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Current Location
Atlantic, Caribbean & USA
08:32 GMT - 13 May 2013
Atlantic, Caribbean & USA
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HMS Gannet
Thanks for dropping in on the homepage of HMS Gannet Search and Rescue Flight – Britain’s busiest rescuers. We’re scrambled every day of the year – twice on many – saving lives from Northern Ireland to Edinburgh, the Isle of Man and Lake District to the slopes of Ben Nevis, covering an area of 98,000 square miles (12 times the size of Wales...) with just three Sea King helicopters.
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Gannet Sea King in Glen
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Sea King Mk V
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Gannet aircrewman being winched from helicopter
Our men and women have won countless awards for bravery over the past 40 years and received hundreds of heartfelt letters of thanks from people we’ve helped.
Although we’re a naval unit, the bulk of our time is spent over the mountains of western Scotland helping climbers in difficulty: two out of three call-outs are concentrated on these ‘dry jobs’.
COMMANDING OFFICER
Andy Drodge
- RANK:
- Lieutenant Commander
- JOINED:
- 1989
- SPECIALISATION:
- Warfare
- PREVIOUS UNITS:
- HMS Illustrious, NAS 750, 771
Military experience
Raised and educated in Devon, Andy Drodge joined the RN in 1989 as a Seaman Officer. After passing out from Britannia Royal Naval College, he immediately deployed in HMS Manchester to the Gulf for Operation Granby.
Officer of the Watch jobs followed on board HMS Brinton (Ton Class Mine Hunter) and HMS Endurance (Ice Patrol Ship) before he was selected for flying training in 1994.
Gaining his ‘Wings’ as an ASW Sea King Observer in 1996, he joined 820 NAS on board HMS Illustrious. Deployed worldwide he served during time of tension in the NAG. Appointed as Flight Observer to 810 B Flight, on board HMS Campbeltown (Type 22 Frigate), he spent a significant period of time deployed as part of NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic in the Northern Atlantic.
Andy then moved on to an instructional tour on 750 NAS, teaching new observers the art of navigation. Followed by a further instructional tour as a Staff Warfare Officer at Flag Officer Sea Training, based in Devonport, Plymouth, he trained ship’s aviation support teams in the safe operation of aircraft.
He then joined Navy Command Headquarters where he assumed responsibility for the maintenance of aviation safety at sea and represented the RN in NATO and worldwide Embarked Aviation Working Groups.
His first tour on Search and Rescue duties was as the Senior Observer and 2nd in Command of 771 NAS at Culdrose in Cornwall where he spent 2½ years, completing in excess of 130 SAR callouts.
This was followed by an Operational Tour at the UK’s Maritime Component Commander’s Headquarters in Bahrain where he was involved with the co-ordination and control of all Royal Navy maritime operations east of the Suez Canal.
He then joined the Defence Equipment and Support organisation at Abbey Wood in Bristol, as the Rotary Wing Requirements Manager for the Flight Simulation and Synthetic Training Project Team. In this role he ensured the requirements for helicopter computer based and simulator training were commensurate with the needs of the RAF, Army and RN.
Selected for Command of HMS Gannet in February 2012, he took up the post in June 2012.
OPERATIONS
Search and Rescue
CURRENT STATUS: active
The Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm also provide Search and Rescue cover to large sections of the United Kingdom coastline, 24 hours a day and 365 days per year, typically at 15 minutes notice. Based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall and HMS Gannet, Prestwick, in Scotland, Royal Navy helicopters are constantly available and fly missions that are as varied as they are far-reaching.
UNIT DIARY
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Monthly Mission Summary for April 201330/04/13
Listed below are details of some of the rescues carried out this month by the Royal Navy’s Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
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Monthly Mission Summary for March 201331/03/13
Listed below are details of some of the rescues carried out this month by the Royal Navy’s Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
Read more -
Monthly Mission Summary for February 201328/02/13
A summary of this months rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
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Monthly Mission Summary for December 201209/01/13
A summary of this months rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
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Monthly Mission Summary for November 201230/11/12
A summary of this months rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
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Monthly Mission Summary for October 201231/10/12
A summary of this months rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
Read more -
September Mission Summary30/09/12
A summary of this months rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
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August Mission Summary31/08/12
A summary of this months rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
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July Mission Summary31/07/12
A summary of this months rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
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HMS Gannet rings in the Olympics28/07/12
AB Rowland of HMS Gannet and the Search and Rescue Flight Gannet, took part in the three minute bell ringing in order to celebrate the 2012 Olympics opening.
