820 Naval Air Squadron

820 Naval Air Squadron (820 NAS), also referred to as 820 Squadron, is a carrier-based Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It currently operates the Merlin HM2 in two capacities, either for anti-submarine warfare or for airborne surveillance, and control, to protect the UK Carrier Strike Group, with a shore base at RNAS Culdrose.

Originally part of the Royal Air Force (RAF), the squadron was active on two separate occasions from 1933 to 1946, particularly during the Second World War. From 1933 to 1937, the squadron operated Fairey III, Fairey Seal, Blackburn Baffin, and Blackburn Shark within the RAF. By the time it transferred to the Royal Navy in 1939, it was utilisingFairey Swordfish, subsequently re-equipping with Fairey Albacore, and later with Fairey Barracuda and Grumman Avenger. After the war, it operated with Fairey Firefly, had another engagement with Grumman Avenger, and then with Fairey Gannet. In the late 1950s, it transitioned to helicopters, flying the Westland Whirlwind. It was reformed in 1964 with the Westland Wessex and in 1972 made the transition to the Westland Sea King. In 2003, it transitioned to the AgustaWestland Merlin.