848 Naval Air Squadron

848 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It operates the Westland Sea King HC4 helicopter and provides advanced flying training to pilots for the other squadrons in the Commando Helicopter Force. The squadron is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset.

History
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 (D09) in October 1943 for the UK. 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. 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.

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.

Affiliations

 * SCC TS Mantle
 * Sussex URNU & HMS Ranger
 * Milton Abbey School CCF
 * Chalmers Farm School (hospice)
 * South Wraxall
 * Bristol