THIS picture of a helicopter used by US President Barack Obama was taken at the Nagshead Reserve by Review reader Bernard Pendrey last week.

After his arrival at RAF Fairford in south Gloucestershire last Wednesday, following a visit to Estonia, the President then took an evening flight over the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley, headed for Wales.

Leaving Air Force One, the airliner that is the President's own international transport, he and his entourage then boarded Marine One, his personal helicopter.

This then made its way across the county, headed for the NATO summit and conference at Newport.

Retired Review reader, 80-year-old Bernard, from Ellwood, witnessed the flight of the helicopters as they came across the area. He said: "While walking in Nagshead I heard the sound of aircraft, and then these American helicopters came over. The noise was absolutely earsplitting. The first time the Ospreys came over three of them had their props forward, flying quite fast, then later there came two of them with their rotors in the up position, moving much slower."

The identity of the lead helicopter was confirmed by aviation enthusiasts, who pointed to it's lack of any reference number, and the fact that, instead it has United States of America, and insignia down the side.