| 849 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 21 April 2020 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron |
| Role |
|
| Size | 3 flights[1] |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Mottos | Primus video (Latin for 'The first to see') |
| Aircraft | SeeAircraft operated section for full list. |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Battle honours |
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
|
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | Blue, in base two bars wavy white a flash of lightning winged in bend sinister gold and charged with an eye proper (1953) |
| Identification Markings |
|
| Fin Carrier/Shore Codes | |
849 Naval Air Squadron (849 NAS), also referred to as 849 Squadron, was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN).[2]It most recently operated theMerlin HM2 from February until April 2020.
It was formed during theSecond World War as anaircraft carrier basedtorpedo-bomber, unit, flying missions against Japanese targets in the Far East. Its service since the Second World War has been as anairborne early warning squadron, flying fixed wingedDouglas Skyraiders andFairey Gannets from the Royal Navy's fixed wing carriers from 1952 until 1978, and airborne early warningWestland Sea King helicopters from 1982 to 2018.[3]
849 Naval Air Squadron was established in September 1943 at RNAS Quonset Point (HMSSaker II) located atNaval Air Station Quonset Point,Rhode Island, United States which had been loaned to theAdmiralty from October 1942. It was equipped with twelveGrumman Avenger Mk.I torpedo bombers.[4] The squadron moved to RN Air Section Squantum the following month, located atNaval Air Station Squantum, Massachusetts, which from September 1943 had also been loaned to the Admiralty.[5]
The squadron moved to RN Air Section Norfolk in November, located atNaval Air Station Norfolk,Virginia, where lodger facilities for FAA squadrons and an Air Section were granted to the Admiralty.[6] The twelve Grumman Avengers of the 849 squadron were carefully loaded and stored in the hangar of theRuler-classescort carrier,HMS Khedive. Upon completion of the loading process, HMSKhedive departed forNew York to joinconvoy UT.4a, which left New York on 15 November, as part of Convoy UT.4a and reached theClyde on 15 November; subsequently, HMSKhedive continued toLiverpoolthe next day to unload. On the 17 November, the aircraft were craned off to the quay side and subsequently towed to the RN Air Section atRAF Speke.[7]
The squadron underwent a duration of training atRNAS Grimsetter (HMSRobin), located inMainland, Orkney. This was succeeded by a two-weekanti-submarine course atRNAS Maydown (HMSShrike), situated inCounty Londonderry, followed by an additional five weeks of training in this role atRNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet), also in County Londonderry. In April 1944, 849 Squadron relocated toRAF Perranporth inCornwall, where it operated in conjunction with816 Squadron, utilisingFairey Swordfish aircraft, and850 Squadron, employing Grumman Avenger aircraft.[8] It providedanti-surface vessel and anti-submarine patrols over theEnglish Channel prior to and during theD-Day operations.[9]
In August 1944, it was sent toCeylon to join the BritishEastern Fleet. On 9 September, theRuler-class escort carrierHMS Rajah took on board the personnel and twelve Grumman Avenger aircraft from 849 Squadron, destined for southern India and Ceylon. The carrier departed on 10 September; she made stops atGibraltar,Alexandria, andAden before arriving inCochin, India on 9 October. Here 849 Squadron disembarked for the Royal Navy Aircraft Repair Yard located inCoimbatore,HMSGaruda.[10]
It embarked onHMS Victorious (which became part of theBritish Pacific Fleet in November 1944). It took part inOperation Lentil against oil installations atPangkalan Brandan inSumatra on 4 January 1945, and in the larger carrier strikes against the oil refineries at Palembang Sumatra (Operation Meridian) on 24 and 29 January.[11]
Victorious, including 849 in itsCarrier Air Group, took part in operations in support of theAmerican invasion of Okinawa from March to May 1945, flying strikes against airfields used by JapaneseKamikaze aircraft on theSakishima Islands and onFormosa. Still aboardVictorious, No. 849 took place in raids against the Japanese Home islands in July and August, including the bombing raids on 24 July that resulted in severe damage to the Japaneseescort carrierKaiyo. It disbanded on 31 October 1945.[12]
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849 Naval Air Squadron was re-established atRNAS Culdrose (HMSSeahawk), located inCornwall, England, on 7 July 1952, serving as the Airborne Early Warning squadron, following the redesignation of778 Naval Air Squadron. The squadron was equipped with theDouglas Skyraider, an American single-seatattack aircraft.[13][14] However, the aircraft utilised were the AD-4W variant, a three-seatairborne early warning model, which the Royal Navy obtained through theMutual Defense Assistance Act and designated AEW.1 by the FAA.[15] These aircraft were fitted with advanced radar systems to deliver early warnings to the Fleet regarding potential attacks from ships and low-flying aircraft, and the squadron was commanded byLieutenant CommanderJ.D. Treacher, RN. The Headquarters Flight provided training for aircrew members prior to their assignment to operationalFlights, which periodically embarked in the fleet carriers.[16]
