RAF Joins Allies In Celebrating Romanian Navy Day

Celebrations take place for the 115th Romanian Navy Day (Picture: Ministry of Defence)

Royal Air Force personnel and aircraft deployed in Southern Romania joined other allies to celebrate the 115th Romanian Navy Day.

A parade featuring several members of 135 Expeditionary Air Wing was followed by a flypast of two RAF Typhoons in formation with two Romanian MiG-21s.

The celebration this year coincides with the year of Romania 100.

During an address to the parade and the crowds who had gathered to witness the event, the President of Romania, Klaus Johannis, also awarded distinctions and medals to various members of the Romanian Armed Forces.

 He was joined by the Minister of Defence, Mihai Fifor.

President Klaus Johannis said:

”We are here in a region full of history, which is of strategic importance especially in the current defence context.

"Romanian Navy Day has a very important role in ensuring our sovereignty is maintained in the national maritime space.

“Events like today are proof of the values and symbols that unite us.”  

Senior Aircraftman Rhys Jones, an RAF Fire Fighter deployed from RAF Lossiemouth, who volunteered to take part in the parade said:

”I have massively enjoyed working and training alongside the Romanian Fire Services at MK Air Base.

"Both the military and civilian fire sections that I have worked with have been extremely professional and welcoming.

"It has been fantastic to be on parade with personnel from the Romanian Armed Forces, as well as troops from many other countries to celebrate Romanian Navy Day.”

He added: ”Based on the crowds that have gathered to watch us here today, it is clear that this is a significant day not only for the Romanian Navy but for the Romanian population as a whole.

“For me, the parade is a way for me to thank the Romanians for their hospitality over the past few months.”

Romanian Navy was first held in 1902 in Constanta, on August 15, on the occasion of the celebration of the ’’Dormition of the Virgin’’, the protector of the sailors.