815 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON

Motto: - 'Strike Deep'

Role: - Operational Maritime Attack

Base: - RNAS Yeovilton

SQUADRON HISTORY

815 Naval Air Squadron formed in 1939 using Swordfish torpedo bombers. In 1940, it led a major strike cagainst the Italian battled fleet in Taranto Harbour. Success here was repeated again at Matapan in 1941. The Squadron's last fixed wing aircraft was the Gannet, which gave way to the Westland Whirlwind in 1958 and then the Wessex.

815 NAS re-commissioned at RNAS Yeovilton in 1981 with the Lynx as the parent unit for embarked Lynx Flights. 815 moved to Portland and during the 80’s were involved in the Falklands campaign, Armilla patrol and relief operations off Lebanon, Aden and in the Carribean. In the 1990’s 815 were involved in offensive operations in the northern Persian Gulf. Squadron units operating from frigates and destroyers with the potent Sea Skua missile, played a major part in the neutralisation of the Iraqi Navy.

PREVIOUS AIRCRAFT TYPES

Swordfish, Albacore, Fulmar I, Barracuda, Wildcat, Firefly, Avenger, Gannet, Whirlwind, Wessex, Lynx

BATTLE HONOURS

Mediterranean 1940-41, Taranto 1940, Libya 1940-41, Matapan 1941, Burma 1944, Falkland Islands 1982, Kuwait 1991