RAF Wittering News

A Royal Air Force Wittering Airman who joined the service with no driving licence has won the prestigious RAF Logistics Driver of the Year award.

Corporal Jack Banks (30) is an instructor with No 2 Mechanical Transport (2MT) Squadron; the RAF’s specialist road-going, heavy-lift transport squadron. The award was given in recognition of his outstanding work during 2019 and 2020 but formal recognition at home was delayed due to an overseas deployment.

Jack joined the RAF in September 2008 but, despite having no driving licence, the idea of being a driver stood out. He said: “I don’t come from a military family, so there was no one to guide me. But driving had always appealed to me, particularly the off-road element of the training.”

After completing his basic training at RAF Halton, Jack went on to his official driver training at the Defence School of Transport at Leconfield near Hull. It was there that Corporal Banks gained his driving licence and was trained to operate HGVs, buses and coaches, and off-road vehicles.

Although a skilled and highly competent vehicle operator, it was for his enduring commitment to road safety in the community that Jack received his award. Whilst stationed at RAF Honington in Suffolk, Corporal Banks worked with the village primary school to get pupils interested in road safety, and he and team of volunteers made sure all the road signs were clean and visible.

Squadron Leader Dan Cook is Officer Commanding 2MT Squadron. He said: "I’m really pleased to see Jack’s initiative and hard work receive worthy recognition. Our specialist drivers are rightly proud of their tradecraft, so I expect there will be plenty of friendly competition to succeed him as the RAF's Driver of the Year."

No 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron was formed in Cambridge during the Battle of Britain, ferrying ammunition, fuel and aircraft spares between fighter stations in the south of England. Today, more than eighty years later, 2MT still keeps the RAF supplied on operations across the world.

As an instructor on 2MT Squadron Corporal Banks spends much of his time teaching rather than driving, but his enthusiasm is not diminished. He said: “You’ll always do a demonstration drive first, but you have to make sure the student gets ample driving time. It’s about adapting what the students have learned to a 2MT environment.”

From cars and minibuses to cranes, articulated lorries, coaches and specialist vehicles (such as aircraft refuelers), RAF Drivers operate may vehicle types and ensure personnel, equipment and commodities are in the right place at the right time.

Group Captain Jo Lincoln is the Station Commander at RAF Wittering. She said: “Congratulations Corporal Banks, it is an outstanding achievement to be nominated RAF Logistics Driver of the Year. Jack has embraced road safety and shared his knowledge and passion to the benefit of the local community. RAF stations are a part of the community in which they reside, Corporal Banks has absolutely embraced the opportunity to make a difference, well done.”