Read more
ABOUT THE UNIT
KEY STATISTICS
- SAR Call-Outs 2012
298
- Persons Assisted
285
TAKE A LOOK
Image Gallery
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HMS Gannet Search and rescue flight
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Search & Rescue Mountain Training (Scotland) Pictured is a Royal Navy Sea-King Search & Rescue (SAR) helicopter from HMS Gannet (Prestwick) Scotland. The SAR helicopter was conducting mountain training on Ben Neim (Arrochar) Scotland. The main reason for this training is to keep the air crew current and to make them aware of the dangers of flying in the mountains.
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HMS Gannet Search and rescue flight
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Search & Rescue Mountain Training (Scotland) Pictured is a Royal Navy Sea-King Search & Rescue (SAR) helicopter from HMS Gannet (Prestwick) Scotland. The SAR helicopter was conducting mountain training on Ben Neim (Arrochar) Scotland. The main reason for this training is to keep the air crew current and to make them aware of the dangers of flying in the mountains.
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Ayrshire Royal Navy pilot honoured for ‘outstanding airmanship and courage’
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Search & Rescue Mountain Training (Scotland) Pictured is a Royal Navy Sea-King Search & Rescue (SAR) helicopter from HMS Gannet (Prestwick) Scotland. The SAR helicopter was conducting mountain training on Ben Neim (Arrochar) Scotland. The main reason for this training is to keep the air crew current and to make them aware of the dangers of flying in the mountains.
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Ayrshire Royal Navy pilot honoured for ‘outstanding airmanship and courage’
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A Royal Navy pilot has been awarded the Air Force Cross for grit, determination and courage shown in rescuing a climber in Argyll. On December 18 2011, Lieutenant Commander Craig Sweeney led his duty search and rescue crew of three others in what he would later describe as ‘one of the most challenging rescues’ he had undertaken in an audacious sortie on Beinn Sgulaird in Argyll.
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Ayrshire Royal Navy pilot honoured for ‘outstanding airmanship and courage’
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A Royal Navy pilot has been awarded the Air Force Cross for grit, determination and courage shown in rescuing a climber in Argyll. On December 18 2011, Lieutenant Commander Craig Sweeney led his duty search and rescue crew of three others in what he would later describe as ‘one of the most challenging rescues’ he had undertaken in an audacious sortie on Beinn Sgulaird in Argyll.
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Royal Navy Helicopter Part Of Multi-Agency Response in Aiding Fallen Walker
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Royal Navy Helicopter Part Of Multi-Agency Response in Aiding Fallen Walker
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Royal Navy Helicopter Part Of Multi-Agency Response in Aiding Fallen Walker
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Royal Navy Helicopter Called To Four Rescues In One Day
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Helvellyn - emergency services on site with one of the casualties
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Royal Navy Helicopter Called To Four Rescues In One Day
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A view of the two sites of the casualties for the first job of the day at Helvellyn
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Royal Navy Helicopter Called To Four Rescues In One Day
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The Royal Navy Sea King attending at the rescue of a female casualty on Scafell Pike
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Royal Navy Helicopter Called To Four Rescues In One Day
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Cloudy conditions and snow at the St Sunday rescue – the emergency teams are visible just to the left of the middle of this picture
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A Gannet Sea King conducts training in the snowy Highlands
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FRPU(N) LA(Phot) Del Trotter NE08_0025_0245. Staff from Gannet SAR enjoy the attention from the Navy News, on their recent visit to RNAS Gannet.
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Aircrewman CPO Dave Rigg
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A Gannet Sea King conducts training in the snowy Highlands
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Search & Rescue Mountain Training (Scotland) Pictured is a Royal Navy Sea-King Search & Rescue (SAR) helicopter from HMS Gannet (Prestwick) Scotland. The SAR helicopter was conducting mountain training on Ben Neim (Arrochar) Scotland. The main reason for this training is to keep the air crew current and to make them aware of the dangers of flying in the mountains.
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Aircraft commander Lt Cdr Craig Sweeney
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Gannet SAR Helicopter rescues four fishermen
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The winch line and the hi-line (the white rope) down to the boat
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Gannet SAR Helicopter rescues four fishermen
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Gannet winchman Taff pulls in the hi-line to lift two of the crew members (just seen at the left)
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Gannet SAR Helicopter rescues four fishermen
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Gannet winchman Taff pulls in the hi-line to lift two of the crew members (just seen at the left)
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Gannet SAR Helicopter rescues four fishermen
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Two crew members on the winch line being lifted to the helicopter
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Gannet SAR Helicopter rescues four fishermen
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HMS Gannet Sea King Mk5 Search and Rescue helicopter
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Four kind-hearted ‘Gannets’ fly round Glasgow city centre as part of annual Santa Dash
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(back row left to right) Hannah, Chantelle and Spud, with John kneeling in front of one of the unit’s search and rescue helicopters
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HMS Gannet Rescues Two From Car Stranded on Treacherous Road
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aerial image of the conditions on the Duke’s Pass (car can be seen in the centre of the picture)
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HMS Gannet Rescues Two From Car Stranded on Treacherous Road
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Aerial image of the conditions on the Duke’s Pass (car can be seen in the centre of the picture)
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HMS Gannet Rescues Two From Car Stranded on Treacherous Road
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Search & Rescue Mountain Training (Scotland)Pictured is a Royal Navy Sea-King Search & Rescue (SAR) helicopter from HMS Gannet (Prestwick) Scotland. The SAR helicopter was conducting mountain training on Ben Neim (Arrochar) Scotland. The main reason for this training is to keep the air crew current and to make them aware of the dangers of flying in the mountains.
