Merlin Airewman reaches 1000 hours

Reaching your 1000th flying hour is an achievement for any Naval Aviator but to do it whilst deployed on operations, having successfully disrupted three Pirate Action Groups and seized millions of pounds worth of illegal narcotics, will make this particular milestone all the more memorable for Culdrose based Petty Officer Leigh Williams.

Petty Officer Williams is a Merlin Aircrewman who was recently embarked onboard HMS Westminster and is a member of Helston-based 829 Naval Air Squadron. Along with the rest of HMS Westminster’s 200+ Ship’s Company, he left the UK in January for operations east of the Suez Canal to protect Britain’s interests in this strategically vital part of the world. Much of the deployment has seen the nation’s “Capital Ship” conducting maritime security operations; especially in the counter-piracy and counter-narcotics fields.

Petty Officer Williams said: “To reach 1000 hours is a great feeling. This has certainly been one of the busiest deployments I have undertaken in my time, and I have enjoyed every second of it.”

Petty Officer Williams and HMS Westminster returned to the UK earlier this week after seven months away. Now safely home he is due to leave 02 Flight and embark on a career in instruction; passing on his expertise and knowledge to the next generation of aviators to join the Royal Navy.

His achievement was marked with the traditional presentation of a cake and a bottle of champagne by Captain Nick Hine Royal Navy, Commanding Officer of HMS Westminster.