SQUADRONS OF THE FLEET AIR ARM 2009

With thanks to the Navy's newspaper - NAVY NEWS

SQUADRONS OF THE FLEET AIR ARM.

Unit: 700W Naval Air Squadron Motto: experientia docet – Experience teaches Location: RNAS Yeovilton Role: Lynx Wildcat Fielding Squadron Date formed: January 21 1940 with 40 Supermarine Walrus, 12 Swordfish and 11 Seafox Current aircraft: The first Lynx Wildcat is due to take its initial flight in November 2009, and Wildcats will arrive with 700W from 2013. Historic aircraft:  Walrus; Swordfish I/SP, II, III; Seafox I; Kingfisher I; Fulmar I, II; Albacore I; Avenger I, II; Barracuda II, TRIII; Corsair I, III; Dauntless I; Defiant TTIII; Firebrand TFIII, TFV; Firefly I, TT4; Harvard III; Hellcat I, II; Helldiver I; Hurricane IIc; Sea Hurricane IIb; Master II; Mosquito FBVI; Oxford; Reliant I; Seafire Ib, IIc, III, XV, FR45; Seamew and AS1; Sea Otter I; Tiger Moth II; Walrus II; Wildcat IV, V, VI; Barracuda V; Sea Fury F10, FB11; Anson 1; Attacker FB2; Avenger AS5; Dragonfly HR1; Gannet AS1, T2, AS4; Meteor TT20, T7; Scimitar F1; Sea Hawk F1, F2, FB3, FGA4, FB5, FGA6; Sea Vampire F20, T22; Sea Venom FAW20, FAW21; Whirlwind HAR1, HAR3, HAS7; Wyvern S4; Sea Harrier FRS1; Buccaneer S2; Hunter T8; Wessex HAS1, HAS3; Lynx HAS2, HAS3; Phantom FG1; Sea King HAS1; Wessex HU5; Wasp HAS1; P531-O/N Wasp; Sea Vixen FAW1; Sea Prince T1; Dominie 1 Battle Honours: River Plate       1939 Norway           1940 Spartivento     1940 Atlantic          1940-41 Matapan         1941 East Indies      1941 Mediterranean  1942 North Africa     1942-43 Normandy        1944

Unit: 702 Naval Air Squadron Motto: cave ungues felis – Beware the claws of the cat Location: RNAS Yeovilton Role: Training Lynx aircrew and maintainers Date formed: July 15 1936 to operate from the ships of the 2nd Battle Squadron Current aircraft: Lynx HAS3 and HMA8; one pilot, one observer Historic aircraft: Walrus I; Seal; Swordfish I; Seafox I; Sea Hurricane Ib; Harvard IIb; Oxford; Tiger Moth II; Avenger III; Sea Vampire F20; Meteor T7; Vampire FB5, T11/22; Attacker F1; Sea Balliol T21, T22; Sea Prince T1; Lynx HAS 2 Personnel trained: Average 20 aircrew and 115 maintainers, refresher training for another 30 aircrew Black Cats: 702 NAS parents the award-winning Black Cats Royal Navy Helicopter Display Team. Display crews are drawn from the Pilot and Observer instructing staff and the two aircraft used are unmodified squadron Lynxes. Through the summer months, the Black Cats make appearances around the country. Crews and engineers volunteer their time to keep the show on the road and maintain the RN Air Display.

Unit: 703 Naval Air Squadron Motto: experientia docet – Experience teaches Location: RAF Barkston Heath, Lincolnshire Role: Conducts Elementary Flying Training for the Royal Navy, part of the Defence Elementary Flying Training School Date formed: June 3 1942 Current aircraft: Slingsby Firefly T67 M260 Historic aircraft include: Kingfisher I; Seafox I; Swordish I/SP; Barracuda II, TRIII; Reliant I; Avenger II, III, TBM, AS4; Anson I; Attacker F1, FB1, FB2; Meteor F8; Sea Balliol T21; Blackburn YA8; Corsair II; Dominie I; Firebrand TFIII, TFIV, TF5, TF5a; Firefly FR1, FR4, 5; Sea Fury F10, FB11, T20; Gannet AS1; Sea Hawk F1, FB3; Hellcat I, II; Sea Hornet F20, NF21, PR22; Hoverfly I; Meteor 3, T7; Mosquito FBVI, PR16, Sea Mosquito TR33, TR37, TT39; Oxford; Seafire F17, F45; Vampire F1, FB5, Sea Vampire F20, F21; Sturgeon TT2; Wyvern S4, Wasp HAS1 Personnel trained: 60 each year

