3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force

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'Commando Helicopter Force'

The three squadrons of the Commando Helicopter Force are the wings of the Royal Marines, providing crucial aerial support to the green berets be they at sea in an assault ship or in the sand and dust of Afghanistan.

Known as ‘The Junglies’ for their operations in Borneo during the 1960s, then designated as Air Troops of 3 Commando Brigade RM, Commando Helicopter Force consists of three Naval Air Squadrons – 845, 846 and 847. Together, they use Merlin and Wildcat helicopters to provide air support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and other UK forces.

3 Commando Bde. Air Squadron

12 August 1968 formed at Sembawang Air Base, Singapore, by amalgamating the Air Troops of 3 Commando Brigade RM which had been operating there since 1965.
1 September 1995 redesignated as 847 Naval Air Squadron.
1999 Commando Helicopter Force formed of 845, 846 and 847 Naval Air Squadrons.
 

847 Naval Air Squadron

Transcript of Royal Marines Routine Orders 105/95

Re-designation of 3 Cdo Bde Air Sqn RM as 847 Naval Air Squadron (R)

1. 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron Royal Marines will be formally incorporated into the Naval Air Command on Friday 1 Sep 95 and be re-designated 847 Naval Air Squadron.
2. The Squadron will continue to operate Army Lynx and Gazelle aircraft until the introduction of the Attack Helicopter into Army Air Corps Service.

Thereafter it will continue in the light utility role in support of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. 

ALLEN, Francis Victor

Captain
42 Cdo. RM
Royal Marines
Served in the ranks of the Royal Marines before being commissioned in the late 1970's. 
Service included 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron RM, Commando Training Centre RM, and Assistant Quartermaster, 42 Commando RM in the Falklands War. Retired to Reserve List 25 June 1994 (own request).
 

BLACKWELL, Jason Mark

Lieutenant
Mobile Air Operations Team
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant Jason Blackwell RN received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service on operations in Iraq during the period 19 March to 19 April 2003. Lieutenant Blackwell was the MAOT that went in with SEAL team 3 and was on the ground for an hour before bringing in the helicopters carrying 40 Commando RM.

BROWN, Leonard Anthony

Lieutenant Colonel
N028958A
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Brown was appointed M.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the field in 2011 [1]. 
Extract from Royal Navy media release

BURTON, Donald

Sergeant
PO23294X
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air
Sergeant Burton was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air for his outstanding display of airmanship in landing his aircraft and casualty in Northern Norway on Thursday 14th February 1980.
 
Sources
London Gazette 48338, page 14277.

CAMERON, Charles Peter

Major Charles Peter Cameron
Lieutenant Colonel
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Military Cross (MC)
In 1982 Major Cameron was the Officer Commanding 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service during operations on the Falkland Islands [1][2].
Citation

CANDLISH, Edgar Robert

Sergeant
P031726H
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Mentioned in Despatches
Sergeant Edgar Candlish received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of his service during the landings at San Carlos, East Falkland, May 1982. He was crewman of a Gazelle helicopter which was forced to ditch in the sea after the pilot was wounded by enemy fire.

CORRIGAN, Ian Clifford

Corporal
24217216
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Mentioned in Despatches
Corporal Ian Corrigan, R.E.M.E. attached to 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron, received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during the operations in the South Atlantic in 1982. He served with the Air Squadron as a 'B' Flight Royal Marines Avionics Technician.

CORYTON, Gervais Richard Arthur

Lieutenant Commander
CO183364
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant Commander Gervais Coryton RN was the Officer Commanding 'C' Flight RM, 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron, during the Falklands War. He received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during the operations in the South Atlantic in 1982.

CRAWFORD, Ronald Lindsay

Lieutenant
846 Naval Air Sqn.
Royal Marines
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant Ronald Crawford, 846 N.A.S., received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of his service during operations in the South Atlantic.
 
Source
London Gazette 49134 page 12842.
Globe and Laurel Sept/Oct. 1982.
 

EVANS, Andrew Peter

Sergeant
PO25446U
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Mentioned in Despatches
Killed in action or died of wounds
Sergeant Andrew Evans died when his helicopter was shot down during the Falkands War. He received a posthumous Mention in Despatches in recognition of his service during operations in the South Atlantic. Also killed were Lieut. Kenneth Francis and LCpl. Brett Giffin.
Extract from the Globe and Laurel 

FARMER, Morris Flynn

Craftsman
24234277
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Died in service
Craftsman Morris Farmer, REME, serving in 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron RM, died as a result of a fall in Toulouse France.
 
Sources
AFM ROH
Globe and Laurel, Christmas 1977 edition.
 

