Filenews 25 January 2022
The 84th Squadron of the Royal Air Force – Akrotiri RAF, the only UK military flying unit providing Search and Rescue services, completes fifty years of service in Cyprus this year.
A statement by the BB states that the Squadron was formed on January 19, 1972 and was initially equipped with the Whirlwind helicopter, based in both the Akrotiri Air Base - RAF, and Nicosia, performing Search and Rescue operations and assuming UN duties.
In 1984 he introduced aerial firefighting, often operating together with the Fire Brigade of the Republic, "saving countless lives along the way".
Since 2003, the Griffin HAR2 is the main helicopter of the 84th Squadron and thousands of operations have been carried out in cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus, it added.
The Commander of the Squadron, Major Jean-Marc David, said that there is close cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus and the Search and Rescue Coordination Center, recalling the participations in the Search and Rescue exercises "NEMESIS" and "ARGONAUTS" and in the firefighting exercise "HEPHAESTUS".
Last week, the 84th Squadron celebrated the milestone by parading with the flag of the Squadron and flying with its helicopter. He also conducted a "formation flight" over all the areas in which he has operated for the past 50 years.
CNA
