Lyneham Crew's in South African Bush RAF Lyneham’s Hercules were recently brushing up their skills in an overseas exercise to show that they are always ready for their first-in-last-out tag which is synonymous to the Wiltshire airbase. Exercise DIAMOND CUTTER 05 was an Overseas Training Exercise to North West Botswana which took place between 9th April and 27th May 05. The aim of the exercise was for the Paratroopers to practice and refine the conduct of patrolling and offensive operations in close bush terrain.

RAF Lyneham supported No 2 Para Company Group training exercise with two aircraft operating from a deployed operating base at Maun from 2 – 14 May 05. The C-130 participation offered excellent scope for joint training in the form of low-level flying, paratrooper insertions, aerial re-supply, tactical landing zones, natural surface operations and night vision goggle flying.

The landing zone site was about 10km away from the town of Gumare, which itself was a 3 hour drive from the base at Maun along a highway littered with donkeys, goats, sheep and the occasional flock of Ostrich! The area to be surveyed was about 4000ft long and was situated on a dried up lake bed, which floods annually, close to a village called Tubu.

The Royal Engineers, experts in the preparation of out-of-the-ordinary landing strips, worked for 3 days to make a suitable landing area for Fat Albert, the workhorse of the RAF. It was tested and proved to be another professional task competed. Amazingly, they achieved it with a day to spare and all credit goes to them for their commitment to the task and the work they carried out.

Both the C-130J and K Hercules made full use of the landing zone throughout the exercise and it continued to be a spectacular site each time an aircraft landed, attracting people from as far away as 13kms that came to see the aircraft and meet the crews. Most times the crews would bring toys for the local children and the sight of 20 kids gleefully chasing after a football become a common one.

The Diamond Cutter exercise also provided the opportunity for the support teams to exercise their fire fighting techniques in out-of-area terrain. The fire detachment’s involvement was to liaise with, advise and bolster the local Botswana Fire Service at Maun airport in the event of any RAF aircraft requiring emergency assistance. Thankfully the flying operations went according to plan and the newly trained Airport Fire Service were not called upon. .

Differences in fire fighting technique and method of rescue were discussed and it was found that even though inevitably there were some differences, a workable plan of action was easily formed to ensure an appropriate joint response in the event of an aircraft emergency. Thanks must go to the air and ground crews who, despite a heavy flying schedule made their airframes available for the local fire fighters to carry out familiarisation training.

	RAF Fire Fighters were extremely grateful for the Lyneham personnel back home for providing some small items and gifts, which were distributed to the children at Maun Counseling Centre. This gesture was greatly appreciated and provided some small distraction from much greater troubles. The counseling centre provides help and support to the many children in the Maun area of Botswana who have been orphaned by the AIDs epidemic seen in much of Africa. It also provides a free testing and counseling service for all members of the community and is greatly involved in the HIV/AIDS education programme being taught throughout Botswana.
Sgt 'Soppy' Sopp providing small gifts to the local children, also two Hercules at dusk after the exercise

	RAF Lyneham www.raf.mod.uk/raflyneham Photographs from RAF Lyneham and image editing by Lyneham Village Online.
Did you know: Gumare is a small town located in the west of the Okavango Delta. It has one of the country’s 14 primary hospitals. The towns of Gumare and Etsha are responsible for producing most of Botswana’s woven baskets and it is these that are the main source of income for the area. In 1986 forty basket weavers formed a co-operative called Ngwao, “Lets keep our traditions going”. The Okavango Delta is unique. It is the largest inland delta in the world, instead of flowing into the sea, the annual flood of fresh water flows inland, spreading over 15 000km² of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels. The countless islands that emerge from its waterways give rise to several diverse ecosystems which in turn, are home to vast numbers of game and a myriad birds. The crystal clear waters support many kinds of fish and it is a birder’s paradise. This popular attraction is at its most impressive in August when the champagne-coloured water is at its deepest. Most of the young are born between November and March when the vegetation is lush. The heart of the delta is accessed by air only and as it is an exclusive destination, it remains relatively unpopulated and wild.