THE end of decades of the Army flying bombers and attack helicopters over an area of North Yorkshire will be marked by a parade and fly past.

Members of 9 Regiment Army Air Corps will parade at Dishforth Airfield, near Thirsk, at 11.30am on Saturday to mark the disbandment of the regiment.

Military leaders said the ceremony, to include a flypast by two Lynx reconnaissance helicopters, will be "a poignant and emotional farewell to a county that has come to be regarded as home".

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Cook will present the regiment for inspection by guests the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Barry Dodd and the Colonel of the Air Army Corps, Colonel Richard Green.

The airfield has been used by the military since 1936, and has served as a base for Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers, Douglas Dakota transport aircraft and Apache and Lynx helicopters.

Lt Col Cook said: “This occasion provides us with the opportunity to bid farewell to Dishforth and North Yorkshire as a whole. The county has provided an immensely warm welcome from the start and has shown continued support throughout. We will all look back at our time here with immensely fond memories and will hold North Yorkshire dear to our hearts.”

In June, 9 Regiment Army Air Corps will merge with 1 Regiment Army Air Corps in Yeovilton, Somerset, and will operate the Army’s new fleet of Wildcat Battlefield Utility Helicopters.

As part of a government plan to restructure the Army, 6 Force Logistic Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, will move from Germany to Dishforth later this year.