RN Search and Rescue
This article is an attemt to chronicle the shore-based SAR flights of the Royal Navy since the end of World War II. Any additions or contributions would be appreciated, please mail me at James Paul
Arising from the need to recover pilots from accidents and combat during World War II, both the RAF and RN have operated Search and Rescue aircraft since that time, lending aid where necessary to both british and foreign vessels, mlitary and civilian alike as well as providing medical airlift and search assets on the mainland.
721 Squadron
721 Squadron took up the SAR baton at Kai Tak in Hong Kong on 27th August 1946 when it took over the remaining Sea Otters of 1701 squadron, forming an Air Sea Rescue Flight. The Squadron disbanded at Kai Tak on 21st November 1947.
728B Search and Rescue Flight
728B Squadron was absorbed into 728 squadron in March 1963 and became 728B Search and Rescue Flight equipped with Whirlwinds until 728 was disbanded on 31st March 1967.
737 Squadron
Having reformed at Portland in August 1959, the squadron received two Whirlwind HAS.22s in February 1960 for search and rescue duties. The Whirlwind's were replaced later by Wessex's in 1967 which remained in service until December 1982.771 Squadron
"Not unto us alone."
Operating from RNAS Culdrose, 771 Squadron covers an area which spans the Cornish Peninsula, the Isles of Scilly, the Western English Channel, and the Southwest Approaches out to a 200nm radius.
771 Squadron first took up the SAR Baton in 1961, when it took over the Portland SAR commitment with Whirlwind HARs until iot was disbanded on 1st December 1964.
The Squadron reformed on 23rd June 1967 as an Anti-Submarine Fleet Requirements Unit, also acting as Station SAR flight when it was formed from the Whirlwind Flight of 829 NAS. The Squadton moved to Culdrose in September 1974, leaving 6 aircraft to form the nucleus of 772 Squadron. The squadron maintained it's SAR role at Culdrose.
In 1974, 771 squadron became a dedicated SAR unit with the introduction of the Whirlwind HAR3 helicopter and moved to RNAS Culdrose. The Whirlwind was replaced by the Wessex Mk1 in 1979, and later the Wessex Mk5. The venerable Wessex were replaced in 1987 by the Westland Sea King Mk5, which brought greater lifting capacity coupled with better avionics and a longer range.
The Squadron was awarded the Body Trophy in 1992.
772 Squadron
772 was reformed from 6 Wessex HAS.1s from 771 Squadron on 6th September 1974 as a Fleet Requirements Unit and SAR Squadron, providing the stations SAR Flight. The Squadron reequipped with Wessex HU.5s in 1976. As the squadron maintained ships flights and provided the elements used to reform 848 Squadron for the Falklands taskforce, it's SAR flight remained active at Portland. C Flight being based at Lee-on-Solent until March 1988, when the service at Lee-on-Solent was handed over to a civilian SAR flight.
781 Communications Squadron
Motto: Reliability
781 operated the original SAR role from Lee-on-Solent during WW2, flying Sea Otters until disbanded in May 1945. The squadron reformed in NOvember 1947 with Sea Otters equipping a Search and Rescue fight. Wwhen the aircraft were withdrawn in October 1952, the SAR task was dropped. The squadron recieved Whirlwinds in 1959 (possibly renewing it's SAR tasking but unable to confirm), which were in turn replaced by Wessex helicopters in the SAR role in June 1969. The Squadron remained active in the SAR role until it was disbanded on 31st March 1981.
1701
Based at Kai Tak from November 1945, 1701 Squadron was equipped with Sea Otters for Air Sea Rescue duties untl it was disbanded on 27th August 1946.
HMS Gannet, SAR flight
The HMS Gannet flight is based at Prestwick airport in Scotland, operating a 24/365 SAR service with three Sea King Mk5 helicopters. HMS Gannet was established at Prestwick airport in 1971 and hosted 814, 824 and 819 NAS at the outset.
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