831 Naval Air Squadron

831 Naval Air Squadron
Squadron badge
Active	1941–1944 1955–1957 1958–1966 2014
Disbanded	1 October 2014
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron
Role	Carrier-based maritime attack Electronic warfare Unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance ISTAR
Part of	Fleet Air Arm
Home station	See Naval air stations section for full list.
Motto(s)	Aquila non capit muscat (Latin for 'Eagles do not catch flies')
Aircraft	See Aircraft operated section for full list.
Engagements	World War II
Battle honours	Diego Suarez 1942 Malta Convoys 1942 Norway 1944 Sabang 1944 East Indies 1944
Insignia
Squadron Badge Description	White, issuant from water barry wavy blue and white of eight in base a clenched gauntlet proper upon which is perched an eagle affronty black wings elevated and inverted (1943)
Identification Markings	4A+ (Albacore) 5A+ (Barracuda) 143-149 (Wyvern in error initially) 380-388 (Wyvern) 380-383 (Avenger) 265-268 (Avenger March 1959) 270-279 (Gannet/Sea Venom/Sea Vampire/Sea Prince) to 381-398 (March 1962)
Fin Carrier Codes	J:O (Wyvern)

831 Naval Air Squadron (831 NAS), also known as 831 Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN).^[1] It most recently operated as 831 Flight with Boeing Insitu ScanEagle RM.1 between January and October 2014.

The squadron, established in April 1941, served as a carrier-based unit that initially operated with the Fairey Albacore. During the height of the Second World War, it transitioned to operating the Fairey Barracuda. The squadron was reformed twice: firstly from 21 November 1955 - 10 December 1957 and then from 1 May 1958 - 26 August 1966.^[2] It briefly utilised the Westland Wyvern as a strike squadron before shifting its focus to electronic warfare. In this capacity, it operated the Grumman Avenger, de Havilland Sea Venom, and Fairey Gannet for electronic countermeasures, alongside the de Havilland Sea Vampire and Percival Sea Prince for training purposes.

The cartoon character Flook was adopted as a squadron mascot in the era following World War 2 and painted as nose art on aircraft.^[3]

831 Naval Air Squadron was established as a Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance (TSR) squadron on 1 April 1941, at RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw), Fife, with twelve Fairey Albacore torpedo bombers. It relocated to RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, in August and subsequently boarded the Illustrious-class aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable in October for deployment to Jamaica. Following a period at the RN Air Section at US Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia, the squadron re-boarded for the journey to Cape Town, reaching its destination by the end of December 1941.^[4][5]

In January 1942, the journey continued to Port Sudan and subsequently across the Indian Ocean to Java to with the carrier tasked to transport 50 RAF Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft. Throughout this duration, as well as during the later trip to Aden via Colombo and Addu Atoll, 831 conducted anti-submarine patrols; however, no sightings were made.^[6]

After spending three weeks on land conducting coastal patrols from late February to early March 1942 at Khormaksar, the RAF station located in Aden, the squadron re-embarked for the invasion of Madagascar in early June 1942. They participated in dive-bombing missions and anti-submarine patrols. HMS Indomitable then sailed to Gibraltar, passing by the Cape, and sustained significant damage from an aerial attack during Operation Pedestal, which was the Malta convoy in August 1942. However, it successfully returned its squadrons to the United Kingdom before proceeding to the United States for repairs.^[5]

At this point, the squadron was diminished to nine aircraft, but its capabilities were enhanced by a limited number of Fairey Barracuda Mk Is, a British carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber. Following a period stationed at RNAS Crail, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, and RNAS Machrihanish, 831 re-boarded HMS Indomitable in March 1943, but subsequently returned to RNAS Lee-on-Solent in May 1943 to upgrade to Fairey Barracuda Mk IIs, becoming part of the 52nd Naval TBR Wing in November 1943 and completed deck landing training on the Illustrious-class aircraft carrier HMS Victorious in February 1944.^[6]

The subsequent month, it embarked in HMS Furious to launch an assault on the German battleship Tirpitz on 3 April, during which the Wing achieved multiple hits inflicting severe damage. In May, it re-joined HMS Victorious for another offensive; however, adverse weather conditions disrupted the operation. Later that month, the Wing executed strikes against maritime targets off the coast of Norway.^[5]

The squadron made its return to the Far East on the aircraft carrier and on 7 September, incorporated 829 Squadron, thereby augmenting its strength to twenty-one aircraft, which effectively led to the disbandment of the TBR Wing.^[7] The expanded squadron conducted attacks on coastal installations and oil storage facilities located in Sabang Harbour on Sumatra, as well as on adjacent airfields. A comparable raid was conducted in August at Emmahaven, located near Padang.^[6]

Nonetheless, these operations, along with others, revealed the constraints of the Barracuda aircraft, leading to the decision to retire the aircraft and substitute it with Grumman Avengers, an American carrier-borne torpedo bomber. The squadron relinquished its aircraft and made its way back home on HMS Battler and HMS Thane, ultimately disbanding at RNAS Lee-on-Solent on 6 December 1944.^[5]

