Waving Goodbye to a 750 Legend
Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose has waved goodbye to a popular and long-serving aviator who has left the Fleet Air Arm after almost 40 years of dedicated service. Lieutenant Commander ‘Danny’ Daniell recently left the Royal Navy after 39 years of dedicated service. During his career, he was a popular figure within the Fleet Air Arm and was instrumental in managing the upgrade of the ‘flying classrooms’ at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose.
Lieutenant Commander Daniell joined the Royal Navy in 1976 as a Junior Seaman Operator 2nd Class before joining the Fleet Air Arm and gaining his Wings in 1985. A long and varied aviation career followed, with highlights including Balkan deployments with 849 Naval Air Squadron, being appointed as the Senior Observer of 750 Naval Air Squadron and then taking command of Basic Observer Training when he became Commanding Officer of 750 Squadron. Fittingly, one of his last roles was as the Culdrose Military Flying Training Transition Officer where he was responsible for managing the change from the trusty Jetstream aircraft to the capable and modern Avenger, taking Observer training into the future.
The Squadron ‘dined him out’ with family, friends and colleagues on his final day. Lieutenant Commander Daniell said of his experiences at Culdrose: "I've enjoyed every minute of the last 39 years, which have been full of exciting opportunities and a lot of fun. Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose has had a special place in these years and the opportunity to Command a Naval Air Squadron based at the Air Station meant a lot to me and my family. My work on the Jetstream replacement programme and the introduction of the King Air Avenger on 750 Naval Air Squadron was both challenging and rewarding, and seeing the aircraft flying overhead will be a lasting reminder of my time in the Fleet Air Arm".
A family man, with four children and three grandchildren, Danny intends to stay inCornwalland is due to become the Operations Manager for Active Plus.