| |  845 squadron
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Formed on 1 Feb 1943 at NAS Quonset Point on Rhode Island, USA as a torpedo reconnaissance unit and subsequently served in the Indian Ocean and the Far East during WWII before it disbanded in Oct 1945.  It reformed with some of the Whirlwind HAS.22s from 706 Squadron on 15 Mar 1954 at Gosport as the Royal Navy's first front line anti-submarine warfare helicopter squadron and spent much of its time working up in and around the Mediterranean. It returned to the UK and disbanded at Lee-on-Solent in Oct 1955. After reforming again as an anti-submarine unit in Nov 1955 at Lee-on-Solent, (still with the Whirlwind HAS.22), it also added the Whirlwind HAR.3 to its inventory. It exercised and eventually worked up in the Mediterranean with the Royal Marine Commando. On 6 Nov 1956, with specially modified Whirlwinds, 845 Squadron contributed to the first ever major airborne assault, as part of Operation Musketeer at Port Said. After returning to the UK, it updated to the Whirlwind HAS.7 during June 1957 at Lee-on-Solent. Whilst aboard HMS Bulwark (R08) in the Indian Ocean, it was sent to Aden. During a deployment aboard HMS Centaur (R06) in Jan 1959, engine troubles (the curse of the Whirlwind HAS.7) caused the unit to be grounded. It returned to the UK and HMS Bulwark went off for refit as a Commando Assault Carrier. It disbanded at Culdrose in Apr 1959. |
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