When I was growing up I was lucky enough to live in the vicinity of RAF Cottesmore in the TTTE days which then transitioned into the JHF. These days my ‘local’ RAF station is RAF Coningsby. Over the years I have been lucky enough to work on base a number of times from photographing HRH the Duke of Cambridge to shooting the arrival of Canadian Lancaster VR-A. But I had never been able to visit a specific squadron and conduct a shoot.

Thankfully on 13th October 2018 an opportunity presented itself courtesy of Mr Richard Cooper and the Centre of Aviation Photography. Our briefing was conducted in one of the 29 Sqn hangers, where sat in the corner, rather unassumingly, was a Hawker Typhoon.

Our briefing was given by Squadron Leader ‘D-Reg’ Bhasin, a highly experience combat pilot and, at the time, Typhoon pilot.  

After our briefing had been concluded we were taken round to the grass area near the main gate where there is parked a Phantom and a Tornado F3 both of whom had served at Coningsby. Now it was time to head on over to 11 Squadron and one of their HAS buildings.

11 Squadron was formed in 1915 at Netheravon Wiltshire, serving with distinction in the First World War with Aces such as Captain Albert Ball, VC, DSO**, MC, they would go on to embody the definition of a front line fighting unit.

Which is precisely what the squadron now does now at RAF Coningsby, alongside 3 Squadron, they provide QRA to most of the British Isles.

We had ZJ939 on the hard standing lit up for us as the sun was going down which presented a fantastic variation of lighting opportunities over the course of an hour or so.  

It is always a pleasure to back to RAF Coningsby as I seem to have spent so much working time there over the last decade with veterans, it does hold a special spot for me.