page_title: 845 Naval Air Squadron
section_title: Beginnings
hierarchical_section_title: 845 Naval Air Squadron / History / Beginnings
caption_attribution_description: Two British helicopters during a fire fighting demonstraion flight at the Farnborough Airshow at RAF Farnborough, Hampshire (UK), on 11 September 1982. The helicopter nearer to the camera is a Royal Air Force Aerospatiale SA330 Puma HC1 (s/n XW236) from No. 33 Squadron, RAF. The other helicopter is a Royal Navy Westland Wessex HU5 (s/n XS482). It carries the 845 Naval Air Squadron squadron code "D" and the deck code "A" for the commando carrier HMS Albion (R07) (which was decommissioned in 1973). XS482 was assigned to the Farnborough Apprentice Training Department on 20 March 1986 and is today preserved at the RAF Manston History Museum, Kent (UK).
context_page_description: 845 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Part of the Commando Helicopter Force, it is a specialist amphibious unit operating the AgustaWestland Commando Merlin HC4 helicopter and provides troop transport and load lifting support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. In 2012, the squadron celebrated 50 years since it was awarded "commando" status.
  The squadron is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset.
context_section_description: 845 NAS formed on 1 January 1943 as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron (TBRS) flying the new Grumman Avenger, designed as a much needed replacement for the ageing Fairey Swordfish. The squadron took part in its first active service by dive bombing an oil refinery at Surabaya, Java, in May 1944. For the following year, the squadron saw action over Malaya, Ceylon, and Sumatra before being disbanded in 1945.
  845 reformed on 15 March 1955 at Gosport to be an Anti Submarine unit flying the newly proved Westland Whirlwind HAS.22's, with which it saw service on several ships in the Mediterranean and Indonesia. Its job was to prove the new sonar technology and the navigational reliability of the Whirlwind. After returning to the UK, the squadron was disbanded briefly in October before being reformed on 14 November 1955. In April 1956, the squadron deployed on HMS Ocean (R68) and HMS Theseus (R64) to partake in the fleet review and various training exercises. Much training was conducted with the Royal Marines in the vicinity of Malta and put them in great stead for the approaching Suez Crisis.
  Although politically a failure, militarily, and particularly for the Navy, the Suez episode was a huge success. 845 NAS were involved in landing 515 Marines and 89 tons of equipment in history's 'first vertical assault'. Several aircraft were damaged from small arms fire, with one ditching on the way back to HMS Theseus. Thankfully, all survived. The lessons of the Suez Crisis were not lost on the Government, which set about establishing amphibious forces capable of rapid deployment and response. The backbone of these forces would be helicopters operating from large ships designed for amphibious warfare.
  Having re-equipped with Whirlwind HAS.7's, the squadron joined HMS Bulwark (R08) for a commission in the Middle and Far East in late 1957. During this time, the squadron was involved in various exercises and troop moves as a result of the deteriorating situation in Aden. Shortly after this, the squadron was heavily involved in a salvage operation when two ships collided and caught fire in the Persian Gulf. A fire party was boarded and the wounded evacuated in 845 NAS helicopters. For its part in this long and difficult operation, the squadron was awarded the Boyd Trophy for the Navy's most outstanding piece of aviation in the year. During the 1950s, 845 NAS was the only squadron to operate as a front line ASW unit and was responsible for developing most of the doctrine used by today's ASW squadrons.
  After disbanding yet again in mid-1959, the squadron was reformed on 10 April 1962 as a Commando Helicopter Squadron with Westland Wessex HAS.1's. It was the first commando squadron to have these helicopters. While embarked aboard HMS Albion (R07) later that year, the ship was ordered to make best speed for Singapore to help quell the rebellion in Brunei and the subsequent Indonesian inspired insurrection. Troops were landed in Borneo and the squadron was immediately committed to supporting British Forces ashore. They alone facilitated troops in being able to patrol vast areas of the jungle while operating from the most basic of clearings. In 1964, the squadron won the Boyd Trophy for a second time as a result of this operation, and the nickname 'Junglies' was born. After being relieved in 1965 by 848 Squadron, 845 returned to Culdrose to re-equip with the new twin-turbine Wessex HU.5, B Flight of 845 returned to Borneo in June 1966 and were the last Junglies. HMS Bulwark embarked B Flight in October 1966 in Labuan.
  After a few quiet years involving exercises all round the globe and the inclusion of Lieutenant The Prince of Wales in Red Dragon flight, the Ministry of Defence announced that a permanent presence was to be established in Northern Ireland, which resulted in a six weeks rolling roulement for all commando aircrew. 845 NAS established a hard earned reputation for trying its utmost to help the troops in all weathers. Its aircraft were some of the first to render help to the mortar devastated Forkhill Special Forces base. In one mo
caption: An 845 NAS Wessex HU.5 (background) and RAF Puma (foreground) at Farnborough in September 1982
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