SEA KING Helicopter drops into Wesley

Wesley College in South Perth just about came to a standstill on Wednesday morning when Wesley Old Boy, Sands Skinner, returned to his old school by dropping onto the oval in a Royal Australian Navy Sea King helicopter!

If this helicopter could talk, it would have a lot of stories to tell from its thirty odd year history. It has been deployed to just about every area of confrontation in the world, as well as rescue efforts in the recent Queensland floods.

This visit also afforded Wesley Chaplain, Reverend Allan Mackenzie, an opportunity to get back into the helicopter’s pilot seat, albeit on the ground. In 1971 and 1972 Reverend Mackenzie served in 817 Squadron operating from HMAS Melbourne (II) when he was seconded from the Royal Navy.

Culdrose sailors take giant steps

A Sea King from 771 Naval Air Squadron lifts a metal stairway out of the English Channel – one of the more unusual ‘rescue’ missions the Ace of Clubs have been called to.

The steps in question lead from the top of rocks at Porth Kerris, near St Keverne on the Lizard peninsula, down to the sea.

They were used by divers from all three Services – the imaginatively-titled Porth Kerris building nearby, which is looked after by Culdrose staff, serves as the frogmen’s dedicated ‘clubhouse’.

Winter storms ripped the stairway off the rock and tossed them into the sea – prompting a two-stage rescue operation.

First a team from HMS Seahawk Sub Aqua Club moved the steps into deeper waters – where they’d receive less of a battering from the waves – by borrowing some special lifting bags from fellow divers in Falmouth.

817 SQUADRON TO FAREWELL GOOLWA

In the year of their decommissioning, three Sea King helicopters and personnel from 817 Squadron will visit their adopted hometown of Goolwa, South Australia this weekend.

About 75 personnel will conduct their final Freedom of Entry (FOE) Parade through the River Port town on Saturday 26 February 2011, from 1025. This will be their third FOE since 1987 when the Squadron conducted their first one.

817 Squadron Commanding Officer, Commander Paul Moggach said the opportunity to visit Goolwa one last time before the Sea Kings were finally retired from service, was an honour for the personnel of the Squadron.