849 Naval Air Squadron

849 Naval Air Squadron (849 NAS), also referred to as 849 Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN).^[2] It most recently operated the Merlin HM2 from February until April 2020.

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849 Naval Air Squadron
Squadron badge
Active	1943-1945, 1952-1978, 1984-2020
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron
Role	Carrier-based: anti-submarine warfare (ASW) anti-surface warfare (ASuW) Carrier-based Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC)
Size	3 flights^[1]
Part of	Fleet Air Arm
Garrison/HQ	RNAS Culdrose
Mottos	Primus video (Latin: "The first to see")
Anniversaries	none
Engagements	Normandy 1944, Palembang 1945, Okinawa 1945, Japan 1945, Iraq 2003
Commanders
Notable commanders	L/C(A) K G Sharp RN Lt Cdr Charles Gidley Wheeler (Senior Pilot, 1969-1970)

It was formed during the Second World War as an aircraft carrier based torpedo-bomber, unit, flying missions against Japanese targets in the Far East. Its service since the Second World War has been as an airborne early warning squadron, flying fixed winged Douglas Skyraiders and Fairey Gannets from the Royal Navy's fixed wing carriers from 1952 until 1978, and airborne early warning Westland Sea King helicopters from 1982 to 2018.^[3]

World War two

849 Naval Air Squadron was formed on 1 August 1943 at the Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island with Grumman Avenger Is. It returned to the UK and provided anti-surface vessel and anti-submarine patrols over the English Channel prior to and during the D-Day operations.^[4]

In August 1944, it was sent to Ceylon to join the British Eastern Fleet, embarking on HMS Victorious (and becoming part of the British Pacific Fleet in November 1944). It took part in Operation Lentil against oil installations at Pangkalan Brandan in Sumatra on 4 January 1945, and in the larger carrier strikes against the oil refineries at Palembang Sumatra (Operation Meridian) on 24 and 29 January.^[5]

Victorious, including 849 in its Carrier Air Group, took part in operations in support of the American invasion of Okinawa from March to May 1945, flying strikes against airfields used by Japanese Kamikaze aircraft on the Sakishima Islands and on Formosa. Still aboard Victorious, 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 Japanese escort carrier Kaiyo. It disbanded on 31 October 1945.^[6]

Skyraider AEW.1 (1952-1960)

849 Naval Air Squadron was re-established at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), located in Cornwall, England, on 7 July 1952, serving as the Airborne Early Warning squadron, following the redesignation of 778 Naval Air Squadron. The squadron was equipped with the Douglas Skyraider, an American single-seat attack aircraft.^[7]^[8] However, the aircraft utilised were the AD-4W variant, a three-seat airborne early warning model, which the Royal Navy obtained through the Mutual Defense Assistance Act and designated AEW.1 by the FAA.^[9] 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 by Lieutenant Commander J.D. Treacher, RN. The Headquarters Flight provided training for aircrew members prior to their assignment to operational Flights, which periodically embarked in the fleet carriers.^[10]

In November 1952, both 'A' and 'B' Flights were established, with 'A' Flight being the first to set sail aboard the Audacious-class aircraft carrier HMS Eagle in January 1953. Subsequently, 'B' Flight departed for RNAS Hal Far (HMS Falcon) in Malta during the same month. By June, the newly constituted 'C' Flight joined 'A' Flight on HMS Eagle, disembarking in October to embark on the Colossus-class aircraft carrier HMS Glory to Malta, where it took over from 'B' Flight. In August 1953, 'D' Flight was formed and spent two weeks aboard HMS Eagle in November. The formation of 'E' Flight occurred in January 1954, while 'B' Flight re-embarked on HMS Eagle, 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 HMS Eagles sister ship HMS Ark Royal in August. To finalise this intricate series of transitions, a new 'D' Flight was established in October.^[11]

In May 1955, 'C' Flight was briefly in HMS Bulwark, and in October 'B' Flight embarked in HMS Ark Royal. In January 1956, 'D' Flight joined HMS Albion, leaving again in May, and in June 'C' Flight spent another short period in HMS Albion. 'A' Flight, still serving in HMS Eagle, 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 HMS Bulwark. During 1958, 'B' Flight transferred from HMS Ark Royal to HMS Victorious, whilst 'D' Flight left HMS Bulwark. In 1959, 'A' Flight disembarked from HMS Eagle, 'C' Flight left HMS Albion and 'D' Flight spent a few months in HMS Centaur.^[11]

Gannet (1959-1978)

Following the retirement of the Skyraiders in December 1960, the unit flew the Fairey Gannet AEW.3 in the same role, operating from Eagle, Ark Royal, Centaur, Hermes and Victorious. Gannet AS.4, COD.4 and T.5s were also operated in supporting roles. The squadron detachments continued as 849B (Ark Royal) and 849HQ (RAF Lossiemouth), until the squadron disbanded again on 15 December 1978.

In November 1970 Bristol 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). This early morning launch carried mail into Malta whilst the Ark Royal was steaming off the southern coast of that island.

Helicopter AEW (1984 to 2018)

It reformed after the lessons of the 1982 South Atlantic campaign had been learned, on 8 November 1984 and the unit then operated the Westland Sea King Mk7 Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) helicopter. The squadron was stationed at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, 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 active aircraft carriers in the Royal Navy. The squadron suffered heavy losses during the 2003 invasion of Iraq when two of its aircraft operating from HMS Ark 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 became 854 Squadron and B Flight became 857 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.^[12]

854 and 857 Naval Air Squadrons were reabsorbed by 849 Naval Air Squadron in 2015, to form 'Normandy' and 'Palembang' flights respectively. ^[13] The third flight in 849 NAS is 'Okinawa Flight'.^[1]

Decommissioning

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.^[14]

849 Naval Air Squadron

Operational history

World War two

Skyraider AEW.1 (1952-1960)

Gannet (1959-1978)

Helicopter AEW (1984 to 2018)

Decommissioning

Aircraft operated

Battle honours

Assignments

See also

References

External links

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