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I used to work in the Fleet Air Arm and it was in 1968 that I saw this sight. I worked on 707 squadron. This squadron was a second line squadron that supported front line squadrons with manpower equipment and replacement aircraft. Front line squadron were the first into a conflict.One fine autumn Thursday we were informed that there was no night flying and that all personnel were required to be at work early the next morning as a lot of manpower would be required for a special task. On the Friday morning we all turned in for work, I had not seen so many people on shift before.The commanding officer called us in to the hanger and informed us that both our front line squadrons 848 and 845 were returning to base at the same time. We were separated into different group with a person in charge. The group I was seconded into was the group that had to guide the aircraft into land and shut down - this meant being on the apron or line as it is called and ensuring every thing was ready.The line chief informed us all that the aircraft would land in lines of 13 as there were 26 Wessex mark five’s on each of the two squadrons. The 8 Wasp helicopters from both squadrons would land at their second line squadron landing area. This made a total of 60 helicopters, inbound in a short space of time.We were prepared and sent out to our respective places with the remaining personnel on crash and fire duties. From our right hand side we could hear a lot of aircraft approaching and over C3 hanger. We saw this formation coming and coming and coming over the airfield. Both squadrons had formed up together into a mass of 60 helicopters in formation to fly over the airfield and land; it was a sight I knew I would never see again.
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