851 Naval Air Squadron

851 Naval Air Squadron
Active	1943-1945 1954-1984 as 851 Squadron RAN
Country	UK
Branch	Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm
Type	Carrier based squadron
Role	Torpedo bomber reconnaissance
Anniversaries	none
Engagements	Sinking of U-198, Operation Dracula

851 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm squadron of the Royal Navy, first formed in October 1943 at Squantum Naval Air Station in Massachusetts, United States as a MAC-ship escort squadron. It was later disbanded around December 1945.

It was reformed in 1954 as an Australian squadron on 3 August 1954.

After pilot training the squadron was formed in October 1943, equipped with Grumman Avenger IIs to operate as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance and escort squadron. As a squadron they flew their 12 Avengers to the west coast of the USA and embarked on HMS Shah at Alameda in January 1944, where a Grumman Wildcat fighter flight was added. They sailed to the Indian Ocean via Williamstown docks, Australia to Cochin, where the carrier's deck cargo of aircraft was unloaded, thus enabling 851 Squadron's naval flying operations for the first time. Tasked with anti-submarine patrols in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, 851 Squadron's Avengers and Wildcat flights briefly operated from a shore base at Colombo Racecourse, then at Katukurunda, as well as forming the Shah's full complement.

The two carriers HMS Shah and HMS Begum (carrying 832 Squadron) formed the hunter-killer group Force 66 in July 1944, searching for the German submarine U-198. On 10 and 12 August 1944 the U-boat was located near the Seychelles and attacked by 851's Avengers, although damage could not be clearly ascertained. The aircraft directed the RN frigate HMS Findhorn and the Indian sloop HMIS Godavari to the submarine and they were able to sink U-198 with the loss of all hands.

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