857 Naval Air Squadron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 857 Naval Air Squadron |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1944-1945 2006-2015 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Carrier based squadron |
| Role | Airborne Early Warning |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Garrison/HQ | RNAS Culdrose |
| Motto(s) | Animis opibusque parati (Latin: "Prepared In minds & resources") |
| Equipment | Sea King Mk 7 |
| Battle honours | Palembang 1945 Okinawa 1945 East Indies 1945 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
L/C(A) W Stuart DSC & 2 bars, RNVR |
The 857 Naval Air Squadron was a special group of planes and pilots in the Royal Navy. They were part of the Fleet Air Arm, which is like the Navy's air force. This squadron first started on April 1, 1944, in the United States. Back then, they used planes called Grumman Avenger IIs to find targets and launch torpedoes. The squadron later started up again on December 13, 2006. This happened when a part of 849 Naval Air Squadron became the new 857 Naval Air Squadron.
World War II Missions
After the squadron was formed, it came back to the UK in June 1944. Here, the pilots and planes trained to find and stop submarines. In September 1944, they sailed to the Far East on a ship called HMS Rajah. Later, in November 1944, they moved to another ship, HMS Indomitable.
The squadron attacked different places in Sumatra, the East China Sea, and Formosa. They helped with important missions during the war. On September 1, 1945, they sailed to Hong Kong. After the war, the squadron moved to Australia. They left their planes at HMAS Albatross. The squadron then returned to the UK and was officially ended on November 20, 1945.
Starting Up Again
The 857 Naval Air Squadron started up again on December 13, 2006. This time, they used Westland Sea King ASaC.7 helicopters. They were based at RNAS Culdrose. Their first big trip was on board the RFA Fort Austin. They spent five months in the Middle East and near the Horn of Africa. Their goal was to stop pirates, smugglers, and other illegal activities at sea.
After that, the squadron went to NAS Norfolk in Virginia, United States. There, they practiced with United States Navy fighter planes and large groups of Navy ships. This helped them get ready for future missions.
Later Operations
In the first half of 2008, 857 NAS went back to the Middle East. They took over from their sister squadron, 854 NAS, for an operation called "Calash." They continued to keep the seas safe. The squadron also worked in the North Sea on board HMS Illustrious. They tested how well their helicopters could spot things from the air, which is called airborne early warning.
In 2011, some of the Sea King helicopters from 857 NAS were chosen to be part of the Response Force Task Group. This group is ready to respond quickly to different situations around the world.
The Future of the Squadron
The 857 Naval Air Squadron was officially ended in early 2015. Its members and equipment joined with its main unit to form a new group called "Palembang Flight."
