Bessbrook

Newry , County Armagh , Northern Ireland

united kingdom United Kingdom






Satellite and aerial maps of Bessbrook with nearby locations


Nearby locationsKmBearing
Newry Hospital , Northern Ireland 3.2117EGG53
Forkhill , Northern Ireland 13.3203
Eagles Rock , Leinster 18.0144
Crossmaglen , Northern Ireland 19.3227GBXCS
Ballyedmond , Northern Ireland 20.4132
Lough Ross , Northern Ireland 21.1233



  Bessbrook


1972 to 2007

54° 11' 39'' N     6° 23' 28'' W
2 nm NW of Newry, County Down, Newry, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
ICAO: IATA: Local: GBZSS
Elevation: 223 feet


The base was originally opened in the early 1970s to provide a secure operations area in support of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (later became the Police Service of Northern Ireland), dealing with civil unrest in Northern Ireland.

The site was originally a flax mill from 1845 but this had commercially declined and was taken over by the UK Ministry of Defence and developed into the busiest helicopter base in Europe, when it was also known as R850. It was a key site during Operation Banner, the longest continuous deployment (so far !) of British troops.

The final flight from the base was by Lynx HAS.3GMS XZ735 on 22 Jun 2007; the last troops leaving on 25 Jun. The base closed on 31 Jul 2007 and the site was returned to the landowners.



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  Operations at Bessbrook


Dates Operation
01-aug-6931-jul-07 Operation Banner




List of aircraft and events at Bessbrook


By Date | By Serial | By Model

DatesOrg/TypeUnit
1974-jun-01 AAC AH.1 XV132

1977-apr 655 Sq AH.1 XX455

1986-jan-02 AccidentAAC AH1 XZ606

1992-nov-26 AccidentAAC AH.1 ZB681
1992-nov-26 AccidentRAF SA330E XW233

1996-jun-19 655 Sq AH1 XZ192
1996-jun-19 655 Sq AH1 XZ172
1996-jun-19 655 Sq AH1 XZ218
1996-jun-19 655 Sq AH1 XZ649

1997-sep 655 Sq AH1 XZ215
1997-sep 655 Sq AH1 XZ662
1997-sep-15 665 Squadron AH.1 ZA775
1997-sep-15 655 Sq AH1 XZ673

2000-jan-13 665 Squadron AH.1 ZB674
2000-may-11 665 Squadron AH.1 ZB689
2000-dec-30 665 Squadron AH.1 ZA774

2007-jun-22 RN HAS.2 XZ735



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