#828CU Sea King HU5

Sea King HU5
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£10.00 €11.68 $12.51
43.8 cm x 29.2 cm
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Print
Sea King HU5
XV666 '821'
771 Sqn
RNAS Culdrose
UK - Navy
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Description

Squadron Prints Lithograph No 828CU - XV666 '821', Sea King HU5, 771 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Culdrose.

771 Naval Air Squadron was originally formed at Portland on 24 May 1939 operating Swordfish and Walrus aircraft and served with distinction throughout the Second World War with a variety of aircraft types including Marylands and Sea Hornets.  It was a Maryland aircraft of 771 which first sighted the German Battleship BISMARCK and initiated an historic naval action. 771 Squadron was the first British military aviation unit to fly helicopters, receiving its first helicopter, a Hoverfly Mk.1, in February 1945 but remained predominantly fixed wing until it was temporarily decommissioned on 17 August 1955.  771 reformed at RNAS Portland on 11 July 1961 from the helicopter flight of 700 Squadron and operated as a helicopter trials and training squadron, flying Dragonfly, Wasp and Whirlwind helicopters, the latter fulfilling the SAR commitment at Portland. The Squadron disbanded again on 1 December 1964 upon being absorbed into 829 Squadron but reformed three years later as an Anti-Submarine Fleet Requirements Unit and station SAR flight. The move to RNAS Culdrose was made on 4 September 1974 where the Squadron joined the Culdrose training school undertaking Aircrewman training as well as station SAR flight. The Squadron re-equipped with Wessex HU.5s in March 1979, adding to this two Chipmunks and two Sea Devons when it absorbed the station flight in January 1983. 771 Squadron changed over to converted Sea King Mk.5 SAR helicopters in April 1988 which enabled a full 24-hour Search and Rescue capability.  In April 2001, 771 took on the role of providing all Sea King Pilot and Observer qualification and operational training with the absorption of 810 Naval Air Squadron.  771 Naval Air Squadron is one of the largest aviation squadrons in the Royal Navy with 11 aircraft, including both Sea King Mk.5 and Sea King Mk.6 aircraft.  771 Naval Air Squadron provides 24-hour, year-round SAR coverage to Cornwall, the western section of the English Channel, and the UK Southwest Approaches out to 200 nautical miles.