MIKE O'DONOVAN STANDS DOWN AS ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN.
With great regret we learn that Mike O'Donovan has decided that his role as Chairman of the Association should come to an end at the May 2014 Reunion, after ten years in office. We are all grateful to him for his dedication to the Association, particularly during the period when the Squadron was in disbandment and we will of course be seeing him still at all Association functions. We thank him for his steadfast support.
The Chairman's role will now be undertaken by Mike Westwood and readers who do not know him may be interested to read a synopsis of his career below. He is well suited to the take over the reins.
WING COMMANDER M.P. WESTWOOD OBE RAF (Retd)
Mike Westwood on VC10 XR808 on the day of its last flight - July 2013
Born in 1944, Mike Westwood was educated at Abingdon School before being granted a permanent commission in the RAF General Duties Branch in 1963. Following pilot training on the Jet Provost and Vickers Varsity, he was posted to 84 Sqn at RAF Khormaksar, Aden, to fly the Blackburn Beverley. Converting to captaincy on the squadron at the age of 23, Mike returned to the UK in 1967 to become a Hercules captain on 47 Sqn based, firstly, at RAF Fairford and then RAF Lyneham. Mike admits that the transition from the Beverley's true air speed [TAS] of 150 kts to the 300 odd kts of the Hercules concentrated his mind somewhat during the conversion on 242 OCU at RAF Thorney Island. However, even higher speeds were to come later…..
But first an inevitable ground tour came in 1971, with a posting to HQ Air Cadets at RAF Brampton to become an Air Cadet Liaison Officer. When Mike had his tea leaves read in the Air Secretary's Department (a euphemism for a career interview), he was promised a posting to Belslows (a.k.a. the Short Belfast). A matter of weeks later, imagine his surprise when he was posted to 241 OCU at RAF Brize Norton to commence - a VC10 conversion. He had no complaints, though. Joining 10 Sqn as a co-pilot in 1974, and flying now at the VC10’s TAS of 470 kts, Mike was the project officer for the Squadron's 60th Anniversary celebrations in January 1975. Captaincy was followed by substantive promotion to squadron leader in 1979, his appointment as OC 'B' Flt and a VIP captain’s endorsement in his ‘Cat’ card.
Mike was posted to the Air Staff at HQ 38 Group, RAF Upavon in 1981 before attending the the RAF Advance Staff Course. After graduating from Staff College in 1982, he began a series of appointments at HQ Strike Command serving variously on the Plans and Air Staffs. On promotion to wing commander in 1991 Mike was posted to RAF Benson as the Deputy Station Commander, a post unique to the station resulting from the unit's juxtaposition with The Queen's Flight. He also flew the Hawker Siddeley Andover with 115 Sqn. Returning to HQ Strike Command in 1991 as Wing Commander Air Transport and Air-to-Air Refuelling Operations, Mike was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List 1996 for his involvement with the operational control of the Sarajevo Airlift.
Retiring from regular service in 2001 after a 38 year career, Mike held an RAF Volunteer Reserve commission for a further 8 years flying with No 6 Air Experience Flight at Benson. Amongst the passengers he flew were cadets from his former unit, No 2121 (Abingdon) Sqn ATC. He is currently employed as Chief Pilot at the Joint Services Parachute Centre at RAF Weston-on-the-Green and he also flies as a crew member of a Short Skyvan supporting No 1 Parachute Training School at RAF Brize Norton.
There are few more qualified than Mike to now take over as Chairman of the 10 Squadron Association.
