Fincastle Trophy

The International Fincastle Competition is a contest of skills between the air forces of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. During the competition, crews compete in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence and surveillance gathering.

Fincastle Trophy

Origins

The Fincastle Competition began in 1960 when Mr. and Mrs. Aird-Whyte presented a silver tray, (now the Fincastle Trophy), in memory of their son Sergeant Nairn Fincastle Aird-Whyte, (who was killed in action in 1943 while flying with the RAF Coastal Command). Initially the competition was for accuracy in depth charge bombing showcase but it has evolved over the years to reflect the new duties of today's air forces. The competition fosters relations among the four participating nations while encouraging learning and skill sharing.

Results

[1]

ASW Bombing Competition
Crews flew over their own home waters and sent results to an Adjudicating Committee in London for the selection of the winner.
Year Winner
1961 RAAF
1962 RCAF
1963 RAAF
1964 RNZAF
1965 RCAF
1966 RAF
1967 RAAF
1968 RAAF
1969 RAAF

ASW Competition
Format as per previous competition (in home waters), but using a wider range of ASW skills to evaluate the winner.
Year Winner
1970 RAF

ASW Competition
From 1971, the competition sorties were flown from a common venue, exercising ASW skills in a set format gradually evolved over the years, but kept to a broadly consistent focus.
Year Venue Host Submarine Winner
1971 Comox CF HMCS Rainbow RAAF/cf
1972 Tengah RAF HMAS Onslow RAAF
1973 Edinburgh RAAF HMAS Oxley RAF
1974 Whenuapai RNZAF HMAS Oxley RAF
1975 Greenwood CF HMCS Okanagan RAF/RAAF
1976 Kinloss RAF HMS Ocelot RAF
1977 Edinburgh RAAF HMAS Otway RAF
1978 Whenuapai RNZAF HMAS Otway RAAF
1979 Greenwood CF HMCS Okanagan RAAF
1980 St Mawgan RAF HMS Ocelot RNZAF
1981 Edinburgh RAAF HMAS Oxley CF
1982 Whenuapai RNZAF HMAS Otama RNZAF
1983 Greenwood CF HMCS Okanagan RNZAF
1984 Edinburgh RAAF HMAS Oxley RAF
1985 Kinloss RAF HMS Conqueror CF
1986 Edinburgh RAAF HMAS Onslow RAF
1987 Greenwood CF HMCS Okanagan RAF
1988 Edinburgh RAAF HMAS Onslow RNZAF
1989 St Mawgan RAF HMS Conqueror CF
1990 Greenwood CF HMS Onyx RAF
1991 Edinburgh RAAF HMAS Ovens RNZAF
1992 Kinloss RAF HMS Superb RAF
1993 Greenwood CF HMCS Ojibwa RAAF
1994 Edinburgh RAAF HMAS Onslow RAAF
1995 Kinloss RAF HMS Torbay CF
1996 Whenuapai RNZAF HMAS Onslow CF
1997 Comox CF HMCS Ojibwa RNZAF
1998 Edinburgh RAAF HMAS Onslow RNZAF
1999 Kinloss RAF HMS Trenchant RAF
2000 No Competition - - -
2001 Edinburgh RAAF HMAS Waller RAF
2002 Kinloss RAF HMS Trafalgar RAF
2003 Pearce RAAF HMAS Sheean RAAF
2004 No Competition - - -
2005 Whenuapai RNZAF HMAS Farncomb RAF

MPA ISTAR Competition
Format was changed to focus on a broader range of Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions, as well as retaining an ASW component. Rather than a dedicated submarine, the competition is held in conjunction with a major exercise.
Year Venue Host Exercise Winner
2006 Kinloss RAF NEPTUNE WARRIOR RAF
2008 Comox CF MAPLE GUARDIAN RAF

Fincastle Patches
  • Fincastle 1984
  • Fincastle 1985
  • Fincastle 1987
  • Fincastle 1990
  • Fincastle 1992
  • Fincastle 1994
  • Fincastle 1997
  • Fincastle 1998
  • Fincastle 2001
  • Fincastle 2006

Maintenance Trophy

In 1996 Lockheed Martin sponsored the first Fincastle Maintenance Trophy. According to the Canadian Air Force, competition for the Maintenance Trophy "evaluates each team’s skills with maintenance, support, and flight line operations."

Sources

References
  1. "Fincastle Implementation Guide" (PDF). Fincastle International Committee Chairman. 2007-04-23. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
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