| 1820 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active | 1944 |
| Disbanded | 16 December 1944[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Dive-bomber squadron |
| Role | Dive bomber |
| Size | nine aircraft |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | SeeNaval air stations section for full list. |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lieutenant Commander(A) H.I.A. Swayne,DSC,RN |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | Blue, in sinister chief a cloud proper issuant towards dexter base two lightning flashes and a rapier white. Wartime unofficial[2] |
| Identification Markings | 1A+ 4A+ (August 1944) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | Curtiss Helldiver |
1820 Naval Air Squadron (1820 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). The squadron was established atNaval Air Station Brunswick in Maine, on 1 April 1944 and subsequently joined HMSArbiter in July. Throughout its operational period, the squadron exclusively utilised the Curtiss Helldiver I aircraft. Nevertheless, the performance of this aircraft was deemed inadequate for its designated purpose, leading to the squadron's disbandment on 16 December 1944, at HMSRingtail, RNAS Burscough.
1820 Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 April 1944, in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick, located atUnited States Naval Air Station (USNAS) Brunswick,Maine, as adive bomber squadron,[3] under the command of Lieutenant Commander(A) H.I.A. Swayne, DSC, RN.[4]
It was equipped with nineCurtiss SB2C Helldiver, an American dive bomber. These were theCanadian built SBW-1B version for lend-lease to the Royal Navy and known as Helldiver I.[5] The squadron strength was eight pilots and eight observers and they conducted familiarisation with the aircraft and equipment at Brunswick during April.[6]
The squadron moved toUSNAS Squantum,Quincy, Massachusetts on 1 May 1955, where RN Air Section Squantum was located and continued to work-up for a couple of months, before it moved to RN Air Section Norfolk atUSNAS Norfolk,Norfolk, Virginia, on 5 July 1944, to embark in theRuler-classescort carrier,HMS Arbiter.[7]
By the 7 July, all aircrew, equipment and aircraft were embarked in HMSArbiter at Naval Station Norfolk and the carrier sailed toNew York to embark further passengers.[6] On 10 July she then joinedConvoy CU 31 and sailed forLiverpool.[8] 1820 Naval Air Squadron disembarked on 24 July and travelled toRN Air Section Speke, the aircraft towed by road. The squadron flew toRNAS Burscough (HMSRingtail), Lancashire, on 11 August.[6]
Aircraft evaluation and a flying training program continued at RNAS Burscough (HMSRingtail) until 23 October, when the squadron flew north to Scotland to operate out ofRNAS Donibristle (HMSMerlin), Fife, to enable deck landing training and carrier trials aboard theRuler-class escort carrierHMS Speaker.[2]
The aircraft type was found to be unsatisfactory for its intended purpose. The squadron lost a number of crews and aircraft due to accidents, with three failing to pull out of vertical dives. 1820 Naval Air Squadron was therefore disbanded at RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail) on 16 December 1994.[4]
1820 Naval Air Squadron flew only one aircraft type:[2]
1820 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom, a number overseas, and a couple of Royal Navyescort carriers:[2]
List ofcommanding officers of 1820 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[4][2]
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[9]