Unit: 705 Naval Air Squadron (no longer formally a Naval Air Squadron) Location: RAF Shawbury Role: Single-engine Advanced Training squadron for all three Services, part of the Defence Helicopter Flying School, providing basic helicopter training for pilots, teaching instrument flying, navigation, night-flying and search and rescue techniques Date formed: June 1936 Current aircraft: Eurocopter Squirrel HT1 helicopter Historic aircraft include: Shark II/SP; Swordfish I/SP, III; Hoverfly I, II; Skeeter 3; Dragonfly HR1, HR3, HR5; Hiller HT1, HT2; Sikorsky S55; Whirlwind HAS22, HAR1, HAR3, HAS7; Wasp HAS1; Gazelle HT2

Unit: 727 Naval Air Squadron Motto: regere mare regite caelum – To rule the sea, one must rule the sky Location: RNAS Yeovilton Role: To grade young RN and RM officers to assess suitability for further training with FAA Date formed: May 26 1943 at North Front, Gibraltar Current aircraft: Grob G115D2 two-seat single-engine aircraft Historic aircraft include: Defiant TTI; Hurricane IIc; Swordfish II; Tiger Moth T2; Seafire XVII; Harvard IIa, IIb, III; Oxford I; Firefly FR4; Sea Balliol T21; Sea Prince T1; Sea Vampire T22; Dragonfly HR5; Sea Devon C20 Personnel trained: 70 each year

Unit: 750 Naval Air Squadron Motto: Teach and strike Location: RNAS Culdrose Role: To train FAA Observers Number of personnel: 27 Date formed: May 24 1939 Current aircraft: Jetstream T2 Historic aircraft include: Shark II; Albacore I; Barracuda II, TR3; Harvard; Anson I; Sea Prince T1; Firefly T7; Oxford I; Sea Vampire T22; Sea Venom FAW21, FAW22; Sea Devon C20; Jetstream T1, T2, T3 Personnel trained: 30 each year

Unit: 771 Naval Air Squadron Motto: non nobis solum – Not unto us alone Location: RNAS Culdrose Role: Search and Rescue (SAR), military and civilian; Sea King training Operating area: Cornish Peninsula, Isles of Scilly, Western English Channel and Southwest Approaches out to 200 nautical miles Date formed: May 24 1939 at Lee on Solent Current aircraft: Sea King HU5 with a typical crew of four – two pilots, observer, and winchman Historic aircraft include: Swordfish; Henley III; Walrus I; Skua II; Roc I; Albacore I; Blenheim I, IV; Sea Gladiator; Maryland; Defiant TT1; Chesapeake I; Proctor Ia; Lysander TTIII; Martinet TTI; Havoc I; Boston II, III; Hurricane FBIIc; Sea Otter; Corsair II, III; Wildcat IV, V, VI; Oxford I; Hellcat I; Hoverfly I, II; Seafire III, F15, F45, F46; Anson 1; Harvard T2b; Mosquito FB6, PR16, B25, PR34, TT39; Sea Mosquito TR33, TR37; Sea Hornet FR20, NF21; Sea Fury T20; Meteor T7; Sea Vampire F20, F21; Sturgeon TT2; Firefly FR1, T1, T2, TT4, TT5, AS6; Dragonfly HR5; Wasp P531, HAS1; Whirlwind HAR1, HAR3, HAS7, HAS22; Wessex HAS1, HU5; Chipmunk T10; Sea Devon C20 SAR statistics: In 2008 they flew 201 SAR missions, and went to the aid of 166 people

