Helicopter Recovery A Combined Operation - 1st October 1965

Wreckage Returned To Base After Four Days

Not until Saturday did the helicopter that crashed into the River Torridge at Bideford on Tuesday week return to its base at RAF Chivenor - on a REME low-loader. Its recovery, a combined operation, presented a real problem and occupied airmen, soldiers adn divers for many hours after the actual salvage work had begun. It was held up for some time to await the arrival of experts. Around noon on Friday cables were attached by frogmen and work began on the laborius process of winching the aircraft to the bank, use being made of two winches. It was 4pm before the wreckage was close inshore. At high tide part of it was again submerged. During the operation one of the soldiers who was working on the winch rope collapsed. He fell down the bank, but was prevented by two companions from crashing on to the rocks. The man was removed by ambulance to Bideford Hospital but was later able to return to his unit. Operations were resumed on Saturday and about midday the helicopter had been pulled on to the bank. A massive crane lifted it on to the low loader and with a police escort the convoy of vehicles set off for Chivenor in mid afternoon. At Chivenor an examination was begun to see if the helicopter can be salvaged or whether it is to be scrapped. Further equipment was taken to the scene after a plan to attach air bags to the wreckage and float it down the river to an East-the-Water slipway was abandoned. An amphibious crane attempted to reach the wreck, but was baulked by the arches of the bridge.