Prince William just one of the boys says RAF
Rachael Brown reported this story on Friday, April 15, 2011
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EMILY BOURKE: He's the heir to the throne and just weeks away from a much hyped wedding ceremony. But he's also still just one of the boys at the RAF base in Anglesea, North Wales as London correspondent Rachael Brown reports.
RACHAEL BROWN: Off the coast of the sleepy island of Anglesea lies the often rough Irish Sea, a trap for sailors, kite surfers or children playing in inflatable boats. And many of the island's mountains, today blanketed in fog, can disorientate hikers.
Now part of the local search and rescue team is Prince William who completed his training in September.
Since then he's helped on 15 operations or "scrambles" as the lingo goes.
His squadron leader Spike Wright is the only man the future king calls boss.
SPIKE WRIGHT: As an aviator I think you know he shows a very quick ability to pick things up.
He is very focused. If you ask something of him he makes sure that what he provides to you in the flying environment is spot on, it's first class. And so I think he has that eye for detail.
RACHAEL BROWN: He says he doesn't give Flight Lieutenant Wales an easy ride.
SPIKE WRIGHT: It's vitally important we don't treat him differently. That's what he is trying to get from this operational tour is a look, a view and an experience of the normal life of a military person.
RACHAEL BROWN: The crews here at the base say some of those rescued are quite chuffed to later learn in hospital they've been saved by a prince.
Sergeant Keith Best was on a recent operation with Flight Lieutenant Wales.
KEITH BEST: There was this particularly case up in the mountains of Snowdonia where the cloud was really down on the ground, horrendous weather conditions.
Really we were relying on Prince William to navigate us through that cloud. Really fine picking our way through to get to a guy who was having a heart attack where time was really of the essence which we got to, recovered him on board.
(Humming sound)
RACHAEL BROWN: The sound you can hear is the Sea King flight simulator where Flight Lieutenant Wales completed much of his training.
In here anything from bad weather to pressure drops to mechanical faults was thrown at him.
His trainer Wayne Taylor says the work may just stand him in good stead for the broader navigational work his future holds.
WAYNE TAYLOR: Just the fact that he's mixing with normal people you know and this is what most people in the military anyway do. And he has got a personal interface with that and hopefully he'll take that forward.
RACHAEL BROWN: After the wedding the Prince and his new bride will be living on Anglesea so Flight Lieutenant Wales is closer to his day job and so the newlyweds can enjoy some relative normalcy.
His flight commander Spike Wright says the island's locals have already adopted them.
SPIKE WRIGHT: He's been welcomed with arms open by all the locals that have met him so far.
Recently he was involved in a life boat dedication and the crowds were there from six o'clock in the morning to see him and Kate and he was welcomed by them all.
And they both sang the Welsh national anthem fluently which is quite a task I can promise you if you are not a Welsh speaker.
RACHAEL BROWN: Can you do it Spike?
SPIKE WRIGHT: I could but not just yet. I would hate to do it now for you.
RACHAEL BROWN: The Prince's fellow crew members have put in leave passes to attend the wedding and are working on their outfits.
SPIKE WRIGHT: My choice is easy. It is going to be a little number in blue.
RACHAEL BROWN: That little number in blue is of course the number one RAF uniform.
Hopefully it's quiet here in Anglesea come the end of April because this 20 strong search and rescue crew will all be at Westminster Abbey.
This is Rachael Brown in Anglesea, Wales, reporting for The World Today.
