of Britain’ Banquet Tuesday 3rd October 2023 Grand Ballroom, The Mayflower Hotel, Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D.C. The presentation of the Swords of Honor to the outstanding USAF and RAF Exchange Officers of 2023 Celebrating 75 years of the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Adopt a piece of RAF history and help us share the greatest stories ever told Adoptions start from $30 and include: • Digital certificate and image of adoption certificate •P Personalised dedication online • Ex Exclusive newsletter updates • Why not gift an adoption to a loved one? Why Gift Adoptions are available online. The RAF Museum collection includes over 1.3 million objects, ranging in size from lapel badges to aircraft, and spans more than a century of aviation history. The RAF Museum American Foundation (RAFMAF) adopted this Sopwith Camel, one of the best known British Fighters , of WW1 to honour Joseph Payden. As a young man Payden, an American citizen, crossed the Atlantic to begin final training with the ‘American Aviation Detachment’. Posted to France in 1918 as part of the Independent Air Force Payden went on to fly Sopwith Camels with the newly formed Royal Air Force after its formation. As an American flying with the Royal Flying Corps and the newly formed Royal Air Force Joseph Payden could, quite correctly, be called the first Exchange Officer. Scan the QR code to adopt your first artefact or visit rafmuseum.org The Royal Air Force Museum is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC000922) and is a charity registered in England and Wales (1197541) RAFM735 Adopt An Artefact advert_V2.indd 1 24/08/2023 17:25
4 6 8 9 10 15 18 21 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Major General (Ret) Frederick F. Roggero USAF, Chairman, RAFMAF AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SIR RICHARD KNIGHTON KCB ADC FREng, Chief of the Air Staff, RAF 22 THE START OF A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP The origins of the USAF/RAF Military Personnel Exchange Program 25 THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION SWORDS OF HONOR Recognizing the most outstanding RAF and USAF officers on exchange this year 28 SWORDS OF HONOR 2023 CITATIONS Squadron Leader Joe Rigg RAF and Captain James M. Matheson USAF 30 BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT An insight into this unique RAF unit dedicated to preserving UK aviation artefacts, commemorating those who have fallen and inspiring young people 31 SQUADRON LEADER PAUL ‘MAJOR’ DAY A profile of this evening’s guest of honor, who formerly led the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight SQUADRON LEADER MARK SUGDEN A look at the career of the current Commanding Officer of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight PRESERVING ICONIC WARBIRDS A celebration of the passionate aircraft collectors behind heritage flights in the UK and the US MEMPHIS BELLE: MEN, MISSIONS AND MEANING The story of this iconic Second World War aircraft epitomizes the partnership and shared values of two great nations OPERATION CHASTISE The audacious ‘Dambusters’ raid, which took place 80 years ago last May, made heroes of No 617 Squadron and its leader, Wing Commander Guy Gibson THE ‘DAMBUSTERS’ SQUADRON: PAST AND PRESENT Wing Commander Stew Campbell RAF, Officer Commanding 617 Squadron, pays tribute to the enduring strength of eight decades of transatlantic cooperation RAF MUSEUM REVIEW How the RAF Museum is reaching diverse communities to share the unique heritage of the Royal Air Force, plus its plans to further increase engagement at its London and Midlands sites Produced by Harfield Media www.harfieldmedia.com RAF MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION 3
Major General (Ret.) Frederick F. Roggero, USAF, Chairman, Royal Air Force Museum American Foundation THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM AMERICAN Foundation (RAFMAF) is honored and proud to host the ‘Spirit of the Battle of Britain’ Banquet once again, and we would like to welcome and thank Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of Staff of the Royal Air Force (RAF), for his, and the RAF’s, continued help in our efforts to promote the ties, friendship and common values between our two great nations and our air and space forces. We are also delighted to welcome the senior leadership of the Department of the U.S. Air Force to help us honor the outstanding service of the top RAF and USAF Exchange Officers of 2023. It was in the aptly named Westminster College in Missouri that, in 1946, Winston Churchill, delivered his ‘Iron Curtain’ speech, in which he clearly articulated the need for an “association between the US and the UK to glean a mutual understanding between our military advisers, the study of potential dangers, similarity of weapons and manuals of instruction and, most importantly, the interchange of personnel.” For more than a decade, RAFMAF has led the way in recognizing this continued close association between our active-duty militaries by presenting two ceremonial Swords of Honor to the top RAF and USAF Exchange Officers whose contributions have most reflected the values that our veterans, and Foundation, share: Service, Excellence, Integrity and Courage. It is these values that we honor in our young women and men of today, and encourage in the young people of tomorrow. Since the first RAFMAF ‘Spirit of the Battle of Britain’ Banquet in 2009, the Foundation has presented 25 ceremonial