When I was a baby rotary pilot at Sharjah (70-71) I remember the MARDET was turned into a squadron (210?). IIRC when Grocer Heath was elected unexpectedly and the presence in the Gulf had to be extended at short notice, so an extension in theatre (= new Squadron) was required.
It was said that as the Maritime Shack OCU was closing, the Squadron was formed from the last course that went through, plus the staff! It certainly seemed from the outside to have a strange demographic ..... all the Captains/1st Navs/Siggy leaders wore war medal ribbons and had Sunderlands in their logbooks, while the Cos/2nd Navs/baby siggies had just started shaving ....
Looked as if all the aircrew were either under 25 or over 45! Does memory play tricks (as it often does), or was there any truth in the story.......?