21st century RAF Benson
a raf agustawestland merlin hc3a. the strategic defence , security review 2010 recommended in order replace navy s ageing westland sea king hc4 s, raf s agustawestland aw101 merlin fleet should transferred royal navy s commando helicopter force. gain experience of operating , maintaining merlin, royal navy aircrew , engineers integrated merlin force @ benson during 2012. the fleet officially handed on navy during ceremony @ benson on 30 september 2014. attended royal highnesses duke of york, commodore-in-chief of fleet air arm, , prince michael of kent, honorary air marshal of raf benson. air chief marshal sir andrew pulford , 1st sea lord , chief of naval staff, admiral sir george zambellas present. ceremony marked disbandment of no. 78 squadron , s replacement 846 naval air squadron (nas). during july 2015 845 naval air squadron reformed , replaced no. 28 squadron disbanded. last phases of transition began when 846 nas moved rnas yeovilton on 26 march 2015. final merlin (serial numbe...