Group Captain Paul Oborn's twenty four month
tour has been saddened by the tragic Hercules accident, in
which eight of his airmen died after the aircraft was shot
down in Iraq during the country's elections for peace on the
30th January 2005. It was a deeply heart-rending moment for
the station boss and he often reflected on the crew as 'truly
one of the best' and great comfort was given when findings
of the MoD Inquiry into the accident, this month totally exonerated
the crew of blame.
On a chilly December 16th morning Group Captain Oborn and
the incoming Station Commander, Group
Captain Atherton flew together and shook hands in the
air before returning to hard ground to attend a champagne
reception with all the station executives in the VIP Lounge.
The traditional handing over of the realm as station commander
to Wiltshire's busiest airbase, was marked as the commander's
baton was passed to the station commander designate, Group
Captain Oborn made a short speech thanking all the executives
for their hard work and dedication, on what has been an eventful
two years in post.
The time had come for 'OB' to be escorted off the unit in
true military fashion, an emotional time and there was a definite
tear in his eye as he stopped along the main station driveway,
to say goodbye to the Military and Civilian personnel that
have come to admire and respect him so much.
The station executives stood outside the Air Terminal Building
and waved goodbye while the Station Warrant Officer decided
it was time to go and search for the new Station Commander.
Group Captain Oborn, departing
Station Commander said: “I have enjoyed my time here
immensely and it is with much regret that I move on. Lyneham
has never been busier than it is now but, in spite of this,
Lyneham personnel constantly surprise me, not just with their
dedication and hard work to their primary tasks in support
of our mission, but also with the energy and time they give
to our community."
" It has been a great privilege to have served as Station
Commander here at RAF Lyneham and the hard work and resolve
of everyone in all that we have faced has been fantastic.”
Group Captain Oborn has been posted to the Royal College of
Defence Studies.
The Lyneham community have been touched by the manner in
which Group Captain Paul Oborn displayed day-in and day-out
exemplary leadership qualities during his tour, especially
bringing the station and local area together while we all
mourned the loss of the Hilton
22 crew in January this year. His sense of duty, devotion,
impeccable leadership, acceptability to difficult scenarios
will be sorely missed in the local community. He has been
described as a true professional and gentleman. Good luck
'OB' and a special thank you for your efforts within Team
Lyneham and the local community. |
