Unit Life: 1 AAC REME Wildcat Recovery

1 AAC REME Wildcat Recovery

Scribe: Capt Tallis REME

On Fri 30 Jul 21, Ex AQUILAS STRIKE had just finished and three Wildcat helicopters were flying back from MOD Woodbridge. 10 minutes into the flight the lead Helicopter received a warning indicating that engine one was on fire. The Pilots immediately shut down the engine and discharged one of the two fire suppression bottles. The caption remained so the second fire

Protective covers secured to the Wildcat

suppression bottle was discharged. Now with the aircraft flying on one engine and no means of fighting a fire the pilots had to make an emergency landing. Rapidly approaching the Orwell river, the Pilots identified a Farmer’s field as a landing site and carried out an emergency run on landing before evacuating the aircraft.

Once the aircraft had been safely evacuated the other two Wildcat helicopters notified ATF (Aviation Task Force) operations team and they deployed elements of 661 Sqn. The situation was initially very confused due to the ‘end Ex’ situation and the fact that nearly all elements of the exercise had been collapsed and the road moves back to the Main Operating Base were underway. REME Technicians were quickly deployed to the site and an initial assessment was made by the Sqn and ATF that due to the restricted difficult access to the site, the aircraft being in the middle of a ploughed field, and both fire bottles being discharged, it would be necessary to request the assistance of the Joint Aircraft Recovery Team (JARTS). It was clear from the initial assessment of the aircraft that a major fire had

Capt Tallis overseeing the removal of the propeller blades

De-fueling taking place, in preparation for the road move

Removal of the blades, in progress

not taken place but there was a question mark over the condition of the fire wire system. It was not possible to confirm this at the time as there appeared to be no access for any heavy vehicles and Airfield Support Equipment (ASE). Whilst the initial aircraft assessment was being made the ATF operations team requested the assistance of the RAF Marham PCMIO (Post Crash Management Incident Officer) to assist at the scene. The RAF Liaison Officer (RAFLO) and PCMIO were quickly on site with JARTS arriving later that evening. As per Post Crash management SOPs, an aircraft guard force were deployed from the RAF Leeming mountain rescue ‘Take off’, the Wildcat is lifted so the HET can reverse under the aircraft team. They secured the site whilst plans were put together for the recovery. Initially the site was deemed to be so difficult to access that recovery would be extremely difficult and the original assessment of not being able to repair the aircraft was revisited (The work required to recover a Wildcat helicopter which had both fire bottles discharged and investigate a possible spurious fire fault was assessed to be a

Tie down complete and final checks being carried out HET leaving the farmers field, heading towards the hardstanding area, where it is later transferred to the RAF low loader

HET in place and tied down, ready for the next stage

With everything tied down and secured, it is ready to leave the farmers field

Lifted off the HET, ready for the approved trailer to take it to Yeovil

lengthy process made even more difficult due to the access and conditions at the aircraft). The following day however, with more time at the site, JARTS contacted 19 Sqn RLC to assist with assessing the area. Capt Shields answered the call and went to recce the site. This is what he had to say.

‘In August 19 Sqn was rapidly tasked with recceing a Wildcat Helicopter that had made an emergency landing outside of Ipswich after it had just begun its return back to base from a training exercise. The Ops Officer Capt Shields and Staff Sergeant Miles was tasked with recceing the area, to see if the Oshkosh Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) could provide the lift to move the Wildcat to a suitable location for offloading.’

Once the recce was complete and 19 Sqn RLC had tested the ground and improved access, JARTS concluded the best course of action was to recover the aircraft by road. However, even with improved access, the authorised trailer would still not have been able to gain access to the field. Therefore, it was agreed that a HET provided by 19 Sqn RLC would transport the aircraft out of the field and then it would be transferred to an approved trailer. A small team from 661 Sqn LAD lead by Capt Tallis and SSgt Morris, were stood up to prepare the Aircraft for the road move, along with a SVR from (4 Regt AAC Veh Rec Sect).

By the afternoon of Mon 2 Aug 21 the team from 661 Sqn LAD arrived and immediately set about preparing the aircraft for the road move. The team worked into the evening and with most tasks complete the aircraft was ready for the lift the following day.

The JARTS team were impressed with the progress and moved the lift forward. Again 19 Sqn RLC was called upon to bring their HET in. This is what they had to say:

‘One HET with crew and Liaison Officer from 19 Sqn was tasked with supporting the JARTS in the movement of the Wildcat from the field to an area of hard standing to enable it to cross load the platform onto the JARTS low loader vehicle. The Driver Tank Transporters Operator’s (DTTO) comprised of LCpl Williams, LCpl Fastinage and Pte Fanshaw.

Once the HET arrived under the JARTS and with support from the REME 661 Sqn 1AAC the Wildcat was lifted onto the Kings Trailer and secured down. After secured the HET moved the Wildcat towards a secure area of hard standing within the farmyard. This allowed for the safe cross load of the Wildcat onto the RAF load loader from the HET. This was a unique opportunity to working alongside specialised lift capabilities within Defence.’

The cab was lifted onto the HET and then transferred to the approved trailer the very next day. The cab was then road moved back to RNAS Yeovilton. The REME team from 1 Regt was: Capt Tallis, SSgt Morris, PO Godwin, Sgt Williams, LCpl Melhuish, LCpl Munezero and LCpl Appleby (AAC).

After arriving at Yeovil, the cab is being lifted off the trailer Lowered safely at Yeovil