Whirlwind Replacement
Your right Tankertrashnav. The Whirlwinds (reduced from 5 to 3) remained operational on SAR/IS duties long after the Wessex arrived, in fact if memory is correct the Whirlwinds remained in theatre until quite late on in 1966 if not until early '67. Lots of work needed on the 4 yellow Wessex before they were deemed suitable to take over from the SAR Whirlwinds. In fact if memory serves me well I seem to recall that one if not two of the yellow Wessex were resprayed in (UK type) camouflage colours to be used as normal 78 Sqn ac. In fact the first one to be so refinished was "painted" in Green/Grey distemper! You can image how that looked after a few flights with grease/hydraulic fluid working away at the distemper!