No. 337 Squadron RNoAF | |
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Active | 1950–64; 1980–current |
Country | Norway |
Branch | Royal Norwegian Air Force |
Role | Maritime helicopter |
Part of | 139th Air Wing |
Garrison/HQ | Bardufoss Air Station |
Engagements | Gulf War Operation Recsyr |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | Vampire (1950–54) F-86K Sabre (1955–64) |
Transport | Lynx (1980–2014) NH90 (2011–2022) MH-60R (2025-) |
The 337 Squadron (Norwegian: 337-skvadronen) is a maritime helicopter unit of the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF). Based at Bardufoss Air Station, the squadron most recently operated eight NHIndustries NH90 until June 2022. The helicopters were used by the Norwegian Coast Guard and served on the Nordkapp-class, the Barentshav-class and on NoCGV Svalbard.
The unit was created on 1 May 1950 to operate de Havilland Vampire Mk. 52 fighter-bombers. The squadron was stationed at Gardermoen Air Station, although from 1952 a detachment was allocated to Bardufoss. From April 1953, 337 was based at Værnes Air Station. The Vampires were retired in 1954 and 337 was made a storage unit. It was reactivated as an operational unit on 1 September 1955, returning to Gardermoen. It then operated the North American F-86K Sabre. This role lasted 1 September 1963, when the squadron was deactivated. The squadron was reactivated on 1 January 1980 and based at Bardufoss. Its new role was to operate six Westland Lynx helicopters for the newly created Coast Guard. The NH90 replacements were ordered in 2001, but delays caused the Lynxes to remain in service until 2014. The performance of the NH90 proved to be unsatisfactory and the government abruptly retired them in June 2022. The squadron is scheduled to receive six MH-60R Seahawks between 2025 and 2027.