824 NAS Wings Parade
Published: 03 Jul 2022
Twelve Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 helicopter aircrew qualified for frontline operations and were handed their 'wings' at a parade at royal Naval Air station Culdrose recently.
There were 17 aircrew up for various awards including 12 (four each of pilots, observers and aircrewmen) who graduated for frontline services.
Family members were also welcomed back to Culdrose, after the pandemic, for this parade which was held in a hangar at 824 Naval Air Squadron.
Guest of honour was Vice Admiral Keith Blount, the commander of NATO's Allied Maritime Command.
Speaking to the assembled graduates, he said their skills in anti-submarine warfare were more relevant now than ever and welcomed them into "the finest maritime aviation unit in the world".