The Puma is 40 Black Peter Mountain Flying Training
In Action
28, 33 and 230 Squadron - (Benson Wing)
RAF Benson
(Joint Helicopter Command)
Aviation Photography RAF 28 Squadron

28(AC) Squadron became the combined Puma and Chinook Operational Conversion Unit with Chinooks HC.4s (upgraded to HC.6A) and pooled (33 and 230 Squadron) Puma HC.2s from October 21, 2015.
Westland Puma HC.1 (later HC.2) operational time-line:

33 Squadron
RAF Odiham September 1971 to June 1997
RAF Benson June 1997 to current day

28 Squadron (Operational Conversion Unit for Chinook and Puma HC.2)
RAF Benson from October 2015 to current day
230 Squadron
RAF Odiham October 1971 to September 1980
RAF Gutersloh September 1980 to April 1992
RAF Aldergrove May 1992 to November 2009
RAF Benson November 2009 to current day.

Role Demo
Aviation Photography RAF 33 Squadron
Troop insertion by fast rope.
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Puma HC.1s (XW199 and ZA937) participating in a role demo at RAF Benson in September 2011.
Left to right: Troop insertion and Troop exfiltration from the battle area. Transportation of light field gun.

Off base in the Snowdonia Mountain Flying Training Area (MFTA).
Aviation Photography RAF 33 Squadron
Puma HC.2 (ZJ955 'P') better known as 'Black Peter' in May 2015.
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Left to right: Puma HC.2 (ZJ955 'P') of 230 Squadron callsign 'Baron' in the MFTA.

On Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA)
Aviation Photography RAF 33 Squadron
Puma HC.2 (XW232) in February 2016.
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Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW213 'E') using callsign 'Vortex 281' in November 2022 on Salisbury Plain.
Puma HC.2 (XW216 'G') using callsign 'Vortex ?34' in November 2022 on Salisbury Plain.
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Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW231 'N') using callsign 'Vortex 381' in two confined areas in the Lindens in November 2021.
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Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW232 'P') using callsign 'Vortex 365' with 28 Squadron in the Lindens in January 2020.
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Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW224) in 230 Tiger Squadron markings on Salisbury Plain in October 2020.
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Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW212) using callsign 'Vortex 331' on Salisbury Plain in January 2018.
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Left to right: Puma HC.2 (ZJ956) using callsign 'Vortex 305' in January 2017.
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Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW232) now with RAF Benson Wing (33/230 Squadron). It had been part of the QinetiQ Test Fleet operating from Boscombe Down September 2012 to April 2013 as it was the first Eurocopter HC.2 conversion. It also sill shows feint 'KFOR' markings on the side in February 2016.
Puma HC.2 (XW231) in the Lindens using callsign 'Vortex 302' in January 2017.
Puma HC.2 (ZJ956) in the CCDA using callsign 'Vortex 305' in January 2017.
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Puma HC.2 (XW219) using callsign 'Vortex 003' the crew identify and check out the landing zone in the confined landing area carefully and after several low passes approach and drop in with all crew advising the pilot of the proximity of the trees and the ground. September 2014.
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Puma HC.2 (XW219) in September 2014.

Off Base
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Puma HC.1s (XW226 and XW212) at the FRP on Salisbury Plain Training Area during exercise 'Pashtun Jaguar 2-11' in August 2011.
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Puma HC.1s (XW199 and ZA937) at RAF Benson in September 2011.
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Left to right: Puma HC.1 (XW199 and ZA937) at RAF Benson in September 2011.
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Left to right: Puma HC.1 (XW199) at low-level through the Lake District in September 2006. Puma HC.2 (ZA936) in the Derwent Valley in September 2014.
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Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW231 'N') at 50 feet AGL passing through the Lake District in September 2021.
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Left to right: Puma HC.2 (ZJ954 'W') using callsign 'Vortex 248' passing through LFA7 in January 2022.

On Base
Aviation Photography RAF 33 Squadron
Puma HC.1 (ZA937) heads line-up at RAF Benson in September 2011.
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Puma HC.1 (XW199 and ZA937) at RAF Benson in September 2011.
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Left to right: Puma HC.1 (XW199 and ZA937) at RAF Benson in September 2011.
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Left to right: Puma HC.1 (ZA937) at RAF Benson in September 2011.
Aviation Photography RAF 33 Squadron
Puma HC.1 (XW199) about to depart to RAF Benson.
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Left to right: Puma HC.1 (XW199) departing from RAF Northolt in March 2009.
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Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW213) at RAF Northolt in October 2014.

Operational Conversion Unit for Chinook and Puma HC.2
Aviation Photography RAF 28 Squadron
Chinook HC.4 (ZH777) better known as 'Peggy' it is painted to commemorate 100 years of 28 Squadron in February 2018 at RAF Odiham

Off base on the Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA).
Aviation Photography RAF 28 Squadron
Chinook HC.4 (ZD984) using callsign 'Vortex 225' from 2016.
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Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA679) with 28 Squadron (Chinook and Puma Operational Conversion Unit) on EvDZ in June 2020.
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Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA677) using callsign 'Vortex 260' on the EvDZ in January 2019.
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Left to right: Chinook HC.4 (ZA677) using callsign 'Vortex 251' in a confined landing area in March 2018.
Chinook HC.6A (ZA711) using callsign 'Vortex 255' with 28 Squadron (Chinook and Puma Operational Conversion Unit) in October 2020.
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Left to right: Chinook HC.4 (ZA710) using callsign 'Vortex 590' with 28 Squadron, they are doing underslung loads (USL) training on West Everleigh in January 2018.
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Left to right: Chinook HC.4 (ZH777) inscribed '28 Squadron 1915 - 2015' it is better known as 'Peggy' it is painted to commemorate 100 years of 28(R) Squadron it is based at RAF Odiham in January 2017.
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Left to right: Chinook HC.4 (ZD984) using callsign 'Vortex 225' throwing it ('advanced flying' according to comms') around on the DZ.
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Left to right: Chinook HC.4 (ZD984) using callsign 'Vortex 225'.
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Left to right: Chinook HC.4 (ZD984) using callsign 'Vortex 225'.