Indeed. How many years was The Fin on Southern Watch between GW1 and GW2? Is the RAF still in Afghanistan? Just a couple of mundane things that obviously missed a fan of 3 Cdo Bde. (Absolutely no disrespect to the Royal Marines who I worked with for a number of years in a truly Joint & professional arena, many of whom would disavow themselves from such puerile comment).

The new Air Marshall, should he bother to check, is responsible for Regulation & Accident Investigation and is the Defence Authority for Safety across the entirety of Defence. There's a couple on here who still think that defence capability is only judged by counting the number of bayonets.

Interesting posts about who's been on continuous ops the longest.

STEP FORWARD Tactical Supply Wing (TSW) based at Beacon Barracks Stafford (formerly RAF Stafford).

They kicked off ops in (I think) about 1969/70 Northern Ireland and have been deployed somewhere - often multiple somewheres - ever since.

Of interest, although they are an operational unit, they have been denied a squadron standard on several occasions and when the non operational (former OCU) sqns have been allowed theirs. Double standards or what!!

Old Duffer

And Just a WEe bit longer for the SH force if you aSSume other EXcellent types (see what I did there!)

Rumour has it that the Wessex V at Chard has taken to the air - the Whirlwind is already on the show circuit - now where did I leave the Sycamore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

O-D