On 21 November 1955, 831 was reformed at RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine) in West Sussex, designated as a torpedo strike squadron equipped with nine Wyvern S.4, a carrier-based multi-role strike aircraft.^[8]

Seven years passed from the maiden flight of the Westland Wyvern to the establishment of the first operational squadron. Three consecutive power plants were entirely new and untested engines. The initial Wyvern to achieve operational status was the S.4, which made its first flight in May 1951 and included a cut-back engine cowling to facilitate cartridge starting, a reinforced cockpit canopy, altered aileron tabs, and auxiliary tail fins on a dihedral tailplane.^[9]

It was not until January 1957 that these aircraft were embarked on the Audacious-class aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal for a short visit to Gibraltar and Malta.^[8]

In May, they re-embarked for a Royal Review in the Moray Firth, after which the ship set sail for America, where they engaged in cross-operations and exercises alongside USS Saratoga, returning home in July. Following two additional periods of deployment in Home waters, the squadron was disbanded at RNAS Ford on 10 December.^[6]

831 Naval Air Squadron was re-established at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), located in Cornwall, on 1 May 1958, as an Electronic Warfare squadron, through the renumbering of 751 Naval Air Squadron. Initially, it operated with four Grumman Avenger ECM.6s and four de Havilland Sea Venom ECM.21s, assigned to 'A' and 'B' Flights, respectively. These aircraft took part in various exercises, occasionally embarking on Fleet carriers. In February 1959, 'A' Flight began the transition from Avengers to Fairey Gannet ECM.6s, while 'B' Flight started re-equipping with five Sea Venom ECM.22s from April 1960, although ECM.21s remained in service until 1964.^[10]

In 1960, the squadron was honored with the Boyd Trophy award for its training efficiency with the Fleet.^[11] A Percival Sea Prince was incorporated into the squadron in 1962, and in July 1963, the squadron headquarters relocated to RAF Watton, Norfolk, to enhance collaboration with its RAF counterpart. On 16 May 1966, the remaining personnel were transferred to the joint RN/RAF 360 Squadron for trials and training in ECM operations, leading to the official disbandment of 831 on 26 August.^[12]

831 Flight was established at RNAS Culdrose, in January 2014 to address an urgent operational requirement, enhancing capabilities to support units involved in Operation Kipion in the Persian Gulf and Arabian regions. It was equipped with Boeing Insitu ScanEagle, a small, long-endurance, low-altitude unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle, for deployments on Royal Navy warships and Royal Air Force units. In October, 831 Flight transitioned to become 700X Squadron.^[12]

The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:^[13]

• Fairey Albacore torpedo bomber (April 1941 - June 1943)
• Fairey Swordfish I torpedo bomber (January - May 1942)
• Fairey Barracuda Mk I torpedo and dive bomber (December 1942 - January 1943)
• Fairey Barracuda Mk II torpedo and dive bomber (June 1943 - November 1944)
• Westland Wyvern S.4 multi-role strike aircraft (November 1955 - December 1957)
• Grumman Avenger ECM.6 electronic countermeasures aircraft (May 1958 - November 1960)
• de Havilland Sea Venom ECM.21 electronic countermeasures aircraft (May 1958 - October 1964)
• de Havilland Sea Vampire T.22 jet trainer (July 1958 - May 1959, July 1963 - August 1966)
• Fairey Gannet ECM.4 electronic countermeasures aircraft (February 1959 - February 1961)
• de Havilland Sea Venom ECM.22 electronic countermeasures aircraft (April 1960 - May 1966)
• Fairey Gannet ECM.6 electronic countermeasures aircraft (Febrary 1961 - May 1966)
• Percival Sea Prince T.1 navigation and anti-submarine training aircraft (May 1962 - May 1966)
• Boeing Insitu ScanEagle RM.1 (January - September 2014)

The following Battle Honours have been awarded to 831 Naval Air Squadron:

• Diego Suarez 1942^[14]
• Malta Convoys 1942^[15]
• Norway 1944^[16]
• Sabang 1944^[17]
• East Indies 1944^[18]

831 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:

• 52nd Naval TBR Wing (26 November 1943 -  10 July 1944)^[19]

831 Naval Air Squadron was active at various naval air stations of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force stations, both within the United Kingdom and internationally. Additionally, it operated from several Royal Navy fleet and escort carriers, as well as other airbases located abroad.

