During the course of Thursday our house was repeatedly overflown by pairs of Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey VTOL/STOL tilt-rotor transport aircraft flying from the direction of central London towards Kent. By 2.00pm three pairs had followed the same flight path.
The majority of these aircraft are operated by the US Marine Corps, but one wonders what they might have been doing flying over South East London.
The majority of these aircraft are operated by the US Marine Corps, but one wonders what they might have been doing flying over South East London.
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I've seen them here also (and this is the area of a US Army base, with no Marines here) I've learned that US Special Operations Command also uses them
ReplyDeletemarked as US Air Force. My guess is that's what you saw.
Don M,
DeleteInterestingly they were following the normal flight path used by military helicopters flying in and out of our section of London. (We live on top of one of the highest hills around London, and there is a very distinctive water tower at the summit that can be seen for miles, and which seems to be used as a navigation point.)
They were not quite low enough to see the markings when I managed to grab my camera in time to take these photos, but an earlier pair were much lower and looked as if they were marked with the word 'Marines' on the side.
All the best,
Bob
Looking your photo again they are Marines,
Deletethe Air Force ones are a much darker gray.
The USMC does do European operations from
time to time.
Don M,
DeleteI suspected as much. The newspapers are having a field-day about them being used to train the SAS, and that the SAS will be getting some to replace their existing helicopters.
All the best,
Bob
Typical over-reaction from the Daily Express at http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/674153/OBAMA-planes-over-London-Huge-US-helijets-over-Thames-spark-fears-of-invasion
ReplyDeleteEdwin King,
DeleteI missed that news item! Thanks for brining it to my attention.
All the best,
Bob
I suspect that Mr Trump has told his people in the Marine Corps to prepare his triumphant procession once he is elected President of the World.
ReplyDeleteJim Duncan,
DeleteProbably true! What worries me most is that he might actually have some 'people' in the Marine Corps.
All the best,
Bob
Every American I've spoken to while I'm over here is worried that he might get elected.
DeleteJim Duncan,
DeleteI find that reassuring ... up to a point. The Donald seems to be getting support from some people in the USA, and the way their electoral system works, he might just win.
All the best,
Bob
Funnily enough, I saw an Apache flying up along the Thames going East to West on Wednesday at Westminster bridge. Probably a British Army machine.
ReplyDeleteAshley,
DeleteApaches often fly over our house (sometimes quite late in the day).
All the best,
Bob
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3611263/SAS-skies-London-anti-terror-helicopters-day-ISIS-widow-issued-warning-capital-s-tubes-summer.html
ReplyDeleteSteve-the-Wargamer,
DeleteThat's the Daily Mail for you! Lots of really accurate news coverage!
All the best,
Bob
When President Obama recently came to Windsor I'm pretty certain they used a couple of these as well. The sky was so full of helicopters it was like the scene out of Apocalypse Now. The little UK police helicopters were apparently there to keep the drones away.
ReplyDeleteGuy
Guy,
DeleteI understand that the Marine detail that accompays POTUS uses Ospreys, and that one may well replace the existing 'Marine One' helicopter he currently uses.
All the best,
Bob
Actually looking at the Daily Mail images they seem to show USAF CV-22 Ospreys. They (not the ones that overflew your house) are from USAF Special Operations Command, probably the 7th Special Operations Squadron part of the 352 Special Operations Wing based at RAF Mildenhall. I was there as part of a group visit there last month and some of the Ospreys were doing take-off and landings. For understandable reasons we were not allowed to photograph the Ospreys or the AC-130 gunships also based there. However they look pretty impressive!
ReplyDeleteDavid Bradley,
DeleteVery interesting! I wish I got the opportunity to make those sorts of visits; I am very envious!
All the best,
Bob
I believe they are appearing at the IMWDuxford this weekend as part of the US themed display. Not sure whether they are flying or will be static on the ground.
ReplyDeleteBob
Bob K,
DeleteThat would make perfect sense as by flying over our house they would have been following the flight path from central London to Duxford.
All the best,
Bob