| 810 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active | Royal Air Force 1933–1939 Royal Navy
|
| Disbanded | 31 July 2001 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron |
| Role |
|
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Mottos | Ut fulmina de caelo (Latin for 'Like thunderbolts from heaven') |
| Aircraft | SeeAircraft operated section for full list. |
| Engagements | |
| Battle honours |
|
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | Blue, in a base two bars barry wavy white dexter chief a cloud proper issuant towards sinister base a lightning flash gold (1937) |
| Identifications Markings |
|
| Fin Carrier/Shore Codes | |
810 Naval Air Squadron (810 NAS), sometimes known to as 810 Squadron, was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It most recently operatedWestland Sea King anti-submarine warfare helicopter between March 1983 and July 2001.
It formed on 3 April 1933 with the amalgamation of the 12Blackburn Dart aircraft from 463 and 44 Flight (Fleet Torpedo) FlightsRoyal Air Force to the Fleet Air Arm. The squadron engaged in combat during theSecond World War, utilising theFairey Swordfish andFairey Barracuda. It subsequently flew theFairey Firefly throughout theKorean War, which was later succeeded by theHawker Sea Fury in the mid-fifties. During theSuez Crisis, the squadron operated with theHawker Sea Hawk.
810 Naval Air Squadron was established atRAF Gosport, Hampshire, on 3 April 1933, through the merger of Nos. 463 and 464 (Fleet Torpedo) Flights.[2]
Equipped with twelveBlackburn Dart biplane torpedo bomber aircraft 810 Squadron was assigned to theaircraft carrierHMS Courageous in May 1933 and formed part of theHome Fleet. In September that year the Darts were replaced byBlackburn Ripon torpedo bombers, and these were in turn replaced byBlackburn Baffin torpedo bombers in July 1934, with the entire squadron operating Baffins by November that year. TheAbyssinian crisis caused HMSCourageous and the squadron to be transferred to the Mediterranean from August 1935 to February 1936. The squadron receivedBlackburn Shark torpedo bombers in April 1937, and thenFairey Swordfish a torpedo bomber aircraft in September 1938. 810 Squadron was then transferred to the new aircraft carrierHMS Ark Royal the following month, and had embarked by January.[3]
The squadron was amongst those transferred to theAdmiralty, when it took control of the FAA on 24 May 1939.[4]
By the outbreak of war the squadron was aboard HMSArk Royal, flying twelve Fairey Swordfish on anti-submarine patrols. They carried out an unsuccessful attack onU-30 on 14 September 1939, losing two of their aircraft to their own bombs. The squadron was involved in activities overNorway after theGerman invasion in April 1940, and carried out bombing raids onVaernes aerodrome. They sailed with HMSArk Royal toGibraltar, and carried out attacks during the BritishAttack on Mers-el-Kébir in July. The squadron made an abortive attack on theFrench battleship Strasbourg, and later attacked theFrench battleship Dunkerque.[5]
The squadron was again in action in August and September, when they carried out bombing raids atCagliari andSardinia, and against the French fleet in theBattle of Dakar, when their aircraft made an unsuccessful attack on theFrench battleship Richelieu. They then saw action in November at theBattle of Cape Spartivento, and the following year in February carried out bombing attacks on Tirso Dam,Sardinia and bombing attacks onLivorno andLa Spezia inItaly.[6]
HMSArk Royal was ordered into the Atlantic in May 1941 to search for theGerman battleship Bismarck, and the squadron was involved in the attack which crippled her, andled to her sinking.[7] This was followed by a period in the Mediterranean to support Malta operations and to operate against enemy positions on Sardinia. They left HMSArk Royal in September, before her sinking in November, and saw service with HMSFurious supporting convoy movements toJamaica.[8] In December 810 Squadron embarked inHMS Illustrious and then transferred toHMS Formidable to return to the UK.[9]
In March 1942, the squadron was transferred toHMS Illustrious for missions in theIndian Ocean. Subsequently, they participated in theBattle of Madagascar in May, targeting both shipping and land installations atDiego Suarez, and successfully sinking the Vichy French submarineLe Heros.[9] Disembarking to the RN Air Section Durban, at SAAF Station Stamford Hill, Durban,[10] the squadron absorbed 829 Naval Air Squadron thereby increasing its strength. 810 returned to the UK in February 1943.[8]
