857 Naval Air Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=857 Naval Air Squadron


caption=Animis opibusque parati
dates=1944-1945, 2006-
country=UK
allegiance=
branch=Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm
type=Carrier based squadron
role=airborne early warning
size=
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison=RNAS Culdrose
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=Prepared in minds and resources
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Palembang 1945, Okinawa 1945
notable_commanders=L/C(A) W Stuart DSC & 2 bars, RNVR
anniversaries=none

On 1 April 1944, 857 NAS formed at Squantum NAS in the USA as a Torpedo / Reconnaissance unit with Avenger IIs. It returned to the UK in June 1944 and re-trained as an anti-submarine unit, sailing for the Far East in September 1944. It provided a year's service and its aircraft were then left behind at Nowra, when it returned to the UK to disband on 20 Nov 1945.

The unit reformed with the Sea King ASaC.7 on 13 Dec 2006 at RNAS Culdrose from 849 Squadron, B Flight.

References

Sturtivant and Ballance (1994), "The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm", Air Britain Publications, 480pp, ISBN 0 85130 223 8.