RNAS Culdrose have welcomed back Captain James Hall as he becomes the new commanding officer of the Helston air station.

Captain Hall has taken over the role from captain Stuart Irwin, who has been in command for just over two years.

Captain Hall said: “I am incredibly proud and excited to return home to Culdrose. As a previous Sea King and Merlin aviator it is a huge privilege to take command of this air station at a time when we have already commenced the transition of maritime aviation to encompass uncrewed and autonomous systems within our fighting arm.

“The women and men of the Fleet Air Arm are the heartbeat of everything that we do, and the team here at RNAS Culdrose is pivotal to delivering outputs for our nation. The continued necessity to protect the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent, to defend the carriers HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth, whilst also deploying on other ships across the globe, will ensure that we remain at the forefront of developments in maritime warfare and naval aviation.”

Pictured- Captain James Hall addresses personnel based at RNAS Culdrose. RNAS Culdrose welcomed Captain James Hall as he becomes the new commanding officer of the Helston air station. Captain Hall said: “I am incredibly proud and excited to return home to RNAS Culdrose. As a previous Sea King and Merlin aviator it is a huge privilege to take command of this air station at a time when we have already commenced the transition of maritime aviation to encompass uncrewed and autonomous systems within our fighting arm. “The women and men of the Fleet Air Arm are the heartbeat of everything that we do, and the team here at Culdrose is pivotal to delivering outputs for our nation. The continued necessity to protect the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent, to defend the carriers HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth, whilst also deploying on other ships across the globe, will ensure that we remain at the forefront of developments in maritime warfare and naval aviation.”
Captain James Hall addresses personnel at RNAS Culdrose. Picture: Royal Navy

He said it was an exciting time to return to Culdrose, adding: “If I reflect on the deep history of this air station in the local community and its support to our nation, it is clear that a huge amount has been achieved.

“Eighty years ago today construction work had already commenced to develop the earliest version of Culdrose before its commissioning in April 1947. However, the landscape has continually changed to meet the operational need and that is no different today in the exciting period that will follow for us all.”

He said the next phase of infrastructure developments will provide new hangars for the Merlin Mk2 aircraft, a modern training environment for air engineers, aircrew and aircraft handlers, and the facilities needed to test, evaluate and operate maritime autonomous systems.

Captain Hall joined the Royal Navy in 2001 and trained as a Sea King helicopter observer in airborne surveillance and control. He served multiple times in Afghanistan, between 2009 and 2014, and became the senior observer of 849 Naval Air Squadron. He was then promoted to the command of 857 Naval Air Squadron when the squadron were deployed for embarked maritime security operations in the Middle East.

Pictured- Captain James Hall addresses personnel based at RNAS Culdrose. RNAS Culdrose welcomed Captain James Hall as he becomes the new commanding officer of the Helston air station. Captain Hall said: “I am incredibly proud and excited to return home to RNAS Culdrose. As a previous Sea King and Merlin aviator it is a huge privilege to take command of this air station at a time when we have already commenced the transition of maritime aviation to encompass uncrewed and autonomous systems within our fighting arm. “The women and men of the Fleet Air Arm are the heartbeat of everything that we do, and the team here at Culdrose is pivotal to delivering outputs for our nation. The continued necessity to protect the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent, to defend the carriers HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth, whilst also deploying on other ships across the globe, will ensure that we remain at the forefront of developments in maritime warfare and naval aviation.”
Captain James Hall will return to RNAS Culdrose. Picture: Royal Navy

He was the deputy force commander of the Fixed Wing Force at Culdrose before undertaking staff assignments at the Ministry of Defence. In 2018 he returned to Culdrose to command the Merlin Helicopter Force in the role known as ‘Commander Merlin’, followed by another role at the MOD supporting the development of maritime drone technology. He now assumes command of Culdrose.

Captain Irwin thanked everyone including serving personnel, civil servants and the wider industry enterprise, for their hard work and sterling efforts during his time in command, and reminded them that the air station delivers strategically important effect day in, day out, defending the UK, Western Europe and NATO, in an increasingly unstable and dangerous world. He said he and his family have an enormous affection for the local place and people.