Bessbrook

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.