It certainly was - the term "Army helicopter" was always used in the media, even when the helicopter parked in the immediate background had the words "Royal Air Force" emblazoned on it. Seems that successive governments found it terribly embarrassing that the RAF was involved in a terrorist war on its own soil.
Exactly so
Shy we could never understand that either. We also kind of assume that the Army Council (of the IRA) probably had access to Janes, or at least the "Boys Book of Helicopters".
But there was - and still is - an element of denial or embarrassment about Op BANNER, and all three services who were involved. One hates to play "Top Trumps" with casualties, but a comparison between NI and Iraq/Afghan could be instructive .............
O-D why am I not surprised by your suggestion! Perhaps when I retire
- and we could start with the first Wessex landing in NI in 1969, flown by one who became a 3 -star knight. And he
shouldn't have landed first, he wasn't the formation leader ........
