A few years ago my wife and I were on holiday in Devon and asked if we could visit RNAS Merryfield just to have a look. However we received an e-mail to invite us to visit at 9.30am to meet with a Lt Stringer. On arrival we were instructed to drive to the control tower where we were met by the said Lt Stringer. There we met a guy, Mac Hawkins, who I had been corresponding with about Merryfield. We discovered that his daughter was a Lt Cmdr at RNAS Yeovilton and on hearing of the fact that I was once stationed at Merryfield and my desire to visit there arranged for us to have a full day there. Following coffee and a visit to the photo history collection in the Tower we were given a tour of the airfield. The airfield is now used for the operational training of Royal Navy helicopter pilots and so there was flying training taking place. We were given a demonstration by the station Fire Service of tackling a crash fire and rescue procedure. (See attached photos). On our return to the Tower Mac and I went onto the balcony where a Lynx helicopter came up behind us to have our photograph taken. As a nice touch the helicopter bowed to us.(See attached photo). We then were taken to RNAS Yeovilton for lunch in the Officers Mess after which my Wife and I were taken to the Fleet Air Arm Museum. We spent the afternoon in this absolutely splendid Museum were you could experience life aboard an Aircraft Carrier. Merryfield is now devoid of all buildings except for the Control Tower.