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815 Naval Air Squadron

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815 Naval Air Squadron
Active1939-1966, 1981-present
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Navy
TypeNaval Air Squadron
RoleMaritime Attack
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Garrison/HQRNAS Yeovilton
Motto(s)'Strike Deep'
EquipmentWestland Lynx HAS3 HMA8
Commanders
Current
commander		Commander A D Jones Royal Navy
Ceremonial chiefHRH Queen Elizabeth II

815 Naval Air Squadron is currently based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset UK and is the front line Lynx Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. With more than 30 Lynx helicopters of various types, it is the largest helicopter squadron, at least in western Europe, if not the world.[citation needed] The Squadron mainly operates in sub units called Flights that consist of a Lynx Helicopter and its crew, flying from Royal Naval frigates and destroyers worldwide on a daily basis.[1]

The Squadron initially formed in 1939 with Fairey Swordfish aircraft. Battle honours include Taranto 1940 (Battle of Taranto), the epic raid on the Italian Battlefleet in harbour which redefined the use of air power from the sea. In August 1941 it re-equipped with a mixture of Swordfish and Fairey Albacore, operating from shore bases in support of the North African campaign [2].

It was disbanded in July 1943 but reformed at Lee-on-Solent to operate Fairey Barracuda torpedo bombers, operating from HMS Indomitable with the Eastern Fleet, flying airstrikes over Sumatra in August-September 1944[3], before disbanding in November 1944. It again reformed in December 1944 at Machrihanish flying Barracudas for anti-submarine operations. [2]

For further historical reference, the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Somerset, UK holds the archives of all British Naval Air Squadrons and more.

Aircraft flown

westland Lynx HMA 8

Aircraft flown by 815 Naval Air Squadron include[3]:

References

  1. ^ "Royal Navy - 815 Naval Air Squadron". Retrieved 2007-08-12.
  2. ^ a b "815 Squadron". Fleet Air Arm Archive. Retrieved 2007-08-12.
  3. ^ a b Thetford, Owen (1994). British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 85177 861 5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |Edition= ignored (|edition= suggested) (help)
  • Sturtivant, R & Ballance, T (1994). 'The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' Published by Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1994 ISBN 0 85130 223 8
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