Multi-Era Military Helicopter Crew Signing Event - Sunday 26th April
Meet former military helicopter crews spanning operations from the Falkland Islands conflict through to Afghanistan and see an array of military and civilian rotary aircraft flying in!
PLUS, listen to an engaging tech talk from Richard Spreckley on the Detention Operations at Camp Bastion during Operation Herrick.
Save the date — more details coming soon.
Our guests include:
RICHARD SPRECKLEY VR MSc BA(Hons) DipEd FHEA FSET is a former Staff Sergeant in the British Army Reserve, whose service included operational tours in Afghanistan on Herrick XIII with 16 Air Assault Brigade and Herrick XIV with 3 Commando Brigade. Serving with the Military Provost Staff Corps, he was responsible for delivering detention operations across Helmand Province, working alongside British forces as well as US Army and Marine units. His role frequently saw him operating aboard Joint Helicopter Force assets, including Chinook, Sea King HC4, Merlin, C-130 Hercules, Boeing C-17 and the US V-22 Osprey and CH-53E Super Stallion.
Across more than two decades in uniform, Rich also deployed with NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Germany as part of the Royal Military Police Multinational Military Police Battalion. Alongside his military service, he completed a 30-year career with Sussex Police, gaining extensive operational experience across firearms, public order, aviation support and major incident response.
Flight Lieutenant IAN EDWARDS BSc (Hons) RAF is a former Puma HC1 pilot who joined the Royal Air Force in 1985, completing three tours on the aircraft between 1989 and 1997. He served with 33 Squadron at RAF Odiham and 230 Squadron at RAF Aldergrove, before returning to Odiham as a Qualified Helicopter Instructor with 27(R) Squadron, the Puma Operational Conversion Unit. Ian’s operational experience includes Op Granby during the First Gulf War, as well as a tour in Northern Ireland. A highlight of his flying career was operating alongside the US Marine Corps during Op Granby, before being attached to 7th Armoured Brigade — a connection he still honours by wearing the ‘Desert Rat’ badge on his flying suit.
His time flying in theatre included low-level operations using night vision goggles, exposure to Scud missile activity, a suspected (though ultimately false) chemical weapon alert, and being locked by a surface-to-air missile system. Ian has recently retired from aviation and is somewhat relieved that his logbook contains an equal number of take-offs and landings.
LENNY BROWN (Brigadier Royal Marines Retd) MBE MA FRAeS served 30 years as a Royal Marines Commando. Commissioned in Sep 1992, he passed out of Commando Training in 1993. After two stints in small-unit Commands, he qualified as a helicopter pilot on Gazelle with the Army Air Corps, and his flying career spanned 5 other types of front-line aircraft, including the Cobra Attack Helicopter, whilst on exchange with the United States Marine Corps. Combat operations have included: Northern Ireland, Bosnia, East Timor, Libya, Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as over 5 years embarked in various aviation-capable ships. He was the first Royal Marine to hold the role of ‘Wings’ or Commander Air of an aircraft carrier since World War 2. He has operated in every extreme environment across the globe, including the Arctic, mountains, jungle and desert. He has also been privileged to Command numerous aviation, land and maritime units throughout his career, such as 847 Naval Air Squadron and the Commando Helicopter Force. He holds the privilege of being the only Royal Navy or Royal Marine Officer to have commanded an aviation, land and maritime unit. His last role in uniform was Head of Futures and Strategic Analysis in the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre - MoD's 'Think Tank'. After retiring as a Brigadier, he was Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters UK and then joined Thales Defence as a Director.
ANDY BROADHURST AAC joined the Army in 1989 as an Airtrooper in the Army Air Corps, initially serving as groundcrew in roles including driver and signaller. In 1996, he was selected for aircrew training, qualifying as a Lynx Crewman and later serving on Lynx Mk9 aircraft at Wattisham, including a posting to 667 Squadron (Development and Trials). He went on to complete pilot training in 2000, earning his wings and returning to front-line service with 654 Squadron on the Lynx Mk7 and Mk9. His operational experience includes deployments to Bosnia and Iraq, including service on Op Telic, as well as exercises across Europe, the United States and the Middle East. In 2008, he qualified as an Apache attack pilot, with subsequent deployments to Afghanistan. He later qualified as both a Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Instructor and a Rear Crew Officer.
Andy currently serves as a Weapons and Electronic Warfare Instructor on the AH-64E Apache simulator at Middle Wallop.
Flight Sergeant ANDY UNSWORTH (Air Loadmaster) began his military career with the Scots Guards in 1989 before transferring to the Royal Air Force in 1996, qualifying as aircrew through RAF Cranwell, Shawbury and the Puma Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Benson.
