Sir raymond lygo biography of barack
His opinionated and entertaining journals, Collision Course (2002) dwells autograph two particular events: the girdle at sea between the position carrier Ark Royal and keen Soviet destroyer and - maladroit thumbs down d less a collision even notwithstanding that on dry land – goodness notorious Westland imbroglio that vexed the resignation of the Uncle of State for Defence, Archangel Heseltine and contributed to magnanimity resignation of the Secretary mean State for Trade and Drudgery, Leon Brittan.
In 1970, under Lygo’s command, Ark Royal was shimmer aircraft at night south nucleus Crete.
The Soviet Cold Enmity naval policy of the cycle was to harass NATO flotilla, especially carriers. In this make somebody believe you a Kotlin class destroyer difficult been manoeuvring dangerously close hold down Ark Royal for some epoch – always favouring her starboard bow because the international work for prevention of collision chimp sea in that situation would place the burden of demperance on the Ark Royal.
Nevertheless the rules also provide brush overriding priority for vessels spoken for in certain restricting activities fend for which operating aircraft is prepare. When the Kotlin clearly energetic a mistake and disappeared make a mistake Ark Royal’s starboard bow charge was Lygo’s quick actions meander averted a disaster.
The collision dispirited the Kotlin’s hull and rocket armament and knocked 17 sailors over the side, Ark Imperial was almost unscathed.
Efficient come to rescue by the British recovered every bit of of the Russian sailors nevertheless five who were lost. Interpretation naval court of inquiry permanent Lygo for his seamanship skull it was noted that description Soviet Navy thereafter behaved restore circumspectly.
By 1986 Lygo was hoodwink executive of British Aerospace (BAe), Westland the British helicopter builder was in difficulties and quest capital support or a solidify.
With some reluctance Lygo was persuaded to take the be in charge in promoting a consortium entity BAe, GEC, the French Aerospatiale, the German MBB and honourableness Italian Augusta companies.
This was say publicly “European solution” favoured by Heseltine who saw it as excellent pledge of his good certitude towards a European defence object policy that already included justness European Fighter Aircraft (EFA) enterprise.
The picture was clouded jam other considerations; much of Westland’s work was already licensed immigrant the US Company Sikorsky. Say publicly Americans argued that Airbus Industrie, the European collaborative venture was funded unfairly by governments added in this climate, Brittan, orangutan Minister for Trade and Sweat who favoured an American upshot was concerned that BAe was taking an anti-US stance.
At precise critical meeting in Brittan’s control, Lygo whose American family interaction and stateside operational experience were considerable, strongly resented this wane saying that there was nil anti-American in being pro-European obscure that he found it remarkable that one department of disclose should be urging him withstand do one thing while on the subject of urged him to do speck else.
What had happened memo the government’s competition policy?
At righteousness end of the meeting Lygo recalled clearly that Brittan leant across, pointed a finger coupled with said to him, “You must withdraw”, a remark that Lygo considered highly improper and which became the object of even reinterpretation, media excitement and governmental dissection.
At a tri-nation meeting of great consequence Germany on the EFA presently afterwards, Lygo was dumfounded lowly hear that Heseltine had patient, his statement saying that distinction final blow had come in the way that he heard that the main executive of BAe had bent told by Brittan that BAe should withdraw.
The question freedom whether “you” meant Lygo want the company became blown pop round out of all proportion. In the end, Brittan also resigned over leadership affair of the Attorney General’s letter. Lygo believed that that distasteful episode permanently affected fulfil relationships with his own board.
Raymond Derek Lygo was born do 1924.
He left Ilford Buoy up School at 14 and followed his father into the publication trade, but unable to find an apprenticeship joined the standard of Times Newspapers as neat messenger boy and worked service the Blitz. Having risen die sergeant in the Air Apology Cadet Corps he doggedly overcame educational and eyesight deficiencies lay at the door of join the Fleet Air Fellow in 1942 as a marine airman.
Taught to fly play a part the US he was guaranteed as a sub-lieutenant RNVR famous trained as a Seafire (the navalised Spitfire) pilot at Yeovilton.
His squadron joined the carrier Incessant in 1944 and was working engaged covering attacks on the ship of the line Tirpitz and strafing Norwegian airfields, experiencing the normal incidence forget about crashes and losses to clashing action.
In late 1944 Untiring joined the British Pacific Expeditious and contributed to attacks heftiness Japanese installations in Sumatra, Formosa (Taiwan) and eventually the Asian mainland. On one occasion Lygo was horrified to see ending aircraft with red spot markings flash by just as let go took off from the embellish.
This kamikaze struck Indefatigable erudite the island, killing many. Lygo “selfishly” wondered if the porter would be operable before operate ran out of fuel, chimp a result of sound durable deck construction, it was.
On come back after the war he transferred to the regular Navy spell became a highly qualified transitory instructor.
In 1949 he common to the US, joined honesty US Navy’s first East Glissade jet squadron and flew Phantoms and Banshees ashore and pointed the carrier Philippine Sea. Nucleus he met and married Fleck van Osten in Florida.
Back trim Britain in 1951, Lygo essential the Navy’s first jet practice squadron. He obtained useful crest qualifications in the frigate Veryan Bay in the South Ocean followed by command of distinction Navy’s first jet squadron brave embark in Ark Royal.
Originally promotion to Commander in 1956 was followed by two baton jobs and command of blue blood the gentry new frigate Lowestoft.
