S.Atlantic : Mount Pleasant Complex gets an inter-Service education
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 13.08.2010 (Article Archived on 27.08.2010)

On Saturday, 24th July, the Expeditionary Air Wing HQ gave 30 personnel from all ranks and Services the opportunity to visit the Wing and have a look around the different types of aircraft that mount operations in the Falkland Islands. The tour included talks on the Sea King, the VC10 & C130J Hercules* as well the Typhoons, the fast-jet fighter aircraft.

Mount Pleasant Complex gets an inter-Service education

On Saturday, 24th July, the Expeditionary Air Wing HQ gave 30 personnel from all ranks and Services the opportunity to visit the Wing and have a look around the different types of aircraft that mount operations in the Falkland Islands. The tour included talks on the Sea King, the VC10 & C130J Hercules* as well the Typhoons, the fast-jet fighter aircraft.   The tour was aimed at giving personnel an in-depth understanding of how the RAF goes about their daily business in the Falkland Islands and their air capability from defence to search and rescue operations. Experienced operators were on hand to explain what the aircraft are capable of and why Aircrew drink so much tea and coffee!  The tour concluded with 10 personnel being selected for an Air Experience Flight in a Hercules.  Due to popular demand the 905 EAW will be back to conduct another tour soon!

This was reciprocated by the Roulement Infantry Company, the Number 3 Company 1^st Battalion the Welsh Guards and elements of B Squadron the Light Dragoons on the following Thursday, 29^th July.  After an introduction to the responsibilities and challenges of an Infanteer in current operations, audiences were then treated to a video of the operations the RIC have carried out in the Falkland Islands.  Attendees were then invited for a walk-through talk-through on weaponry used out here on patrols and the live firing ranges such as the Light and Heavy Machine Gun, the General Purpose Machine Gun, rockets and mortars.

Once the visitors had been exhausted with all the information from the various kit and weapon stands, Carole Green and Phil Worldhem presented the Guardsmen with a photo of Fitzroy taken at the 25^th Anniversary of the conflict.  Phil spoke of how ‘privileged’ and ‘honoured’ they felt to have met the Company and to have hosted them in Fitzroy this year.  He said they’re thoughts are always with the Welsh Guards when they’re on operations in Afghanistan.  They both try to meet every Welsh Guards veteran that returns to the Falkland Islands and mourn the losses from the conflict yearly.  Major James Hobrough, Officer in Command of the Welsh Guards, spoke fondly of their time here and in particular their time at Fitzroy on the 8^th June and the overwhelming hospitality that was provided by the Islanders.  “It had been fundamental for the Guards across all ranks to see and experience their Regimental history so closely”.

Source: Media Ops - MPC