RAF Odiham

RAF Odiham 19th June 2009

We are fortunate to again hitch a lift, this time on a Chinook helicopter which is returning to Odiham and undertaking flying training over Salisbury plane on the way back.

The Chinook is the war horse of the modern military; its twin engines and long body give it tremendous lifting and carrying capacity for both men and equipment. It is essential for supplying forward bases in conflict zones with food, water, equipment and communications from home.

Flying in and out of bases is dangerous work; often carried out under attack from small arms, rockets and missiles. The training on Salisbury Plain prepares the four man crew for operations in hostile settings.

Connected to the ceiling of the helicopter by a long lead, I hung on to the open side door of the machine as it was flown in constantly changing directions to make it a difficult target to hit. Sometimes flying sideways or feet above the grass then skywards, quick descents and landings were followed by rapid assents.

Down below on the plains were tanks, soldiers and armoured vehicles undertaking exercises. The helicopter descended near an armed group to pick up a trailer full of equipment. From the hatch mid way down the machine a crew man lowered a hook to pick up equipment and flew it to a second unit for use.

Descending into small openings in copses of trees and landing in small marked spaces marked on the ground ready to off load or load men and equipment was hair rising. The crew were skilled professionals with a bond of trust with each other and a clear pride in their work.

RAF Odiham is the home of three Chinook squadrons. They have taken part in actions in the former Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. In one room alone, a display showed 40 of the personnel of the Chinook squadrons who had received awards for bravery over the past 8 years.

The Chinooks are called to carry out a variety of duties as well as serving in battle zones. They are present in the Falkland Islands; on standby to assist in a national emergency and to provide support and assistance in peace keeping and UN humanitarian operations.

All units of the Chinook force are capable of rapid mobilisation for deployment to operational theatres ranging from the arctic to the desert. Once established in theatre, a large coordinated movement of troops and equipment is possible over moderate distances in a short time, possibly across unfriendly territory. These operations must be able to be carried out in most weather conditions, and of course, by day or by night.

The flying units are supported by Forward Support Wing, which provides 2nd line aircraft & equipment support, and by Administration Wing, which manages the Station infrastructure.

The Chinook Wing Headquarters is responsible for co-ordinating all aspects of operational and logistic output and also manages the airfield services. Let me just say a few words about the vital role these people play in making everything happen.

When we think of our military we tend to think of the heavy kit they use, in the case of the RAF the planes and helicopters. Without the logistics and aircraft maintenance and engineering units nothing would happen. Their work is not as well recognised as it should be. In every branch of the military, it is the logistics and engineering teams that keep the equipment going and safe, everyone fed and watered and better able to cope with the difficulties they face in a war zone.