Non-Subscriber ExtractRAF withdraws helicopters from Northern Ireland |
 |
|
By Gareth Jennings
20 November 2009
A nine-ship diamond formation of Pumas marks the withdrawal of the RAF's helicopter force from Northern Ireland. (Crown Copyright)
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has withdrawn its Westland/Aerospatiale SA 330E Puma HC.1 transport helicopter force from Northern Ireland, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 18 November.
Nine helicopters from 230 'Tiger' Squadron, based at Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station [formerly RAF] Aldergrove, near Belfast, performed a diamond formation flypast as they left the station on 17 November en route to the Pumas' main operating base at RAF Benson in southern England.
230 Squadron, which has been based in Northern Ireland for over 20 years, will join 33 Squadron at RAF Benson. Over the past year, infrastructure work has been undertaken to enable the station to house both squadrons of the Puma force.