815 Naval Air Squadron Recognises Excellence

Royal Naval Air Squadron recognises the outstanding contribution its personnel have made in the last 12 months. 

Commander (Cdr) Jamieson Stride welcomed 815 NAS personnel, families and friends to their Awards Ceremony, hangar door open and the buzz of an active station with the Royal Navy's newest helicopter, Wildcat on this frontline squadron.  

Cdr Stride welcomed everyone to the very personal gathering and said; 

"This is a hugely important event and very special to us and the opportunity to recognise the outstanding achievements of those standing in front of us, those on global operations and allows us to remember those that have gone before us.  

The next months will see great strategic change not just where but how as we see the first deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth and Wildcat HMA2 as part of that force protection."  

Present at the ceremony was Pat Cole and her family to present the Osprey Trophy to 216 Flight. The Trophy is in memory of 229 Flight 815 NAS who tragically lost their lives when their Lynx aircraft operating from HMS Portland crashed in December 2004, Pats son Dave Cole was part of the crew. Commissioned in 2007 the Trophy is awarded annually to the Flight that has contributed the most to the ethos, reputation and standing of the then Lynx now Wildcat Helicopter Force over the preceding year. 

This year the Osprey was awarded to 216 Flight for their time embarked in RFA Mounts Bay. 216 spearheaded the United Kingdom's response to the devastation left by Hurricanes IRMA and MARIA. The urgent requirement for lifesaving demanded continuous and dynamic airborne risk assessments in the high pressure and rapidly changing environment including the rescue of a family from the upturned Hull of MV FERREL. 

Other recipients included the awarding of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Sword presented by the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators to a crew or individual achieving the finest feat of aviation during the year. Lt Simon Hall received this while overseas with HMS MONMOUTH when with exceptional flying skills in extremely poor conditions his Wildcat rerolled to Search and Rescue saved the life of a fellow seafarer following a distress message from the Merchant Tanker RAMA 2 which was sinking in the Gulf.

Awards were given to for efficiency, to the Officer, Senior and Junior Rate of the term alongside LSGC’s (Long Service Good Conduct).