820 Naval Air Squadron

820 Naval Air Squadron
Fairey Swordfish of 820 Naval Air Squadron passing over HMS Ark Royal in 1939
Active	Apr 1933 – Nov 1943 Oct 1944 – Mar 1946 Jul 1951 – December 1957 January 1958 – May 1959 Nov 1959 – Oct 1960 Sep 1964 – present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Carrier based squadron
Role	Offensive Support
Part of	Fleet Air Arm
Garrison/HQ	RNAS Culdrose
Motto(s)	Latin: Tutamen et Ultor (Translation: "Safeguard and Avenger")
Equipment	Merlin HM.2
Battle honours	Norway 1940–41 Spartivento 1940 'Bismarck' 1941 Atlantic 1941 Malta Convoys 1941 North Africa 1942–43 Sicily 1943 Salerno 1943 Palembang 1945 Okinawa 1945 Japan 1945 Falkland Islands 1982
Commanders
Current commander	Cdr. Jon Holroyd, RN (since February 2016)
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	A flying fish above the waves in a circle of rope

820 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier based squadron formed in April 1933 with the transferral of the Fairey III aircraft from 405 Flight Royal Air Force to the Fleet Air Arm. It has operated, with a number of brief gaps, up to the present day and continues in service, flying the AgustaWestland Merlin HM.2 from RNAS Culdrose.

The squadron's first assignment on its formation was to carry out spotter-reconnaissance duties for the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous. They were later re-equipped with Fairey Seals and Blackburn Sharks, eventually receiving Fairey Swordfish in autumn 1937. The squadron was reassigned in November the following year to the new aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. The squadron operated from Ark Royal for the next three years, initially on anti-submarine duties, but later as surface search and torpedo-attack aircraft. The squadron went with Ark Royal to the Atlantic, and by April 1940 they were supporting Allied operations during the Norwegian campaign, where they bombed Vaernes airfield. After the withdrawal from Norway, Ark Royal and the squadron moved to the Mediterranean in June. Aircraft from 820 squadron were involved in attacking the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir, and later the Battle of Dakar, as well as attacks at Cagliari. They were also active during the Battle of Cape Spartivento, as well as covering convoys to Malta.