In April 1943, 810 squadron was re-equipped at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus), Hampshire, with twelveFairey Barracuda Mk IIs, transforming into a TBR squadron. Following a period of work-up both ashore and aboard HMSIllustrious, operations commenced off the Norwegian coast in July, prior to their deployment to support the Salerno landings,Operation Avalanche. Upon returning to the United Kingdom, the squadron reassembled as a component of the 21st Naval TBR Wing in October, and subsequently embarked the next month for the Far East to join the Royal Navy'sEastern Fleet.[8] Subsequent to the fleet's integration in March, a three-day operation referred to asOperation Initial was carried out in theBay of Bengal to showcase military presence in the area and to support training for the Fleet. This was followed by another naval training exercise calledOperation Diplomat.[11]
Following this, the squadron and wing engaged in active operations from April to July 1944.Operation Cockpit, which took place from 16 April to 19, involved air strikes executed by the Fleet Air Arm and United States Navy aircraft. These strikes targeted the harbor infrastructure, oil storage tanks, shipping vessels, aircraft, and facilities atLho Nga airfield inSabang, located on the island ofPulau Weh at the northern tip ofSumatra.[12]Operation Councillor took place from June 10 to June 13 as a strategic initiative in theIndian Ocean, aimed at redirecting Japanese attention from American military operations in theMarianas Islands.[13]Operation Pedal took place from June 19 to June 21 and included an airstrike initiated from aircraft carriers aimed at Japanese facilities located inPort Blair and several locations throughout theAndaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.[13] Finally,Operation Crimson, which took place from July 22 to 27, involved a coordinated naval bombardment and aerial attacks aimed at Japanese airfields situated in the Indonesian cities ofSabang,Lhoknga, andKutaraja on the island of Sumatra. Aircraft launched from carriers were instrumental in incapacitating the airfields and providing air support for the forces involved in the bombardment.[14]
847 Squadron was integrated in June 1944, achieving a maximum strength of twenty-one aircraft,[15] prior to disembarking at RNAS Wingfield (HMSMalagas), Cape Town, during the carrier's refitting process,[16] however, the squadron returned to the UK aboard HMSActiviy.[8]
The Barracuda Mk IIs remained operational at RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail), Lancashire, during the winter of 1944/45; however, they were subsequently substituted with radar-equipped Barracuda Mk IIIs at [RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap)|RNAS Stretton (HMSBlackcap)], Cheshire, in February 1945.[8] 810 Squadron relocated toRAF Thorney Island, West Sussex, to test the new equipment during anti-shipping patrols in the English Channel alongsideRAF Coastal Command. In April, it transitioned to the East Coast to conduct searches for midget submarines in the Schelde region, operating from RAF Beccles, Suffolk and remaining under RAF Coastal Command. Subsequently, it proceeded north to Scotland, where it was disbanded at RNAS Machrihanish (HMSLandrail), Argyll and Bute, on 22 August.,[9]
The inaugural productionFairey Firefly FR.4 took to the skies on 25 May 1945, with the first squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm to receive the Firefly Mk.4 was 810.[17] The addition of the two-speed, two-stage superchargedRolls-Royce Griffon 74 improvedhigh-altitude performance, increasing maximum speed by 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). This prompted the switch to a four-bladed Rotolairscrew and an extension of the fin's leading edge for enhanced stability. Two large fairings were also added beneath the wings: the port fairing held auxiliary fuel, while the starboard fairing contained the radar scanner.[18]
