Sons' heli of a history

FLEET Air Arm shipmates Harvey Lewis and Sam Skelson recreated a treasured snap after discovering that their dads served together too, more than a quarter of a century ago.

- By Dean Murray

Harvey and Sam were assigned to Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke to maintain its Wildcat helicopter while the Plymouth-based warship patrolled British waters.

When 24-year-old Harvey, from Portsmouth, was chatting with his veteran dad Gaz he mentioned the rest of his team on 05 Flt from 815 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset.

And one surname, Skelson, rang a distinct bell with his father...

In 1999, then-Petty Officer Gaz Lewis was serving with Leading Air Engineering Mechanic Andrew Skelson aboard HMS Exeter.