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212 Flight Update for April 2007
| Flt Cdr | Lt Cdr Colin Simpson | RN M2 | POAEM Richie Carter |
| O1 | Lt Matt Boulind RN | RN L2 | POAEM Kev ’Mole’ Gosden |
| P1 | Lt Graham Carnell RN | R2 | POAEM Pete ’Pongo’ Gray |
| O2 | Lt Jane Green RN | POAC | POAC ‘Johno’ Johnson |
| SMR | WO2 Richard Shingleton-Smith | LA(SE) | LA(SE) Karl Wrightson |
| M1 | CPOAEA Mark Lynch | M3 | AET ‘Brad’ Bradley |
| L1 | POAET ‘Sid’ Sidall | M4 | AET ‘J’ Patrick-Saunders |
| R1 | POAEA Harvey King | L3 | AET Rachel Howie |
| R3 | AET ‘Wiggy’ Bennett |
212 Flight, the twin aircraft flight of HMS ENDURANCE, is approaching their 8th month of a 9 month deployment. The last major task in the ice was establishing a stores depot consisting of 10 tonnes of fuel and on top of Mount Haddington at 5200’ on James Ross Island on the Antarctic Peninsula. This was for an ice coring experiment planned for the 2007/8 season. With the end of the Austral summer in March the Flight were then heavily involved with the closure of a number of Antarctic bases for the winter period, removal of large quantities of rubbish, a requirement under the International Antarctic agreement. To do this by boat to one of the British Antarctic ships would involve a number of days, time which their vessels can ill afford with the number of bases concerned. Using the two Lynx helicopters from HMS ENDURANCE meant the task was achieved in a matter of hours, stowing the empty oil drums in the large forward hold until they could be disposed of in the Falkland Islands. Re-supply of provisions for the personnel that were over wintering in other bases was another important task, at a time when the winter weather was closing in the pressure was on.
On sailing from the Falklands at the beginning of April the Flight moved into a new warmer theatre with the return scheduled via the west coast of Africa.
A bird’s eye view of Tristan Da Cunha
The long passage from Falklands to Cape Town was punctuated with a short stop at the remote volcanic island of Tristan De Cunha, where a number of tasks were performed in support of the local settlement. The main one being load lifting fencing to the side of the 6200’ volcano, a task which would have taken the locals numerous days. Grazing rights for livestock is at a premium on the lower slopes of the island forcing the larger herds to be kept on what appear to be impossibly steep slopes at high altitude.
Having sailed from Cape Town, 212 Flight have a number of stops on the west coast of Africa prior to their return to 815 Sqn 31 May, when they will be straight into preparing for HMS ENDURANCE’S 18 month deployment in October.
A Winchex in Mare Harbour prior to departing the Falklands
The end of April saw several members of the Flight go home for advanced leave and also saw the R1, POAET KING, and the M3, AET BRADLEY, go on draft. Good luck to them and thank you for the time and effort invested on behalf of HMS ENDURANCE and 212 Flight.
Flight Hours for the Month
| Title | Name | Day | Night | Simulator | Total |
| FLIGHT COMMANDER | LT CDR C SIMPSON | 14:50 | 04:00 | 0:00 | 18:50 |
| FLIGHT P1 | LT G CANNELL | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| FLIGHT OPERATIONS/O1 | LT M BOULIND | 03:45 | 02:00 | 0:00 | 05:45 |
| FLIGHT O2 | LT J GREEN | 12:50 | 04:00 | 0:00 | 16:50 |
| FLIGHT WINCHMAN | LASE WRIGHTSON | 01:00 | 00:00 | 0:00 | 01:00 |
| FLIGHT WINCHMAN | AET BRADLEY | 01:00 | 00:00 | 0:00 | 01:00 |
| FLIGHT WINCHMAN | AET LENTHALL | 01:30 | 00:00 | 0:00 | 01:30 |
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