With the demise of 18 Sqn in Germany in 1980 their Wessex returned to UK. Some went to the SAR force and some came to us on 72. So for a while we had a full alphabet AA to AZ plus I believe 4 with Bravo codes so 30 on strength. This lasted until the Squadron moved to NI from Benson. Firstly 5 were flown to Akrotiri to replace the ex Navy HU5s and our fleet was cut as at that point the Navy were still in NI. It was about the time of our move that we went to single letter codes on the aircraft sides and only during the Falklands when all Navy Cabs were removed did we start to get replacement cabs. Another point ref the playing down of our involvement in NI a little known fact is that we suffered more Battle Damage to our Wessex in NI during the Falklands period than 847 that was formed with stored HU5s and took our place down south after our brief sojourn back to Benson on what for us turned out to be OP Headless Chicken.