| 824 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Badge | |
| Active | Royal Air Force
Royal Navy
|
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Flying squadron |
| Role | Merlin HM2 crew training |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | RNAS Culdrose |
| Mottos | Spectat ubique spiritus (Latin for 'Behold, the wind all around them') |
| Aircraft | AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 |
| Website | Official website |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Commander Chris Jones |
824 Naval Air Squadron is aRoyal NavyFleet Air Arm squadron based atRNAS Culdrose and currently operating theAgustaWestland Merlin HM2 Operational Conversion Unit. It trains aircrew in Anti-Submarine warfare and Airborne Surveillance and Control.
The squadron was originally formed on 3 April 1933 as a Spotter Reconnaissance squadron.[1] DuringWorld War II, the squadron carried out various duties, such asconvoy protection,bombing raids, spotting for gunnery bombardments and attacks on enemydestroyers. The squadron took part in theBattle of Taranto on 11 November 1940, where together with aircraft from813,815 and819 squadrons flying fromHMS Illustrious, it successfully attacked theItalian Battle Squadron. It was disbanded 10 times between 1934 and 1970, in that time it was equipped with theFairey Seal,Fairey Swordfish,Fairey Barracuda,Fairey Firefly and finally theFairey Gannet.[1]
The squadron participated in theFalklands War, later responsible for trials of theSea King helicopter. The squadron again disbanded in August 1989 and its aircraft were transferred to819 Naval Air Squadron atPrestwick.[1]
824 Naval Air Squadron reformed on 2 June 2000 atRNAS Culdrose, equipped with eightAgustaWestland Merlin HM.1 helicopters. In January 2013 824 NAS received its first new HM.2 Merlin aircraft with the squadron fully converted by the end of 2013.
It currently trains Pilots, Observers and Aircrewman on the Merlin HM.2 helicopter inAnti-Submarine Warfare.[2] Once trained the aircrew go to one of the front line Merlin squadrons814 NAS and820 NAS.
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The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:[3]
824 Naval Air Squadron has received the followingbattle honours:[4]