855 Naval Air Squadron
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| 855 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Grumman Avenger Mk.II; an example of the type used by 855 Squadron | |
| Active | 1944 |
| Disbanded | 21 October 1944 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron |
| Role | Carrier-based:
|
| Size | Twelve aircraft |
| Home station | See Naval air stations section for full list. |
| Mottos | Delere ut protegemu (Latin for 'Annihilate in order to protect') |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Battle honours |
|
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | Wartime unofficial: A winged bird over a sinking E-boat, to reflect a number of attacks made off the French coast[1] |
| Identification Markings |
|
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | Grumman Avenger |
855 Naval Air Squadron (855 NAS), also referred to as 855 Squadron, is an inactive Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN).[2] It operated Grumman Avenger Mk.II torpedo bomber aircraft during 1944 as part of RAF Coastal Command.
A brief history began in February 1944, when this Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron was established at Naval Air Station Squantum, United States. They boarded HMS Queen in June to head to the UK. After arriving at RAF Hawkinge, the squadron was quickly assigned to 157 Wing, RAF Coastal Command, and supported the Normandy landings. The squadron was disbanded in October 1944, at HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihanish.
Torpedo, Bomber, Reconnaissance squadron (1944)
The squadron was officially established on 1 February 1944 at RN Air Section Squantum, which was situated at Naval Air Station Squantum, Quincy, Massachusetts, designated as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance unit, equipped with twelve Grumman Avenger Mk.II torpedo bomber aircraft, which later embarked aboard the Ruler-class escort carrier, HMS Queen.[3]
The aircraft were disembarked at Greenock, Scotland and subsequently transported to RAF Hawkinge, Kent, England. For the following three months, the squadron operated under RAF Coastal Command, within 157 Wing, engaging in anti-shipping patrols that included operations along the coasts of occupied France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.[1]
Following the successful consolidation of the Normandy invasion, the services of the squadron were deemed unnecessary, leading to its disbandment on 21 October, at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) in Scotland.[4]
Aircraft flown
855 Naval Air Squadron flew only one aircraft type:[1]
- Grumman Avenger Mk.II torpedo bomber (February - October 1944)
Battle honours
The following Battle Honours have been awarded to 855 Naval Air Squadron:
- Normandy 1944[5]
- English Channel 1944[6]
- North Sea 1944[6]