Unit: Naval Strike Wing comprising elements of 800 and 801 Naval Air Squadrons Location: RAF Cottesmore Role: Harrier strike squadron Current aircraft: Harrier GR7, GR7A, GR9, GR9A

Unit: 800 Naval Air Squadron Location: RAF Cottesmore Role: Harrier strike squadron Current aircraft: Harrier GR7, GR7A, GR9, GR9A 800 Motto: nunquam non paratus – Never unprepared Historic aircraft include: Nimrod I, II; Osprey; AW XVI; Skua II; Gladiator I; Roc I; Fulmar I, II; Sea Hurricane Ia, Ib, IIb, IIc; Hellcat I, II; Seafire Ib, IIc, LIIc, LIII, FXV, FXVII, FR47; Attacker F1, FB1, FB2; Sea Hawk FB3, FGA4, FGA6; Scimitar F1; Buccaneer S1, S2; Sea Harrier FRS1, FA2; Flycatcher I; Sea Gladiator; Spitfire Va, Vb; Sea Hornet PR22, F20; Sea Fury FB11, T20 800 NAS Battle honours: Norway                   1940-44 Mediterranean          1940-41 Spartivento             1940 Malta Convoys         1941-42 ‘Bismarck’                1941 Diego Suarez           1942 North Africa            1942 South France          1944 Aegean                  1944 Normandy               1944 Burma                    1945 Malaya                   1945 East Indies              1945 Korea                     1950 Falkland Islands        1982

Unit: 801 Naval Air Squadron Location: RAF Cottesmore Role: Harrier strike squadron Current aircraft: Harrier GR7, GR7A, GR9, GR9A 801 Motto: on les aura – We will have them Historic aircraft include: Nimrod I, II; Osprey; AW XVI; Skua II; Gladiator I; Roc I; Fulmar I, II; Sea Hurricane Ia, Ib, IIb, IIc; Hellcat I, II; Seafire Ib, IIc, LIIc, LIII, FXV, FXVII, FR47; Attacker F1, FB1, FB2; Sea Hawk FB3, FGA4, FGA6; Scimitar F1; Buccaneer S1, S2; Sea Harrier FRS1, FA2; Flycatcher I; Sea Gladiator; Spitfire Va, Vb; Sea Hornet PR22, F20; Sea Fury FB11, T20 801 NAS Battle honours: Norway            1940-44 Dunkirk            1940 Atlantic           1940 Malta Convoys  1942 Japan              1945 Korea              1952-53 Falkland Islands 1982

Unit: 814 Naval Air Squadron Motto: in hoc signo vinces – In this sign you will conquer Location: RNAS Culdrose Role: Anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. Additional tasks include surveillance, troop and tactical transport, replenishment, casualty evacuation Date formed: December 1938 with 12 Swordfish on board HMS Hermes Current aircraft: Merlin HM1 helicopters Historic aircraft include: Swordfish I; Barracuda II; Firefly FR1, FR4, 5, AS6; Avenger AS4, AS5; Gannet AS4, T2; Whirlwind HAS7; Wessex HAS1, HAS3; Sea King HAS1, HAS2/2a, HAS5, HAS6 Battle honours: Atlantic  1940

Unit: 815 Naval Air Squadron Motto: Strike deep Location: RNAS Yeovilton Role: Provides Lynx helicopters for the operational maritime attack role on the frigates and destroyers of the Royal Navy Date formed: October 9 1939 at Worthy Down Current aircraft: Lynx HMA8 Historic aircraft include: Swordfish I, II; Albacore I; Fulmar I, II; Barracuda II, TR3; Wildcat VI; Firefly T; Grumman Avenger TBM-3E, AS4, AS5, Gannet AS1, T2, AS4, Whirlwind HAR3, HAS7, Wessex HAS1, Lynx HAS2, HAS3 Battle honours: Mediterranean         1940-41 Taranto                  1940 Libya                     1940-41 Matapan                 1941 Burma                    1944 East Indies             1944 Falkland Islands       1982 Kuwait   1991

