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A famous WWII Pathfinder unit, No.7 Squadron flew Stirling bombers before converting to Lancasters to spearhead the RAF Bomber Command night offensive in 1942. Post-war, the squadron flew Lincolns, Valiants and Canberras before receiving Chinook helicopters in 1982. Since then it has been constantly at the forefront of support operations in The Falklands, Northern Ireland, Beirut, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Sierra Leone, and was deeply involved in the 1991 Gulf War, proudly continuing its ‘Pathfinder’ origins
This beautiful and powerful portrayal of No.7 Squadron's heavily armed and highly modified Chinooks in action provides a rare glimpse into the dark world of Special Forces helicopter operations. By Day, By Night portrays a pair of Chinooks taking off in typical desert conditions faced by the squadron's crews during recent Special Forces operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Flying often at night, far behind enemy lines and in extreme weather conditions, No.7 Squadron's crews are frequently called upon to test the limits of their aircraft's performance envelope. Little is known about these operations and much of their flying is shrouded in the secrecy surrounding Special Forces, but the numerous honours and awards for gallantry which are quietly gazetted from time to time give some clues about the dangerous nature of No.7 Squadron's duties.
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