RAF man’s final mission after 35 years of service

Oct 8 2009 by Debbie Hall, West Lothian Courier

ROYAL Air Force Engineering Warrant Officer Frank O’Hara is coming to the end of his final mission after 35 years of service.

Frank (53) from Whitburn, is serving with the Tornado engineering team of 12(B) Squadron at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

When he leaves the RAF in 18 months time he will have clocked up over 35 years of service almost all of it on the Tornado Force.

Frank (pictured) joined the RAF in 1976 and has since seen some 10 or 11 operational detachments starting with the advanced party for the First Gulf War at Dharan, Saudi Arabia in 1990.

A tour in Al Kharge, also in Saudi Arabia followed in 1997 plus Ali-Al-Salem, Kuwait, six times between 1997 and 2001.

He has also been to the Falkland Islands in 2007 and back to the Middle East in 2008. His current tour in Afghanistan should be his last but he thought the same about his trip to the Middle East last year – only time will tell.

In between his time on operations, he has taken aircraft to some 18 other countries.

Frank’s job as Squadron Warrant Officer on detachment is ensuring that engineering standards are maintained. He also maintains quality, discipline and welfare of the engineering technicians and junior aircrew.

Frank left Whitburn Academy in 1973 and is now engaged to fianceé Ann and has two children, twins Kirsteen and Melanie, 23.

Frank currently lives at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray but gets back to Whitburn regularly to see both family and friends from school.

summing up his career Frank said: “It is not a job, it is a lifestyle. I have travelled the world and been given opportunities and responsibilities. It has been a huge variety of challenges.”