854 Naval Air Squadron


854 Naval Air Squadron, sometimes expressed as 854 Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. It most recently operated Westland Sea King ASaC.7 airborne surveillance and control helicopter between December 2006 and December 2014.
It first formed in January 1944 at Squantum Naval Air Station in the United States, flying Grumman Avenger. It was disbanded in December 1945, and reformed December 2006 as a helicopter squadron designed for Airborne Surveillance and Control.

History

Avenger (1944-1945)

854 Naval Air Squadron was established on 1 January 1944, at RN Air Section Squantum, located at Naval Air Station Squantum in Quincy, Massachusetts. It was designated as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance unit and was equipped with twelve Grumman Avenger Mk.II torpedo bombers, which embarked in the Illustrious-class aircraft carrier on 10 April.
On 23 May, the squadron was designated to RAF Coastal Command as a component of No. 157 Wing, initially at RAF Hawkinge, Kent and subsequently at RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex, throughout the Normandy landings. In the months of July and August, the squadron conducted sixty-two night assaults on E- and R-boats situated off the coasts of the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, and received recognition for the destruction of two V-1 flying bombs.
Upon returning to the Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), on 27 August, the aircraft were not taken along and personnel boarded the escort carrier, on 7 September, heading for Ceylon. The squadron personnel disembarked to the RN Air Section at RAF Cochin, India, on 7 October. Equipped with Grumman Avenger Mk.I aircraft, upon their arrival at RNAS Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), Ceylon, on 11 October, they commenced training.
The squadron commenced operations with the name ship of her class on 1 December engaging in bombing missions against targets in Sumatra from December 1944 to January 1945, with operations at Belawan Deli and Palembang, Operation Robson and Operation Meridian respectively, when the Commanding Officer was lost in action. In March and April, assaults were conducted on targets in the Sakishima Gunto group of islands, located in the East China Seas, as part of Operation Iceberg.
In the subsequent month, the squadron disembarked, resulting in the loss of its aircraft. It was re-equipped with Grumman Avenger Mk.IIIs at RNAS Nowra (HMS Nabbington), New South Wales, in July 1945. Despite becoming part of the 3rd Carrier Air Group, the squadron experienced another loss of its aircraft in September 1945 and subsequently disbanded upon its return to the United Kingdom on 8 December 1945.

Sea King (2006-2014)

854 Naval Air Squadron reformed on 8 December 2006, followed by a ceremony on 13 December 2006 at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), the unit reformed with three Westland Sea King ASaC.7 airborne early warning helicopters, previously 'A' Flight, 849 Squadron.
From March to July 2007 the squadron carried out counter-drug operations on board, and helped to seize a tonne of cocaine.
In May 2009, 854 Squadron dispatched three Westland Sea King ASaC.7 helicopters to Afghanistan. This deployment was succeeded by another in November 2010, which was subsequently relieved by 857 Squadron in March 2012, after which they returned to RNAS Culdrose. Furthermore, they participated in the security operation for the London 2012 Olympics from mid-July to mid-September, detaching to RAF Northolt, in London.
In April 2014, 854 was redeployed to Afghanistan to replace 857, and it became the final Fleet Air Arm unit to exit Afghanistan in July, subsequently transitioning to operations in the Gulf for a duration of two months.
The squadron was disbanded in December 2014, subsequently being absorbed into 849 Squadron, as the latter evolved into three separate flights.

Aircraft operated

The squadron has operated three variants of a fixed wing and a single rotary wing, aircraft type:

Battle honours

The following Battle Honours have been awarded to 854 Naval Air Squadron:

Assignments

854 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:

Naval air stations

854 Naval Air Squadron was active at various naval air stations of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force stations, both within the United Kingdom and internationally. Additionally, it operated from a couple of Royal Navy fleet and an escort carrier, as well as other airbases located abroad.

World War Two air stations and aircraft carriers

List of air stations and aircraft carriers used by 854 Naval Air Squadron during World War two including dates:

Sea King (2006-2014)

List of air stations and aircraft carriers used by 854 Naval Air Squadron whilst operating Sea King ASaC.7 including dates:

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 854 Naval Air Squadron:
1944 - 1945
2006 - 2014
  • Lieutenant Commander D.M. Biggs, RN, from 13 December 2006
  • Lieutenant Commander A.D. Tite, RN, from 15 January 2008
  • Lieutenant Commander P.D. Harrison, RN, 13 March 2010
  • Lieutenant Commander J.W.L Ling, RN, from 23 May 2012
  • Lieutenant Commander R.J. Kennedy, RN, from 10 July 2014
  • disbanded - 4 December 2014
Note: Abbreviation signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.