Tornado Tribute Tour of England Update- Gulf War veterans honour fallen colleagues with charity bike ride.
Mal Craghill and Martin Wintermeyer have completed five of their planned eight rides to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the first Gulf War and to commemorate the contribution made by Tornado crews. As part of their daily exercise, the pair have each covered 107 miles, riding alone because of COVID-19 restrictions.
While there is no one riding next to them on the road, many have joined them in spirit. Whether cycling, walking or running; former colleagues, friends and the family members of those who never came home have been out in force.
The first ride on 13 January was 14 miles to remember Kieran Duffy and Norman Dent of 14 Squadron, whose Tornado crashed on a low-level training sortie in Oman before the war started. Mal set off before sunrise and visited the war memorial in his local graveyard, taking some time to think of his fallen friends. Martin visited Norman’s grave in Washington Cemetery to pay his respects.
The first day of Operation Desert Storm/GRANBY was 17 January 1991. 17 January 2021 saw Mal and Martin riding 27 miles to mark the start of hostilities and the deaths of Max Collier and Nigel Elsdon. Max and Nigel were both killed when their aircraft crashed following an attack on Shaibah airfield. Also in their thoughts were John Peters and John Nichol, who were shot down and became prisoners of war on the same day. Thankfully, after seven long weeks, they along with all the other PoWs were able to return home to their loved ones. Max and Nigel did not.
Speaking on the day, Mal said:
“Martin and I have been bowled over by the support we’ve had. We’ve got this real sense that there’s a community around us, joining us for the day today. Whether you’re getting out on bikes or going for a walk, in your own ways you are remembering the guys that we lost and it means so much to us and it means so much to the families. We are just really grateful to everyone who has joined in.”
The next ride was 16 miles on 22 January to remember Garry Lennox and Kevin Weeks of 16 Squadron. They were killed in the early hours of that day in 1991, after their aircraft came down during an attack on Ar Rutbah communications/ground-controlled interception facility.
On 24 January, Mal and Martin each covered 20 miles to remember Jonny Marsden and Keith Collister. Jonny and Keith were Jaguar pilots on 54 Squadron, who died in training accidents before the war.
Yesterday (31 January) saw Mal, Martin and many friends and supporters out in the saddle again to remember Gordon Graham, Stan Bowles and Dennis Wise. The three died on 14 August 1990, when a Tornado from a two-aircraft formation from RAF Laarbruch in Germany collided with a Tornado from Honington off the English North Sea coast. Pilot Dennis Wise of the US Air Force and navigator John ‘Stan’ Bowles, in the Honington aircraft, were killed. The crew of the Laarbruch Tornado ejected, but only the pilot survived. Navigator Gordon Graham was killed.
Martin said:
“This cycle tour is a way of expressing that grief, that love and that friendship of really great guys who didn’t come back with us. It’s a chance to get to know their families a bit more and for them to know that their loved ones are not forgotten.
“It’s a small thing we’re doing, it’s a few miles on a bike, but it’s really heartfelt and done with meaning. It’s so great to hear of all the support we’re getting from all around the world.”
Tornado Tribute Tour Updates:
Read Mal and Martin’s previous blog or visit their TTTE Facebook page for the latest Tornado Tribute Tour updates. Three more rides are planned for February, so if you’re feeling energetic why not join in? You can also show your support for Mal and Martin and all they are doing to remember fallen friends and colleagues by making a donation by visiting their JustGiving page. Find out more about our series of events to mark 30 years since Operation Desert Storm / GRANBY which includes regular blogs and interviews in the lead up to the 28th February 2021, 30 years since the end of the Gulf War.
