Group Captain M E (Sammy) Sampson DSO MA RAF

Group Captain Martin Sampson (known as Sammy) was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1986. Following flying training he was posted to fly the Jaguar before transitioning to the Harrier after the 1991 Gulf Conflict. As a Qualified Weapons Instructor he has flown over 500 operational missions over Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan, served on an exchange tour with the United States Marine Corps and completed a tour as Harrier Staff Officer on the Strike Attack and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit. Upon promotion to Group Captain he was posted to MOD Joint Capability as Assistant Head Joint Strike and ISTAR where his responsibilities spanned Joint Strike, ISTAR, Space, Special Capabilities, Air Transport and AAR, Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence, Defence Electronic Warfare and Cyber. Having just completed 5 months deployed to the United States Marine Corps Headquarters, Regional Command (South West) in Afghanistan as their Fires and Effects Co-ordinator and Head of Strategic Communications. He lives with his wife Anne and 3 children Toby (14), Holly (13) and Amelia (11) and an overly lively chocolate Labrador. His main interests are spending time with his family, collecting wine, running with his dog and all sports, with playing tennis a particular favourite.

Wing Commander Paul "Godders" Godfrey

Wg Cdr Godfrey joined the RAF in 1991 progressing through flying training on the Jet Provost and Hawk. Posted to the Harrier in 1994, he flew in various operations in the Balkans with IV(AC) Sqn, based at RAF Laarbruch in Germany between 1995 and 1998. Returning to IV(AC) Sqn as a Qualified Weapons Instructor, he moved with them back to the UK where he began an instructional tour on 20(R) Sqn, the Harrier OCU. In 2000, he was selected for an exchange tour as the first non-USAF pilot to fly the F-16CJ, serving on the 55th Fighter Sqn at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. Here he contributed to the post-9/11 homeland defence task and twice deployed on operations to the Middle East. On return from the USA Godders undertook a ground tour as a Typhoon Requirements Manager and, in 2005, was posted as a Flight Commander to 3(F) Sqn, the first Operational Typhoon Sqn. After completion of Staff College in 2009 he was posted to MOD as the Typhoon desk Officer and is now the Officer Commanding Operations at RAF Coningsby. This is his second season with BBMF.

Squadron Leader Ian Smith (OC BBMF)

Ian Smith joined the RAF in 1983 and has been flying ever since, amassing 6,000 hours in the air. His first operational posting was to Chinook helicopters based in Germany, withtours in Northern Ireland and the Falkland Islands. Following a tour as a flying instructor at Linton-on-Ouse he was posted to No 41(F) Squadron flying Jaguars at RAF Coltishall and took part in operations over Iraq and Bosnia. A tour as a Red Arrows pilot was followed by a year in Saudi Arabia as Team Manager for the then embryonic Saudi Hawks Aerobatic Team. Returning to the Jaguar Force, he saw the aircraft out of service at RAF Coningsby and was then posted to RAF Cranwell where he instructed on the Grob Tutor, and commanded No 16(R) Elementary Flying Training Squadron. 'Smithy' has flown with the BBMF for the past 4 years as a volunteer fighter pilot, pre-selected to take over as OC BBMF at the end of 2009. This system, which will now continue into the future, ensures that each new OC BBMF gains the neccessary experience before taking command of the Flight for a 3-year tour. The Officer Commanding is responsible for overseeing all the operations, administration and engineering functions on the Flight, and for the overall planning and management of the extensive display programme undertaken by BBMF every year. He also holds the post of Fighter Leader, responsible for training the BBMF fighter pilots each year and for conducting air tests on the BBMF fighter aircraft.

Squadron Leader Duncan Mason

Joined the Royal Air Force in 1991 and after flying training completed tours on 3(F) Squadron RAF Laarbruch on the Harrier GR7 and 19(F) Squadron RAF Valley as a Flying and Weapons Instructor, on the Hawk T1. In 2002, Dunc was selected for the Royal Air Force Aerobatic team; The Red Arrows, displaying with them until 2005. He was then posted back to the Harrier as a Flight Commander on 1(F) Squadron and subsequently to 800 Naval Air Squadron, both based at RAF Cottesmore. Dunc undertook operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan with the Harrier GR9 and numerous exercises globally on land and at sea. Dunc is married with 3 children and in his spare time he enjoys all sports, particularly squash, cycling and mountaineering.

Flight Lieutenant Antony Parkinson MBE

Known as Parky joined the RAF at 18 and has been flying ever since. He was privileged to be the first pilot to gain 1000 hours flying the RAF's latest fighter: the Euro Fighter Typhoon and has also flown over 1000 hours on 3 other types - Phantom F4, Tornado F3 and Hawk with the Red Arrows. He also flew the F16 for 3 years with the Royal Netherlands Air Force and has over 6000 flying hours in total. Married to Ann, most spare time is taken up with 4 children; Edward, James, George and Lucy ranging from 17 to 3 years old. This is his 5th year with the Flight.