YEOVILTON NEWS: Yeovil lad takes off with new command

A YEOVIL man has taken over the responsibility of the largest helicopter squadron in Europe – the Lynx Wildcat Maritime Force based at the Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton.

Commander Louis Wilson-Chalen was born and educated in Yeovil and he joined the Royal Navy in January 1988.

After gaining experience at sea with HMS Birmingham, HMS Ledbury and HMS Dryad he was selected for flying training in 1990.

He was awarded pilot’s wings in 1992 and was appointed to 814 Squadron, flying Sea Kings for HMS Invincible and at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall.

He has never looked back since and has gained tremendous experience at home and abroad to be able to produce an impressive CV.

He was promoted to Commander in 2008 and was based in Navy Command headquarters in Portsmouth.

PHOTO - TOP: Commander Louis Wilson-Chalon.

Selected to command 815 NAS, he returned to the cockpit for the last time at the end of 2010 and spent nearly three enjoyable years in the post.

After a brief appointment writing strategy at the MoD, Commander Wilson-Chalon returned home to RNAS Yeovilton in May 2014 to take command of the Lynx Wildcat Maritime Force.

He is a keen sportsman and played badminton and water polo for Somerset prior to joining the Royal Navy, but now concentrates on running and cycling to keep fit.

He is chairman of the Naval Air Command Golf Society and is a Governor-Director of Huish Episcopi Academy in Langport.

He lives in Somerset with his wife and three children, whom are growing fast leaving him more time to walk the family’s small, scruffy black dog ‘Gizmo’.

The official commissioning of the newly-reformed 825 NAS takes place on October 10, 2014.   

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