816 Squadron to receive McNicoll Trophy
| What: | Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Stephen Gilmore, will visit HMAS Albatross to present the McNicoll Trophy. |
| When: | 10:00am, Friday, 11 March 2011. |
| Where: | 816 Hangar, HMAS Albatross, Nowra Hill. |
The McNicoll Trophy is a longstanding Navy award. First presented in 1968 it is awarded annually to the squadron or aviation support unit with the best record in flying, safety and proficiency.
A ‘clear lower deck’ will be called in the 816 Hangar at 10:00am when 816 Commanding Officer, Commander Shane Craig, will accept the award from Rear Admiral Steve Gilmore on behalf of his squadron.
Commander Craig considers the award well-earned recognition of the tireless efforts of his personnel throughout the past 12 months.
“2010 was a successful year for 816,” Commander Craig said.
“Recent deployments have included anti-piracy activities in the Arabian Sea, where the Squadron maintains one Seahawk continuously. Within Australia, the Squadron has been involved in the Queensland and Victorian flood relief efforts and conducted major exercises in Perth, Darwin and Newcastle.
“To operate effectively at that level you need a very dedicated and committed team and while we have the satisfaction of having done our jobs and done them well, the acknowledgment that comes with the McNicoll Trophy makes this even more gratifying,” Commander Craig said.
816 Squadron also received the Grand Master’s Australian Medal from the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators, for its services in the Middle East over the previous 20 years.
The Squadron operates 16 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters. The primary role of 816 Squadron is to provide anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface surveillance capabilities to Navy.
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