In October 1947, 810 Squadron was reformed atRNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet),County Londonderry, as a fighter squadron with twelve Firefly FR.4s for the17th Carrier Air Group. The squadron deployed onHMS Implacable for an exercise in May 1948, then spent three months atRNAS Donibristle (HMSMerlin), Fife, before rejoiningHMS Theseus in August for a cruise to South Africa, including an eight-day tour. In 1949, the squadron participated in cruises in the Mediterranean and Home waters, as well as Army exercises in Germany in October, before being disbanded atRNAS St Merryn (HMSVulture), Cornwall.[9]
The Firefly Mk.4 was succeeded in production by the Mk.5, which became the most widely produced variant of the later Fireflies. With this model, the Firefly started to be equipped with different tools for specialised roles, leading to the creation of subvariants such as the FR.5 for day-fighter-reconnaissance, the NF.5 fornight-fighting, and the AS.5 foranti-submarine patrol. The distinctions among these Fireflies were primarily internal.[17]
On the subsequent day, 810 was reformed into an anti-submarine squadron at the same station, operating with twelve Firefly AS.5s. This unit, which continued to be a component of the 17th CAG, transformed into a fully operational strike squadron. Two months later, it re-embarked to engage in theKorean War starting in October. Prior to its withdrawal in April 1951, the Air Group had executed a total of 3,446 sorties and was subsequently honored with the 1950Boyd Trophy for its three operational patrols conducted from October to December.[19]
The squadron was reformed atRNAS Arbroath (HMSCondor),Angus, on 29 June 1951 with twelve Firefly AS.5s and joinedHMS Ocean in July. After a brief period onHMS Glory in May and June, it returned to HMSTheseus in October and then back to HMSOcean in December after its Korea mission. In April 1953, the squadron left for the Far East for a second six-month deployment in Korean waters, completing four operational patrols before the July armistice and three more afterward. The aircrews returned from Hong Kong in October, and the squadron was officially disbanded when the ship arrived in Plymouth on 17 December.[19]
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TheHawker Sea Fury marked the last use of apiston-engine fighter by the Fleet Air Arm in active squadrons, serving from 1947 until 1955. It was distinguished as the first British naval aircraft to incorporate power-folding wings in routine operations. The Sea Fury began its operational deployment in the late summer of 1947.[20]
810 was subsequently re-formed into a fighter squadron, equipped with 12 Sea Fury FB.11s atRNAS Ford (HMSPeregrine), Sussex, on 1 March 1954, and deployed in July aboard thename ship of her classHMS Centaur for operations in the Mediterranean. The aircraft returned to the UK fromRNAS Hal Far (HMSFalcon),Malta, on 22 March 1955, leading to the disbandment of the squadron upon their arrival.[19]
TheHawker Sea Hawk was first introduced to FAA squadrons in 1953, with the FGA 4 variant, which was specifically designed forclose-support operations, making its first flight on 26 August 1954. The last production model for the Royal Navy was the FGA 6, and the final Sea Hawk for the FAA was delivered in early 1956.[20]
On 4 July 1955, the squadron was re-established atRNAS Lossiemouth (HMSFulmar),Moray, as a ground attack fighter unit, equipped with ten Sea Hawk FGA.4 aircraft. In January 1956, it embarked on theCentaur classlight fleet carrierHMS Albion and set sail for theFar East. Upon its return in May, the squadron was initially scheduled to disband; however, this was deferred due to the prevailingpolitical circumstances in the Middle East. Consequently, it departed again in August aboardsister shipHMS Bulwark for the Mediterranean, where it took part in theSuez operations in November, conducting attacks on airfields and various other targets. Upon returning home, 810 Squadron disbanded atRNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus),Hampshire, on 18 December.[19]
TheFairey Gannet, which became the cornerstone of the FAA's carrier-based anti-submarine force in 1955, was the inaugural aircraft globally to operate with a dual airscrew-turbine system, offering all the advantages of atwin-engine aircraft while utilising a single-engine setup. It was the first aircraft within FAA squadrons to merge the search and strike roles: it featured an unusually spacious weapons bay, behind which a sizable retractable radar scanner was installed.[21] On April 13, 1956, the Gannet AS.4 undertook its inaugural flight. This aircraft, which followed the AS.1 in the production line, was distinct from its predecessor due to the incorporation of theArmstrong Siddeley Double Mamba (101) ASMD.3turboprop. With the introduction of the Gannet AS.4, the FAA successfully finalised its anti-submarine re-equipment initiative.[22]
