Red4
This is unashamedly a military blog. If anybody isn’t familiar with the news then RIP Red 4 Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging.
The splendid Capt Haddock noted this tragedy in the previous thread. It appears this top chap stayed with his plane to keep it away from a residential area at the cost of his own life. Good drills that man.
Jon flew the Harrier GR9 before joining the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team.
Age – 33
Education – Jon attended Southam School in Warwickshire gaining A-Levels in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. He was a member of 2028 (Southam) Sqn Air Training Corps from age 13. During the sixth form he was awarded a Royal Air Force Flying Scholarship and had his first solo flight in a Cessna 152 flying from Wellesbourne Mountford Aerodrome. Following a gap year spent working in the UK and travelling around Australia, Jon went on to read a BSc in Environmental Science at Southampton University. He joined Southampton University Air Squadron and was awarded a Royal Air Force Bursary in his second year.
Career – Whilst at University Jon completed Elementary Flying Training with the University Air Squadron, flying the Bulldog; he went on to join the Royal Air Force in 2000. Selected for fast jet training Jon flew the Tucano and Hawk before becoming a ‘Creamie’ Qualified Flying Instructor on the Hawk at Royal Air Force Valley, teaching both students and instructors. Jon went on to serve with IV(AC) Squadron – ‘Happy IV’ – based at Royal Air Force Cottesmore, flying the Harrier GR9. During his time on the front line Jon was proud to support coalition ground forces when flying operational missions in Afghanistan. He has also taken part in exercises in the United Kingdom and America. As part of Joint Force Harrier, Jon served with IV(AC) Squadron on HMS Illustrious, flying training missions off the UK coastline. He became the Squadron Qualified Flying Instructor during his last year on ‘Happy IV’, making the transition to teach on the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit, based at Royal Air Force Wittering, in April 2010.
Background – Jon became interested in flying at an early age, inspired by his airline pilot father who used to take him ‘down route’, allowing him into the cockpit for take off and landing. Jon lived in Rutland with his wife Emma. In their spare time they enjoyed road and fell running as well as travelling the world together.
Per Ardua ad Astra
RIP indeed, he and his team were entertaining my adopted ‘home town’ just last week and much appreciated they were too..
As The Eye will already be aware I can share a specific empathy with this type of horrendous loss and so my heart really does go out to his wife, friends and family at this tragic time.
Knowing that he died doing something that he loved will offer some small comfort to them while they come to terms with their grief.
A true professional to the very end ..
The Red Arrows are part of what little remains of a once “Great” Britain ..
There’s not much that impresses me these days …Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging has moved me almost to tears. The very best of Englishmen.
What a hero Lt. Egging is! May he Rest in Peace, and I hope and pray his family will be alright. He saved many lives, unselfishly. God Bless him.
My sympathy to his family.
A great loss. He “slipped the surely bonds of earth”.
It looks like his mates played a trick on him the day that photo was taken as he has a Wing Commander’s Eppaulette on his left shoulder!
A great loss indeed. The Red Arrows are supposed to be over here in two weeks time. They are, indeed, the BEST of British. RIP