Unit: 820 Naval Air Squadron Motto: tutamen et ultor – Safeguard and avenger Location: RNAS Culdrose Role: Anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare Date formed: April 3 1933 Current aircraft: Merlin HM1 Historic aircraft include: Fairey IIIF; Seal; Shark I, II; Baffin; Swordfish I; Battle; Albacore I; Barracuda II; Avenger I, II; Firefly AS5, AS6; Avenger AS4; Gannet AS1, T2; Whirlwind HAS7; Wessex HAS1, HAS3; Sea King HAS1, HAS2, HAS5, HAS6 Battle honours: Norway             1940-44 Taranto            1940 Mediterranean    1940 ‘Bismarck’          1941 Atlantic            1941 North Africa       1942-43 Malta Convoys   1943 Salerno             1943 Sicily                1944 Palembang         1944 East Indies        1945 Okinawa            1945 Japan               1945 Falkland Islands  1982

Unit: 824 Naval Air Squadron Motto: spectat ubique spiritus – Behold the wind from all around Location: RNAS Culdrose Mission: To ensure the delivery of all Merlin courses to the standards expected for the front-line by providing correct, relevant and streamlined training for pilots, observers, aircrewmen and engineers Role: In addition to its training role, the squadron is capable of carrying out all the roles of the other front-line squadrons Date formed: April 3 1933 as a Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron Current aircraft: Merlin HM1 helicopters Historic aircraft include: Fairey IIIF; Swordfish I, II; Seal; Sea Hurricane IIc; Wildcat V; Barracuda II; Firefly FR1, AS6; Avenger TBM-3E, AS4; Gannet AS1, T2, AS4; Whirlwind HAS7; Sea King HAS1, HAS2, HAS2(AEW), HAS5, HAS6 Training statistics: Two courses of five aircrews run each year (pilot, observer, aircrewman). Engineering and refresher courses also run throughout the year. Battle honours: Calabria           1940 Mediterranean   1940 Taranto           1940 Libya               1940-41 Malta Convoys  1942 Arctic              1944 Falklands          1982

Unit: 829 Naval Air Squadron Motto: non effugient – They shall not escape Location: RNAS Culdrose Role: To provide single aircraft flights for six Type 23 frigates to carry out anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare Date formed: June 15 1940 at Ford with nine Albacores for torpedo spotting reconnaissance work Current aircraft: Merlin HM1 helicopters Historic aircraft include: Albacore I; Swordfish I, II; Barracuda II; Whirlwind HAR1, HAS7, HAR9; Wasp HAS1; Wessex HAS1, HAS3, HU5; Lynx HAS2, HAS3 Battle honours: Matapan           1941 Mediterranean    1941 East Indies        1941 Diego Suarez      1942 Norway             1944 Falkland Islands  1982 Kuwait              1991

Unit: 845 Naval Air Squadron Motto: audio hostem – I hear the enemy Location: RNAS Yeovilton Role: To provide 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines with tactical transport and load-lifting helicopters. Five independent Flights, that may be sent to any theatre of operations worldwide at short notice Date formed: February 1 1943 with Grumman Avenger Current aircraft: Sea King HC4, HC4+ Historic aircraft include: Grumman Avenger I; Wildcat V; Whirlwind HAS22, HAR3, HAS7; Wessex HAS1, HU5; Hiller HT2; Wasp HAS1 Battle honours: East Indies           1944-45 Burma                  1945 Falkland Islands     1982 Kuwait                 1991 Al Faw                 2003

Unit: 846 Naval Air Squadron Motto: semper instans – Always threatening Location: RNAS Yeovilton Role: To provide 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines with tactical transport and load-lifting helicopters. Five independent Flights, that may be sent to any theatre of operations worldwide at short notice Date formed: April 1 1943 with Grumman Avenger as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance unit Current aircraft: Sea King HC4, HC4+ Historic aircraft include: Grumman Avenger I, II; Wildcat V, VI; Whirlwind HAS7; Wessex HU5; Sea King HC4 Battle honours: Norway             1944-45 Atlantic             1944 Normandy          1944 Arctic               1944-45 Falkland Islands  1982 Kuwait              1991

