RDAF Patch Royal Danish Air Force 722 Esk Squadron Merlin TTT

RDAF Patch Esk 722 Squadron RDAF Royal Danish Air Force Merlin Helicopter TTT Tactical Transport Helicopter Wing Karup Air Base 2009 Velcro Embroidered on twill merrowed edge.

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Squadron History 1951-2013

Following the formation of RDAF with the merger of the Danish Army Airforce and Marine Airforce in 1950 Eskadrille 722 Squadron was created in 1951 from the Armys 4th Squadron at Værlose with Spitfires Oxfords and Harvards. Esk 722 Squadron took on the Search and Rescue role in July 1956. The squadron received Sikorsky S55/Westland Whirlwind H19 helicopters with floats in 1957 and the Squadrons S -55 helicopters flew missions for UNOC in the Congolese civil war between 1960 and 1964. The first Alouette III helicopters were received in 1962 to form a Flight within the Squadron. Sikorsky S61 Westland Sea King H3 helicopters were added in 1965 which remained in service with the SAR detachments at Aalborg and Rskilde up to 2010. In 1977 the Squadrons Alouette III Flight was used to form the Danish Naval Air Service Soværnets Flyvetjeneste which with its Lynx helicopters became Esk 723 RDAF on 31 December 2010 upon the disbandment of the DNAS.

On 8 January 2004 the Squadron relocated to Karup AB following its designation as RDAFs Helicopter Wing Base. The Squadron received its first Merlin EH 101 helicopters in 2006. The Squadron has eight SAR Merlins and six TTT tactical transport Merlins two of which and four SAR versions were transferred to UKs RAF in 2006 for urgent operational requirements. Esk 722 received the replacement Merlins in 2009.  Esk 722 Squadron has eight SAR helicopters and has detachments stationed at Aalborg Air Base Skrydstrup Air Base and Roskilde Airport and deploys a helicopter to Ronne Airport in the event of bad weather.

This patch dates from 2009.