On October 31 one of the Defence Helicopter Command 298 squadron CH-47D
Chinooks was tasked with a long mission. During the morning they left
home base Gilze-Rijen to support a Marine Corps fast roping exercise in
Breda. They then continued for a navigation training exercise throughout
a large part of the Netherlands. From Breda they first headed to
Woensdrecht AB and then routing The Hague, Rotterdam, Schiphol Internal
Airport before arriving at former RNLAF base Soesterberg. It's now the
location of the National Military Museum (NMM).
Before the Chinook was parked on the ramp in front of the museum one of
the loadmasters was dropped of in the heath to guide the helicopter to
its parking spot. After their stop at Soesterberg the crew, due to its
mission tasking, consisting of seven pilots and loadmasters continued to
northern Netherlands. Planned were approaches at De Kooy, were DHC 7 and
860 squadrons are stationed with the NH90-NFH and then Leeuwarden AB in
time before the arrival of the first Dutch based F-35A Lightning II. A
visit to one of the Veluwe low flying training areas was also planned.
Somewhere during the (late) afternoon the Chinook was expected back at
Gilze-Rijen after completing its long mission.
Below photographs have been taken during arrival, stop and departure and
are presented in that order.
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