Proud day for Culdrose sailors

At a gathering of personnel from across RNAS Culdrose, the Royal Navy’s West Cornwall air base celebrated this year’s Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Awards in style.

Guest of Honour at the parade , known as ‘Divisions’ within the Royal Navy , and attended by over 700 people, was the Head of the FAA Rear Admiral Keith Blount OBE, who presented a number of prominent awards. 

“It is with huge pride that I stand before you to mark not only Divisions, but also to present these awards today,” said Admiral Blount.  

“Culdrose is my native home in the Naval Service and it’s always very comforting to return and meet the people I’ve served with throughout my time and present awards and medals to fellow members of the Fleet Air Arm”.

Top of the list of prestigious honours was the Australia Shield, presented this year to 814 Naval Air Squadron, who over the past 12 months has been deployed on no less than seven Operations overseas,  as well as concurrently converting onto the Merlin Mk 2.

Their achievements were highlighted as the year also saw them working from four different flight decks, spread over four land bases across Europe to the Mediterranean, as well as 75% of the squadrons flying hours being in direct support of Operations.

Receiving the Australia Shield for the squadron was Commanding Officer of 814 NAS Commander Brendan Spoors and Leading Air Engineer Technician John Simpole.