training exercises in Nevada and Maple Flag exercise in Alberta. With up to 300 combat aircraft battling together for a fortnight, these exercises helped develop the air warfare tactics used in the Gulf War and most subsequent conflicts. Sadly, Philip’s medical category was then downgraded, thereby curtailing his hoped-for rise to the highest ranks. Nevertheless, thanks to his “wealth of nuclear experience”, Philip was selected for some unique and challenging appointments. After a tour in London, he joined the directing staff of the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Toronto (1982–84) and then became Service Adviser in the Cabinet Office in Downing Street under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (1984–1986). On promotion to Group Captain, Philip returned to RAF Benson from 1987–1989 as Station
Commander, Deputy Captain of The Queen’s Flight, and Aide-de- Camp to HM The Queen. During this tour, Philip travelled all over Europe, took part in the first royal visit to Russia since the time of the Tsars, and accompanied The Princess Royal on a three-week trip around war-torn East Africa. After hosting HM Queen Elizabeth when she presented Colours to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Philip became a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO), thereby upgrading the LVO he was awarded in 1971. Philip then spent five years in London before retiring from the RAF in 1994. “My final tour back in Whitehall was as a nuclear guru,” he recalls. “From November 1989 – the week the Berlin Wall came down – I worked with Americans, French, Germans and, by proxy, Russians, paving the way for the 1990s Arms Treaties that reduced the number
of nuclear delivery vehicles and weapons East and West.” During his service career, Philip organised ski mountaineering expeditions to the European Alps and Canadian Arctic. He also led the first British traverse of Lapland and was President of the Alpine Ski Club (the world’s oldest ski mountaineering club) from 1988–1990. Following his retirement from the RAF, Philip spent 17 years on The Lord Chancellor’s Panel of Independent Inspectors chairing planning inquiries in England and Wales. Philip lives in Oxfordshire and remains a trustee of various charities. He also finds time to fish in England, Scotland, and New Zealand. As he points out: “Once a Kiwi, always a Kiwi – the best group in the UK services to escape all social barriers – and Christ’s College gave me the broad background and depth of education needed to succeed.”
As Officer Commanding 208 Squadron, flying low level strike/attack Buccaneers 1976–1979.
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