Junglie Dinner report
Captain Matt Briers Royal Navy, Commanding Officer Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) recently hosted a black-tie, dinner event at RNAS Yeovilton to honour Junglie veterans of the Falklands conflict.
A group of 50 veterans including 30 who served in the Falklands were joined by 90 officers of the current community attended the dinner. Amongst them was Air Marshall Pulford who was a 23 year old Flight Lieutenant on exchange from the RAF with 845 Naval Air Squadron during the conflict.
Before the dinner, Captain Matt Briers said, "This significant occasion is really focused on all those Junglie aviators who served in the Falklands,"
“As part of our 30th anniversary commemorations the evening will enable us to honour some of the extremely brave and resourceful naval aviators who flew with great distinction in incredibly challenging terrain and atrocious weather conditions. We also remembered the 8 servicemen from CHF and 3 rd Brigade Air Squadron who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country.”
On completion of the dinner Lt Harry Benson RN (Rtd) provided the after dinner speech and recounted some gripping, hair raising and often humorous accounts of the helicopter war in the Falklands that are now meticulously detailed in his recently released book ‘Scram’.
Sitting Front Row L to R
Cdre M Clapp CB (Amphibious Task Force Commander and Commodore Amphibious Warfare during the Falklands)
Admiral T Cunningham - Chief of Staff (Aviation and Carriers) and Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm.
Capt M Briers – Commanding Officer Commando Helicopter Force
Air Marshall A Pulford CBE - Deputy Commander Capability and Air Member for Personnel & Capability
Cdre M Westwood Chief of Staff Naval Aviation Policy
Cdre P Chivers OBE Commanding Officer RNAS Yeovilton
Standing Back Row L to R
Lt Cdr Ronnie Clayton RN (Rtd) (Flew with 848 NAS in Malaya and during Suez campaign)
Mrs Suthers daughter of late Cdr Jim Suthers DSC, DSO Swordfish pilot and helicopter pilot who served in Malaya
Capt N Blackman OBE
Lt Harry Benson RN (Rtd)