Fincastle Trophy
# 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.

## 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

* RAF 17 Victories
* RAAF 13 Victories
* RCAF 8 Victories
* RNZAF 8 Victories

### 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 |

    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 (tied) |
| 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

* Canadian Air Forces article
* 2005 competition
* 2006 competition
* Fincastle Committee
