831 Naval Air Squadron
| 831 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
Squadron badge | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 1 October 2014 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron |
| Role | |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | See Naval air stations section for full list. |
| Mottos | 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| Fin Carrier Codes | J:O (Wyvern) |
831 Naval Air Squadron (831 NAS), also known as 831 Squadron, is an inactive Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). 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. 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.