Nottingham Lynx Ditching
 

Press Release from Invincible:

3 Mar 05 (As at 1100L)

HMS NOTTINGHAM – Lynx Ditching
HMS NOTTINGHAM’s Lynx and 3 aircrew ditched shortly after 0800 Local (0400 GMT) on Thu 3 Mar 05. The Mk 8 Lynx from 815 NAS had been conducting a routine surface search in the Indian Ocean, when at 0755 she made a MAYDAY call. The Lynx ditched in a controlled fashion and all 3 aircrew escaped unhurt. The helicopter sank soon afterwards in deep water.

The ditching took place about 120 miles to the east of Oman, with HMS NOTTINGHAM, HMS INVINCIBLE and FS GUEPRATTE in the vicinity. The multinational force immediately reacted to effect a rescue, aided by the nearby Merchant Vessel, Wilhelm Schulter. HMS INVINCIBLE’s 771 NAS helicopter recovered the 3 aircrew to the aircraft carrier. They will be returned to HMS NOTTINGHAM later in the day.

HMS NOTTINGHAM is part of a Task Group operating in the Gulf of Arabia. She is acting as escort to HMS INVINCIBLE, where Rear Admiral Charles Style CBE, Commander of the UK Maritime Forces heads up the Task Group as part of MARSTRIKE 05 deployment.

An investigation into the incident has started.

Thank God they're safe. God Bless 771 (again).

Echo Orca's sentiments, glad no one hurt.

What an awful few months for the RN Lynx guys.

Thank god they're all OK - good to hear some positive news after something like this.

Great stuff! Well done the rescuers and well done the ditching crew for the fine flying that enabled survival.

Told you the drills would be useful one day!...

Lynx Ditch
 

Glad to here all ok. Well done 771.

yours aye

TR

Nottingham Lynx
 

Thankfully all are safe and well after hearing a "buzz" today
Big relief, hope crew, family and friends are coping ok

240

yes, well done 771.
You took off, flew to the survivors, winched them up and flew back.
Let me be the first to suggest all manner of medals for your bravery:rolleyes:

Just to clarify.

771 do have a flight on Invincible. Not sure which one but they provide SAR and HDS support.

Thank goodness all are safe.

:hmm:

I echo most comments. Glad the crew are safe.

Tourist. Not required!

kipper

Echo everyone - Thank god they are safe:O
Well done SAR boys whatever sqn they were from:ok:

Good to know everyone's safe.

Well done folks.:ok:

Tourist, me thinks your chip is showing.:hmm:

These threads P#ss me off!
Everybody is fine!
Get over it.
Endless lists of people, most of whom I truly don't believe know the people involved any more than I do, saying "gosh I am so glad!" and "well done 771!!" (and no, I dont have anything against SAR Gods, but congratulate them for their moments of bravery, not for Sea Drills for gods sake)
Please save outpourings of emotion for events that really warrant it, and then only if you really have to.

Excuse my rampant ignorance - FS GUEPRATTE? Who they, please?:confused:

GF - a French La Fayette -class light frigate IIRC...

Glad all OK.

Tourist

Please put yourself in the position of the Lynx crew - probably just survived a truly terrifying ordeal (maybe only thought about it after the event - they were probably too busy to think at the time). The Lynx does not float so well, even in a controlled ditching, so they probably had little time to get out - specially more difficult for the third crew member stuck in the tiny cabin in the back, so just to get out is an enormous relief.

So, a minute or two ago you were flying around happy as larry and suddenly the world goes crazy, your heart rate goes through the roof, massive anxiety followed by relief that you got out. There you are bobbing up and down in your tiny life raft (or not maybe), and a big grey and red helo comes over the horizon. I would surmise it is the most wonderful feeling imaginable. 71 flights are on the CVS for HDS and SAR so they did their job yes, and maybe its not AFCs all round but it is nice to know there is an organic system in place to help out those aircrew deployed away on the frontline.

Oggin.

Well done 71.

p.s. any sharks in that part of the world? That would make the appearance of a SAR asset even more comforting!

I've seen Nobbys out that way, and I would be v happy to see the old girl loom over the horizon (although belive that one is all grey)

Echo your thoughts Oggin, just because the rescue was "easy" doesn't devalue it in anyway and it must have been a nice change to not be carrying the mail/VIP/stores.:ok:

We do like to dole out praise on this forum, particularly to our SAR heroes, but I don't think its like they ask for the adulation, is it?

Tourist, I wonder how grateful you would be to get plucked from the inky ogsplash after a ditching?

Yep - have to agree with Tourist. All ok, physically, and we're all very glad. There but etc etc.

Bar talk suggests fuel.:mad:

Tourist,

Your comments are totally unwarranted and uneccessary, and frankly if you don't like reading about peoples relief and praise, then I would suggest you sod off.

Well done to ALL concerned, 771 and the SAR boys.

Kind regards
TSM