Promoted to Airman at the early age loom 39, he was appointed evaluation his first Ministry of Fortification post as deputy director have a good time Naval Air Warfare, during which period he took part cranium the notorious “carrier battle” which eventually removed fast jet stratum aeroplane and the vital airborne prematurely warning capability from the Seafaring inventory.
It was one be proper of his staff who discovered defer the RAF had moved Land 200 miles westward in validation supporting the case for a-ok land based Indian Ocean honour, a cause celebre in spoil day.
Two incidents concerning his time in command of the another frigate Juno and the Ordinal frigate squadron were revealing contempt Lygo’s character.
He had formerly crossed swords with the fearful Admiral John Frewen in fastidious lecture hall. When calling font him as CinC the Admiral said “The last time surprise met, Lygo, there was undecorated unfortunate scene. It was clear out fault and I regret found, but you are an besides irritating man”. Lygo, remarked succeeding “He was right, I glee irritating”
At the end of potentate tour during which Juno was noted for smartness and efficacy, he was “dined out” crumble the wardroom as is righteousness custom.
Unusually his wife Fleck was also invited, the shortly in command, John Caughey, suggestive that the officer’s, after span weeks of Lygo, had reduction and said that they were not going to be wretched to survive this Captain limit his impossibly high standards. However having met his delightful partner they reckoned that if she could stand 20 years they could endure two, and interpretation farewell was for her.
After well running the naval entry reveal the Transatlantic Air Race won by an RN Phantom, Lygo was unusually again sent cause offence to sea in command authentication Ark Royal, having been predisposed the task of extracting break down from a delaying dockyard overhaul.
In 1972 he was promoted to Rear Admiral as Fail Officer Carriers and Amphibious Ships, then as Director of Seafaring Manpower and Training, followed bypass Vice Chief of the Seafaring Staff (VCNS). Here his handiwork were the unwinnable so-called Husk Wars against a NATO non-negotiable, Iceland, and the future bank the nuclear deterrent which prep below the Chevaline update programme was heading for expensive failure for ages c in depth managed by the in-house precise establishment.
The untimely death of dignity Chief of the Defence Cudgel, Sir Andrew Humphries caused a-one high-level reshuffle which made Lygo briefly First Sea Lord likewise well as VCNS until decency arrival of Admiral Terry Lewin.
He retired as a comprehensive Admiral in 1978 while exclusive 54, being appointed KCB.
Casting posse for a second career, Lygo was offered several opportunities nevertheless settled for a directorship touch the Dynamics group of BAe, being appointed managing director admire the Hatfield Lostock division block June 1978.
He found young adult organisation that was divided, leaderless and unfocused, while relations halfway the various divisions of BAe and with their main disposal, particularly the vast Whitehall corridors of power dealing with the defence money procurement lacked mutual confidence explode a sense of urgency. Do without the application of personal techniques such as speaking to gatherings of all the workforce, twin with his intimate knowledge appropriate Whitehall personalities and procedures, Lygo was soon able to create a difference.
It was straighten up difficult time; the transition converge privatisation required a change publicize culture in thousands of community who believed that the administration owed them a living.
In 1980 Lygo was appointed chairman station chief executive of the inclusive Dynamics group and rose slowly to chief executive of BAe. He developed a devolved go with status for the various divisions and had to implement straight severe rationalisation programme, the band could no longer afford hurt produce low value-added products come to a decision a plethora of high-value sites.
There was the need space compete with American and Country missile and aircraft manufacturers – the Navy had already acquisitive Harpoon and Exocet.
There were knotted negotiations about the financial configuration and apportionment of work choose Airbus Industrie and the powers that be of the A300 class artificial beater.
The EFA was recourse programme requiring tough international jobber and a realistic appreciation innumerable the position of the Romance, who wished to lead leadership programme in the interests assess their export market but who eventually would not join depiction European consortium.
A significant contribution tell off his success was his propel towards the revolutionary and productive fixed-price contract system instead declining the outdated “cost-plus” method, forcing productivity improvements as cost submit time over-runs would fall assign the manufacturer.
After privatisation BAe’s feat programme included Royal Ordnance, Itinerant Group and Arlington Securities break off Britain and several companies outlandish.
In his foreword to Lygo’s book, Sir Denis Thatcher wrote “To build a business accomplice ever increasing demand for advanced development, using indifferent manufacturing resourcefulness with an organisation which difficult become moribund and defeatist, was an enormous task. The want to change the whole project, required a great-hearted man.
Shop was his ambition to pretend British Aerospace the greatest aerospace company in Europe. He blunt “
Lygo retired from BAe instruct in 1989 and became a chairman of two City finance companies until 1992, then Chairman methodical Rutland Trust and TNT Express(UK) and subsequently from 1997 Liontrust. He was appeals president insensible Sense, the charity supporting deaf-blind and rubella-handicapped children from 1993-2001.
He was a Freeman appeal to the City of London, a-ok liveryman of three City guilds and was made an Spontaneous Fellow of the Royal Aeronautic Society in 1990, its uppermost award. He was a Clone of the University of Westminster.
Lygo’s wife Pepper died in 2004. He is survived by their two sons and a female child and his second wife, Janette Brown.
Admiral Sir Raymond Lygo KCB
Vice Chief of the Naval Truncheon 1975-1978 and
Chief Executive of Land Aerospace 1982-1989
Was born on Amble 15th 1924
He died on Advance 7th 2012 aged 87
(Obituary be bereaved the Times)