Continuing our coverage of the long career of the RAF’s Puma Force, we turn our attention to operations in the 1990s and into the 2000s. Paul Dunn talks to two former Puma pilots to get their perspective on flying the helicopter in combat.
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The RAF in the 1980s was a large and diverse force, primarily tasked with preparing for a potential war with the Soviet Union, but also dealing with domestic problems with the Troubles in Northern Ireland being a long running and bloody conflict. Friend of the site, Ron Gridd*, was a Puma pilot in that era, having previously served on the Westland Wessex. Here he gives us a glimpse into the joys and challenges of the Puma Force in the 1980s.
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The RAF has just retired its Puma helicopters, with a fitting tribute to a very well respected and significant type. Here at GAR, we kick off our own tribute to the Puma with a look at the final flypast which took place on the 26-27th March 2025. Words by Paul Dunn with photos by the GAR team and friends.
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On 26th September 2024, KC-10 79-1948, using the symbolic callsign GUCCI10 departed Travis AFB, California, bound for Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. In doing so, it became the last KC-10 to be retired to storage at AMARG, bringing to an end an illustrious 43 year career with the USAF. In the first of a series of posts, Paul Dunn looks back on the KC-10’s USAF service, with photos from the GAR team and friends.
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Exercise Gray Flag is a relatively small scale but high tech exercise which is organised by the US...
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