The beginning of Portlands association with Naval Aviation was in 1916,when,on the 26th September,a Royal Naval Air Station was established
in the marshy area known as the Mere on the west side of Portland Harbour.Named HMS Serepta,the station was used by floatplanes(ie; a water aerodrome).Initially four Short Floatplanes were based
there,followed in 1918 by a larger unit with 12 aircraft.Following the Armistice in November 1918 the aircraft left and there were no permanent units based until just before the start of WW2 .In
September 1939 a Squadron of Swordfish floatplanes arrived and stayed for 10 months.From that time,once again there were no permanent units based until 1946,when the first helicopters appeared in
the shape of Sikorsky R-4Bs,operating from the slipway at the Naval Base.
The success of helicopter operations inevitably led to the need for better and purpose built facilities.During the late 50s the Mere was
filled in creating an area that was concreted over to produce the large helicopter facility that still exists today.On 14th April 1959 the new base became operational with the arrival of a squadron
of Whirlwinds.
For the next 40 years Portland RNAS,renamed HMS Osprey on 24th April 1959,was one of the busiest air stations on the south coast,with
helicopter operations taking place 24 hours a day.Image below is of a Portland based Wessex.
However,with the gradual reduction in the size of the armed forces,the Royal Navy eventually pulled out of Portland and the RNAS became
surplus to requirements.This led to the eventual closure in March 1999.
After the departure of the Navy,the site was renamed Osprey Quay,and much of the space given over to small boat use.However part of the
landing area remains in use .A SAR helicopter operated by Bristows is based there,and in addition,some traffic is generated by oil exploration etc.in the English Channel.In February 2003 it was announced that the SAR Flight will remain here for the foreseeable future.A new hangar is to be built for the use of the Flight.
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FLEET AIR ARM UNITS
241SqShort and Wright Floatplanes,Formed 8-18,disbanded 6-19
702Sq,Lynx,arr 7-82,dep 1-99
703Sq,Wasp,Reformed 22-1-72,dep 1-81
705 Sq,Hoverfly/Dragonfly,detachment from Lee-on -Solent,arr 3-50,dep 7-50
737Sq,Whirlwind,Wessex,Sea King,arr 8-59,dep 2-83
771 Sq,detachment arr 9/45,merged with 705Sq 7-5-47
Bristow Helicopters operate the Search and Rescue unit here.Normally one S-61N MkII helicopter is based here,drawn from either G-BPWB (current early 2002) or G-BBHL(Reserve).
FLEET AIR ARM UNITS