Education
Royal Air Force College Cranwell.
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Cliff Spink
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The first Spitfire he ever flew belonged to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, during his tenure as Station Commander of Royal Air Force Coningsby. He also served as the 23rd Commandant of the, the last but one officer to hold the post. Spink obtained a flying commission at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, and initially learned to fly on the Jet Provost.
Later training took place on the Gnat and the Hunter, before Spink was posted to his first productive tour on Number.
111 Squadron flying the Lightning. Spink was later posted to Number.
56 Squadron in Cyprus before returning to Number. 111 Squadron. Spink served as the Commanding Officer of Number.
74 Squadron before being posted to the South Atlantic in 1989 as the Officer Commanding Royal Air Force Mount Pleasant on the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands.
In 1990 Spink underwent conversion training to the Tornado before becoming Station Commander at Royal Air Force Coningsby. In 1991 Spink served as the Royal Air Force"s Tornado Detachment Commander during the first Gulf War. After attending the Royal College of Defence Studies, he became Senior Air Staff Officer of Number.
11 Group Royal Air Force in March 1993, of Number.
18 Group Royal Air Force in 1995 and Air Officer Commanding Number. 11/18 Group Royal Air Force in 1996.
Spink also served as the last but one Commandant of the Spink remains the honorary President of the Association. He currently flies a restored Spitfire XVIe TD248.
This is a former ‘gate guardian’ from Royal Air Force Sealand which was rebuilt by Historic Flying Limited. about 15 years ago.
lieutenant initially appeared in a post war 41 Squadron colour scheme but it has recently been repainted in wartime colours with the personal markings ‘Czech Republic-South’. Since retiring from the Royal Air Force he has formed his own Company ("Spitfire Limited" dealing in a range of Aviation interests.
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