847 Naval Air Squadron

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847 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It operates the Westland Lynx AH7 helicopter and provides armed reconnaissance and light assault support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. The Squadron was previously known as 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron (3CBAS), from which it re-formed on 1 September 1995.

The squadron is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset UK, a Royal Naval establishment, with helicopters drawn from an Army Air Corps pool and flown by Royal Marines & Royal Navy pilots.

The Squadron served with distinction in support of the Royal Marines during 1960s in the Far East initially (1963) with the Whirlwind HAS.7 and later with the Wessex HU5.

847 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) was reformed to take part in the Falklands campaign in 1982, Operating 14 Westland Wessex HU.5 helicopters with Royal Naval personnel recruited mainly from RNAS Yeovilton. The aircraft were transported from the UK to the South Atlantic aboard RFA Engadine and the mv Atlantic Causeway (sister ship to the mv Atlantic Conveyor which was hit and fatally damaged by an Exocet missile during the war).

Landing in the April, 847 NAS initially operated from San Carlos (Bomb Alley) and provided much needed air support to UK forces. After the unofficial surrender of Argentine forces, 847 NAS relocated to Navy Point, a headland directly opposite the town of Port Stanley, where it took up residence in what was previously used as support and storage buildings for Royal Naval expeditionary vessels in previous years. 847 NAS remained in the Falklands until September 1982, providing much needed air support to UK Forces and Island Locals alike and even moved the odd head of livestock!

847 NAS was one of the longest serving units to see action in the Falklands war, spending some 6 months on the Islands in total, members of the squadron sometimes referred to the unit as 84who? .

The Squadron was disbanded immediately after returning to the UK in the September of 1982, the Squadron has the motto of "We shake them from on high" which is displayed in Latin as "Ex alto concutimus" on the Squadron badge.

847 NAS reformed with Royal Marine pilots and REME ground crew on 1 September 1995, from 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron as a tactical support unit for the Royal Marine Commando at RNAS Yeovilton.

[edit] External links

847 Squadron page at the Helicopter History site, [1]

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