A New Zealander by birth, Group Captain Paul
Oborn began his RAF career in 1980 as an Officer Cadet at
RAFSC Henlow.
On completion of flying training in 1981 he was posted to
Number 30 Squadron, RAF Lyneham as a co-pilot on the Hercules
aircraft and spent much of his tour in the South Atlantic
and the Falkland Islands on Operation CORPORATE.
A subsequent internal posting to 70 Squadron in 1985 saw
him complete a successful conversion to captain on the same
aircraft. In 1988 he was posted to Number 242 Operational
Conversion Unit, RAF Lyneham as a Flying Instructor on the
Support Training Squadron, responsible for training crews
in the tactical roles of the Hercules.
He deployed to the Gulf for Operation GRANBY in 1991. He
was promoted to Squadron Leader in 1991 and posted back to
30 Squadron as a Flight Commander. He attended the Canadian
Advanced Joint Command and Staff Course in Toronto in 1994
graduating in 1995.
A posting to Headquarters 38 Group followed as the Project
Officer for the Introduction to Service of the C-130J aircraft.
On promotion to Wing Commander in 1997, he was appointed Officer
Commanding Number 24 Squadron. On completion of his Command
tour in 2000 he was selected to be Personal Staff Officer
to Commander-In-Chief Strike Command.
Promoted to Group Captain in January 2003, he was posted
to RAF Lyneham to conduct C-130J training and assumed command
of RAF Lyneham on 19 December 2003. Group Captain Oborn is
married to Sarah and has a 10 year old son named Nicholas.
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