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| |  847 squadron
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Formed in Jun 1943 as a torpedo bomber squadron of the Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, it was absorbed into 810 Squadron while serving in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in Jun 1944. It reformed and disbanded again during the late 1950s, flying Gannets during the Cyprus emergencies.  Its long association with rotary wing aviation and the Royal Marines began in May 1963 when it reformed from part of 848 Squadron at RNAS Culdrose with Whirlwind HAS.7s as the third Commando squadron. After a brief work up it embarked on HMS Bulwark (R08), deploying to the Far East for trials before returning to the UK and disbanding again in Dec 1964. The period between Aug 1968 and Aug 1995 was spent with the unit known as 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron (3CBAS qv), although an 847 Squadron did reform at RNAS Culdrose briefly during the Falklands War, seeing service at Port San Carlos and later at Port Stanley before disbanding again in Sep 1982. When it reformed on 1 Sep 1995 from 3CBAS at RNAS Yeovilton, there was a fundamental change in role (to tactical support of ground forces) and operating practice. The Royal Marines Commando still supplies the aircrew, but instead of the Royal Navy, the airframes now wear ROYAL MARINES titles, supplied from a pool of the Army Air Corps. Maintenance is performed by the Army's Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME). The 6 unarmed Gazelle AH.1 (forming A Flight), were retired on 12 May 2005 in a ceremony at RNAS Yeovilton. |
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