Merlins Back In Yeovilton After Four-Month Deployment

Merlin helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron have returned to their home of Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton.

Three Mk4s, along with another of their type, have been on a four-month deployment with HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The aircraft carrier returns to the UK from the US deployment on Monday.

During the deployment, the ship successfully conducted flight trials of the F-35B jump jet.

It was the first ever operational deployment for the Merlin Mk4s, which are designed for operating in the maritime environment.

Commander Bob Bond, CO, 845 Naval Air Squadron, said: "We've been very important to the success of this deployment, we're very happy."

Lieutenant Commander Jim Bayliss, 845 Naval Air Squadron, said:

"To be part of the first-ever deployment of Queen Elizabeth, on the first ever deployment of the Merlin Mk4... it was absolutely something special, it really was."

The weather nearly hampered the Merlins' homecoming to RNAS Yeovilton, but they made it through in a gap between two storm fronts.

Lieutenant Commander Alex Hanson, Senior Pilot, 845 Naval Air Squadron, said: "To look out of the window and see all of our families and friends waiting for us to arrive was absolutely amazing.

"It took so long to go round the corner in the aircraft... or it felt like it took so long.

"It's absolutely brilliant to be back, and to see the kids rushing out to us was amazing."