List of air stations and aircraft carriers used by 831 Naval Air Squadron during World War two including dates:^[12]

• Royal Naval Air Station Crail (HMS Jackdaw), Fife, (1 April - 26 August 1941)
• Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, (26 August - 15 October 1941)
• HMS Indomitable (15 October - 10 November 1941)
• RN Air Section Norfolk, Virginia, (10 - 22 November 1941)
• HMS Indomitable (22 November 1941 - 2 February 1942)
  • RN Air Section Wynberg, South Africa, (Detachment 31 December 1941 - 2 January 1942)
• RN Air Section China Bay, Ceylon, (2 - 5 February 1942)
• RN Air Section Ratmalana, Ceylon, (5 - 6 February 1942)
• RN Air Section China Bay, Ceylon, (6 - 10 February 1942)
• RN Air Section Ratmalana, Ceylon, (10 - 11 February 1942)
• RN Air Section China Bay, Ceylon, (11 - 16 February 1942)
• HMS Indomitable (16 - 23 February 1942)
• Royal Air Force Khormaksar, Yemen, (23 February - 16 March 1942)
• HMS Indomitable (16 March - 13 April 1942)
• RN Air Section Juhu, India, (13 - 20 April 1942)
• HMS Indomitable (20 April - 25 May 1942)
• RN Air Section Port Reitz, Kenya, (25 May - 6 June 1942)
• HMS Indomitable (6 - 23 June 1942)
• Royal Naval Air Station Mackinnon Road, Kenya, (23 June - 9 July 1942)
• HMS Indomitable (9 July - 27 August 1942)
• Royal Naval Air Station Crail (HMS Jackdaw), Fife, (27 August - 27 December 1942)
• Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, (27 December 1942 - 1 January 1943)
• Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, (1 January - 22 February 1943)
• Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Mainland, Orkney, (22 February - 3 March 1943)
• HMS Indomitable (3 March - 17 May 1943)
• Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hanpshire, (17 May - 9 August 1943)
• Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, (9 August - 23 October 1943)
• Royal Naval Air Station Maydown, County Londonderry, (23 October - 6 November 1943)
• Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, (6 November 1943 - 11 January 1944)
• Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, (11 January - 11 February 1944)
• Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, (11 February - 8 March 1944)
  • HMS Victorious (Deck Landing Training (DLT) 12 - 15 February 1944)
• HMS Furious (8 March - 8 April 1944)
• Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, (8 - 20 April 1944)
• HMS Furious (20 April - 3 May 1944)
• Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, (3 - 11 May 1944)
• HMS Victorious (11 - 20 May 1944)
• Royal Naval Air Station Burscough (HMS Ringtail), Lancashire, (20 - 27 May 1944)
• Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, (27 May 1944)
• HMS Victorious (9 June - 7 July 1944)
• Royal Naval Air Station Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), Ceylon, (7 - 19 July 1944)
• HMS Victorious (19 - 27 July 1944)
• RN Air Section Minneriya, Ceylon, (27 July - 10 August 1944)
• HMS Victorious (10 - 28 August 1944)
• Royal Naval Air Station Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), Ceylon, (28 August - 10 October 1944)
• RN Air Section Minneriya, Ceylon, (10 - 31 October 1944)
• Royal Naval Air Station Coimbatore (HMS Garuda), Celyon, (aircraft) (31 October 1944 - 7/22 November 1944)
• HMS Battler (crews) (7 November - 6 December 1944)
• HMS Thane (crews) (22 November - 6 December 1944)
• Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, disbanded - (6 December 1944)

831 Squadron was based at RNAS Ford between 1955 and 1957 during which there were numerous carrier deployments and visits to other airbases.^[8][20]

831 Squadron operated from RNAS Culdrose between 1958 and 1963 before relocating to RAF Watton, functioning as 'A' and 'B' Flights starting from October 1960.^[13]

List of commanding officers of 831 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:^[5][13]

1941 - 1944

• Lieutenant Commander P.L. Mortimer, RN, from 1 April 1941
• Lieutenant Commander A.G. Leatham, RN, from 1 July 1942
• Lieutenant F.W.H. Bradley, RCNVR, from 28 December 1942
• Lieutenant Commander(A) D.E.C. Eyres, DSC, RN, from 8 May 1943
• Lieutenant Commander E.M. Britton, RN, from 15 September 1943
• Lieutenant Commander V. Rance, OBE, RN, from 4 January 1944
• Lieutenant Commander(A) D. Brooks, DSC, RNVR, from 13 February 1944
• Lieutenant Commander(A) J.L. Fisher, RNVR, from 6 May 1944
• disbanded - 6 December 1944

1955 - 1957

• Lieutenant Commander S.C. Farquhar, RN, from 21 November 1955
• disbanded - 10 December 1957

1958 - 1966

• Lieutenant Commander W.J. Hanks, RN, from 1 May 1958
• Lieutenant Commander B.J. Williams, RN, from 16 July 1959
• Lieutenant Commander D.K. Blair, RN, from 16 May 1961
• Lieutenant Commander J.G. Grindle, RN, from 30 May 1963
• Lieutenant Commander H. Ellis, RN, from 11 June 1965
• disbanded - 16 May 1966

2014

• Lieutenant Commander A. Rogers, RNR, from 20 January 2014
• became 700X Naval Air Squadron - 1 October 2014

Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.^[21]

• Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN 978-0-85130-489-2.
• Thetford, Owen (1991). British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, an imprint of Conway Maritime Press Ltd. ISBN 0-85177-849-6.
• Wragg, David (2019). The Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939-1945. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-9303-6.