Operation Maturin

On 8 Oct 2005, a 7.5 Magnitude earthquake within the Indus–Kohistan Seismic Zone of Pakistani administered Kashmir occurred, centred around Muzaffarabad which caused extensive damage and displaced millions from their homes.

By 13 Oct the UK had contributed to an advanced NATO party to coordinate the subsequent relief efforts. Initially this was by flying in ration packs and bottled water by RAF C-130 based in Afghanistan. An RAF C-17 lifted two civilian Pumas of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Islamabad from Seville on 17 Oct and this was followed by a deployment of 3 Chinooks from 27 Squadron, which began leaving from RAF Fairford on 22 Oct, also by C-17. The Chinooks returned to RAF Odiham on 5 Dec 2005.