Crown Copyright Royal Navy Pilot Lieutenant Commander Andrew ‘Tank’ Murray, who flies with 771 Naval Air Squadron (Search and Rescue) ...
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| Crown Copyright |
Having joined the Royal Navy in 1986, ‘Tank’ gained his flying “Wings” in September 1988 and in under a year was flying on the frontline with 814 Naval Air Squadron.
He has flown most of the Royal Navy’s aircraft during his long and distinguished career including Gazelles, Chipmunks (de Havilland dhc-1) and Bulldogs (Grob G115) but it is the ‘venerable Sea King’ that has proved to be his most loved aircraft.
Along with some impressive frontline operational service with the ‘Mighty King’ on 814, 820, 849 and 857 NAS’s, ‘Tank’ has also completed training tours with 810 & 706 NAS, and SAR duties with Gannet SAR Flight in Scotland and 771 NAS where he now serves.
He has been on operational frontline service in Iraq, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan, where recently he supported coalition operations during Op Herrick, flying missions out of Camp Bastion in Helmand province.
He was awarded the prestigious Air Force Cross (AFC) for his bravery during a dramatic rescue in the Scottish Highlands and have flown over 360 SAR missions.
