822 Naval Air Squadron

822 Naval Air Squadron
Active	1933–1939 1941–1945
Country	UK
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Carrier based squadron
Role	Offensive Support
Part of	Fleet Air Arm
Battle honours	North Africa 1942-3 Arctic 1943

822 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadron before and during World War II.

822 squadron was formed on 3 April 1933 from a merger of No's 442 and 449 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flights at Netheravon and posted to the Home Fleet aboard HMS Furious. From March to November 1936 it was equipped with Fairey Seals passed on from 821 Squadron, soon replaced by Blackburn Sharks, to carry out a Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance role. In August 1937 the squadron received Fairey Swordfish aircraft, which it continued to operate from Furious until February 1939, when the squadron was re-allocated to HMS Courageous as a deck landing training unit. Furious and Courageous were 1st class cruisers which had been converted in 1924 to serve as an aircraft carriers. When Courageous was sunk by the German submarine U-29 in September 1939, the squadron was disbanded.

The squadron was reformed in October 1941 as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance (TBR) Swordfish squadron.

In March 1942 it was re-equipped with 9 Fairey Albacores and sailed in July on HMS Furious. On 11 November, the squadron attacked La Senia Airfield, losing Commanding Officer, Lieutenant JGA McI Nares.

After July 1943, it attached to 45th Naval TBR Wing and transferred to southern India in February 1944 for service with the Eastern Fleet. There the squadron joined 11th Naval TBR Wing and attacked a railway target at Sigli, Sumatra from HMS Victorious. The squadron was subsequently sent back to the UK, minus their aircraft, on HMS Rajah and in early 1945 was re-allocated to RAF Coastal Command for anti-submarine duties in the English Channel.

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