Unit: 847 Naval Air Squadron Motto: ex alto concutimus – We strike from on high Location: RNAS Yeovilton Role: To provide armed reconnaissance and direction of supporting arms capability, primarily in support of 3 Cdo Bde RM worldwide Date formed: September 1 1995 – however history pre-dates to August 12 1968 as 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron Current aircraft: Army-owned Lynx AH Mk7 Historic aircraft include: Barracuda II; Gannet AS1, AS4; Whirlwind HAS7; Wessex HU5 Battle honours: East Indies        1944 Falkland Islands  1982 Al Faw              2003

Unit: 848 Naval Air Squadron Motto: accipe hoc – Take that Location: RNAS Yeovilton Role: To train Sea King HC Mk4 Commando helicopter aircrew; to provide support for counter-terrorism operations. Date formed: 1943 with 12 Avenger I aircraft on HMS Siskin Current aircraft: Sea King HC4 and HC4+ Historic aircraft include: Avenger I, II; Swordfish I; Whirlwind HAR21, HAR1, HAS22, HAS7; Wasp HAS1; Wessex HU5 Personnel trained: up to 60 pilots and aircrewmen; 150 maintainers each year Battle honours: Norway             1944 Okinawa            1945 Japan               1945 Falkland Islands  1982 Kuwait              1991

Unit: 849 Naval Air Squadron Motto: primus video – The first to see Location: RNAS Culdrose Role: To provide operational and continuation training for the front-line airborne surveillance and control squadrons Date formed: August 1 1943 with 12 Grumman Avenger Current aircraft: Sea King ASaC7 (Airborne Surveillance and Control) helicopters Historic aircraft include: Avenger I, II; Skyraider AEW1; Gannet AEW3, AS4, COD4, T5; Sea King AEW2 Battle honours: Normandy    1944 East Indies  1945 Palembang   1945 Okinawa      1945 Japan         1945

Unit: 854 Naval Air Squadron Motto: audentes fortuna iuvat – Fortune favours the brave Location: RNAS Culdrose Role: To provide airborne surveillance and control Date formed: November 15 1943 Current aircraft: Sea King ASaC7 (Airborne Surveillance and Control) helicopters Historic aircraft include: Avenger I, II, III Battle honours: Normandy    1944 Palembang   1945 Okinawa      1945

Unit: 857 Naval Air Squadron Motto: animis opibusque parati – Prepared in mind and resources Location: RNAS Culdrose Role: To provide airborne surveillance and control Date formed: April 1 1944 with 12 Grumman Avenger as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron Current aircraft: Sea King ASaC7 (Airborne Surveillance and Control) helicopters Historic aircraft include: Avenger I, II Battle honours: Palembang    1945 Okinawa       1945

Shore bases and Naval Air Stations

Unit: HMS Gannet Location: Prestwick, south-west Scotland Role: Search and Rescue (SAR), military and civilian Operating area: North to Ben Nevis, south to the Isle of Man and the Lake District, east to Edinburgh and the Borders, west to Northern Ireland and 200 miles west of Ireland over the North Atlantic Date formed: Gannet SAR Flight formed with the decommissioning of 819 NAS on November 1 2001 Current aircraft: Sea King HU5 with a typical crew of four – two pilots, observer, aircrewman who had medical training up to paramedic level SAR statistics: 382 call-outs to the rescue of 347 people in 2008 – the busiest of the 12 SAR units in the UK for the second year running

