THE DEPLOYMENT of six Chinook helicopters and 160 personnel to RAF Benson has been welcomed as a boost to the area.

Councillors said Wallingford and Benson would benefit from more staff at the base spending money in South Oxfordshire.

They said no concerns had been raised by people in the area about the noise levels produced by the twin-engine helicopters, which will transfer to the base in autumn.

The move comes after 28 Merlin helicopters from the base were handed over to the Royal Navy in March.

Wallingford town councillor Betty Atkyns said: “For the past 56 years I have been involved with Royal Air Force life and I just welcome any sort of investment in RAF Benson.

“It is important to this area and we need to support it.

“The Chinooks being moved here is a vote of confidence in the area from the government.

“Some people do not realise the importance of RAF Benson, we would be worse off without it.

“It brings a lot into the area, it brings money into the area.

The 160 new personnel will join about 4,000 people who are already based at RAF Benson.

The helicopters make up the Chinook Operational Conversion Flight, currently based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire.

The RAF started flying Chinooks in 1980 and currently operates 52 of the aircraft, which are built by US aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

They have seen service in the Falklands War, Northern Ireland, the Balkans and were the backbone of British air-support operations in the war in Afghanistan.

Oxfordshire county councillor for Benson and Cholsey Mark Gray said: “I think it is a really good thing that the base continues to thrive.

“We have just lost the Merlin helicopters so it is good the Chinooks are filling that gap.

“The noise has not been raised by a single person as an issue.

RAF Benson spokeswoman Nikki Hamilton said the Chinooks would join with Puma Operational Conversion Flight and become part of 28 (Reserve) Squadron.

The helicopters will be used to train aircrews in the skills required to fly and operate certain aircraft types.

Ms Hamilton said: “The majority will be new entrants to the RAF who have completed their initial flying and helicopter training at RAF Shawbury.”