The squadron was reformed with Gannet AS.4 under the command of Lieutenant Commander A.Mc.K. Sinclair, RN, atRNAS Culdrose (HMSSeahawk),Cornwall, in May 1959 to embark in the lead ship of her classHMS Centaur It embarked fromRAF North Front at Gibraltar,[19] only six weeks later after a record re-conversion to fixed wing flying for many of the pilots and observers. No Telegraphists Air were carried because of the short drafting notice. This also necessitatedCentaur landing her849 AEW Flight to provide room as a large Commonwealth exercise in waters offCeylon was scheduled based around carrier based AS operations.[citation needed]
The squadron remained with HMSCentaur throughout the remainder of that Commission, visiting the Persian Gulf, before sailing for the Far East includingAustralia. The squadron returned home in April 1960 and re-embarked in June for exercises and a visit to Stockholm before disbanding on board on arrival home on 12 July.[19] It was the last operational anti-submarine Gannet squadron embarked in the Royal Navy.[23] XG797 is preserved at theImperial War Museum atRAF Duxford.[24]
With its rise as the primaryanti-submarine warfare aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm, theWestland Sea King helicopter underwent further development with the introduction of the HAS.5, which commenced service with the Royal Navy on 2 October 1980. The HAS.5 could be recognised externally by its largerradome positioned above the fuselage. It featured aDecca 71 radar, Sea Searcher radar, an enhanced tactical air navigation system, and LAPADS (lightweight acoustic processing and display system) that operated in conjunction with signals from Jezebel passivesonobuoys.[25]
810 squadron was reformed atRNAS Culdrose (HMSSeahawk), Cornwall, on 15 February 1983, equipped with ten Sea King HAS.5 helicopters, and was officially commissioned on 3 March. Established as a successor to737 Naval Air Squadron, this squadron assumed the responsibility of delivering Advanced Flying Training (AFT) and Observer Flying Training (OFT) for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) Observers and aircrewmen, as well as OFT for ASW pilots. In the course of this training, detachments were conducted aboard the Aviation Training Ship (RFA Engadine until 1989, subsequentlyRFA Argus), for durations of up to seven months each year. The AFT responsibilities were returned to706 Naval Air Squadron in October 1985.[19]
The Sea King HAS.6 Operational Evaluation Unit (OEU) was reassigned to 810 Squadron in July 1993 when it absorbed ’E’ Flight of826 Naval Air Squadron following its disbandment.[26] The Sea King HAS.6 provided enhancements to the fundamental airframe and the primary transmission system, in addition to more advanced ASWsonar,MAD systems, and the capability to deploySea Eagleanti-ship missiles.[27] In late 1994, the squadron assumed responsibility for the Sea King Flights aboard the Royal Navy'sType 22 Frigates, which had previously been managed by819 Squadron.[28]
Furthermore, beginning in March 1998, it undertook all training responsibilities previously held by the disbanded 706 Squadron.[29] In 1998, 810 Squadron Sea Flight received the Boyd Trophy for their successful rescue of survivors from the Spanish container ship MVDelfin del Mediterraneo,[30] which had capsized during a storm near Portugal.[31] The squadron was formally disbanded at RNAS Culdrose on 31 July 2001, with its outstanding duties, such as training and the oversight of Frigate Flights, handed over to771 Squadron.[32]
The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:[33][34]
The followingbattle honours have been awarded to 810 Naval Air Squadron:
810 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:
List ofcommanding officers of 810 Naval Air Squadron:[46][34]
1933 - 1944
1944 - 1945
1947 - 1949
1949 - 1951
1951 - 1953
1954 - 1955
1955 - 1956
1959 - 1960
1983 - 2001
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[47]