Servicemen cause RAF golf investigation
- Thursday, 5 March 2009
- 1 Comments
An urgent RAF investigation is underway as reports suggest a Search and Rescue helicopter was used to transport servicemen to play a round of golf.
A dozen passengers, thought to be mostly non-commissioned officers from RAF Chivenor in north Devon, were seen exiting the Sea King helicopter at nearby Willingcott Valley Golf Course just outside Woolacombe.
As questions were asked about the appropriate use of military resources, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "There are strict rules in place regarding use of military aircraft and we are urgently investigating this incident to ensure regulations have been observed.”
Lib Dem defence spokesman Nick Harvey told one newspaper: "If true, this is an outrageous abuse of an exceptionally precious commodity.
"Soldiers' lives are being put at risk because of helicopter shortage and Search and Rescue is under great strain. The public will want answers on how the MoD this is an appropriate use of resources."
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Reader comments
Add your commentsMarch 06 11:49
tony cooke
I would suggest to Mr Harvey MP that the only exceptionally precious commodity is the service people who man and maintain the machines. With that in mind if we can make their down time from the current trouble spots of the world a little easier then it should be so. This is only one such occurance I would wonder how many MP's are currently discussing their financial arrangements. I would suggest that this outrageous abuse would be a more profitable line of enquiry.