Sat, Dec 17, 2011
Helos Retired Following 35 Years Of Service With The Royal
Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy’s Sea King helicopters and 817
Squadron have made their final flight as part of a decommissioning
ceremony held at HMAS Albatross in Nowra Friday. The Minister for
Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon and Chief of Navy,
VADM Ray Griggs, were on hand to welcome the final flight and thank
the 817 Squadron who operated the helicopters.
"Australia’s Sea Kings are being retired after a
remarkable 35 years serving in times of conflict, peacekeeping,
natural disaster, search and rescue and national
celebration,” Mr Snowdon said. “In particular I’d
like to thank the men and women of the 817 Squadron past and
present, who have served with distinction over the past 48 years.
They have lived up to their motto ‘Aude Facere’ –
‘Dare To Do’, and have always served Australia with
professionalism and skill. They were there for the 1994 bushfires,
the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, the 2001 North NSW floods and
just this year in the South East Queensland flood relief. I also
pay tribute to those who have lost their lives while serving in 817
Squadron, their service and sacrifice must never be
forgotten,” he said.
The Australian Government announced in June, that Sea King shark
07 would be included in the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Nowra, to
preserve the Sea Kings’ heritage for future generations.
Commander Paul Moggach, the 817 Squadron’s Commanding
Officer, led a formation leaving from the Naval Air Station at HMAS
Albatross yesterday. The formation made a flying visit up the NSW
coast, arriving over Sydney for a flight up Sydney Harbour,
followed by a flyover the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs described the ceremony as
a fitting end to a remarkable career for both the personnel of 817
Squadron and the Sea King Helicopters. “The Sea Kings are
commonly known as the Mack trucks of the skies. All who have
maintained and operated them feel honoured to have done so,”
Vice Admiral Griggs said. “After 35 years, it is time to look
to the future with a new generation of aircraft. The personnel of
817 Squadron are first rate members of the Navy. They’ll now
apply their experience, commitment and expertise in other roles
throughout the Navy and ADF Aviation, and I wish them well in their
new roles,” said Vice Admiral Griggs. (Images provided by the
Royal Australian Navy)
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