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65CHINOOK OPERATIONS %u2013 RAF ODIHAMAir Vice-Marshal Sandy HunterSandy Hunter joined the RAF in 1962, his initialexperience being as a recce pilot in FEAF and as aQFI, he later switched to helicopters, serving as aFlight, Squadron and Station Commander in thatrole. Ground tours included a stint in Moscow asAssistant Air Attach%u00e9 and staff appointmentsconcerned with policy and plans. Following twoyears as DPR(RAF), he was Commandant of theStaff College and then Commander British Forcesin Cyprus. Since 1993 he has worked in the property and financialservices sectors, maintaining his Service connections through hisinvolvement with reserve and cadet organisations, including the TA andRAuxAF.When I assumed command of Odiham, just before Christmas 1981, Iprivately felt little of the enthusiasm that I hoped I was showing inpublic. I had left the station less than four years previously and Iremembered that it was then in the grip of what was almost a %u2018victimculture%u2019, understandably perhaps, given the extent of what we would nowcall overstretch. Overworked and underpaid, the UK-based SupportHelicopter Force of the %u201870s offered fertile ground for the barrack roomlawyer! The SH community also appeared to take a perverse pride inbeing different from the rest of the Service and risked falling between thetwo stools of the largely fast-jet RAF and a predatory Army Air Corps. Iremembered that there had been a constant battle for serviceability ofaircraft denied adequate logistic and manpower resources. I had a starkand disturbing image of one of my predecessors in command being runragged by a superior headquarters which showed little understanding ofOdiham%u2019s business %u2013 and, apparently, little recognition of its efforts.In late 1981, Odiham was home to four flying units. No 33 Sqn, thenin the capable hands of Wg Cdr Simon Coy and a strong team of FlightCommanders, was well on top of the Puma and its role. No 18 Sqn wasgetting close to completion of its re-equipment with the Chinook andwas elegantly and effectively commanded by Wg Cdr Tony Stables. Itssupport, however, was exiguous and the squadron was in dailycompetition for spares and other equipment with No 240 OCU and with