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848 Naval Air Squadron

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848 Naval Air Squadron
848 NAS badge
Active1 June 1943-45
1952-56
1958-63
1964-76
1982
1990-91
1995-19 December 2013
May 2015-Present
Country United Kingdom
BranchRoyal Navy
TypeLand based and amphibious squadron
RoleCommando Helicopter training
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Garrison/HQRNAS Yeovilton
Motto(s)Accipe Hoc
Latin: "Take That"
Battle honoursNormandy 1944
Okinawa 1945
Japan 1945
Commanders
Current
commander		Cdr Gav Simmonite DFC RN

848 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It operates the Westland Sea King HC.4 helicopter and previously provided advanced flying training to pilots for the other squadrons in the Commando Helicopter Force. The squadron is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset.

History

An 848 NAS Wessex takes off from USS Austin (LPD-4), 1976.

The squadron was officially formed in June 1943 as a torpedo bomber, reconnaissance, Avenger squadron at Quonset Point Naval Air Station, and subsequently embarked on HMS Trumpeter in October 1943, for the UK.

Assigned to HMS Formidable between 1944 and 1945, 848 Squadron provided air support for the invasion of Okinawa (Operation Iceberg).

During its 69-year history, 848 Squadron has been disbanded and reformed several times but now has a more permanent standing, having been made the Commando Helicopter Training Squadron, based at RNAS Yeovilton. The Squadron took the role from 707 NAS which was responsible for the training of aircrew and maintainers in the Commando role. Part of this Squadron was taken to form 847 NAS during Operation Corporate to retake the Falkland Islands 1982. The Squadron operated Westland Wessex HU Mk V aircraft at this time.

With a complement of one hundred ratings and thirty officers, the Squadron is responsible for the instruction of up to sixty pilots and aircrewmen each year. Operating the Westland Sea King Mk 4, pilots undertake Advanced Flying Training - how to handle emergencies and how to fly with sole reference to instruments -before crewing up with the aircrewmen, taken from Royal Navy Ratings and Royal Marines, to learn how to operate the aircraft in a tactical environment during operational flying training.

Current Role

The Squadron also trains more than one hundred and fifty helicopter maintainers annually before sending them to the front line. Aircrew and maintainers receive military and amphibious training and are taught how to operate in the field and from the deck of a ship.

848 NAS is also committed to numerous UK maritime operations and airborne support for the Royal Marines. A special unit within it, M Flight, is tasked with supporting the Special Boat Service (SBS) in their operations.[citation needed]

848 NAS disbanded in 2013.[1] It reformed on 1 May 2015 as an operational Sea King Mk4 squadron; this is to allow 845 NAS to convert to the Merlin without a loss of operational capability.[2]

Affiliations

[3]

References

  1. ^ http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2014/03/25/top-award-for-848-naval-air-squadron/
  2. ^ The Past, Present and Future of the 'Junglie' - Forces.tv
  3. ^ 848 NAS Affiliations
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