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New base Warrant Officer for Culdrose
30 March 2016
All change at the top for the Base Warrant Officer (BWO) of Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose.
Passing over his symbol of authority to his successor as the Senior Warrant Officer at the Fleet Air Arm’s West Cornwall station, WO 1 Air Engineer Technician Ian Anderson handed the ‘Stick of Office’ to WO 1 Aircrewman Bridgette Turner MSM.
As his time at Culdrose draws to a close, Ian is looking forward to moving to London having been selected to undertake a new appointment in NATO, working for the Maritime Commander (MARCOM) Northwood.
Taking over, and wielding the BWO’s big stick is WO 1 ACMN Bridgette Turner who also has strong connections with RNAS Culdrose.
Having served here for over 24 years I have a real passion for this Naval Base and the military and civilians who serve and support this establishment.
Bridgette joined the Royal Navy as a WRN Air Engineering Mechanic in 1982 and served as a ‘Junglie’ in 707 NAS based at RNAS Yeovilton, working on both the Wessex Mk 5 and the Sea King Mk 4; during this time she routinely deployed to Norway and Germany.
Then, in 1992, she joined the first ever Aircrewmen’s course to include females and was subsequently awarded her ‘Wings’ by HRH Princess Ann in November 1993.
As a Sea King Anti-submarine Aircrewman she served with 814 and 810 NAS before joining the Joint Maritime Facility at RAF St Mawgan, near Newquay where she was awarded a ‘Letter of Commendation’.
In 1999 Bridgette converted to the Merlin Mk1 curriculum team at RNAS Culdrose and had the honour of being part of the 824 NAS commissioning team back in 2000.
After upgrading to Merlin HM Mk2 she spent the next 2 tours of duty with 824 NAS – where she was awarded her Meritorious Service Medal - and operationally with 820 NAS during their inauguration deployment to the Gulf.
In 2006 she was awarded her A2 Qualified Aircrewmen Instructor category in aviation instruction and subsequently appointed as a QAI CFS agent for the Lynx Mk 3/7/8, Sea King Mk 4/5/6/7 and Merlin HM Mk1 within Naval Flying Standards Flight in 2009.
Bridgette has been the Merlin Helicopter Force Operations Officer since 2014.
“It’s a great honour to be selected as BWO at RNAS Culdrose; having served here for over 24 years I have a real passion for this Naval Base and the military and civilians who serve and support this establishment.
“The Royal Navy and Culdrose have some exciting Operational challenges over the next few years and I am keen to play my part and support all Culdrose personnel, representing them both honestly and fairly.”