Lossie squadron prepares for Afghan mission

The 617 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth is preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan.

MEMBERS of an RAF Lossiemouth squadron are being put through a week of intense training to prepare them for a mission to Afghanistan in March.

The 617 Squadron is expected to land in Kandahar next month, at around the same as the Afghanistan-bound 5 Force Protection Wing – also from RAF Lossiemouth – heads to Camp Bastion.

Members of the 617 Squadron are currently in the middle of a ‘War Week’ training exercise, to prepare them for the challenges they could face in the war-torn country.

Once deployed, 617 Squadron will take over from 12 (Bomber) Squadron, also from RAF Lossiemouth.

A party of 131 personnel, 126 men and five women, will leave RAF Lossiemouth at the beginning of March for the four-month deployment. The majority are engineers, with just 26 air crew personnel.

Wing Commander Keith Taylor took charge of 617 Squadron during a mission to Kandahar in 2010.

He said today (Thursday) that he was hoping for similar successes in 2012.

"Last time the success was coming back having not delivered a single weapon," Wg Cdr Taylor said.

"That all points towards the progress that is being made in Afghanistan. Last time we attended numerous situations on the ground, but we were never required to deliver a weapon.

"Something similar this time would obviously be a success. Getting everybody out there, doing our job . . . and coming back all safe and sound. On my part that’s success."