Culdrose welcomed back an 'old friend' today (Wednesday) with a visit from a retired Royal Navy helicopter.
RNAS Culdrose welcomed the return of a Sea King helicopter, which was retired from service in 2018 after almost 50 years.
The iconic aircraft – which came from HeliOPS in Portland - is in Cornwall to take part in a flypast on Thursday to mark the 50th anniversary of a crash on the Lizard Peninsula.
Four aviators who lost their lives after their helicopter crashed near Beagle Point near Coverack on March 21, 1974, will be remembered tomorrow at a special service.
The visit of the Sea Kings today caused quite a stir among personnel at Culdrose.
A spokesperson from RNAS Culdrose explained: “RNAS Culdrose welcomed back an old friend today - the familiar sight of a Sea King helicopter.
"The veteran aircraft turned quite a few heads around the airfield and inspired a fair few Sea King-based dits [military word for stories].”
On September 26, 2018, three sea kings were flown out of Culdrose for the last time, with one being transported by road.
Before this, the aircraft had played a vital role in many operational conflicts including the Falklands, Iraq, the Balkans, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan.
It was also used for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue missions, carrying Royal Marines Commandos into action and provided airborne early warning and intelligence to the Fleet and ground forces.
The Sea King Mk7 ASaC helicopters – known throughout the Royal Navy as 'Baggers' – had been the "eyes in the sky" of the Navy since 2002.
They owed their nickname due to the distinctive inflatable black sack or bag on the side of each helicopter.
Although it may have looked a rather cumbersome piece of kit from the outside, inside that sack was a radar capable of remarkably accurate detection of surface and air targets, which was cutting edge for its time.
Once enemy units were detected, the helicopter’s observers could direct friendly air, sea or ground forces to intercept – as they did with devastating effect during the fighting in southern Iraq in 2003.
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