White, issuant from water barry wavy of four blue and white an arm embowed proper vested white the hand grasping a trident gold impaled thereon a twin-engined aircraft black (1942) Blue, a pair of wings displayed white surmounted by a trident and a shepherds crook in saltire gold (1975)[2]
Identification Markings
R3A+ (all types 1939-1941) K9A+ (all types 1942) M8A+ (all types from 1943) AR8A+ (all types from 1944) BR8A+ & BR0A+ (FRU School all types 1944-1945) 08A+ & 09A+ (all types from 1946) 501-509 (1947-1948) 510-517 (Wessex from September 1974) 610-617 (Wessex from March 1981) 610-617 (Sea King) (6)21-(6)28 (later on)[3][2]
772 Naval Air Squadron (772 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded during September 1995. 772 Naval Air Squadron formed as a Fleet Requirements Unit out of 'Y' Flight from 771 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) in September 1939. While the headquarters remained there, floatplanes were operated out of RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey), however, mid 1940 saw the whole squadron move north to RNAS Campbeltown and roughly twelve months afterwards the short distance to RNAS Machrihanish. The unit moved to RNAS Ayr (HMS Wagtail) in July 1944 and became the Fleet Requirements Unit School. In January 1946 the squadron moved to RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail) in Lancashire, before moving to RNAS Anthorn (HMS Nuthatch) in Cumberland, in May. It became the Northern Fleet Requirements Unit upon moving to RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), in June 1947, but disbanded into 771 Naval Air Squadron in October. 772 Naval Air Squadron reformed as a Helicopter Support Squadron at RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey) in September 1974. In September 1977 the squadron took over responsibility for a number of Ships' Flights of Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. The squadron was used to reform 848 Naval Air Squadron for the Falklands Task Force in 1982, with the Ships' Flights absorbed into 847 Naval Air Squadron. In August 1982 it took on the Anti-Submarine Warfare Flight from 737 Naval Air Squadron and between 1983 - 1985 a Search and Rescue Flight operated out of RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus).
772 Naval Air Squadron moved to RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail), Lancashire, England, in January 1946. The Grumman Wildcat, which were part of the lend-lease scheme, were replaced with Supermarine Seafire, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft.[2] Then on 3 May the squadron relocated to RNAS Anthorn (HMS Nuthatch), in the historic county of Cumberland, England. Here the squadron strength was sixteen aircraft, consisting two x Miles Martinet, six x Supermarine Seafire and eight x de Havilland Mosquito.[6] It remained for just over twelve months before moving to RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), Angus, Scotland, on 26 June 1947.[7] Here it was designated the Northern Fleet Requirements Unit and operated mainly de Havilland Mosquito PR.34. In October 1948 the squadron disbanded into 771 Naval Air Squadron.[2]
Helicopter Support Squadron (1974–1995)
772 Naval Air Squadron reformed on 6 September 1974 at RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey).[8] It was equipped with six Westland Wessex HAS. 1, a licence builtSikorsky H-34utility and anti-submarine warfare helicopter. The squadron had a number of tasks, providing helicopter support to both local Royal Navy and foreign warships, local sea area search and rescue operations, and UK wide helicopter detachments for security exercises.[2]
The squadron received Westland Wessex HU.5, a Royal Navy service troop transporter variant, replacing its HAS.1 in 1976. The following year 772 NAS took over parenting the Ships Flight's for three Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) logistical and operational support ships, from 707 Naval Air Squadron: the Tide-classreplenishment oilerRFA Tidepool, the armament stores ship RFA Resource, and the supply ship RFA Regent.[2] Between 25 November and 19 December 1977, RFA Resource was involved in Operation Journeyman in the South Atlantic with its Westland Wessex equipped Flight embarked from 772 Naval Air Squadron.[9]
In 1982 parts of the squadron formed 848 Naval Air Squadron to increase the troop lift capability during the Falklands War with Westland Wessex HU.5.[10] The three RFA Flights were used in part to form 847 Naval Air Squadron,[2] however, when 737 Naval Air Squadron disbanded in February 1983, its Westland Wessex HAS.3, a Royal Navy anti-submarine version, were absorbed by 772 Naval Air Squadron.[11]
The squadron was tasked with Search and Rescue operations between 1983 and 1985, and formed a 'C' Flight for which was based at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus). During 1988 the Westland Wessex were withdrawn and Westland Sea King HC.4, a licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter by Westland, were received.[2] This variant was also known as Westland Commando and included a fixed undercarriage with a larger cabin.[12] 772 Naval Air Squadron operated for a further seven years and finally disbanded in 29 September 1995.[2]
Aircraft operated
The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:[1][13]
Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN978-0-85130-489-2.
Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-223-8.