Standing proudly beside the road outside Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose is a veteran Sea King helicopter which took part in one of the most shocking disasters in Cornwall’s history.

The former 771 Naval Air Squadron search and rescue helicopter, bearing the tail number XV673, was the first aircraft to fly over Boscastle, the north Cornwall village devastated in ferocious flash floods 16 years ago.

The Royal Navy helicopter, which retired from service four years ago, stands beside the road to the air station as a reminder of the dedication and bravery of the squadron’s ground and air crews.

In a poignant memorial, the helicopter also contains the names of every member of the squadron’s last duty watch – all the engineers and aircrews signed the door of the locker door behind the pilot’s seat, affectionately known as ‘the broom cupboard’.

A spokesman for Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose said: “This Royal Navy aircraft has so much history and a huge amount of emotion attached to it. It has served Cornwall for many years and been instrumental in saving lives across the south west.

“In its final resting place, it proudly serves as an important reminder of the history of the squadron the years of search and rescue at RNAS Culdrose.”

The helicopter was built as a HAS Mark 1 and on completion of flight testing in September 1970, XV673 was delivered to the Naval Air Support Unit at RNAS Culdrose.

In April 1975, the aircraft transferring to 826 Naval Air Squadron until December 1976, when it was taken to the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard to be converted to mark 2. Following upgrade work, XV673 returned to Culdrose joining 824 Naval Air Squadron, as well as working with 819 and 706 squadrons, until March 1982 when it converted to a mark 5.

The aircraft returned to Culdrose and continued to serve with these squadrons until its final transfer to 771 Naval Air Squadron in November 2005 to begin the final phase of its service life in a search and rescue role.

The most significant rescue for the aircraft was the flooding on Monday, 16 August 2004 in the villages of Boscastle and Crackington Haven. The villages suffered extensive damage after flash floods caused by an exceptional amount of rain hit them that afternoon. XV673 was the first duty aircraft on scene, lifting many residents to safety from the roofs of their homes.

On January 1, 2016, The Royal Navy was stood down from search and rescue and the role transferred to the Maritime Coastguard Agency. It was decided that the significant work of 771 Naval Air Squadron could not go unmarked and XV673 was chosen to be preserved and placed on display as a second gate guard at Culdrose.

After several months of refurbishment, the airframe emerged looking like new and began its final journey across the airfield to a specially prepared base opposite Helston Community Hospital.