Benson took centre stage during a visit from the Defence Minister yesterday.

Philip Dunne visited the base to meet personnel, crews and engineers and inspect the helicopter fleet.

His visit was to highlight the different types of helicopter that have been deployed in overseas work over the past 12 months.

Mr Dunne said: “The Government has invested £6bn to sustain and improve our helicopter capability over the last four years.”

Fleets include the Merlin Mk2, which is delivering support in Sierra Leone to tackle Ebola.

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