Swords of Honor to active-duty RAF and USAF officers, and this year we are delighted to honor the 26th and 27th recipients Squadron Leader Joe Rigg RAF and Captain James M. Matheson USAF. PRESERVING WARTIME HISTORY This evening, we are also honoring the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) for 75 years as a museum without walls, promoting both the RAF and aviation in general, inspiring future generations by maintaining priceless historic aircraft in airworthy condition, and commemorating those who have fallen in the service of their country. Inaugurated in 1957, the BBMF is based at RAF Coningbsy, famous for being the base from which the Dambusters’ Lancasters took off 80 years ago. In December last year, RAFMAF Chairman Fred Roggero presented RAF Museum Chief Executive Officer Maggie Appleton with a cheque for the Foundation’s donation of $300,000 RAF MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION 4
irreplaceable aircraft: an Avro Lancaster, a C-47 Dakota, six Spitfires (one of which flew in the Battle of Britain), two Hurricanes and two de Havilland Chipmunk training aircraft. The BBMF is a regular RAF Unit and is staffed by active-duty service personnel. During the months of May to September, these aircraft can be seen in the skies over the UK celebrating and commemorating public, military and state events, with at least 100 displays a season, on average. The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) maintains historic aircraft in airworthy condition, flying to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of their country and to inspire future generations of raising awareness and fundraising to focus on education through the RAF Museum’s initiatives – in particular, the Cosford regeneration project, which includes an aim to increase capacity to accommodate more school visits and workshops for youngsters from diverse ethnic and social economic backgrounds. With the help of our sponsors and donors, the Foundation will continue to keep our combined and shared histories of air and space power alive and inspire the next generation by highlighting the shared values of our combined fighting Airmen, Airwomen and Guardians of the past and the present. Thank you for attending tonight and for your continued support of the Royal Air Force Museum American Foundation. FOCUS ON EDUCATION In addition to recognizing our current and past veterans, the Foundation’s philanthropic work continues and is even more important following the economic challenges of the past several years. In spite of these pressures, I am pleased to report the Foundation was able to make a donation of $300,000 to the RAF Museum at the end of last year. Despite the ongoing economic difficulties, RAFMAF is continuing its mission RAF MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION 5
Sir Richard Knighton KCB ADC FREng, Chief of the Air Staff, RAF IT IS AN HONOR TO ATTEND MY FIRST RAF Museum American Foundation annual ‘Spirit of the Battle of Britain’ Banquet as the Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Air Force. It gives me great pleasure in welcoming my dear friends from the U.S. Air Force (USAF), U.S. Space Force (USSF) and our other allies and partners here this evening. It is also a wonderful opportunity to dine with our Guests of Honor: Squadron Leader Paul Day OBE AFC RAF (Ret), who commanded the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) between 1996 and 2003, and the current commander, Squadron Leader Mark Sugden. The BBMF has a special place in the consciousness of the RAF, as it diligently and passionately seeks to remind us, and the generations to come, that freedom has a price. Their machines – including Hurricanes, Spitfires and a Lancaster – stand as a superb tribute to the bravery of the ‘few’, including many Americans, who answered the call from across the globe to take a stand against the evil of tyranny. We may have thought and hoped that such evil was a thing of the past. However, Russia’s illegal invasion of a peaceful Ukraine, and its flouting of the norms of war, are a stark reminder of the need for a credible deterrence. This can only be achieved when we work together as allies and partners. Our ability to achieve this has been founded upon the altar of our shared values and the foresight of our predecessors. I know that the leaders here this evening share that clear vision going forward. The signing of the E7 Joint Vision Statement with my dear friends, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General CQ Brown Jr, and the Australian Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Robert Chipman, is a testament to this commitment. As Chief of the Royal Air Force, I look forward deepening this and other relationships across my tenure. Yet our ability to work together is not wholly delivered by me or my esteemed colleagues as leaders of their respective Services. It is delivered by the outstanding men and women of our Services who work for us day after day and night after night, many of whom are on operations away from their loved ones as we dine here tonight. An example of this excellent collaboration is our Exchange Officer program, and we have a selection of this cadre here with us. In particular, two officers from the USAF and the RAF will each be recognised as their respective services’ exchange officer of the year through the presentation of the RAF Museum American Foundation Swords of Honor. The Swords are awarded annually to an exchange officer from each service who has distinguished themselves throughout their tour. As we only send our best, the competition is fierce and I want to warmly congratulate the winners here this evening. The relationships that they have grown will endure and stand them in good stead as future leaders in their respective services. Lastly, I want to wish you all a pleasant evening and I hope to meet many of you tonight. RAF MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION 6
