Joint Helicopter Support Squadron

The Joint Helicopter Support Squadron (JHSS) is a joint organisation of the British Army and the Royal Air Force, located at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.

Joint Helicopter Support Squadron
Squadron badge
Active1982 (1982) – present
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch British Army
 Royal Air Force
TypeJoint service unit
RoleHelicopter support
Part ofJoint Helicopter Command
Home stationRAF Benson
Motto(s)Together we deliver
Websitewww.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-logistic-corps/rlc-specialist-units/joint-helicopter-support-squadron/

History
A Royal Air Force Chinook carrying a British Army Land Rover as an under slung load.
A Royal Air Force Chinook carrying a British Army Land Rover as an under slung load.

Following the introduction of the Boeing Chinook HC.1, the unit was formed in July 1982 during the Falklands War as the Joint Helicopter Support Unit (JHSU).[1] Personnel were drawn from the Royal Corps of Transport and Royal Army Ordnance Corps (both now amalgamated into the Royal Logistic Corps) plus the Royal Corps of Signals and the Royal Air Force.[2] After the war the unit was officially formed at RAF Odiham in Hampshire and RAF Gütersloh in Germany.[1]

In September 2009, the unit became the Joint Helicopter Support Squadron (JHSS) following its merger with the RAF's Mobile Air Operations Team (MAOT).[1]

During 2016 the squadron moved from RAF Odiham to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.[3]

Role and operations

The squadron is tasked with providing a ground support capability to Joint Helicopter Command's support helicopter force, including specialist skills in under-slung load operations and preparation of landing sites.[4] It has two teams on very high readiness which are able to contribute to contingent operations at short notice, such as natural disaster relief.[1]

References
  1. "Joint Helicopter Support Squadron 40th Anniversary". Royal Air Force. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  2. "Joint Helicopter Support Unit (JHSU)". British Army. 17 February 2002. Archived from the original on 10 March 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  3. "RAF Benson". Facebook. 30 September 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  4. "RAF Benson - Joint Helicopter Support Squadron". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
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