RNAS Culdrose waved goodbye to its iconic search and rescue Sea King helicopters for the last time on Monday.

During the late morning, the final three aircraft flew from the Helston base to HMS Sultan in Hampshire.

The much-loved red and grey aircraft have flown from RNAS Culdrose since 1988, saving thousands of lives in some of the most hazardous conditions imaginable.

After 42 years of rescue operations from Helston, conducting over 9,000 jobs and saving over 15,000 lives, 771 Naval Air Squadron was formally decommissioned at the end of last month.

At 15 minutes’ notice by day and 45 minutes by night, the squadron provided a lifesaving service within a 200 nautical mile radius of Culdrose.

They have carried out more than 200 rescues every year, ranging from plucking sailors from sinking ships, to airlifting casualties of road traffic accidents to hospital and helping the police carry out aerial searches for missing people.

Their assistance to mariners in distress has gained them numerous awards and bravery medals, for rescues including the Fastnet race of 1979, the Boscastle Floods of 2004, the MSC Napoli in January 2007 and more recently aiding the crews of the stricken ‘Panamera’ and ‘La Sillon’.

RNAS Culdrose will, however, continue to train crews in search and rescue as an essential skill for aviation at sea.