Recorded interview with Flight Lieutenant Ian Shiells, 27 February 2026

Ian Shiells trained as a workshop technician before commissioning as an officer. As a navigator he flew in Phantom aircraft, Puma helicopters, Hercules transport aircraft and Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft.

Ian Shiells joined the RAF as a workshop technician and served with the Joint Air Transport Establishment at RAF Brize Norton before commissioning as an officer and training as a navigator. He remembers flying in Phantom aircraft, Puma helicopters in Northern Ireland, Hercules transport aircraft with 47 Squadron at Lyneham, including time in Australia and the 1991 Gulf War, and Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft of 120 Squadron at RAF Kinloss.