James Brudenell
From Lacey Green History
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Wing Commander James Brudinell. Post retirement in 2017 lived at College Farm, Loosley Row, 2002-2009
James is now a local smallholder, stating "40 years served is definitely enough!"
Service Career
1977 Joined RAF as an Apprentice Technician (Halton Brat).
1977-1980 RAF Halton. Trained as an Aircraft Technician Airframes/Propulsion.
1980-1984 Posted to RAF Lynham, Hercules C130 Fleet. Research Note. Part of the team that converted these aircraft into tanker air-to-air refuellers. During these time served in the Falkland Islands Conflict maintaining South Atlantic Airbridge.
1984-1987. Posted to RAF Benson undertaking Deep Maintenance for the Wessex Helicopter Fleet. Spent 6 months of this time at Wideawake Airfield, Ascension Island, as part of the Hercules Detachment.
1987 Promoted to Sergeant. Posted to RAF Manston, 22 Squadron Search and Rescue, (SAR) as a Wessex Groundcrew Shift Boss.
<<< Photos on left. The inset picture was taken on Ascension Island. The Main Photo of James was taken in Brunei in a Black Hawk helicopter, with which he was very impressed.
1989 Transferred to 202 Squadron, SAR, as a Sea King Shift Boss. (The ground crew were responsible for maintaining the airworthiness of the helicopters and support and rescue operations.
1990 Underwent Initial Officer Training at RAF College Cranwell.
1991 Graduated as a Flying Officer and posted to RAF Benson as Officer Commanding, Component Servicing Flight, providing technical support to Wessex, Sea King and Hawker Siddeley 748 (Andover) fleets.
1991 Attended RAF College Cranwell for further training.
1992 Promoted t Flight Lieutenant and posted to RAF Brize Norton as an Engineering Shift Leader on No. 10 Squadron, (VC 10's). During this time served in the Gulf proving Air Tanker Support from Bahrain.
1993 Attended RAF College Cranwell for further Professional Training.
1993-1997 Posted to No 1 School of Technical Training at RAF Halton as a Technical Training Officer for the Airframe Training Squadron (AFTS). During this time was the Acting Squadron Commander, overseeing the relocation of AFTS to its new premises at RAF Cosford.
1997-2000. Posted to RAF Bentley Priory as HQ 11/18 Group Staf Officer supporting UK strategic and tactical Ground Based Radar Systems. Research Note. Participated internationally as a member of the Nato Tactical Evaluation Team.
2000-2002 Promoted to Squadron Leader and posted to RAF Cosford as Officer Commanding the Contract Monitoring Team responsible for the performance of the Multi-Activity Contracts and Civil Service Cadre. Also filled role of Officer Commanding the Wrekin Gliding Club and learnt to fly solo.
2002-2005 Posted to HQ Strike Command, Walters Ash. Responsible for RAF Engineering Policy and particularly NATO Interoperability in terms of Aeronautical Maintenance for RAF aircraft.
2005-2007 Posted to RAF Brize Norton as Executive Officer Forward Support Wing and Officer Commanding Engineering Operations Squadron.
Research Note. Was the Event Manager for the BBC Children in Need Concert 2005 held at RAF Brize Norton.
2007-2009 Posted to HQ Air Command, Walters Ash, as the Strategic Planner for RAF Fast Jet Fleets and their bases. Was the Command lead of the provision of Typhoon Air/Ground crew training for BAES overseas customers.
2009-2011 Promoted Wing Commander and posted to HQ Land Command, (Wilton and Andover) as Chief of Staff for the Ministry of Defence, Joint Explosive Ordinance Disposal and Search Branch. Trained with the Royal Engineers and qualified as a Bomb Disposal Officer. Research Note. Also chaired the NATO Explosive Ordinance Disposal and Search Interoperability Committee.
2011-2013 Posted to HQ Air Command, Walters Ash as Team Leader responsible for the Global Delivery of RAF Flight Safety Assurance to the 3-Star Dep Com (Ops).
2013-2015 Seconded to the Brunei Air Force as Head of Aviation Safety Group, founding the Civil/Military Brunei Airspace Safety Group.
2015 Posted to HQ Air Command, Walters Ash as Chief of Staff for No 1 Group.
2017 Retired from the Royal Air Force.