854 Naval Air Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=854 Naval Air Squadron


caption=Audentes fortuna juvat
dates=1944-1945
2006-
country=UK
allegiance=
branch=Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm
type=Carrier based squadron
role=Airborne early warning
size=
command_structure=
current_commander= Lt Cdr A D Tite
garrison=RNAS Culdrose
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto="Audentes fortuna juvat" - Fortune helps the daring
colors= Red and Black
march=
mascot=
battles=Normandy 1944, Palembang 1945, Okinawa 1945
notable_commanders=L/C R E Jess DSC, RCNVR
anniversaries=none

854 Naval Air Squadron was first formed on 1 January 1944, at Squantum Naval Air Station in the USA. It was later disbanded in December 1945. It was reformed December 2006 as a helicopter squadron designed for Airborne Surveillance and Control.

History

The squadron was formed in January 1944 equipped with Grumman Avenger IIs to operate as an anti-shipping squadron. In May 1944, it arrived back in the United Kingdom, to become part of No.157 Wing, RAF Coastal Command. It operated over the English Channel to carry out anti shipping patrols in the run-up to D-Day. It left for the Far East in September 1944. The squadron carried out operations onbroad HMS Illustrious against Sumatra in December and January 1945. In March and April the squadron attacked targets on the Sakishima Islands. 854 NAS received new Avenger IIIs in July to join the 3rd Carrier Air Group. But shortly afterwards, 854 left its Avenger IIIs behind and sailed for the UK, to disband on 8 December 1945.

After a ceremony on 13 Dec 2006 at RNAS Culdrose, the unit reformed with the Sea King ASaC.7, previously A Flight, 849 Squadron. From March to July 2007 the squadron carried out counter drug operations onboard HMS Ocean, helped to seize a tonne of cocaine.

References

Sturtivant and Ballance (1994), "The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm", Air Britain Publications, 480pp, ISBN 0 85130 223 8.

External links

* [http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.5968 Royal Navy 854 Naval Air Squadron]