Air Marshal C.R.Spink CB CBE FCMI FRAeS RAF (Retd.)
Air Marshal Spink joined the RAF in 1963 as an Aircraft Apprentice and joined No 104 Entry at Halton. He was awarded a Cadetship at the end of his apprenticeship and went to the RAF College Cranwell to train as a pilot. He graduated with his wings in 1968 and was selected for duties in fighter aircraft. Following advanced flying on Gnat and Hunter aircraft he was assigned to the Lightning and after conversion training at RAF Coltishall he was posted to No 111(Fighter) Squadron at Royal Air Force Wattisham.
In 1973, following the Lightning Weapons Instructor Course, he was briefly re-toured on Treble One Squadron before joining No 56 (Fighter) Squadron at Royal Air Force Akrotiri in Cyprus. As the resident air defence squadron on the island, No 56 Squadron was heavily involved in the 1974 conflict. In January 1975, he returned with No 56 Squadron to Royal Air Force Wattisham.
In July 1976, he was posted on promotion to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and, following short courses at the School of Infantry Warminster, he took up duties as an instructor on the Standard Military Course. In 1979 he returned to front line flying and, after converting to the Phantom, he joined No 111(Fighter) Squadron at Royal Air Force Leuchars as a Flight Commander. In April 1982 he joined the last course at the National Defence College Latimer, from where he was posted to staff duties at the Headquarters Royal Air Force Germany. Promoted shortly after his arrival, he then completed 3 years as Wing Commander Air Defence, responsible for air defence matters in West Germany, the Inner German Border and the Berlin Air Corridors.
In November 1986, he took command of No 74(Fighter) Squadron at Royal Air Force Wattisham which was equipped with the Phantom F4J. In January 1989 he was promoted to Group Captain but remained with the ‘Tigers’ until handing over command in April 1989. He assumed command of Royal Air Force Mount Pleasant in June 1989 and served for 12 months as the Station Commander and Deputy Commander British Forces Falkland Islands. Following conversion to the Tornado F3 he took command of Royal Air Force Coningsby in November 1990. Almost immediately he went to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, as Detachment Commander of the Tornado Recce, Fighter Bomber and Air Defence aircraft for the duration of the 1991 Gulf Conflict.
In 1989 he was appointed to the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as an Officer, and in the 1992 New Years Honours List, was appointed as a Commander. He was promoted to Air Commodore in January 1993, and appointed Commandant Royal Observer Corps. In 1995 he joined the Royal College of Defence Studies, and shortly afterwards was appointed as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters No 11 Group, Bentley Priory. In April 1996, following a period as the Chief of Staff No 18 Group, he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal and appointed the first Air Officer Commanding No 11/18 Group which was formed at Bentley Priory on that date. He took up the post of Director General Saudi Armed Forces Project on the 29 July 1998 and was promoted to Air Marshal in June 2000. Air Marshal Spink was made a Companion of the Bath in 2002 and he retired from the Royal Air Force in June 2003 after more than 40 years in RAF uniform. In all he has flown over 6500 flying hours, the majority of which have been on fighter aircraft but he is an experienced pilot in all aspects of Sport, Vintage and General Aviation.
Since retiring he formed his own Company dealing in a range of Aviation interests. He has a Display Authorisation for Jet and Piston aircraft and is a Display Authorisation Evaluator for the Civil Aviation Authority. He is a Director of Spitfire Limited which operates a small fleet of vintage aircraft, Director of Humberside Airport, Director and Board Member of Contingency Planning Associates Ltd a London based international security consultancy, and is the joint owner of a small Swiss watch company. He is an occasional guest lecturer to University Courses in aviation safety and has acted as Aviation Expert in legal cases. He is President of the Historic Aircraft Association, the Royal Observer Corps Association and recently became President of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Association. He is a Liveryman and Master of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators of the City of London.
In 1973, following the Lightning Weapons Instructor Course, he was briefly re-toured on Treble One Squadron before joining No 56 (Fighter) Squadron at Royal Air Force Akrotiri in Cyprus. As the resident air defence squadron on the island, No 56 Squadron was heavily involved in the 1974 conflict. In January 1975, he returned with No 56 Squadron to Royal Air Force Wattisham.
In July 1976, he was posted on promotion to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and, following short courses at the School of Infantry Warminster, he took up duties as an instructor on the Standard Military Course. In 1979 he returned to front line flying and, after converting to the Phantom, he joined No 111(Fighter) Squadron at Royal Air Force Leuchars as a Flight Commander. In April 1982 he joined the last course at the National Defence College Latimer, from where he was posted to staff duties at the Headquarters Royal Air Force Germany. Promoted shortly after his arrival, he then completed 3 years as Wing Commander Air Defence, responsible for air defence matters in West Germany, the Inner German Border and the Berlin Air Corridors.
In November 1986, he took command of No 74(Fighter) Squadron at Royal Air Force Wattisham which was equipped with the Phantom F4J. In January 1989 he was promoted to Group Captain but remained with the ‘Tigers’ until handing over command in April 1989. He assumed command of Royal Air Force Mount Pleasant in June 1989 and served for 12 months as the Station Commander and Deputy Commander British Forces Falkland Islands. Following conversion to the Tornado F3 he took command of Royal Air Force Coningsby in November 1990. Almost immediately he went to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, as Detachment Commander of the Tornado Recce, Fighter Bomber and Air Defence aircraft for the duration of the 1991 Gulf Conflict.
In 1989 he was appointed to the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as an Officer, and in the 1992 New Years Honours List, was appointed as a Commander. He was promoted to Air Commodore in January 1993, and appointed Commandant Royal Observer Corps. In 1995 he joined the Royal College of Defence Studies, and shortly afterwards was appointed as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters No 11 Group, Bentley Priory. In April 1996, following a period as the Chief of Staff No 18 Group, he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal and appointed the first Air Officer Commanding No 11/18 Group which was formed at Bentley Priory on that date. He took up the post of Director General Saudi Armed Forces Project on the 29 July 1998 and was promoted to Air Marshal in June 2000. Air Marshal Spink was made a Companion of the Bath in 2002 and he retired from the Royal Air Force in June 2003 after more than 40 years in RAF uniform. In all he has flown over 6500 flying hours, the majority of which have been on fighter aircraft but he is an experienced pilot in all aspects of Sport, Vintage and General Aviation.
Since retiring he formed his own Company dealing in a range of Aviation interests. He has a Display Authorisation for Jet and Piston aircraft and is a Display Authorisation Evaluator for the Civil Aviation Authority. He is a Director of Spitfire Limited which operates a small fleet of vintage aircraft, Director of Humberside Airport, Director and Board Member of Contingency Planning Associates Ltd a London based international security consultancy, and is the joint owner of a small Swiss watch company. He is an occasional guest lecturer to University Courses in aviation safety and has acted as Aviation Expert in legal cases. He is President of the Historic Aircraft Association, the Royal Observer Corps Association and recently became President of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Association. He is a Liveryman and Master of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators of the City of London.