During Operation Telic, at 0430 on 22 March 2003, 2 Sea King Mk7s from 849 Naval Air Squadron 'A' (Aardvark) flight, call sign 'Red Rats', tragically collided over the Northern Arabian Gulf killing all 7 crew members.

The Commanding Officer of 849 Naval Air Squadron (NAS), would like to commemorate this tragic event and raise both awareness of our lost brethren, and all those members of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) who have made the ultimate sacrifice since World War 1, of which there are no fewer than 6000, and also raise money for 3 charities – The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC), the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal, and the Fly Navy Heritage Trust.

This will be achieved by an organised 400 mile cycle ride by a group of personnel from the SKASaC Force, led by CO 849 NAS, starting at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall on the 18th March 2013 to the NMA, Staffordshire, to arrive at 1300 on Friday 22 March 2013 for the unveiling of the newly placed 849NAS plinth at the FAA memorial.

About the Charities...

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) exist to provide a better quality of life for serving and former Naval Service personnel. This includes the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Maritime Reserves, QARNNS (Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service), and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and former members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service.  They provide a single focus for charities that support Naval Service personnel.

The National Memorial Arboretum (NMA)  is the UK's year-round centre of Remembrance; a spiritually uplifting place which honours the fallen, recognises service and sacrifice, and fosters pride in our country. It is a living and lasting memorial. It commemorates and celebrates those who have given their lives in the service of their country, all who have served and suffered as a result of conflict, and others who, for specific or appropriate reasons, are commemorated here. 16000 names have been added to the memorial wall since WW1.

Fly Navy Heritage Trust exists to enable the Royal Navy Historic Flight to display its iconic Fairey Swordfish, Hawker Sea Fury and Hawker/Armstrong Whitworth Sea Hawk at Air Shows across the United Kingdom and increase public awareness of the glorious heritage of British Naval Aviation.

The legacy of those we lost in Op Telic is the development of the Sea King Mk 7 Airborne Surveillance & Control (SKASaC) as it realised its true potential in the land surveillance role with the crews providing invaluable intelligence information to aid commanders and troops on the ground and in the maritime environment. The operational contribution continues in Afghanistan to this day.

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