201 Squadron could take flight once more
GUERNSEY'S Own 201 Squadron could return to the skies following the UK defence review.
Scrapped after the 2010 review terminated the Nimrod MRA4 programme, this year's announced a plan to buy nine Boeing Poseidon P8s maritime reconnaissance aircraft in a £2bn. deal.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said that, although no decision as to which squadron would operate the submarine hunting aircraft had been taken, 201 was not ruled out.
'We are looking at it and will make a decision in due course.'
Scrapping the Nimrod programme was widely criticised at the time, but was justified by the UK Government on the grounds that it would save £2bn over 10 years, and that, at the time of the decision, the £4bn fleet had yet to take to the air.
It left a massive gap in UK defences, and, on several occasions since, including the week when the Poseidon purchase was announced, the MoD had to call on allies to provide submarine hunting capabilities after possible Russian incursions into its territorial waters.
Officially disbanded on 26 May 2011, 201 Squadron's affiliation with the island dated back to 26 May 1939 and the visit of a flying boat from 201 Squadron to St Peter Port.
