RAF Loady Finishes 45 Year Career

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Source: MoD

Squadron Leader Warwick Creighton MBE, believed to be the longest serving Helicopter Air Loadmaster in the RAF, flew his last mission last week ending a career that has spanned 45 years.

As an Air Loadmaster, Squadron Leader Creighton was responsible for whatever the helicopter was carrying, from troops and fuel, to heavy weaponry and explosives. He began his Loadmaster career in 1963 and has served in North Africa, Zambia, Pakistan, Malaya, Northern Ireland, Germany, Belize, Kosovo, Bosnia and Saudi Arabia. Some 43 years after joining the RAF he deployed to Iraq. He amassed over 12,000 flying hours during his career.

Following completion of Air Quartermaster training he was posted to 511 Squadron where he flew Britannia aircraft. He transferred to helicopters in 1971, flying Whirlwind aircraft in the Far East, then went on to Wessex Helicopters and was promoted to Flight Sergeant in 1973. By 1975, Squadron Leader Creighton had achieved the rank of Master Air Loadmaster, with 1,920 hours on rotary and 5,345 hours in the air. He was then commissioned and posted onto the new Puma helicopter.

1982 saw Squadron Leader Creighton posted onto another fairly new helicopter, the Chinook; becoming Crewman Leader on 18 Squadron. During this time he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service (Air) for his efforts on the rotary wing. In 1986 he became an instructor to new crewmen flying Wessex helicopters at 2 Advanced Flying Training School, RAF Shawbury.

Between 1991 and 1993, Squadron Leader Creighton took a ground tour as Officer Commanding Mobile Air Operations Team in Germany. Following this he returned to Pumas as a Reconnaissance Sensor Operator on 230 Squadron, Northern Ireland. During this tour he was awarded his second Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service (Air) for saving the life of a man in an extremely hostile area of Belfast.

Squadron Leader Creighton retired from the regular RAF on 30 July 1999 and joined the Royal Auxiliary Air Force the next day. He was awarded an MBE for his outstanding length of service, being the most experienced helicopter crewman in the RAF.

As an auxiliary member of the RAF he was promoted to Squadron Leader in January 2005, fulfilling the role of Auxiliary Flight Commander on 33 Squadron.

Flying is in Squadron Leader Creighton's blood; his father was a fighter pilot who retired when his son joined the Service. Despite his retirement, Squadron Leader Creighton intends to carry on flying his Russian Yak 18 aerobatics aircraft, which he keeps in France. He lives with his wife Pat, a former RAF nurse, in Manciet, Gascony, and said of his retirement:

"I am looking forward to my retirement even though I have loved my time in the RAF; it has been a great life."