FRANCIS, Kenneth David

Lieutenant
N023442U
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lieutenant Kenneth Francis, BA, RM, died when his helicopter was shot down in the Falklands. Also killed were LCpl. Brett Giffin and Mne. Andrew Evans. 
 Extract from the Globe and Laurel 

FROST, John Boyes

Lieutenant
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Air Force Cross (AFC)
Lieutenant John Boyes Frost RM was awarded the Air Force Cross for his coolness, flying skills, and courage during operations in Malaysia in 1970.
Citation

GIFFIN, Brett Patrick

Lance Corporal
P033537T
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Brett Giffin was killed when his helicopter was shot down in the Falklands. Also killed were Lieut. Kenneth Francis and Mne. Andrew Evans.
Extract from the Globe and Laurel

HAMMOND, Mark Christopher

Major
847 Naval Air Sqn.
Royal Marines
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service
Major Mark Hammond RM, 847 Naval Air Squadron, received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in Iraq during the period 19th March to 19th April 2003 [1].

HODSON, Robert John

Sergeant
RM 22599
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Died in service
Sergeant Robert Hodson died in a helicopter crash at Beacon Hill, Woodhouse Eaves, near Loughborough, Leicestershire. Also killed was Lieutenant Peter Brian Seymour, RM
 

HUNT, Darren

Major Darren Hunt RM
Major
P035637B & N029390X
45 Cdo. RM
Royal Marines
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Military Medal (MM)
Mentioned in Despatches
Corporal Darren Hunt was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of distinguished service during operations in the South Atlantic in 1982 [1].
  • 1991 (Sergeant) received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland [2].

HUTCHINGS, Richard

Lieutenant
846 Naval Air Sqn.
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Lieutenant Richard Hutchings was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry during operations on the Falkland Islands.
Citation

LAWRENCE, Philip

Sergeant
3 Cdo. Bde. RM / UK Commando Force
Royal Marines
In 1966 Sergeant Philip Lawrence, the first N.C.O. in the Royal Marines to be a pilot, joined the Royal Marine Air Troop in Borneo working alongside Lieutenant Cameron RM and Lieutenant Gregson RN in support of 42 Commando RM.
 
Source
Navy News, June 1966 edition.

LOVE, Michael David

Corporal
P035079S
846 Naval Air Sqn.
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
Died on active service
Corporal Michael Love, RM, 846 Naval Air Squadron, was killed in a helicopter crash due to a bird strike in the Falklands. 
Citation for the DSM

MAKEIG-JONES, Robin John

Major
498932
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Mentioned in Despatches
Captain Robin Makeig-Jones, 29 Commando Regiment, attached as a pilot to 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron, received a Mention in Despatches [1] in recognition of his courage in the air, and devotion to duty, on the night of 13/14 June 1982 during the operation to take the Wireless Ridge feature to the North West of Stanley.

MCKEOWN, Kevin Timothy

Lieutenant
N028942K
3 Cdo. Bde. RM / UK Commando Force
Royal Marines
Died in service
Lieutenant Kevin McKeown RM in an aircraft accident. He was a member of the newly reformed Army Air Corps Eagles helicopter display team [1][2][3]. 
Extract from Flight International 

MCLELLAND, Peter Holmes

Captain
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air
Captain Peter Mclelland received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air in recognition of bravery whilst assisting in the air evacuation of personnel trapped by flash flooding at Boscastle, Cornwall, on 16 August 2004.
 
Sources
London Gazette 57588, page 3379.

MINORDS, David John

Major
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Major David Minords was appointed O.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of service within the operations in the South Atlantic.
 
Sources
London Gazette 49134, page 12857.

NEWCOMBE, Andrew Bennett

Captain
NO21197T
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Mentioned in Despatches
Captain Andrew Newcombe received a Mention in Despatches  in recognition of service during the operations in the South Atlantic.
Recommendation (with corrections)

NIBLETT, Jeffrey Peter

Captain
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Captain Jeffrey Niblett, Officer Commanding 'B' Flight, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallant and distinguished service during operations in the South Atlantic (Operation Corporate, Falklands, 1982). The first ever D.F.C. awarded to a RM pilot.
Citation

NUNN, Christopher John

Lieutenant Colonel
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
42 Cdo. RM
Royal Marines
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air
Lieutenant Christopher Nunn received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland during the period 1st November 1979 to 31st January 1980 [1].

