Presenters

Master Aircrew Gareth Attridge

Gareth joined the RAuxAF Regiment as a Gunner in 1988 before joining the regular Service in 1990 as Non-Commissioned Aircrew in the Air Loadmaster role. He went on to complete Operational Conversion Unit training on the C130 Hercules at RAF Lyneham where he was a Tactical Air Transport Loadmaster on 47 Sqn for seven years, before moving across to the Rotary Fleet.

After completing Rotary training at RAF Shawbury on the Griffin helicopter, Gareth was posted as a Support Helicopter Crewman to the Puma fleet where, in 1997 after a short spell with 33 Sqn, was posted to 230 Sqn in Northern Ireland. Four years later, he was selected to become a Qualified Helicopter Crewman Instructor (QHCI) and was then posted to No 3 Merlin course at RAF Benson.

In 2003 Gareth was promoted to Flight Sergeant and became an instructor on 28 (AC) Sqn Operational Conversion Flight. Three years later saw a move across to an operational flight and he became the Flight QHCI and a Joint Personnel Recovery specialist. In 2008 Gareth was posted to the newly reformed 78 Sqn, where he was promoted to Master Aircrew and became the ‘A’ Flight Master. His most recent post before joining the team was as the 78 Sqn Crewman Leader.

He is also a Survival, Evasion, Rescue & Extraction Officer qualified in environmental training in Desert, Arctic and Jungle survival.

During over 20 years of service, Gareth has deployed all over the world and completed tours in Saudi Arabia, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, 8 operational tours of Iraq and most recently he completed his second tour in Helmand Province, Afghanistan as part of 1419 (Merlin) Flight.

Gareth enjoys keeping fit and off-road motorbikes, which he has ridden as part of the RAF Enduro team in the past. He is also keen on photography and is an avid supporter of Tottenham Hotspur.

To find out more about what Gareth's job in the RAF can involve, click on this link Weapon Systems Operator (Crewman)