In November 1952, both 'A' and 'B' Flights were established, with 'A' Flight being the first to set sail aboard theAudacious-classaircraft carrierHMS Eagle in January 1953. Subsequently, 'B' Flight departed forRNAS Hal Far (HMSFalcon) inMalta during the same month. By June, the newly constituted 'C' Flight joined 'A' Flight on HMSEagle, disembarking in October to embark on theColossus-class aircraft carrierHMS Glory to Malta, where it took over from 'B' Flight. In August 1953, 'D' Flight was formed and spent two weeks aboard HMSEagle in November. The formation of 'E' Flight occurred in January 1954, while 'B' Flight re-embarked on HMSEagle, only to disband in July to bolster 'A' and 'C' Flights. 'C' Flight was promptly re-designated as the new 'B' Flight, while 'D' Flight transitioned into the new 'C' Flight, joining HMSEaglessister shipHMS Ark Royal in August. To finalise this intricate series of transitions, a new 'D' Flight was established in October.[8]
In May 1955, 'C' Flight was briefly inHMS Bulwark, and in October 'B' Flight embarked in HMSArk Royal. In January 1956, 'D' Flight joinedHMS Albion, leaving again in May, and in June 'C' Flight spent another short period in HMSAlbion. 'A' Flight, still serving in HMSEagle, took part in the Suez operation in November 1956, flying continuous barrier patrols around the Fleet and Egyptian coast, during which they located two E-boats that were subsequently destroyed. 'D' Flight next embarked in June 1957, when it joined HMSBulwark. During 1958, 'B' Flight transferred from HMSArk Royal toHMS Victorious, whilst 'D' Flight left HMSBulwark. In 1959, 'A' Flight disembarked from HMSEagle, 'C' Flight left HMSAlbion and 'D' Flight spent a few months inHMS Centaur.[8]
Following the retirement of the Skyraiders in December 1960, the unit flew theFairey Gannet AEW.3 in the same role, operating from HMSEagle, HMSArk Royal, HMSCentaur, HMSHermes and HMSVictorious. Fairey Gannet variants AS.4, COD.4 and T.5s were also operated in supporting roles. The squadron detachments continued as 849B for HMSArk Royal and 849HQ stationed at RNAS Lossiemouth (HMSFulmar), Moray, until the squadron disbanded again on 15 December 1978.
In November 1970Bristol Belle, one of the first hot air balloons to fly in UK, was piloted by Lt Terry Adams, accompanied by Lt Howard Draper both of 849 Squadron B Flight (Gannets). Thisearly morning launch carried mail into Malta whilst the Ark Royal was steaming off the southern coast of that island.
It reformed after the lessons of the 1982South Atlantic campaign had been learned, on 8 November 1984 and the unit then operated theWestland Sea King Mk7 Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) helicopter. The squadron was stationed atRNAS Culdrose inCornwall, operating 9 aircraft. It was divided into three elements - two flights (A and B), or Aardvarks and Bees and the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU)(Previously known as HQ). Historically, a Flight was assigned to each of the two activeaircraft carriers in the Royal Navy. The squadron suffered heavy losses during the2003 invasion of Iraq when two of its aircraft operating fromHMSArk Royal collided during low visibility conditions. Six squadron members and an American exchange officer were killed in the collision.
On 13 December 2006, after a short ceremony at RNAS Culdrose, A Flight became854 Squadron and B Flight became857 Squadron, taking the former's Sea King ASaC.7 with them.
In May 2014, the MOD announced that seven ASaC.7 helicopters, to be operated by 849 Naval Air Squadron, would remain in service with the RN through to the second half of 2018; the remainder of the Royal Navy's Sea Kings, of all types, were to be withdrawn by 2016.[17]
854 and 857 Naval Air Squadrons were reabsorbed by 849 Naval Air Squadron in 2015, to form 'Normandy' and 'Palembang' flights respectively.[18] The third flight in 849 NAS is 'Okinawa Flight'.[1]
849NAS briefly operated a single Augusta Westland Merlin HM Mk2 from February 2020 in anticipation of the Mk2 receiving the Crowsnest upgraded ASaC system. 849 NAS decommissioned on 21 April 2020.[19]
The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:[20][21]
The followingBattle Honours have been awarded to 849 Naval Air Squadron:
849 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:[28]
849 Naval Air Squadron was active at variousnaval air stations of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force stations, both within the United Kingdom and internationally. Additionally, it operated from severalRoyal Navy fleet andescort carriers, as well as other airbases located abroad.[29]
List of air stations and aircraft carriers used by 849 Naval Air Squadron during World War two including dates:
List ofcommanding officers of 849 Naval Air Squadron:[30][21]
1943 - 1945
1952 - 1978
1984 - 2018
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[31]