A Day Money Cannot Buy at RAF Lossiemouth..

As you will have read before on this blog, Dambusters2012 has enjoyed the priviledge of working closely with 617 Sqdn, the real Dambusters, through their recent tour of duty in Afghanistan. My efforts there were directly supported by the wonderful Flt Sgt Paul Peden ... a gent' among men!

You will also know that amongst other things, Paul arranged to have two Help for Heroes teddies flown by 617 Sqdn on active service flights over Afghanistan and that these will be auctioned at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball on 3rd November 2012 with all the proceeds from their sale going directly to H4H!!

What you will not know is the amazing prize that has been put together to be auctioned on the night as well by Gp Capt Ian Gale, Station Commander of 617 Sqdn's home base RAF Lossiemouth.

In Ian's own words :

"This unique and sensational prize is to come to RAF Lossiemouth, home of the iconic 617 Squadron 'The Dambusters' and base from which the famous raid on the Tirpitz was launched. You will be the guest of 617 Squadron, meet the aircrew and groundcrew, get up close and personal with the Tornado GR4, the mainstay of RAF combat power and plan then fly, a typical mission in the full visual flight simulator.  A VIP luncheon with the Station Commander and personalised tour of the base, including the RAF Regiment squadron and Sea King rescue helicopters of 202 Squadron are also included in this opportunity of a lifetime!  Bring your camera and prepare to be truly immersed in the RAF at the very tip of the spear; all of our units have served recently in Afghanistan and several in Lybia so you will also get the inside story on those campaigns, as well as see artefacts from Guy Gibson's era including a real Bouncing Bomb!"

How amazing a day will that be?? If that doesn't raise an absolute shedload of cash for Help for Heroes I simply do not know what would do!! Fantastic!!

Gp Capt Gale has also supplied some wonderful images which will soon also be found on the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball website which can be found at : http://www.helpforheroesballbirmingham.org.uk/

The only way you can have a chance of bidding for this incredible day out at RAF Lossiemouth is to be at the Ball so don't delay, get onto their website and reservce your ticket today!!

Here are a few of the images supplied by Gp Capt Gale to support the promotion of the prize on the H4H ball website - feast your eyes on these:

The Tornado GR4 in its element!!

 Power!!

 The pilot's view : on the way to the runway at Kandahar

 Wg Cdr Guy Gibson VC - his cap and log book .... pure history!

 A Sea King of 202 Sqdn

 ...and to finish a simply wonderful sunset image of a Tornado GR4 landing as the golden sun falls behind the horizon.

Come on folks - an absolutely sensational prize, a prize which money truly could not buy! So come and have a wonderful night out at the Metropole Hotel, Birmingham on 3rd November 2012 at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball and have the opportunity to bid for this incredible day out and also for the two Dambusters 2012 Help for Heroes Teddies - what are you waiting for???

Dambusters2012 - Teddies for Help for Heroes

Back from weeks holiday in France and so normal blog service will be resumed!!

Here is a new image of our Dambusters2012's two brave Help for Heroes Teddies shortly after they arrived at Kandahar Airbase, Afghanistan and 617 Sqdn, RAF. They are seated on one of the access panels of 617 Sqdn, the world famous Dambusters, Tornado GR4 fast jets in which both were to fly on active service a few days later!

Both teddies will be auctioned at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball on November 3rd 2012 at the Metropole Hotel, Birmingham. All proceeds from their auction will be going to Help for Heroes ( www.helpforheroes.org.uk )

www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012 for safe and secure on line donations to Help for Heroes. Thank you.

Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball - 3rd November 2012.

Dambusters2012's Teddies - at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball.

Links to the very dignified response by Help for Heroes and Blesma to the BBC...

Please follow these links to the two very considered and dignified responses to the poorly structured and ill judged BBC Newsnight programme shown yesterday.

http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/h4h_statement.html

http://www.blesma.org/news/blesmas-response-bbc-news

These are both brilliant organisations raising money and doing wonderful work for our wounded heroes! Their responses carry far more weight and are written with so much more eloquence than I could ever hope to deliver.

I remain committed to fund-raising for Help for Heroes and to supporting the fabulous work they do.

Simon / Dambusters2012

BBC Newsnight.... Shameful programme.

I will put up a better post tomorrow when I have a bit more time and am slightly less angry. To all of you who have taken the time to donate to Help for Heroes via www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012 please do be taken in by the badly researched and shameful program which is being broadcast by the BBC Newsnight team today. If you would like to see a dignified and accurate response please read the statement by Help for Heroes at their website, www.helpforheroes.org.uk and then follow the link to the long list of veterans and supporters who have taken the time to go on record to refute the dreadful excuse for a factual report by the BBC.

Why the BBC feel the need to always knock things that are good in the country is beyond me. Why they would choose to attack a charity that had raised over £140 million to support our wounded heroes and which enjoys the widespread support of the troops, their wounded comrades and families is even more extraordinary.

Dambusters2012 will continue to support Help for Heroes and I sincerely hope you will too.

Thank you.

Simon Dufton. Rider and Fundraiser.
Dambusters2012

Memories ... Teddy 1 takes off on active service

A series of images showing the Tornado GR4 of Wg Cdr Taylor, 'Boss' of 617 sqdn, with Dambusters2012 Teddy No.1 sitting with WSO Flt Lt Jane Pickersgill in the back seat setting off from Kandahar Airbase during their recent tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Dambusters2012 is still supporting and raising cash for Help for Heroes at www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012 . Please visit using this link and make a donation of whatever size you feel appropriate. Thank you.

Teddy No.1, our Girl, and Teddy No.2, the boy, will both be auctioned for Help for Heroes at the Birmingham help for Heroes Ball on November 3rd 2012. Please visit http://www.helpforheroesballbirmingham.org.uk for more details and to reserve your place at what will be a magical evening!

Some new images of Teddy No. 1 ....

The next significant event for Dambusters2012 is the auction of our Help for Heroes Teddies who flew on active service with 617 sqdn, the famous Dambusters, over Afghanistan during their recent tour of duty. The two unique teddies will be auctioned at the prestigious Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball which is to be held at the Metropole Hotel, Birmingham on 3rd November 2012. More details can be found at : http://www.helpforheroesballbirmingham.org.uk/ . In the meantime here are three new images of Teddy No.1, our girl teddy, getting ready for her flight with 617 sqdn Boss Wg Cdr Taylor and his then WSO Flt Lt Jane Pickersgill. Enjoy - there are great images!!

Dambusters2012's purpose is to raise money for and awareness of the wonderful work that is done by Help for Heroes to support our troops who have been wounded on active service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please do visit their website at www.helpforheroes.org.uk and see some of the inspirational work and achievements of the charity. Then please visit www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012 and make your contribution to the cause on line. It is safe, secure and the cash goes straight to Help for Heroes. Thank you.