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JOHN CRUICKSHANK VC attended RIAT on the same day that, 59 years before, he displayed the tremendous courage that earned him the highest medal awarded by the Armed Forces for gallantry

On 17 July 1944, flying a Consolidated Catalina of 210 Squadron north of the Arctic Circle, Fit Lt Cruickshank, aged 24, and his crew attacked the German U-boat U-347. Regardless of the severity of the flak, he made a second attack and despite the death of' his Navigator and in drifting fog, he positioned six depth charges with devastating effect. The U-boat sank immediately but Cruickshank was severely injured. Having collapsed from his wounds after the attack, he regained command and set course for Sullom Voe in the Shetlands. Drifting in and out of consciousness throughout the return flight of almost six hours and losing much blood he assisted the co-pilot with the landing and was found to have an astounding 72 wounds. He is one of four Coastal VCs awarded during World War Two - the other three were awarded posthumously. John Cruickshank, 83, was born on May 20 1920. He joined the TA (Royal Artillery) before the Second World War and was called up in August 1939. His father did not want him to volunteer for flying so John waited until he was 21 and transferred to the RAF, All of his service was with Coastal Command. When the war finished, he was demobbed and went back to banking.

Concorde canx

It may have been splashed over all the pre-show publicity material, but sadly Concorde was cancelled by British Airways and substituted with a Boeing 747-400, carrying passengers on a charter flight from Heathrow. On what would have been its last Fairford appearance, the supersonic airliner would have been a star attraction - let's hope that the BA management have a change of heart and let Richard Branson have them all!

Old timers

Part four : 100 years

Part three - Themes, tributes and exotica

Gary Parsons looks at the other attractions aviation-wise

Maritime masters of Ocean Watch

PC correctness A variety of Pilatus products could be seen at Fairford - PCs of every description!

Heavy mob

Ocean Watch was the main theme of the static park, other than the 100 years of flight exhibition (of which more next week). Ocean Watch paid tribute to the maritime aircrew through the ages, those that flew search and rescue missions, combat and anti-submarine patrols, reconnaissance and photographic missions, humanitarian aid drops, drug and illegal arms smuggling patrols to meteorological flights.

RIAT 2003 also paid tribute to RAF Coastal Command on the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, a campaign that was key to Allied victory in the Second World War. Project 'Constant Endeavour', a series of presentations and exhibitions at schools, colleges and other centres of learning was launched at the event by the the RAF's sole surviving holder of the Victoria Cross, Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank. 'Constant Endeavour' will also see a sculpture installed in Westminster Abbey as a memorial to the 9,000 lives lost in Coastal Command.

Test pilots

Many test pilots were on hand over the weekend as RIAT paid a small tribute to the Empire Test Pilots School, based at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire. Formed in 1943, naturally this year is its 60th anniversary and so many famous names were around to meet the public, especially in the 100 years of flight arena. Famous names such as Peter Twiss, John Farley, Eric 'Winkle' Brown mixed with their modern-day counterparts, less weel-known but just as invaluable - Chris Yeo (fly-by-wire Jaguar), and Flt Lt Steve Austin (UK's youngest test pilot) (and no $6m jokes, please).

Coalition aircraft

In a tribute to the thousands of men and women who served in The Gulf, some of the aircraft used by the US, UK, Australian and Canadian air arms were on show. No F/A-18s admittedly, but plenty of Tornados. RIAT Director Paul Bowen said: "it is generally agreed that the Combined Forces Air Component performed their task with great skill, teamwork and accuracy. This was achieved because some of the world's most highly trained air and ground crews were operating some of the most hi-tech aircraft in existence. Our aim is to recognise the skills and professionalism that were involved in pulling together each air arm's particular strengths into one single, highly effective Coalition force."

Gulf Aircraft Facts:
* Coalition air arms flew a total of 41,404 sorties in The Gulf during the recent conflict.
* Of the 1,801 aircraft that flew or offered operational support, 1,663 came from the US, 133 came from the UK, 22 from Australia and 3 from Canada.

Exotica
Whether it's a fancy paint job or a rare treat, here's our pick of the static parks

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