A former Addington High School student has just returned from Afghanistan where he was responsible for 12,500 aircraft landing and taking off each month.
Squadron Leader Steve Smith, from New Addington, has just completed a tour of Afghanistan as the senior air traffic control officer at Bastion Airfield in Helmand Province.
He joined the RAF in 1988, and is usually based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire. He was posted to Afghanistan in July when the heat of the day can soar to 50C but despite the harsh conditions, he was still able to run a marathon.
Sqn Ldr Smith said: "It was a really tough race, especially with the dust that gets lifted here, and, because of the long hours we work, having very little time to train. But I was incredibly pleased to be one of only 290 people who have run a marathon in Afghanistan.”
The marathon was organised by the US Marine Corps (USMC) who are also stationed at Camp Bastion, and followed a route around the airfield and camps, which house the British, USMC and thousands of other coalition troops. His parents, Bob and Sue Witham, still live in New Addington, where he attended Addington High School and John Ruskin College.
Sqn Ldr Smith and his team have been responsible for all the aircraft movements in and out of Bastion Airfield, which is busier than Luton International Airport.
He said: "It’s been really challenging, especially with the heat and dust in the height of summer, but every day has been different and really very busy. The time has gone incredibly quickly.
“I am particular proud of the team I have worked with, because we have taken charge of the airspace around the airfield and I believe it is a safer operating environment than when I arrived.
“I've had some tough tasks, I will particularly remember launching medical evacuation helicopters in the middle of a sandstorm and then guiding them back with the casualties on board. At times like that, you really feel like you are achieving something to help the guys on the ground."
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