| Re: The end of the Royal Airforce in Northern Ireland
Extracts from HQNI Press Release.
"The move of 230 Sqn will mark the end of any significant RAF footprint in Northern Ireland. A small number of specialist RAF personnel will remain at Aldergrove to work with the Army. The VGS will remain and the Air Cadet organisation will continue to provide an RAF presence in the Province. In addition, the RAF element of the Armed Forces Careers Office will remain at Palace Barracks Hollywood,5 Regiment Army Air Corps will continue to operate from Aldergrove. 665 Squadron operate Gazelle helicopters that provide a communications facility and have a surveillance role. They may provide assistance to the PSNI in accordance with the 'Patten Provisions'. 651 Squadron operate Brittan Norman Islander and Defender 4000 fixed wing aircraft, again in the surveillance role. The PSNI will continue to operate a Eurocopter EC-135 helicopter and a Brittain Norman Islander fixed wing aircraft in the surveillance roles. In addition, the possibility of the establishment of a Royal Air Force Auxiliary Squadron is under active consideration. Senior RAF officers will continue to provide patronage to the NI branches of RAFA< RBL etc". |