| 822 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active | Royal Air Force
|
| Disbanded | 19 February 1946 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron |
| Role | Carrier-based:
|
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Battle honours |
|
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | White, an eagle displayed black armed and langued red crowned with the naval crown gold and holding in the dexter talon a winged thunderbolt white and in the sinister a grenade white both inflamed proper (1937) |
| Identification Markings |
|
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | |
| Fighter | Fairey Firefly |
| Reconnaissance | |
822 Naval Air Squadron (821 NAS), sometimes known as 822 Squadron, was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It was active as part of theRoyal Air Force (RAF) beforeWorld War II and part of the Royal Navy during it. It most recently operated withFairey Firefly between September 1945 and February 1946.
The squadron, established in April 1933, was a carrier-based unit created through the merger of theFairey III aircraft from 442 and 449 Flight (Fleet Torpedo Reconnaissance) Flights of theRoyal Air Force RAF into the newly constituted Fleet Air Arm of the RAF. Throughout its tenure with the RAF, the squadron employed various aircraft, including theFairey Seal,Blackburn Shark, andFairey Swordfish. Following its transition to the Royal Navy, it subsequently operatedFairey Albacore during theSecond World War, and later, it also utilisedFairey Barracuda.
822 Naval Air Squadron was established atRAF Netheravon,Wiltshire, on 3 April 1933 as a Torpedo Reconnaissance unit, originating from 442 (Fleet Torpedo Reconnaissance) Flight merged with 449 (Fleet Torpedo Reconnaissance) Flight.[1]
It was posted to the Home Fleet aboardHMS Furious and from March to November 1936 it was equipped withFairey Seals passed on from821 Squadron, soon replaced byBlackburn Sharks, to carry out a Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance role. These latter were flown at theCoronation Review Flypast atSpithead on 20 May 1937. In August 1937 the squadron receivedFairey Swordfish aircraft, which it continued to operate from HMSFurious until February 1939, when the squadron was re-allocated toHMS Courageous as a deck landing training unit.[2]
The squadron was taken over by theAdmiralty on 24 May 1939,[3] however, it disbanded on the same day atRNAS Donibristle (HMSMerlin),Fife, merging with811 Squadron to form767 Naval Air Squadron.[1] The squadron was reconstituted from one of its flights, designated 822A, which subsequently transformed into the new 822 Squadron on 1 July 1939.[4]
At the commencement of hostilities, the squadron was deploying its Fairey Swordfish aircraft from HMSCourageous, which was ultimately destroyed when it was torpedoed and sunk on 17 September 1939 and the squadron ceased to exist.[4]
On 15 October 1941, 822 was reformed as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance unit, equipped with nine Fairey Swordfish Is atRNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus),Hampshire. Although these aircraft were designated for theAvenger-classescort carrierHMS Biter, the squadron transitioned to nineFairey Albacore torpedo bombers in March 1942 before her arrival from the USA. The Fairey Albacores were subsequently deployed onHMS Furious in July, where they participated in convoy escort operations.[5]
In November, the squadron provided support for theNorth African landings and subsequently participated in a coordinated assault onLa Senia Airfield on the 10 and 11, resulting in the destruction of forty-seven enemy aircraft. However, the squadron suffered the loss of four aircraft, including that of thecommanding officer,Lieutenant J.G.A. McI. Nares.[4] The remaining aircraft were disembarked inGibraltar to compensate for the losses incurred, and in January 1943,anti-submarine operations were conducted off the coast ofAlgeria prior to rejoining HMSFurious in theHome Fleet for duty related toArctic convoys.[2]
The squadron underwent re-equipment with twelveFairey Barracudas, a British torpedo anddive bomber aircraft, in July 1943 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, subsequently integrating into the45th Naval TBR Wing in October 1943. By April 1944, the squadron had reachedSt Thomas Mount, a Royal Air Force installation located insouthern India, with personnel and aircraft making their journeys separately. In July 1944, the squadron incorporated823 Squadron, increasing its total strength to 21 aircraft.[4]
The squadron joined11th Naval TBR Wing and embarked onHMS Victorious to conduct a dive-bombing assault on the rail center located atSigli in northernSumatra on 18 September. The subpar performance of the Barracudas in the tropical climate resulted in the squadron returning home the following month aboard theRuler-classescort carrierHMS Rajah, devoid of its aircraft.[2]
On 18 November 1944, the squadron regrouped at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, where it was outfitted with twelve Fairey Barracuda Mk IIIs. Subsequently, it began operations over theEnglish Channel, operating under the authority ofRAF Coastal Command, utilisingRAF Thorney Island, West Sussex, and laterRAF Manston, Kent.[4]
In June 1945, the original aircraft were assigned to theDutch-operated860 Naval Air Squadron, while 822 was re-equipped with twelve Fairey Barracuda Mk II aircraft that were outfitted withASH radar. The squadron was scheduled to join aColossus-classaircraft carrier in August as part of the18th Carrier Air Group, intended for deployment with theBritish Pacific Fleet; however, the occurrence ofV-J Dayaltered these plans.[2]
The squadron re-equipped in September with twelve Firefly FR.1s, while stationed atRNAS Woodvale (HMSRingtail II),Merseyside.[5] TheFairey Firefly was designed to the Naval Spec N.5/40 and it carried on the tradition, peculiar to the FAA, of the fast two-seater combining thefighter andreconnaissance roles. Production of the Firefly began and the first Mk I was delivered on 4 March 1943. FR Mk Is were the fighter/reconnaissance variant which were fitted with the ASH detection radar.[6] Ultimately the squadron disbanded atRNAS Machrihanish (HMSLandrail),Argyll and Bute, on 19 February 1946.[2]
The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:[7]
The followingBattle Honours have been awarded to 822 Naval Air Squadron:
822 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:
List ofcommanding officers of 822 Naval Air Squadron:[4][7]
1933 - 1939
1939
1941 - 1946
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[14]