The RAF’s smallest Squadron teamed up with the RAF’s most special Flight as members of 7644 (VR) Public Relations Squadron spent an extended training weekend with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) at RAF Coningsby to coincide with the Queen’s Birthday Fly-Past.

7644 (VR) Public Relations Squadron provides PR support for both RAF and NATO forces worldwide. It is manned solely by Reservists of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. The weekend included not only a special fly-past to celebrate The Queen’s birthday and the 90th anniversary of the RAF, but also RAF Coningsby’s Families Day, all of which provided a wealth of potential stories for the media. 7644 Squadron personnel interviewed BBMF aircrew and groundcrew for press and media features, hosted members of the press covering aspects of the weekend and provided one-to-one media training for RAF Coningsby staff.

Features emerged around Station Commander Group Captain Stuart Atha, who was piloting a Hurricane in the fly-past, several members of the groundcrew and aircrew working on the prestigious occasion, and outgoing BBMF PRO Jeanette O’Connell, who was awarded a Commendation by the Air Officer Commanding 1 Group for her service to the station. 7644 Squadron personnel worked alongside a photographer and videographer from RAF High Wycombe to generate distinctive imagery to accompany their written work.

Normally based at RAF Halton, 7644 Squadron took the opportunity afforded by its time in Lincolnshire to visit the grave of Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, the young American airman who wrote the renowned poem, ‘High Flight’. The heritage theme of the training weekend concluded with a tour of the WWII Operations Room in the bunker at nearby RAF Digby. “It’s been a really successful and interesting weekend,” commented 7644’s Squadron Leader Howard Leader. “This is a great way to train newer members of the Squadron in the skills they will need in operational environments, and working closely with the historic aircraft of the BBMF is a real treat.”

7644 Squadron’s visit to BBMF resulted in a variety of features around the Queen’s Birthday Fly-Past being made available to the press across the UK and even in America.