415 Squadron Association
415 Squadron Attends 2025 East Moor Memorial Service
By Capt Mike Austin, Edited by Capt Darren Kirk
Next 415 Sqn Assoc Meeting
1300 Hrs, 18 Apr 24
14 Wing Museum
A Canadian exchange pilot and rear crew observers train on UK Posedion P-8A. They have started the flying phase of the Poseidon Conversion Course.Royal Air Force/U.K. Department of Defense Photo
From 9–10 May 2025, a three-person contingent—Capt Darren Kirk and Capt Robert Laniel of 415 Squadron, and Capt Mike Austin (formerly 415 Squadron)—travelled from RAF Lossiemouth to Yorkshire to participate in a series of events commemorating the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Second World War service at RAF East Moor.
The two-day visit began Friday morning with a self-guided tour of the Commonwealth War Graves at Stonefall Cemetery in Harrogate. The rows of headstones, many marking the graves of young men in their late teens and early twenties, served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by so many. Two notable 415 Squadron members are laid to rest at Stonefall: Wing Commander John McNeill, DFC, and Squadron Leader Brian Edmund Wilmot.
The group then proceeded to Sutton Park, a historic estate once used as an officers’ mess during the war. By kind permission of Mr Robert Sheffield, the contingent toured the house and enjoyed lunch in the hall—one of several opportunities to connect with the local community. That afternoon, the group visited a nearby primary school, where they gave a talk on the RCAF’s role during the war and its enduring legacy. The students shared their own research on Canada and were excited to receive RCAF stickers from the visitors.
On Saturday, dressed in 1A DEUs with medals, the contingent was hosted for lunch by Mr Anthony Prowde, a Parish Councillor in Sutton-on-the-Forest, who also generously provided transportation for the day’s events. The gathering at his home offered an opportunity to meet Wing Commander Ted Edwards of RAF Leeming, Rev Steve Whiting, and other RAF veterans and supporters of the memorial.
At 14:30, the East Moor Memorial Service began at "The Pound," where the memorial stands. Capt Kirk delivered the address of welcome, speaking on the RCAF’s role in the Second World War and current cooperation with the RAF, including Canadian aircrew now training on the P-8 Poseidon in preparation for Canada’s own P-8 fleet. His remarks emphasized the continued strength of allied relationships.
The process of transitioning Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) maritime patrol crews from the CP-140M Aurora to the P-8A Poseidon is well underway in the United Kingdom.
The process of transitioning Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) maritime patrol crews from the CP-140M Aurora to the P-8A Poseidon is well underway in the United Kingdom.
Last summer, a small cadre of pilots, air combat systems officers (ACSOs) and airborne electronic sensor operators (AESOps), began the Royal Air Force (RAF) P-8A conversion course at RAF Lossiemouth in the north-east of Scotland.
The posting is part of a multi-pronged approach to prepare the members of the long-range patrol community for the incoming P-8A. In November 2023, the government finalized a US$9.5 billion deal with the U.S. government to acquire 14 aircraft, with options for up to two more, as well as associated equipment, training devices, and initial sustainment.
The first P-8A delivery is anticipated in 2026 or early 2027, followed by about one a month through 2027, giving the RCAF a relatively narrow window to convert its aircrews and maintainers, highly proficient on the 40-year-old Aurora, to the more advanced and technology-driven Poseidon.
As the Canadian Maritime Patrol Community prepares to accept the P8-A (Poseidon) a select number of aircrew are undertaking conversion training, with allies who already operate this aircraft. One group of these aircrew have begun P-8A operational training, with the RAF at RAF Lossiemouth. If you want to learn more about this activity it is highly recommended that you read the following article written by Chris Thatcher and published by Skies Magazine.
RCAF CP-140 crews begin P-8A operational training at
RAF Lossiemouth
Most of the training on the new aircraft will take place at Patrol Squadron Thirty (VP-30) in Jacksonville, Fla., the United States Navy’s schoolhouse for several maritime fleets, including the P-8A. The RCAF has space reserved in 10 training serials over the next two years, but an initial cadre of two crews, each comprised of a pilot, an ACSO and two AESOps, is already on the ground for a multi-year posting to learn the training system. The Personnel Exchange Program (PEP) is part of the foreign military sales agreement with U.S. Navy and U.S. government.
Converting an entire operational community to a new aircraft is never a straightforward process. But doing so in such a short timeframe, and while still maintaining maritime patrol missions and exercises with the Aurora, makes this an even more challenging transition. Ergo, the RCAF’s phased approach. While Jacksonville will provide the foundation for aircrew and maintenance technician training, RAF Lossiemouth is serving as the home for tactics development and operational experience with the Poseidon.