His early RAF service saw him return to Northern Ireland with 230 Squadron, followed by a deployment to Kosovo with KFOR, where he later qualified as both a Crewman Trainer and Tactics Instructor.
Andy went on to serve with the Merlin Force, completing operational tours in Bosnia and multiple deployments on Op Telic in Iraq. He later flew as a Search and Rescue Winchman on Sea Kings at RAF Boulmer, conducting missions across the UK and deploying to the Falkland Islands.
Returning to Merlin operations, he deployed to Afghanistan on Op Herrick before transitioning to 99 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton, flying the C-17 on global operations. His final years of service included Op Pitting, the evacuation of Kabul.
Since leaving the RAF in 2024, Andy remains closely connected to aviation, now flying with Historic Helicopters — and, on occasion, still building the aircraft he once flew.
Since leaving the RAF in 2024, Andy now enjoys making Airfix models of aircraft but still misses flying them, although he has recently started flying again on the RAF Sea King with Historic Helicopters.
Sergeant CHRIS LEWIS joined the Royal Air Force in 1995 as a Logistics Supplier, beginning his career at RAF Odiham in support of the Chinook force.
He went on to support rotary operations across the UK and overseas, including Search and Rescue work with 202 Squadron in Scotland and a deployment to Saudi Arabia on Operation Southern Watch. While based in Northern Ireland, he worked closely with helicopter units, delivering forward refuelling support to keep aircraft operating in remote locations.
His operational experience includes deployments to Iraq on Operation Telic and to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick, where he played a key role in supporting and later drawing down helicopter operations across multiple bases.
Alongside his operational service, he completed several tours as an instructor at RAF Halton, training new recruits, and has continued to serve in both regular and reserve roles — including specialist fuels management supporting flying operations.
Sergeant Lewis currently serves at RAF Halton, responsible for the welfare and development of trainees preparing for their next phase of Royal Air Force service.
Corporal SCOTT "BILLY" FISH joined the British Army in 2012 with the Household Cavalry Regiment (The Life Guards), initially serving in the Mounted Regiment at Horse Guards Parade, taking part in ceremonial duties including the Queen’s Birthday Parade.
He later transitioned to armoured reconnaissance at Windsor, qualifying as a CVRT driver and 30mm gunner, with deployments and exercises in Oman, Ukraine, Kosovo and Bosnia. He went on to specialise in dismounted operations, qualifying as a surveillance photographer and Army Sniper, and deploying to the Balkans on counter-sniper and intelligence tasks, utilising American Black Hawk and Croation Mi-171sh helicopters.
In 2021, he transferred to the RAF Police, serving with Tactical Police units at RAF Marham and RAF Honington, including a deployment to Poland in support of operations linked to Ukraine.
He now serves as a Phase One instructor at RAF Halton.
Sergeant SHAUN FISHWICK joined the Royal Air Force in 1983 as an Engineering Technician (Air Electrics), beginning his career working on avionics and electrical systems across a range of aircraft. His early postings included Hawk training aircraft at RAF Valley and Tornado F3 operations at RAF Coningsby and RAF Woodhall Spa, where he worked on engine systems and aircraft modifications.
In 1994, he was posted to RAF Laarbruch in Germany, supporting multiple aircraft types including Chinook, Puma and Harrier GR7, specialising in electrical component repair and system maintenance. Promoted to Sergeant, he later served with 7 Squadron at RAF Odiham, working on Chinook helicopters and overseeing electrical support to ensure aircraft availability for operations. This role included frequent overseas deployments, with tours to the Falkland Islands, the United States, Oman and Europe, as well as operational service in Sierra Leone and Afghanistan, including embarked operations aboard HMS Illustrious. He completed his final tour at RAF Brize Norton supporting the VC10 fleet before retiring in 2005 after 22 years of service.
Corporal ROSS NELSON joined the Royal Air Force in 2015, training at the Defence School of Transport before being posted to RAF Odiham in support of the Chinook Force. He has deployed to the Falkland Islands and the Caribbean on Op Ruman, and supported the RAF’s centenary celebrations in 2018. He later specialised in fuels operations with Tactical Supply Wing, supporting UK and coalition forces on Op Shader, including Forward Arming and Refuelling Point operations. He also served on Op Rescript during the UK’s Covid-19 response and now works as a Phase One instructor at RAF Halton, contributing to the training and development of new recruits.
This is a FREE-to-attend event, but you must please book your tickets here for entry, so we can comfortably manage numbers!
📍Aces High Gallery, Steventon, Oxfordshire, OX13 6SN
