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| |  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. Reformed on 10 Apr 1962 with 12 Wessex HAS.1 at RNAS Culdrose as the first of the Commando Helicopter squadrons. It embarked on HMS Albion in Sep and deployed to Brunei in Nov 1962. In Feb 1964 it transferred to HMS Bulwark and incorporated 6 Wessex HAS.1s and 3 Hiller HT.2 from 706 Squadron B Flt when they arrived in the Far East in Apr. 845 Sq operated successfully with British Forces in Brunei and later Borneo, returning to the UK in Sep 1965. During these operations, UK ground forces nicknamed the commando squadrons Junglies. Re-equipped in Jan 1966 with with Wessex HU.5 and sailed to the Far East again with HMS Bulwark in Aug 1966, picking up a liaison Wasp, returning to the UK in 1968. Transferred to HMS Albion (now out of refit) in May 1970 with 14 Wessex HU.5 and a Wasp and sailed for Cyprus Sep-Nov 1970. Operated in the Mediterranean in 1971 and returned to UK Dec 1971. Its home base transferred from Culdrose to Yeovilton in Sep 1972. Transferred to HMS Hermes in 1973 and sailed for the Mediterranean. During the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, 845 NAS Wessex HU.5 from HMS Hermes airlifted 1500 people from the beaches around Kyrenia, with the Sea King HAS.1s of 814 Squadron. In Apr 1976, it was reduced to 8 Wessex HU.5, increasing again when it absored 846 Squadron in Sep 1977. From Oct 1977, 845 Sq operated a detatchment in Northern Ireland. Took part in the Falklands Conflict with 12 Wessex. A Flt operated from RFA Resource, B Flt from RFA Fort Austin, C Flt from RFA Tidespring, D Flt from Wideawake Base on Ascension, E Flt HMS Intrepid and also from HMS Invincible. Lost 2 Wessex on South Georgia on 22 April and a further Wessex on 25 May when mv Atlantic Conveyor was sunk. Returned to UK in July 1982 but a detatchment deployed back to the Falklands and absorbed the Wessex of 847 Squadron in Aug, returning in Dec 1982. Following their introduction in Jun 1984, 845 NAS retired its last Wessex for Sea King HC.4 at RNAS Yeovilton in 1986. |
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