NUNN, Richard James

Lieutenant Richard James Nunn DFC
Lieutenant
N023329F
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lieutenant Richard Nunn died during Operation Corporate, Falkland Islands, 1982. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallant and distinguished service.
Citation

POUNDS, Nicholas Ernest

Lieutenant Colonel
N020493P
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Mentioned in Despatches
Captain Nicholas Pounds, a Gazelle Helicopter RM pilot and Officer Commanding 'M' Flight during Operation Corporate, received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of his leadership, gallantry, and flying skills, during operations on the Falkland Islands, and in support of 2 Para at Goose Green, between 21 May and 14 June 1982 [1]

REECE, Michael John

Colonel
3 Cdo. Bde. RM / UK Commando Force
Royal Marines
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Reece was appointed O.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland during the period 1st August to 31st October 1980 [1].

REED, Derek Bernard

Sergeant
P023040J
3 Cdo. Bde. RM / UK Commando Force
Royal Marines
Killed in action or died of wounds
Sergeant Derek Reed RM, a helicopter pilot attached to 652 Squadron, Army Air Corps, was killed with three other NCOs, by a booby trap bomb, as they got into their car outside the Knock-na-Moe Hotel in Omagh. He was married and from Hessel, Yorkshire.
 
Sources
AFM ROH.

ROBINSON, Adrian Spencer

Warrant Officer Class 2
P019573Y
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Mentioned in Despatches
Warrant Officer 2 Adrian Robinson received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of his service during operations in the South Atlantic.
 
Sources
London Gazette 49134, page 12843.
National Archives file WO373/188/203.

ROYLANCE, Jaimie Fraser

Brigadier
N029043E
3 Cdo. Bde. RM / UK Commando Force
Royal Marines
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Acting Colonel Jaimie Roylance was appointed O.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Afghanistan 2013/2014 [1].

SANDS, Thomas Arthur

Warrant Officer Class 2
P027627C
845 Naval Air Sqn
Royal Marines
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Mentioned in Despatches
Sergeant Thomas Sands, 845 Naval Air Squadron, received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of service in operations in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War [1].
  • 19 June 2000 (Warrant Officer Class 2) appointed M.B.E. (Military Division) [2].
Sources

SEYMOUR, Peter Brian

Lieutenant
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Died in service
Lieutenant Peter Seymour died in a helicopter crash at Beacon Hill, Woodhouse Eaves, near Loughborough, Leicestershire. Also killed was Sergeant Robert John Hodson, RM
 

STAFFORD, Derek Bryan

Colonel
N029075P
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Major Derek Stafford was appointed M.B.E. (Military Division) on 31 December 2011 [1].
  • 30 June 2012 promoted Lieutenant Colonel [2].
  • 12 August 2019 promoted Colonel [3].
  • January 2020 Commanding Officer Commando Helicopter Force [4].

STORRIE, David Robert Bruce

Lieutenant Colonel David Storrie
Lieutenant Colonel
3 Cdo. Bde. RM / UK Commando Force
845 Naval Air Sqn
Royal Marines
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant David Storrie served with B Coy, 40 Commando, Royal Marines in Cyprus, 1958; served as helicopter pilot with 845 Naval Air Sqn, Fleet Air Arm in Brunei and Borneo during Indonesian Confrontation, 1963-1964; served with 42 Commando, Royal Marines in Northern Ireland, 1972-1978 [1].

SUMMERS, John Edward

CSgt John Edward Summers RM
Colour Sergeant
RM19083
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air
Citation: On 1st June 1970 in Trengganu, Malaysia, seven Gurkha soldiers were injured in a traffic accident whilst taking part in an exercise. All seven required urgent medical attention and the circumstances necessitated air evacuation.

THRESH, Leslie Hugh

Lieutenant
NO18082S
3 Cdo. Bde. RM / UK Commando Force
Royal Marines
Died in service
Lieutenant Leslie Thresh RM was on a training flight from HMS Seahawk (R.N.A.S, Culdrose) in a Gazelle helicopter of 705 Naval Air Squadron when it flew into overhead power cables crashing into Pendruffle Wood near Herodsfoot six miles south east of Liskeard, Cornwall. Also killed was Pilot Instructor Alan Lightfoot RN.
 

WATSON, Stephen

Sergeant
RM 19578
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
Royal Marines
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

Citation: On 1st June 1970 in Trengganu, Malaysia, seven Gurkha soldiers were injured in a traffic accident whilst taking part in an exercise. All seven required urgent medical attention and the circumstances necessitated air evacuation.

WINTER, Brian

Sergeant
PO27405X
845 Naval Air Sqn
Royal Marines
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Sergeant Brian Winter was awarded the British Empire Medal (Military Division) in recognition of service within the operations in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War.
 
Sources
London Gazette 49134, page 12858.
 

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