Oban bids farewell to Sea Kings – thank you, you served us well

AFTER 40 years of service, the military’s last Scottish-based search and rescue helicopter crew said goodbye with a final fly-past on Thursday.

The Royal Navy Search and Rescue Flight HMS Gannet, which was one of the busiest search and rescue teams in the UK, arrived in Oban shortly before 1pm.

The trio of helicopters were greeted by coloured smoke and a pier full of vehicles and people, including personnel from the police, Oban Mountain Rescue and Oban coastguard. The Maritime and Coastguard agency has taken over responsibility for search and rescue operations in Scotland.

Iain MacKinnon, Oban coastguard station officer, said: ‘I’m very sad to see them go.

‘I read something on social media about it being the end of an era and that is exactly what it is.

‘They’ve been a familiar sight for decades. I’ve worked with them many times and they go above and beyond the call of duty to rescue people. But I look forward to working with the new aircraft team.’

Andy Ravenhill, team leader of Oban Mountain Rescue, said: ‘It’s another transition and another change in life.

‘A lot of the helicopters are past their sell by date, but the new helicopters are more powerful. So it’s a change, but hopefully a change for the better.

‘It’s still sad to see them go as they have a wealth of experience.

‘They were called out more than 300 times last year, but luckily a lot of the crew have migrated over, which adds some continuity to the system.’

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: ‘HMS Gannet has provided a dedicated and committed search and rescue service not only for Scotland but for the whole of the UK.

‘Despite being one of the busiest search and rescue flights in the UK, the crew has provided a world- class rescue service for the local population and international visitors.

‘Each year there are around 7.2 million mountaineering or hill walking trips in Scotland’s mountains and, as with most outdoor activities, there is a certain amount of risk involved.

‘The past and present crew of HMS Gannet has made an extremely valuable contribution in assisting Scottish mountain rescue teams, which I know has been greatly appreciated from my own time spent in mountain rescue.

‘I hope the public will join me in thanking them for all their hard work.’

Scottish Veterans Secretary Keith Brown said: ‘ For more than four decades the brave crews of the Royal Navy’s HMS Gannet have risked their own lives to provide a truly worldclass rescue service across Scotland’s mountains.

‘The crews have enjoyed immense support from communities across Scotland and this fly-by is our final opportunity to say thank you and farewell.’

Photograph: Kevin McGlynn Three Sea King helicopters completed their last flypast over Oban Bay on Thursday, where members of the public joined Oban Mountain Rescue Team, as well as members of the police, ambulance and coastguard, gathered on the North Pier as the choppers flew overhead and then turned south over Ben Cruachan.

Photographs: Thomas McDonald; David McPhee, Kevin McGlynn and Stephen Lawson Clockwise from above left: the ground crew prepare the Sea Kings for their final flight; HMS Gannet’s helicopter heroes; the final fly-by over Oban Bay on Thursday; members of the public were joined by Oban Mountain Rescue, Oban coast guards, as well as the police and ambulance services to bid farewell to the three Sea King helicopters and their crew.

Photograph: Stephen Lawson Two of the Sea King choppers.