The Esmonde Building at Barkston Heath is formally opened

On Tuesday 16th January Rear Admiral Keith Blount, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff formally opened our Operational Support Building at RAF Barkston Heath. The ‘Esmonde Building’ has been refurbished as part of the UKMFTS delivery programme and will provide a space to train the next generation of Army and Navy aircrew.

The building is named after Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde who started his military career as a commissioned officer in the Royal Air Force before transferring to the Royal Navy, he was posthumously awarded the VC for valour and resolution in action against the Enemy when he had taken his small squadron of six Swordfish torpedo bombers against significant odds in order to attack elements of the German fleet in the English Channel. The granddaughter of Eugene Esmonde and her family were present on the day.

Rear Admiral Blount and relatives of Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde