Corgi AA33401 Westland Sea King HAS.2, 825 Squadron, Royal Navy, Falklands Campaign 20th Anniversary 1982 - 2002 - Falklands 20th Anniversary

Corgi The Aviation Archive 1/72 Scale

Corgi AA33401 Westland Sea King HAS.2, 825 Squadron, Royal Navy, Falklands Campaign 20th Anniversary 1982 - 2002

Falklands 20th Anniversary

This model is in excellent condition, complete with all parts and a limited edition certificate. The listing photographs are of the model and box being offered for sale and form part of the description.

On 3rd May 1982, 825 Squadron was reformed with Sea King helicopters at RNAS Culdrose, commanded by Lt. Cdr. H. S. Clark. The squadron was to operate in the utility role, using its aircraft in support of ground forces in the Falkland Islands and was to commission and be ready for deployment within one week. Ten Sea Kings were transferred to the new Squadron, all of them being HAS.2 or HAS.2A machines transferred from other Squadrons. The aircraft remained dark blue-grey overall, with the white removed from their roundels.

White titles and serials were overpainted black prior to departure and embarked in "Queen Elizabeth 2" and "Atlantic Causeway" in Plymouth Sound on 13th May, for the journey to the Falkland Islands. The ships arrived in the area on 27th May and the Sea Kings soon began disembarking troops and equipment from the ships to the shore, before setting up a Forward Operating Base at Port San Carlos on the Falklands.

The Sea Kings carried out resupply and administration tasks as well as collecting Prisoners-of-War in return. 14th June was the Squadron's busiest day, as this was the Argentine Surrender. By this time, they had flown in excess of 1,700 hours in two weeks (equivalent to six months of flying in peace time). They then had to join in the massive transfer of PoWs to ships for reparation to Argentina.

The squadron finally returned to the UK on 13th July, arriving off Cornwall on 27th July. 825 Squadron finally disbanded on 17th September, their slogan "Stay alive with 825" holding good, as they had suffered no casualties at all. They had flown 1,756 hours in 394 sorties involving 1,051 deck landings during "Operation Corporate".