Heroes are home for Christmas! Helicopter crews are reunited with their loved ones after seven months at sea (and one even makes a festive proposal)
- Members of the Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group arrived back to a heroes welcome at RNAS Yeovilton
- Shortly after landing, air engineering technician Soapy Watson proposed to his girlfriend Erica Clayton
- Led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Task Group has supported and carried out exercises with partner nations
- Hundreds of people also gathered at RNAS Culdrose for the return of the CSG 21 820 Naval Air Squadron
Members of the Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group were given a heroes welcome back to the UK in time for Christmas after seven months away, with one making a festive proposal.
There were emotional scenes at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset when the three returning Merlin MK4s that were on the deployment, plus two other Merlin MK4s and two Wildcats arrived back in formation.
After the arrival, air engineering technician Soapy Watson got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend Erica Clayton, who said yes.
Air engineering technician Soapy Watson got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend Erica Clayton, who said yes
Air engineering technician Soapy Watson proposed to his girlfriend as members of the Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group were given a heroes welcome back to the UK in time for Christmas after seven months away
Hundreds of people also gathered at RNAS Culdrose for the return of CSG 21 820 Naval Air Squadron whose members have been deployed to the Far East and Indo/Pacific region since May.
Led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Task Group has been supporting and carrying out exercises with partner nations.
They have also carried out operations around the UK, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, South China Sea and the Pacific.
Elements of the CSG 21 are returning home for Christmas to their Royal Naval Base Ports and Fleet Air Arm Air Stations across the South Coast.
Around 200 family members turned up at RNAS Culdrose today to welcome the seven helicopters home.
The happy couple hug at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, after the three returning Merlin MK4s that were on the deployment, plus two other Merlin MK4s and two Wildcats arrived back in formation
Senior pilot Ben Curley is welcomed home by his son seven year old son Jacques and his wife. He arrived back after seven months at sea
Daniel Bassett is welcomed home by his wife Abigail and their children Felicity and Selina. The task group have carried out operations around the UK, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, South China Sea and the Pacific
Leftenant Emma Turner embraces her boyfriend Jack during emotional scenes at RNAS Culdrose, in Cornwall, as service personnel were given heroes welcomes home
Sophie Meter and her son Ian aged two, welcome back Ian’s Dad at RNAS Culdrose. The crew was welcomed home in time for Christmas
Hundreds of people also gathered at RNAS Culdrose for the return of CSG 21 820 Naval Air Squadron whose members have been deployed to the Far East and Indo/Pacific region since May
The squadron carried out a formation flypast and landing before its members disembarked to be reunited with loved ones.
The additional helicopters at RNAS Yeovilton allowed for the whole 845 NAS deployed personnel to be recovered in one go.
Once engines closed down, the crews exited the helicopters and barriers opened for families to run out to meet the crews.
The 845 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.
Part of the Commando Helicopter Force, it is a specialist amphibious unit operating the Agusta Westland Commando Merlin HC4 helicopter and provides troop transport and load lifting support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines.
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