Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
| Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2001 – present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch |
Royal Air Force (RAF) Army Air Corps (AAC) |
| Type | Joint unit |
| Role | Special forces aviation support |
| Size | Wing |
| Part of | United Kingdom Special Forces[1] |
| Equipment |
Boeing Chinook HC4 Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II Lockheed C-130 Hercules Westland Gazelle AH1 Westland Lynx |
The Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing is a joint-service organisation which provides aviation support to United Kingdom Special Forces, using both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. The wing is based at RAF Odiham.[2]
The Wing was formed on 2 April 2001, bringing together 657 Squadron AAC and 7 Squadron RAF into a single unit in support of United Kingdom Special Forces with 8 Flight AAC (now No. 658 Squadron AAC) joining in 2008.[2]
The aircraft all based at different MoD establishments including:
- No. 7 Squadron RAF with the Boeing Chinook HC4 at RAF Odiham.[2]
- No. 658 Squadron AAC with Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II's and Westland Gazelle AH1's at Credenhill Barracks.[3]
- No. 47 Squadron RAF with Lockheed C-130 Hercules's at RAF Brize Norton.
- No. 657 Squadron AAC with Westland Lynx at RAF Odiham.[2]
The Wing is under peacetime command of the Station Commander of RAF Odiham, but the single services retain full command of their respective personnel. It enjoys a charitable affiliation with the Worshipful Company of Curriers in the City of London.[2][4][5][6]
Afghanistan crash
On 26 April 2014, a Lynx of 657 Squadron crashed in Takhta Pul district of Kandahar province, killing all five British personnel on board. They were Captain Thomas Clarke, Warrant Officer 2 Spencer Faulkner and Corporal James Walters of the Army Air Corps, Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan of the Royal Air Force and Lance Corporal Oliver Thomas of the Intelligence Corps. As at 28 April 2014, the cause was described as an "accident", despite Taliban claims that they had caused the crash. The purpose of the mission has speculated upon, but has been described as a "routine training mission".[7] The site, variously described as "close to Kandahar base" and "30 miles from the Pakistani border", had been "secured" for recovery of the bodies and aircraft.[8]
See also
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- U.S. 1st Special Operations Wing
- U.S. 27th Special Operations Wing
- U.S. 919th Special Operations Wing
- U.S. 352d Special Operations Group
- U.S. 353d Special Operations Group
- Australian 171st Aviation Squadron
- Canadian 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
- French 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment
- Italian 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment
- U.S. 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment - Night Stalkers
References
- ↑ http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/publications/guides/admin_guide/h_part8.pdf
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "JSFAW". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- ↑ Gary Parsons (January 2014). "News briefs". AirForces Monthly (Stamford: Key Publishing): pg.7.
- ↑ "Chinook is shot down". The Sun (London). 20 August 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2010. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ British Army Aviation in Action, Tim Ripley, Page 181,ISBN 9781848846708
- ↑ Tim Ripley (10 December 2008). "UK Army Air Corps received Dauphins". Janes Defence Weekly, Vol. 45, Issue 50: 10.
- ↑ "Army's most skilled pilots among five killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash". London: Daily Telegraph. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
- ↑ "Afghanistan helicopter crash personnel named by MoD". London: BBC. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
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