Cliff Spink
Encyclopedia
Air Marshal
Clifford Rodney Spink CB
CBE
FCMI
FRAeS
RAF R'td
was a senior Royal Air Force
officer during the early 1990s and is now a Spitfire
display pilot on the national air display circuit. The first Spitfire he ever flew belonged to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
, during his tenure as Station Commander of RAF Coningsby
. During his time as Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of No. 11 Group RAF
between March 1993 and April 1995 he simultaneously served as the 22nd Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps
, the last but one officer to hold the post.
Air Marshal Spink remains the Honorary President of the Royal Observer Corps Association. He is also President of the Historic Aircraft Association.
, RAF Halton, as a member of the 104th Entry of Aircraft Apprentices. He gained a flying commission and was posted to RAF College Cranwell, and initially learned to fly on the Jet Provost. Later training took place on the Gnat
and the Hunter
, before Spink was posted to his first productive tour on No. 111 Squadron
flying the Lightning
. Spink was later posted to No. 56 Squadron
, later returning to No. 111 Squadron
.
Spink served as the Commanding Officer of No. 74 Squadron
before being posted to the South Atlantic in 1989 as the Officer Commanding RAF Mount Pleasant
on the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands
. In 1990 Spink underwent conversion training to the Tornado
. In 1991 Spink served as the RAF's Tornado Detachment Commander during the first Gulf War
.
Spink also served as the last but one Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps
and was involved in the planning for the final standing down of the remaining ROC elements at RAF Bentley Priory
. Spink remains the honorary President of the Royal Observer Corps Association.
which was rebuilt by Historic Flying Ltd. about 15 years ago. It initially appeared in a post war 41 Squadron colour scheme but it has recently been repainted in wartime colours with the personal markings ‘CR-S’.
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Clifford Rodney Spink CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
FCMI
Chartered Management Institute
The Chartered Management Institute is a professional institution for managers, based in the United Kingdom.In addition to supporting its members, the organisation encourages management development, carries out research, produces a wide variety of publications on management interests, and publishes...
FRAeS
Royal Aeronautical Society
The Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
RAF R'td
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
was a senior Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
officer during the early 1990s and is now a Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
display pilot on the national air display circuit. The first Spitfire he ever flew belonged to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane...
, during his tenure as Station Commander of RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
. During his time as Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of No. 11 Group RAF
No. 11 Group RAF
No. 11 Group was a group in the Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century, finally disbanding in 1996. Its most famous service was during 1940 when it defended London and the south-east against the attacks of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.-First World War:No. 11 Group was...
between March 1993 and April 1995 he simultaneously served as the 22nd Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps
Royal Observer Corps
The Royal Observer Corps was a civil defence organisation operating in the United Kingdom between 29 October 1925 and 31 December 1995, when the Corps' civilian volunteers were stood down....
, the last but one officer to hold the post.
Air Marshal Spink remains the Honorary President of the Royal Observer Corps Association. He is also President of the Historic Aircraft Association.
Royal Air Force career
Spink started his RAF career at the No. 1 School of Technical TrainingNo. 1 School of Technical Training
No.1 School of Technical Training is the Royal Air Force's aircraft engineering school, based at RAF Halton from 1919 to 1993, as the Home of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme...
, RAF Halton, as a member of the 104th Entry of Aircraft Apprentices. He gained a flying commission and was posted to RAF College Cranwell, and initially learned to fly on the Jet Provost. Later training took place on the Gnat
Folland Gnat
The Folland Gnat was a small, swept-wing British subsonic jet trainer and light fighter aircraft developed by Folland Aircraft for the Royal Air Force, and flown extensively by the Indian Air Force....
and the Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
, before Spink was posted to his first productive tour on No. 111 Squadron
No. 111 Squadron RAF
No. 111 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operated the Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leuchars, Scotland until March 2011, when the squadron was disbanded, ending the Tornado F3's RAF service.-In World War I:...
flying the Lightning
English Electric Lightning
The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, noted for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor; Royal Air Force ...
. Spink was later posted to No. 56 Squadron
No. 56 Squadron RAF
Number 56 Squadron is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons of the Royal Air Force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both World War I and World War II...
, later returning to No. 111 Squadron
No. 111 Squadron RAF
No. 111 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operated the Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leuchars, Scotland until March 2011, when the squadron was disbanded, ending the Tornado F3's RAF service.-In World War I:...
.
Spink served as the Commanding Officer of No. 74 Squadron
No. 74 Squadron RAF
No. 74 Squadron RAF, also known as a "Tiger Squadron" from its tiger head motif, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated fighter aircraft from 1917 to the 1990s.-First World War:...
before being posted to the South Atlantic in 1989 as the Officer Commanding RAF Mount Pleasant
RAF Mount Pleasant
RAF Mount Pleasant is a military base for the Royal Air Force in the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands. The facility is part of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands...
on the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
. In 1990 Spink underwent conversion training to the Tornado
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
. In 1991 Spink served as the RAF's Tornado Detachment Commander during the first Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
Royal Observer Corps
During his time as the Senior Air Staff Officer at No. 11/18 Group RAFNo. 11/18 Group RAF
No. 11/18 Group was a short-lived formation of Strike Command in the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1996 as part of the post-Cold War reorganisation of the RAF. It absorbed the forces of No. 11 and No. 18 Groups, which were descended from the old Fighter Command and Coastal Command functional...
Spink also served as the last but one Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps
Royal Observer Corps
The Royal Observer Corps was a civil defence organisation operating in the United Kingdom between 29 October 1925 and 31 December 1995, when the Corps' civilian volunteers were stood down....
and was involved in the planning for the final standing down of the remaining ROC elements at RAF Bentley Priory
RAF Bentley Priory
RAF Bentley Priory was a non-flying Royal Air Force station near Stanmore in the London Borough of Harrow. It was famous as the headquarters of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain and the Second World War. The RAF Bentley Priory site includes a Grade II* listed Officers' Mess and Italian...
. Spink remains the honorary President of the Royal Observer Corps Association.
Display pilot
He currently flies a restored Spitfire XVIe TD248. This is a former ‘gate guardian’ from RAF SealandRAF Sealand
RAF Sealand was a former Royal Air Force station in Flintshire, north Wales and operated between 1916 and 2006.Under defence cuts announced in 2004 RAF Sealand was completely closed in April 2006. All remaining RAF units were moved to RAF Leeming...
which was rebuilt by Historic Flying Ltd. about 15 years ago. It initially appeared in a post war 41 Squadron colour scheme but it has recently been repainted in wartime colours with the personal markings ‘CR-S’.