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special relationship The origins of the USAF/RAF Military Personnel Exchange Program, which continues to enhance mutual understanding between the two Air Forces PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL’S ‘Iron Curtain’ Speech – delivered at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, on 5th March 1946 – clearly articulated the need for an exchange of personnel in order to develop an ‘association’ of friendship and mutual understanding. Although the Exchange Officer program was not formally founded until 1951, a young American could lay claim to being the first Exchange Officer. In 1917, Lieutenant Joseph Payden crossed the Atlantic to begin final training with the ‘American Aviation Department’. Posted to France as part of the independent Air Force, Joseph went on to fly Sopwith Camels for the Royal Air Force after its formation. Th irty-four years later, under General Hoyt Vandenberg and Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Slessor, the USAF/RAF Military Personnel Exchange Program was created. Initially, 50 exchange posts were permitted in each air force, and there are currently 36 exchange posts in each force. These are regularly reviewed to ensure that the needs of the donor air forces and their national military strategies are met. Participation in the Military Personnel Exchange Program is on a selective basis, with the parent air force solely responsible for the selection of its Military Exchange Personnel. To be considered, an individual must be well-versed in the current practices, technical training and doctrine of their organization and be particularly qualified through experience for the position to be occupied. Moreover, the individual must have demonstrated capabilities for future positions of greater responsibility and possess the required grade, skill, training and academic qualifications. One of the early exchange officers at the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs (April 1960-June 1962) was Squadron Leader J A G Slessor, son of Sir John, who conlcuded in his end-of-tour report: “I share the conviction shared by my predecessor that the Exchange Scheme is an invaluable program and it is clearly vital that the presence of exchange officers should be continued.” Over 70 years after Churchill’s speech, his vision of “intimate relations between our military advisers, leading to common study of potential dangers, the similarity of weapons and manuals of instructions, and to the interchange of officers and cadets” remains valid and will do so for many years into the future. Lieutenant Joseph Payden’s service with the Royal Air Force during the First World War was a forerunner of the USAF/RAF Military Personnel Exchange Program RAF MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION 8
Each year the RAF Museum American Foundation recognizes the contribution of Exchange Officers from either side of the Atlantic IN 2009, THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM American Foundation (RAFMAF) presented the first annual Sword of Honor to the Royal Air Force (RAF) Officer on exchange with the United States Air Force (USAF) who has contributed most in the previous year to relations between our two great nations and their air forces. In 2012, another Sword was added to recognize the most outstanding USAF Officer on exchange with the RAF. The Exchange Program was formally launched in 1957 and remains as strong and positive as ever. Hundreds of military personnel have participated in the program over the years, not least our Guest of Honor, Squadron Leader Paul Day. It is the Foundation’s privilege and pleasure to honour and recognize the continued close association between our active-duty militaries by presenting the two ceremonial Swords of Honor to the top RAF and USAF Exchange Officers whose contributions have most reflected the values that our veterans, and the Foundation, share: Service, Excellence, Integrity and Courage. It is these values that we honor in our young women and men of today and encourage in the young people of tomorrow. Since the inception of the Swords of Honor, the Foundation has honored 25 RAF and USAF Exchange Officers to recognize their significant contribution to the spirit of collaboration and cooperation that exists between our two air forces. Captain James M. Matheson USAF and Squadron Leader Joe Rigg RAF have continued that great work and become the 26th and 27th worthy recipients. With the help of our sponsors, the Foundation will continue to keep our combined and shared histories of air power alive. Captain Kaitlin M. Ellwein USAF (left) and Flight Lieutenant Christopher Bradshaw RAF (above) received the 2022 Swords of Honor from Lieutenant General Kevin Schneider, Director of Staff, USAF, and Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, then Chief of Staff of the Royal Air Force, respectively RAF MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION 9
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