David Billinge

Enjoying a well earned retirment Photographing in the North West of England and beyond. All images are © and may not be reproduced without prior permission ;

[HMS Prince of Wales @HMSPWLS]

Maintenance complete. Store ship complete. All done whilst remaining operational at all times. The Nation's Flagship is good to go for the next phase of Operation Firecrest. Standby for Lightning ⚡️✈️🇬🇧.

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@Kaosstweaker @NotFarLeftAtAll Will the greens be removing addition form the maths curriculum list like labour whish to remove division

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

#abandoningthetripplelock SO IN AN EFFORT TO GET YOUNGER VOTERS IT IS @UKLabour ARE LOOKING AT SCRAPPING THE TRIPLE LOCK SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE YOUNGER VOTERS GET TO STATE PENSION AGE? REMOVING THE TRIPLE LOCK EFFECTS THE YOUNG AS MUCH AS THE OLD JOINED UP THINKING OR WHAT

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@WarshipsIFR @StephenJagger4 Is the PM getting a white tick and a guide Dog because he definitely can not see what is going on around him

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@Gabriel64869839 The Prime Minister should already know that

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@DailyMirror May be this could be avoided by building up are Armed Forces has any one suggested that to the PM

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@Gabriel64869839 He will be going to Moscow and coming back with a piece of paper Sounds Familiar

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@MtarfaL @BO3673 This pupils needs detention how many deadlines does he need to bring his home work and lay it on the teachers desk

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@IBallantyn @almurray They are not statesmen they do not understand the reality of DEFENCE the nearest the Prime Minister’s ever come to wearing a uniform when he plays dress up to visit an Army unit

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@K4rmaRules @stillawake Why they still struggling with DIP let alone wasting public money on a theme park

[Tom Cotterill @TomCotterillX]

Lt Cdr Grayson, 42, joined the navy as a Warfare (Pilot) Officer in September 2008 after studying for a Masters in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bath and a brief spell as an accountant with Deloitte. 

Selected for “Junglie” he gained his wings in October 2012 and served with 845 NAS flying the Sea King Mk4, which included flying in Norway, Jordan and Afghanistan, as well as embarked operations on warships.

In 2015, he moved out of the cockpit to assume the role of CHF Air Safety Officer responsible for the whole force Air Safety practices and procedures, including risk management, culture and assurance. 

Returning to the cockpit in May 2017, he attended the Qualified Helicopter Instructors course at RAF Shawbury. He remained at Shawbury on completion and instructed ab-initio helicopter pilots of all three Armed Services.

Selected for promotion to Lieutenant Commander in 2020 he assumed the role of Senior Pilot of Sixty Sqn, where he delivered advanced helicopter training to RAF and Commando Helicopter Force Support Helicopter pilots and upgraded to an ‘A categorisation’ instructor. 

On completion in Mar 2023, he assumed the role of S02 Collective Training within the Joint Aviation Command. 

The MoD said he was “an utmost professional, his leadership of the operational conversion flight was exemplary, and his loss is a huge blow to the Royal Navy, Force, and squadron.”

[Tom Cotterill @TomCotterillX]

Lt Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, grew up in Virginia Water, Surrey. She attended Imperial College London to study for a Masters in Geology, graduating in 2016.

Sporty and active from a young age, she competed for her regional Netball team, and represented England in Junior Lacrosse and Pole Vault. At university she joined the Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron where she discovered a passion for flying. 

On completion of her MSci, she became a geologist for British Petroleum for 2 years prior to commissioning into the Royal Navy in 2019. She represented Great Britain at the European Age Group Triathlon Championships in September 2021 whilst also completing Elementary Flying Training. 

During a break in flying training, she attended the All Arms Commando Course, becoming Britain's only serving female Royal Navy Commando. Following this achievement, she worked as a Watch Keeper on Op ISOTROPE, the UK military's response to the Channel Migrant Crisis.

Her team were responsible for coordinating naval assets to find, secure and recover vessels with the primary aim of preventing loss of life. 

The MoD said: “Her death is a huge loss to the Royal Navy, Force, and Squadron. She has been an inspiration to countless people, particularly young women, encouraging them to achieve their dreams and it is clear that she had a very bright future as a naval aviator ahead of her.

[Tom Cotterill @TomCotterillX]

PO Owen Green, 24, joined the Royal Navy in January 2022, beginning initial training at HMS Raleigh.  

The Navy said he demonstrated a consistently high level of professional competence and dedication throughout his career as an Aircrewman with 845 Naval Air Squadron.

Following initial training at HMS Raleigh and advanced aircrew courses at RNAS Yeovilton, RAF Shawbury, and RNAS Culdrose, he rapidly progressed through the ranks, achieving Leading Hand status in September 2025 before achieving his Aircrewman Wings in June 2025.  

He successfully completed his embarked aviation qualification aboard HNLMS Johan De Witt in October 2025, “reflecting his operational readiness and adaptability in multinational environments”.

He played a key role in major exercises such as Hades Warrior and Wyvern Tor 26, contributing to force tactical validation and operational preparedness.

His deployment on Operation Clockwork 26 was particularly notable; he accumulated the highest-flying hours among his peers in demanding Arctic conditions, earning his Arctic environmental qualification and establishing himself as one of the squadron’s most experienced operators in extreme environments.

The MoD said: “Throughout his service, he consistently demonstrated technical proficiency, operational effectiveness, and a commitment to continuous professional development, making a significant contribution to squadron capability and mission success.”

[Tom Cotterill @TomCotterillX]

BREAKING: The Ministry of Defence has revealed the names of the three naval aviators killed in yesterday’s tragic Merlin helicopter crash.

Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson and Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher of 846 Naval Air Squadron, and Petty Officer Owen Green of 845 Naval Air Squadron, died in Devon during routine training activity.

Commander of Joint Aviation Command, Air Vice-Marshal Lee Turner RAF, said:  “The loss of three deeply capable and professional aviators during the tragic incident yesterday is the cause of profound sadness across the Joint Aviation Command and the Commando Helicopter Force in particular.  

“They will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with the families and all those affected.”

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@anglopjdst Oh my BODMAS! that will certianley cock things up how You can not remove division from maths its one of the key principles

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@NavyLookout @MtarfaL @TomCotterillX Why is the Kier Starmer Wearing British Army Uniform?

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@ArmchairAdml The Prime Minister is a a stooge in terms of the Defence Investment Plan he should give the order to make it so but he is weak and he can not control his own government He is more interested in Digital ID and wasting money on idiotic programme which will not benefit the UK

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@Zaphod2042 @Keir_Starmer If @UKLabour stopped spend digital ID implementing so called unified data systems for nhs AI etc and spent the money on something that actually matters and will make a difference I have a passport a NI card and a tax ID surely that is enough stop wasting money

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@IBallantyn well there is a surprise just some time before 2030

[UK Defence Journal @UKDefJournal]

The government has said it is withholding the delivery date for the Small Diameter Bomb II, procured as an interim standoff capability for the F-35 Lightning fleet. Click image for more.
https://t.co/WdYVlAW9ry

[David Billinge @DavidBillinge]

@ValkStrategy @gregbagwell I have made numerous references to the fact that the last Eleven aircraft that where delivered are not cleared for ops and are limited to training as are all TR-3 / Block 4 aircraft but this will also apply across the whole TR3 / Block 4 deliveries Not a Happy State of affairs