By Sqn Ldr Bob Ankerson
Wednesday 22nd July 2026
St John’s Place, Lower Road, Bemerton, SP2 9NP
7.30-9.30pm
Bob Ankerson served as a navigator in the Royal Air Force for 34 years flying in Vulcans and Tornado GR1 and various ground tours. He is a graduate of the GD Aerosystems Course at RAF College Cranwell and on a ground tour between his two Tornado tours was responsible for running a variety of Tornado GR1 flight trials at Boscombe Down. On his second Tornado tour, while serving on No 17(F) Squadron at RAF Bruggen, he deployed to Saudi Arabia in January 1991 and fought in Gulf War One. On 24 January he ejected from his burning GR1, was captured by Iraqi forces and was a prisoner of war until his release into the hands of the International Red Cross on 5 March 1991. Much of his time as a PoW was spent in solitary confinement with limited food. He flew out of Iraq on 6 March 1991.
He didn’t return to front line operations following a temporary loss of flying status. After a HQ staff tour, he studied Russian to take on responsibilities involved in Arms Control Treaties and remained on the arms control unit at RAF Henlow for 11 years. He has maintained his links to the RAF family through his membership of the RAFs ex-PoW Association and as a volunteer tour guide at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln.
The talk will be focused on his time as a PoW in Gulf War 1 but will include a little bit of background and thoughts on the effect this war had on his life subsequently.
Entrance for members is included in your annual subscription. For non-members, entrance is £10 (cash, card or cheque) at the door.
There is a small car park and lay-by opposite St John’s Place on Lower Road (for approx. 20 cars). Parking is also allowed on single yellow lines on Lower Road after 6pm. Alternative car parking is available at The Clubhouse, Salisbury and South Wilts Sports Club (SP2 9NY) and a pathway connects to St John’s Place.