News articles

RAF personnel from 121 Expeditionary Air Wing parade in Romanian Navy Day celebrations

Navy and RAF personnel stand in parade.

RAF personnel and aircraft from 121 Expeditionary Air Wing deployed in Romania joined other allies to support a major parade to celebrate the 119th Romanian Navy Day.

Twenty RAF personnel from 121 Expeditionary Air Wing based at Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase paraded at Constanta Port along with personnel from the United States and Romanian Armed Forces as part of events celebrating Romanian Navy Day.  Two RAF Typhoons performed a flypast after the ceremony, flying over the port 30 seconds behind two Romanian F-16 MLU fighter aircraft.

Navy and RAF personnel march in parade.

The President of Romania, Klaus Johannis led the address to the military personnel on parade, special guests and media. 

"I salute on this occasion the contribution of the Romanian Naval Forces to the development of the regional security climate on the southern and eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance and the particular results obtained during the leadership by a Romanian ship, for the first time in the national military history, of a NATO naval group, which conducted missions in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea."

Klaus Johannis
President of Romania

Two Typhoons in flight.
Two RAF Typhoon provided a flypast during the event.

After the formal military parade this year the distinguished guests, including the Commanding Officer of 121 Expeditionary Air Wing and the UK Defence Attache, were hosted on board the Romanian ship Ros Mures.  They were also given the opportunity to visit the Type 22 Frigate Regale Ferdinand that was formally HMS Coventry and was moored alongside.

"The Black Sea region has gained, in the past year, a more and more significant role, to the scale of its geostrategic relevance as an external border of the EU and the North Atlantic Alliance.  We acted decisively, politically, diplomatically and economically for the recognition of the Black Sea area as one of major interest, not only for Romania as a Euro-Atlantic community, and we've succeeded thus to consolidate regional security."

Klaus Johannis
President of Romania

Romanian Navy Day is a series of events that commemorates Romanian seamen and women heroes.  It was first celebrated in 1902, and the day coincides with a religious festival of  The Assumption.  St Mary is the Patron Saint of the Navy, and Constanta, and attracts large numbers of visitors for The Assumption and Navy Day to Constanta.

President of Romania at oration stand, with Navy and RAF personnel standing in parade with flags.
President of Romania, Klaus Johannis, led the address. 

In addition to the parade the naval port was opened to the public; other events this year included a Remembrance service that was held at the Sailors Cross monument in Constanta and a street music festival.

Navy and RAF personnel stand in parade, with President of Romania, Klaus Johannis leading the address.

Leading the RAF members who were on parade the 121 Expeditionary Air Wing Parade Commander, Squadron Leader Steve Priestnall.

"It has been a privilege to be on parade with our allies to celebrate the Romanian Navy Day.  This is a significant day not only for the Romanian Navy but for everyone in the country.  For me, supporting this parade is a way that I can thank the Romanians for their hospitality to us over the past few months as we have been conducting our NATO enhanced Air Policing mission."

Squadron Leader Steve Priestnall
121 Expeditionary Air Wing Parade Commander