november november original identification code painted military serial number original aircraft ordered raf service upgraded times history designated airframe seen action major operation involving raf helicopter year service life served lebanon germany northern_ireland iraq afghanistan aircraft seen pilots awarded actions whilst command november came attention general public survival april november loaded aboard container ship bound hit missile destroying vessel cargo november airborne task time managed land gaining nickname survivor heavy lift helicopter available british forces involved hostilities distinguished flying crosses came actions november associated aircraft famous popular imagination aircraft subject exhibit construction thirty ordered price million helicopters british variants united_states_army boeing final raf received february army introduced upgraded 1980s improvements including upgraded engines composite blades redesigned cockpit reduce pilot workload redundant improved electrical systems advanced flight control system improved raf designation new standard aircraft raf airframe converted november refitted upgraded numerous times service parts original aircraft survive today main fuselage manufacturer data plate cockpit raf serial number clearly rear aircraft remain present aircraft number designations career boeing construction number raf airframe number visible rear aircraft squadron code number aircraft varied squadron serves famous code november war associated career november distinguished career royal_air_force serving conflict years seen pilots awarded actions whilst controls aircraft war april november loaded aboard container ship bound helicopters second line repair maintenance support equipment stores sent british landings prior departing blades removed placed inside aircraft placed inside banana bags jackets protect whilst route having blades refitted small party technicians board 1st time feat attempted sea second undergone process attacked sunk super fired sea missile november airborne task time picking freight avoided ship destruction later landed aircraft carrier gaining nickname survivor owing rapid spread fire smoke aboard strike possible fly helicopters remained ship deck strike rendered british forces heavy lift helicopter service tools able carry troops casualties tons cargo distinguished flying cross awarded actions war night mission pilot squadron leader pilot flight lieutenant descended losing visibility thick snow shower hitting sea knots faulty impact threw spray flooded engine pilot managed helicopter air fuselage damaged antenna lost pilot door removed pilot door missing crew november unable navigate communicate forces november returned damage inspection impact caused little fuselage damage radio systems awarded bravery controls campaign iraq war years november saw service iraq british helicopter land ashore departing november landed royal marines peninsula seize oil pumping facilities iraqi troops destroy second actions controls november awarded squadron leader role operation iraq november tasked delivering marines landing sites marked special forces returning troops guns freight aircraft flown altitude restricted visibility dust clouds thrown american armoured forces afghanistan conflict june whilst serving afghanistan conflict flight lieutenant captain received exceptional courage outstanding operating night june tasked picking casualty mission successful despite difficult dangerous conditions led wilson fly aircraft low altitude hours incident helicopter called operations wilson landing helicopter despite low fuel duty hours wilson volunteered reinforcements line returning wounded soldiers actions hour period awarded november involved incident service afghanistan pilot flight lieutenant hit bullet fired fighters extraction injured soldiers fortune landed helicopter hot zone heavy fire landing aircraft hit numerous times round hit fortune helmet point smashed stayed control aircraft continued rescue wounded colleagues land damaged helicopter actions awarded fourth history aircraft november continues serve active duty legacy london forward fuselage painted represent november raf famous exhibit opened retired air chief marshal sir 25th anniversary war said november hugely significant raf raf singles individual aircraft tribute november exceptional museum fine art collection houses painting depicting completed november painting presented sir president boeing december
Bravo November