Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Plew | Squadron Leader Jerry Neild, Royal Air Force commander, Royal Air Force Lakenheath,...... read more read more
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ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England – The 48th Fighter Wing bid a fond farewell to Squadron Leader Jerry Neild, Royal Air Force commander, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England upon his retirement after 43 years of faithful service to the RAF, March 26, 2019.
Neild joined the RAF as an officer cadet in 1975, and has served as the primary advisor to the 48th Fighter Wing commander at RAF Lakenheath on all matters concerning the RAF, the Ministry of Defence and United Kingdom Defence policies since September 2007.
He and his wife Ruth, were each presented with tokens of appreciation from Col. Will Marshall, 48th Fighter Wing commander, and his wife Lt. Col. Heather Marshall.
“Jerry has been a tremendous asset to the 48th Fighter Wing,” said Marshall. “It’s because of Team Neild that we have been successful in providing worldwide responsive combat airpower and support to our allies and partners. He and Ruth will be deeply missed.”
Marshall also verbally delivered a special acknowledgement of Neild’s retirement on behalf of the RAF which read,
“Whilst this event is a 48th Fighter Wing lead, it would be remise of the Royal Air Force to let this milestone pass without comment on one of its own. To say thank you to an officer whose career has spanned some 43 years , has seen him touch many areas of the RAF and in doing so contribute across a broad spectrum of its capability; recruiting, training, defense engagement, NATO and of course operations. The latter including Northern Ireland, the Gulf War, Operation Southern Watch and the Balkans.
Jerry, on behalf of the Royal Air Force, thanks to both you and Ruth for everything you have done as part of the RAF family and we wish you every happiness in your retirement together.
Per Ardua ad Astra.” (Motto of the RAF – translates “through adversity to the stars.”)
Neild leveraged his expertise during many of the Liberty Wing’s historic moments, such as Operation Odyssey Dawn, the arrival and relocation of the 56th and 57th Rescue Squadrons, and the first U.S. Air Force F-35A United Kingdom deployment during his nearly 12 years as the RAF commander at RAF Lakenheath.
“It’s been a pleasure to face the challenges alongside professional Airmen and their families, all of whom strive daily to make the 48th Fighter Wing and RAF Lakenheath an ever more effective instrument of air power,” said Neild. “Ruth and I will miss the Wing, its personnel, both service and civilian, and look forward to hearing of its success in the future as a fifth-generation base supporting a fifth-generation aircraft alongside the RAF. Now is the time after nearly 44 years to go graze with the other dinosaurs, but Ruth and I look forward to speaking to Lakenheath controllers whenever transiting the local airspace in our own aircraft. To quote the title of the fourth volume of Douglas Adams' trilogy, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, 'So Long and thanks for all the fish!'”
| Date Taken: | 03.26.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.28.2019 06:12 |
| Story ID: | 315962 |
| Location: | BRANDON, SUFFOLK, GB |
| Web Views: | 66 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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