| Ship's Diary |
| During her time at sea, HMS Endurance will be sending back regular diaries to keep us all up to date with what is happening on this deployment. Use the links below to read extracts from the diary. |
| September/October 2003 |
SEPTEMBER 2003The Flight returned from summer leave relaxed, refreshed and ready to embark for DOST (well almost!) September was going to be a close month for the aircrew to remain current and a substantial amount of flying was programmed for the initial period in order to achieve this.The flight embarked on the 28th August and went straight into Procedural Flyexes for aircrew and winchman currency. With these successfully achieved the delights of DOST could begin alongside the shipborne aspects of the Vertical Photography training. This was completed during the harbour week with some very pleasing results from both the British Antarctic Survey and UK Hydrographic Office runs. With the VP personnel disembarked the sea week of DOST could begin. The Flight Commander and O2 were the lucky personnel who volunteered (read nominated!) to play the downed aircrew for the SAREX scenario. With the two of them successfully in the water (not that it is difficult to jump over the side of a motor launch!) and snug in their liferafts, 435 was actioned to collect them. This was conducted with customary aplomb despite capsizing the O2 for good measure. The next major evolution to conduct was the Exercise POLAR HAVEN DisasterEx which took place under unseasonably warm and dry skies which certainly helped with the overall success of the exercise. During this Non Combatant Evacuation Operation both aircraft were tasked to collect personnel from a shore side receiving station based on Dartmoor and fly them to ENDURANCE along with stores and supplies. The successful completion of the exercise signalled the end of DOST with the result that the ship gained a SAT overall and the flight a pleasing VSAT. OCTOBER 2003With final preps for the 03/04 season looming large, similar problems to those experienced last month were inevitable as the aircrew tried to stay current using the hours gained over the previous month and by accruing enough hours through the short time back at the squadron. With the added complication of everyone trying to fit in 2 weeks pre deployment leave it was going to be anything but a leisurely pace! And then someone had ideas about going to visit Jersey for lunch (not looking at anyone in particular O2!) and visiting RAF Henlow to fix the P1’s bad back. The flight to Jersey was not solely for personal gratification however but was as a result of a request from the Governor of the Channel Islands to inspect and photograph a number of fishermens huts on several islands 9 miles north east of Jersey. But it has to be said that a visit to a café called Big Verns had to be made just so the Flight Commander could say he had been to his “personal” café!A unique opportunity was taken to conduct an independent families day for 212 flight which proved hugely popular and successful. Many of the flight personnel had invited relatives down for the visit which included flying in the Flight aircraft which had been fitted out with dual controls so those sitting in the front left hand seat were able to try their hand at flying. This they achieved with varying degrees of success although for the younger “pilots” it wasn’t helped that they weren’t tall enough to see out of the windscreen! And so 212 Flight embarked towards the end of October complete with a enough flat screen TV’s, PC’s, Air coolers and personal entertainment suites to open a small white goods store (most of it from the Flight Commander!) |
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