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The last of the 3 part interview with Sir Glen Torpy. We chat about his work in some of the most demanding jobs to be found in the RAF, culminating with his appointment as the Chief of the Air Staff. If you want to find out about the decision to remove the Harrier from service or what’s happening to the RAF Museums then this is one to listen to.
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We get to the point in Sir Glen’s interview where he is heading to the Gulf to start flying operations and he recalls the the words spoken by Recce pilots of old, “Alone, unarmed and unafraid!” If you want to hear what it’s like hand flying a Tornado over enemy territory, facing multiple air to air missile and AAA threats, at 150 feet above the ground, in the pitch black, at over 500 knots then wait no longer!
Photograph courtesy of Sir Glen Torpy.
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Sir Glen Torpy GCB CBE DSO started his life within the Royal Air Force as most pilots do. At the end of his training, he was posted to a Jaguar reconnaissance squadron, the start of a great career. In this interview, he gives us a chance to follow his progress to the point where he takes Command of No.13 Squadron, flying the Tornado GR1A, and is about to deploy to the Gulf on operations.
Sir Glen during his basic flying training at RAF Linton on Ouse, middle rank under the U and 3 heads to the right of the Old Pilot!
Sir Glen after his Wings parade the furthest on the left of the photograph.
Sir Glen Torpy Chief of the Air Staff.
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Podcast (pt): Download
Suspicious of the Polish pilots who, after their country was invaded by Nazi forces during the Second World War, had fled to the UK, the high command of the RAF eventually allowed them to become operational. No 303 Polish Squadron joined the RAF fighter units desperately fighting the overwhelming forces of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. The results stunned everybody.
The score of German kills (Adolfs) claimed by No 303 Polish Squadron during the Battle of Britain.
Images under creative commons licence from the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum London.
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The billionaire explorer Paul Allen rediscovers the aircraft carrier Lexington and an F4 Wildcat deep under the surface of the Coral Sea. This is the story of the Lexington and the Wildcat’s last pilot.
USS Lexington shortly before WWII.
F4F-3 Wildcat in non-reflective blue-gray over light gray scheme from early 1942.
Images with thanks to Paul G Allen, via Creative Commons, the US Navy and Felix c.
