Jebel Sahara 08

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Citation :: 06/10/08 SIG/10/08

Helicopters leave for exercise Jebel Sahara

Four RAF helicopters left Gibraltar for Morocco on Monday morning at the start of Exercise Jebel Sahara.

Two Chinooks from 18 Squadron and two Merlins from 78 Squadron carried the Royal Gibraltar Regiment’s weapons – plus a supply of blood in case of any emergencies during the exercise! In addition to the RAF engineering and ground crews, Major Andrew Bonfante and three other RG soldiers flew in one of the Chinooks.

The four helicopters (and another which will join the exercise later) are part of Joint Helicopter Command. They use Exercise Jebel Sahara as ideal training as both squadrons are shortly to deploy to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. ‘The Atlas Mountains provide us with ideal ‘hot and high’ flying conditions,’ said Squadron Leader Dave Morris, the Merlin detachment commander.

The Regiment’s advance party left for Morocco last Friday with the main body leaving on Wednesday on this week. The exercise lasts until the end of the month.