moved to 24/30 (ENG) Squadron working on the newer C-130J Hercules. During his time at RAF Lyneham he took part in many operations including Op Telic (Iraq) and Op Herrick (Afghanistan) and various other detachments and exercises to USA, Canada, Iceland, Cyprus, Qatar, Italy, Germany and Austria. In November 2006 he went back to RAF Cosford and carried out the multi-skilling course, converting him to an ATM (Mechanical). Out of work he enjoys online gaming, socialising, swimming and winter sports. SAC (T) Andrew Dodd joined the Flight in July 2008 and this will be his third season.

Senior Aircraftman (Tech) Dave Hopkins

Joined the RAF in 1999 as an airframe technician. Hoppy has predominantly worked onthe Tornado F3. He carried out scheduled maintenance in AMF, 5 years 1st line servicing on 56(R) Sqn and 8 months inthe Aircraft Rectification Flight at RAF Leuchars. He ended his time on F3's with a 4 month tour of the Falklands on 1435 Flight before joining RAF BBMF in May 2009. This will be his third season with the Flight.

Senior Aircraftman (Tech) Graham Russell

Is from Hayes, Middleses and joined the RAF in February 1999 as an aircraft mechanic. After trade training he was pasted to 13 Squadron, at RAF Marham where he worked on Tornado GR1A/4A aircraft. After further training he was posted to IX (B) Squadron working on the Tornado GR4. During his time on these two squadrons he took part in several operational deployments including Op Bolton, Resonate and Op Telic as well as various NATO exercises. Graham joined the RAF BBMF in January 2006 and this is his sixth season. Graham is a keen runner and attends many athletic events around Lincolnshire.

Senior Aircraftman (Tech) Phil Sprott

Joined the RAF in January 2003 as an Avionics technician. After completion of training in May 2004, he was posted to 7 Sqn at RAF Odiham working on Chinook Helicopters. Soon after his arrival at Odiham he was back at RAF Cosford completing muti-skilling training as an Electrician. Upon his return to Odiham he was involved in many Ops and exercises including Op Telic and Herrick in Iraq and Afghanistan respectively, also taking part in Op Fresco during the Fire fighters strikes. He has also taken part in numerous trainng exercises worldwide. This is his second season with the Flight.

Senior Aircraftman (Tech) Jay Billington

Was born and raised in Blackpool and he joined the RAF in December 2001. After 16 months of training, he was posted to RAF Cottesmore and 1(F) Squadron Harrier. On completion of multi-skilling course, he moved to Harrier Maintenance Flight where he spent four and a half years before being posted to BBMF. Jay is a sports fanatic and he is an ardent follower of Liverpool FC. He enjoys football and has played at RAF station level. His other hobbies include going out, listening to music, building Lego,watching films and gaming. This will be his third season on the Flight.

Cpl Ben Kendrick (Survival Equipment Fitter)

Joined the RAF in 1991 and has been attached to various RAF Squadrons and the Army Air Corps since then. Over the last 20 years Benno has maintained items of Survival Equipment fitted and used on 5 Helicopter and 3 fast jet aircraft types as well as having the immense privilege of looking after RAF BBMF Air and Ground crew AEA (Aircrew Equipment Assemblies). Benno has been lucky enough to travel widely in support of RAF and AAC tasks, visiting many Middle Eastern and European countries as well as the Falkland Islands and Canada. Benno is married to Jo and has two young sons and a very vocal black cat. He enjoys most sports and in the last 2 years has been skiing, bob sleighing, parachuting, wakeboarding and waterskiing. Benno was "loaned" to RAF BBMF by the Survival Equipment Flight (SEF) in 2010 and this will be his second season with the Flight.

SAC Kelly Rhodes (Survival Equipment Fitter)

Joined the RAF in 1998 and has served on various units and worked on the JSF and Typhoon AEA integration projects. Kelly has wanted to work at the Flight since she joined the RAF - now she is part of the RAF BBMF family, she couldn't be happier! Kelly has also taken over the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Official) Facebook page. Kelly is single and an avid field archer and auntie!