Scottish Air Cadets donation to BBMF

Header Image: OC BBMF, Sqn Ldr Mark ‘Suggs’ Sugden, (front right) and Flt Lt Andy Preece (front left) receive a donation to the BBMF, with two cheques totalling £1,200, money raised by the Scotland and Northern Ireland Region Air Cadets Battle of Britain Mini Flight. Air Cadets from 2163 (Auchtermuchty) Squadron look on. (All Photos: Keenan Carr)

Whilst BBMF Spitfire P7350 and Hurricane PZ865 were at Leuchars in July, the pilots, Squadron Leader Mark ‘Suggs’ Sugden (OC BBMF) and Flight Lieutenant Andy Preece, were pleased to receive a donation of £1,200 from the Scotland and Northern Ireland Region Air Cadets Battle of Britain Mini Flight.

The Mini-Flight is led by Civilian Instructor Colin Nicol, the Region’s Aerospace Officer, who has created a long-standing relationship between the Region and the BBMF. The Battle of Britain Mini-Flight builds, maintains and displays radio-controlled models of the Spitfire and Hurricane, with a huge scale model of a Lancaster to be added in the near future. When they appear at events, money is raised for the BBMF by donations.

The BBMF is not able to take donations directly, but it is possible to donate to the BBMF via the RAF Memorial Flight Official Club. For more information on how to make donations email [email protected]

Air cadets from 2163 (Auchtermuchty) Squadron were present at the cheque presentation in a hardened aircraft shelter at Leuchars on 19th July, with BBMF Spitfire P7350 and Hurricane PZ865 forming a backdrop. The cadets spent some time with the aircraft and the pilots and were allowed up onto the wing walkways to see inside the cockpits, with the BBMF pilots explaining it all to them. It was a real privilege for the cadets to get so close to a Spitfire and a Hurricane.

The cadets also presented a beautifully crafted non-flying model of a 101 (Special Duties) Squadron Avro Lancaster, LL757 ‘SR-W’, with the name and nose art of the cartoon character ‘Oor Wullie’, on behalf of Central Scotland Wing Air Cadets. This came with a framed narration about this particular aircraft, which was flown by Flight Lieutenant ‘Rusty’ Waughman DFC AFC LdH, who flew a full tour of 30 ‘ops’ as a Lancaster pilot and captain with 101 (Special Duties) Squadron in 1943 to 1944. Rusty provided the ‘Veteran’s Viewpoint’ for the Club 2021 Yearbook.