RNAS Yeovilton, HMS Heron, in Somerset is home to the Navy’s ‘grey’ Lynx helicopters and the jungly Sea Kings and green Lynx of the Commando Helicopter Force. As well as its operational squadrons that excel in the maritime, amphibious and land environments, it trains aircrew and engineers for its home-based aircraft, and both fighter and aircraft controllers for ship and shore. The air base itself was commissioned on June 18 1940, originally as a base for the Navy’s fighter aircraft. The air station, a site of 1,000 acres employing more than 3,000 people, is one of the busiest military airfields in the UK and among the largest in Europe. The jungly squadrons of the Commando Helicopter Force, with their Sea King HC4, HC4+ and Lynx AH7, are in constant demand for work with the Navy’s amphibious ships and in landlocked Afghanistan, where the famous ‘can-do’ attitude of the CHF aircraft rule in this sea of sand. The maritime Lynx HMA8 helicopter force is based at RNAS Yeovilton, that makes up the Flights found on board Naval warships around the UK and globe – forming the biggest squadron of aircraft in the Fleet Air Arm. The Grob of 727 NAS that are used to assess aspiring Fleet Air Arm officers are a relatively recent addition to the site, moving from their previous home of Roborough airport at Plymouth. The training squadrons are focused on their primary role to turn out world-class aircrews to support the front line. And standards are kept high by Naval Flying Standards Flight (Fixed Wing), who using Hawk jet trainers are detached from their parent unit Fleet Requirements and Direction Unit (FRADU) at RNAS Culdrose, to carry out familiarisation and continuation training for fast jets, and support the Fleet during operational sea training and Joint Warrior exercises. And of course, it is also the home of the ‘Dunker’, formally known as the Underwater Escape Training Unit, which just as the name indicates, trains people to escape from helicopter cockpits after a crash into water. Yeovilton was once the home of the Naval Fighter School with aircraft such as the Sea Vixen, the Phantom and the Sea Harrier, but now the Naval fast jet crews can be found among the gentle hills of Rutland with Joint Force Harrier based at RAF Cottesmore and RAF Wittering, when they’re not in Afghanistan, on board an aircraft carrier, or meeting one of their many other commitments around the UK and the world. Battle honours: Algiers   1816

RNAS Culdrose, HMS Seahawk, near Helston in Cornwall specialises in the state-of-the-art Merlin with its anti-submarine warfare role, the venerable, but sophisticated, Sea King ‘baggers’ for airborne surveillance and control, and the search and rescue Sea Kings of 771 Naval Air Squadron. Training of the Fleet Air Arm’s aircrew, engineers, controllers and flight deck crews ready for the front line continues apace at the Cornish base. Another 1,000 acre site, HMS Seahawk first took flight in 1947 with a life expectancy of just ten years, a ‘use-by’ date that has proven a little inaccurate. Culdrose’s location in the far corner of Cornwall is ideal for the 24-hour, 365-days-a-year search and rescue efforts that protect people and craft in danger throughout the south-west of Britain and out 200 miles in the South Western Approaches. All the Fleet Air Arm’s Observers, who operate the surveillance and weapons systems in our helicopters, carry out their basic aircrew training at Culdrose, using simulators and Jetstream aircraft as airborne classrooms. Here resides the Naval Flying Standards Flight (Rotary Wing) team who take charge of the ‘driving test’ which all helicopter pilots, observers and aircrewmen must undergo each year. Aircraft Handlers from across the Navy are drafted to Culdrose for professional training at the RN School of Flight Deck Operations. Indeed anyone involved in the operation of aircraft from ships will be trained at the school, not just Naval personnel, but increasingly, members of the Army and RAF.  Over 700 students every year are trained in the specialist skills of fighting aircraft fires, as well as the fundamentals of aircraft launch and recovery. A satellite of RNAS Culdrose is Predannack Airfield, half owned by the National Trust – a site of great natural beauty and ideal as a relief landing ground for helicopter pilots under training. Affectionately known as FRADU, the Fleet Requirements Air Direction Unit is a Serco-run unit, equipped with 13 Hawk aircraft, flown by ex-RAF pilots. The Hawks are regular features of Thursday Wars and other realistic exercises run by Flag Officer Sea Training for British ships and other navies, where the fast jets bring to life the reality of air attack to ships and their crews.

The Royal Navy Historic Flight

Unit: Royal Navy Historic Flight Location: RNAS Yeovilton Role: Established in 1972 to preserve Naval aviation heritage and to be a living memorial to all Fleet Air Arm personnel Number of personnel: 16 service and civilian; all pilots are serving RN or RNR personnel Date formed: 1972 Current aircraft: Fairey Swordfish I, II; Sea Fury FB11; Sea Hawk FGA6; Chipmunk T10 For further information: www.royalnavyhistoricflight.org.uk