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HMS Gannet Rescues Two From Car Stranded on Treacherous Road
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Lieutenant Commander Andy Drodge
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Navy SAR helicopter airlifts Glencoe climbers
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Winchman Petty Officer Taff Ashman on the wire going down to the climbers
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Navy SAR helicopter airlifts Glencoe climbers
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Royal Navy SAR Helicopter operating in winter conditions in the mountains
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Navy SAR helicopter airlifts Glencoe climbers
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Royal Navy SAR Helicopter operating in winter conditions in the mountains
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RN SAR crew airlifts injured forestry worker
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RN SAR crew airlifts injured forestry worker
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RN SAR crew airlifts injured forestry worker
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A Selection of cakes from HMS Gannets Big Brew
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HMS Gannet Staff enjoying the Big Brew
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Lieutenant Commander Andy Drodge
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AB ROWLAND OF HMS GANNET TAKES PART IN THE 3 MINUTE BELL RINGING FOR THE OLYMPICS
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet Search and Rescue
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HMS Gannet SAR
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HMS Gannet SAR
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HMS Gannet SAR
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HMS Gannet SAR
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RN Helicopter Airlifts Overturned Tractor
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RN Helicopter Airlifts Overturned Tractor
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RN Helicopter Airlifts Overturned Tractor
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RN Helicopter Airlifts Overturned Tractor
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Falklands Memorial
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Falklands Memorial
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Falklands veterans lay a wreath at the memorial stone for Kevin Casey, on the 30th anniversary of his death. The memorial is located at RNAS Yeovilton.
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HMS Gannet SAR
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HMS Gannet SAR
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An aircrewman is lowered on to a yacht off Gigha after a crewman suffered a broken arm in a gale
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The Gannet Sea King hovers over the rocks on Staffa as seven people and a dog are rescued after their boat capsized
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A shipwrecked sailor is winched on to the Tobermory lifeboat after being rescued from Fingal’s Cave on Staffa.
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HMS Gannet SAR
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HMS Gannet SAR
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HMS Gannet SAR
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Penzance Fishermen Rescued By 771 Sqn From Culdrose
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Ark Royal and Gannet Search and Rescue Sea King say goodby in 2010
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Gannet aircrewman being winched from helicopter
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Gannet Sea King in Glen
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Lt Cdr Roger Stinger
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Lt Cdr Roger Stinger
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Lt Cdr Roger Stinger
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Exif_JPEG_PICTURE
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Sea King from HMS Gannet
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Royal Naval Aircrew at work on SAR helo during a PHOTEX in a 771 NAS Seaking from HMS Gannet at Prestwick. WO1 Ian Arthur FRPU(N) HM Naval Base Clyde helensburgh G84 8HL 01436 674321 Ext 3415
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Sea King from HMS Gannet
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Various images of the Commanding Officers Superssesion at HMS Gannett on Tues day 24th Nov 09
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Sea King from HMS Gannet
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Sea King from HMS Gannet
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Royal Naval Aircrew at work on SAR helo during a PHOTEX in a 771 NAS Seaking from HMS Gannet at Prestwick.WO1 Ian ArthurFRPU(N)HM Naval Base ClydehelensburghG84 8HL01436 674321 Ext 3415
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HMS GANNET'S SEA KING
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HMS Gannet's' Sea King in the snowy west of Scotland mountains
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Search & Rescue Mountain Training (Scotland) Pictured is a Royal Navy Sea-King Search & Rescue (SAR) helicopter from HMS Gannet (Prestwick) Scotland. The SAR helicopter was conducting mountain training on Ben Neim (Arrochar) Scotland. The main reason for this training is to keep the air crew current and to make them aware of the dangers of flying in the mountains.
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Lieutenant Commander Debdash Bhattacharya
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771 nas ID's at RNAS Culdrose.10/10/07Pictures by La Phot Carl Llewellyn Osmond Royal NavyFor more Information contact the PRO: 01326 552461
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Commander Craig Sweeney
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UNITS IN TIME
HMS Gannet HISTORY
TRACK THE HISTORY OF SHIPS NAMED HMS Gannet
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