‘Heli60’ marks sixty years of Irish Air Corps services

CELEBRATIONS were held in Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel last month for ‘Heli60’, marking the 60th anniversary of when helicopter services began in the Irish Air Corps.

Tallaght man John ‘Jackie’ Mullen attended the event on November 24, after receiving an invitation due to being a stamp collector and postal historian who has a collection of Irish Air Corps items.

The celebration began with a Mass honouring deceased members of the Irish Air Corps in the church in Casement Aerodrome which is, fittingly, built in the shape of an airplane.

This was then followed by a panel discussion in a hangar centred on the 60 years of helicopter operations, and attendees got to take in static displays of past and present Air Corps aircraft.

Jackie Mullen, who is from St Maelruan’s Park, told The Echo: “Heli60 was the celebration of 60 years of helicopter service when the government purchased Alouettes which were delivered on November 24, 1963.

“Celebrations were held in Baldonnel with interviews of helicopter service personnel and pilots, which was extremely interesting.

“Each guest received a limited print of 250 of a painting by Capt Bernard O’Raw, an Air Corps artist.

“The evening’s celebrations were hosted by Lt Col David Browne Officer Commanding No.3 Operations Wing, and the event was attended by Brig. Gen. Rory O’Connor ,GOC Irish Air Corps.”

Attendees got a chance to mingle after the event, with the option of retiring to the non-commissioned officers’ mess after the celebrations.