Search & Rescue at Leuchars 1942 to 2011

by

Tom Docherty
In July 1942 the crews of the Coastal Command anti-submarine and coastal strike aircraft were able to fly operations with greater confidence of being saved if they were shot down into the sea with the arrival of a small detachment of Air-Sea Rescue (ASR) Lockheed Hudsons of No 279 Sqn. The detachment would remain throughout 1942 carrying out ASR in the Northern North Sea. In February 1944 another detachment was established at Leuchars, this time Vickers Warwicks of 281 Sqn equipped to drop airborne lifeboats by parachute. This detachment remained until February 1945. It was not until the mid-50's that Search & Rescue (SAR) as it was now known came to prominence in the history of Leuchars once more. In July 1955 C Flight of 275 Sqn was formed at Leuchars, equipped with the Bristol Sycamore helicopter. The Sycamore flew at a maximum 132mph, had a range of 330 miles and in the SAR role could carry a crew of two and up to three casualties .By September 1959 the flight was now C Flight of 228 Sqn and from 1960 re-equipped with the Westland Whirlwind progressively operating the Marks 2, 4 and 10. The Whirlwind HAR.Mk.10 flew at 109mph, had a range of 334 miles. It was the definitive SAR version of this type and in addition to the crew could lift many more casualties than the Sycamore. At the end of August 1964 the unit was once again renumbered becoming C Flight of 202 Sqn, still operating the Whirlwind HAR Mk.10. The Whirlwinds were replaced by the more capable Westland Wessex and C Flight soldiered on with these till it was again renumbered, this time it was as B Flight, 22 Sqn in April 1976. Due to the limited endurance of helicopters working at height in the mountains of Scotland the Leuchars based Whirlwinds and Wessex took advantage of strategically placed fuel dumps in the mountain areas at Killin, Glenmore Lodge near Aviemore and Fort William amongst others. B Flight continued with the Wessex until March 1993 when the flight was disbanded, a controversial decision opposed in a hard fought campaign by the local population and politicians, as well as local fishing and sailing interests, the oil industry and the walking and climbing community. Thus ended 51 years of aerial search and rescue at the base. SAR Units at Leuchars July 1942 1942 July 1955 September 1959

279 Sqn C Flt 275 Sqn

Lockheed Hudson Vickers Warwick Bristol Sycamore Bristol Sycamore Westland Whirlwind Westland Whirlwind Westland Wessex Westland Wessex

February 1944 February 1945 281 Sqn September 1959 August 1964 C Flt 228 Sqn August 1964 April 1976 April 1976 March 1993 C Flt 202 Sqn B Flt 22 Sqn

(470 WORDS)