781 Squadron

Royal Navy Second World War SAR duties at Lee-on-Solent were carried out by Sea Otters of the Search and Rescue Flight of 781 Southern Communications Squadron. 781 provided Search and Rescue operations until October 1952 when its Sea Otters were withdrawn. 781 (Search and Rescue Flight) Communications Squadron was issued with its first Whirlwind HAR.1 for SAR duties in 1959. These were eventually replaced by the Wessex HU.5 in Jun 1969, in a special paint scheme and known as Green Parrots. The squadron also operated Heron and Devon fixed wing aircraft in its communications role. For 12 more years, 781 Squadron continued in its SAR role with the Wessex HU.5, until it disbanded on 31 Mar 1981 after 41 years service at HMS Daedalus.

The SAR duties were taken over by 772 Squadron who detached 2 Wessex HU.5 from RNAS Portland.