Search and Rescue

Mission

The primary task of 303 Search And Rescue Squadron was to search for and rescue bailed out military pilots and crew members near the live firing range Vliehors, Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) range on the North Sea or the Temporary Reserved Air spaces (TRA) north of the Wadden islands.

The secondary task of the Search And Rescue Squadron was the transportation of patients from the Wadden Islands in the north of The Netherlands in medical situations that require fast transportation. In August of 1993 the SAR Flight performed its 2,000^th MEDEVAC flight. Annually an average of 120 humanitarian flights are being conducted. When the unit was disbanded in 2015, around 5,500 medical flights had been made.

Ranges

After the Second World War, five firing ranges in the northern part of The Netherlands were established for the various NATO air forces. The ranges on the island Vlieland (called Vliehors) and at the island Terschelling (called Noordvaarder — nowadays closed down) were air-to-ground ranges: air force fighters were able to strafe and bomb simulated targets. On the North Sea, three air-to-air ranges were established, where aircraft could fire at towed decoys at an altitude of 3,000 feet.

Early SAR Task

NATO regulations require that a rescue helicopter is standing by during actual use of a live firing range. This was the case back then and this is still a requirement nowadays. In the early days, an old ex-Navy helicopter was used for this purpose at Leeuwarden Air Base. However, this helicopter was required for other duties and at the end of 1958 the RNLAF ordered six Sud Aviation Alouette II helicopters to perform this task.

On March 25, 1959, the first two Alouette helicopters were transferred from Le Bourget to Ypenburg Air Base. The helicopters were stationed with 298 Squadron temporarily. On April 25, 1959 the SAR/TAR (Search And Rescue / Tactical Air Rescue) unit was declared operational.

Until 1967 the unit remained at Ypenburg but due to the fact that the ranges were all situated in the north, one of the SAR helicopters was stationed on the island Terschelling in 1959.

Early action

The same day the first of six Alouettes arrived on Terschelling in 1959, two F-84s of 311 Squadron were involved in a midair collision near Eenrum, in the northern part of the province of Groningen. Only one of the pilots survived and he was picked up by the SAR and flown to the hospital of Leeuwarden.

Independent unit

In 1960 two additional Alouette IIs were purchased. On August 6, 1960, these two helicopters were sent to Birak, New Guinea, for TAR purposes together with 12 Hawker Hunters and the only Dutch aircraft carrier Karel Doorman. After the transfer from New Guinea to Indonesia, the flight returned to The Netherlands in October 1962.

On September 1, 1961 the unit became independent from 298 Squadron and in 1962 the SAR was granted independent status.

Alouette III

Between September and November 1967, the Alouette II was replaced by the somewhat larger and faster Alouette III. In the Alouette II, the pilot operated the hoist, and the other crew member was a mechanic/rescuer. With the Alouette III a crew member was added and the hoist was operated by a separate hoist operator.

In 1968 the TAR task was abandoned. Because Ypenburg Air Base was closed down, 298 Squadron and the SAR unit were transferred to Soesterberg Air Base. The name of the SAR was changed into SAR/Photo flight. A year later the unit was appointed as the official unit to transport members of the Royal family.

Photo ©1997 S.T. Planken

Agusta Bell AB412SP

After a major reorganization, the SAR unit was transferred to Leeuwarden Air Base in July 1977, closer to the ranges. The aerial photography unit remained at Soesterberg, and the Royal Flights were abandoned.

In March 1991 it was announced that the Alouette III would be replaced by a lighter type of helicopter. On October 19, 1992, a contract was signed with Agusta Bell for the purchase of three AB412SP helicopters. At the end of 1993 the first of this type was handed over to the Air Force and the first Alouette III was put out of service. On March 18, 1994 the SAR was operational with the AB412SP.

In the AB412 a crew consists of two pilots and a hoist operator. Depending on the situation the fourth crew member can be either a rescuer or medic. With modern avionics, instruments, and navigational aids it is possible to operate under poor weather conditions.

AB412SP modifications

Lower skids

Photo ©1998 A.L. Postma
Installation of lower skids (R-02).

Photo ©1998 A.L. Postma
The result (R-03).

End of Search and Rescue tasks

On January 15, 2015, at 15:03, a ceremony was held at Leeuwarden Air Base to mark the decommissioning of the AB412 and the disbandment of 303 Squadron.

The search and rescue tasks and the medical from the islands will be performed by Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV).

Crest and motto

The Squadron's crest consists of a life-buoy on a blue background. The motto Servans in Periculo means Serving in Danger.

Chronology