HC Deb 12 November 1997 vol 300 cc576-7W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the 826 Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm was established; what has been its role since it was established; with what aircraft it has been equipped since it was established; what is its current role and strength; and where it has been based. [15616]

Dr. Reid

Number 826 Squadron was originally to have formed at Lee-on-Solent on 1 January 1940 as a spare squadron, but instead came into existence at Ford on 15 March 1940. The role of the squadron was originally torpedo spotter reconnaissance but became strike and anti-submarine in 1951 and finally anti-submarine in 1955.

The squadron has been equipped with the following aircraft types (in chronological order):

  • Albacore I
  • Swordfish I
  • Barracuda II (ASH)
  • Firefly FR1
  • Firefly T1
  • Avenger TBM-3E
  • Firefly AS6
  • Gannet AS1
  • Wessex HAS1
  • Wessex HAS3
  • Seaking HAS1
  • Seaking HAS2/2a
  • Seaking HAS56

The squadron has been based at the following locations:

  • Ford
  • Bircham Newton
  • Eastern Mediterranean
  • Western Desert
  • Cyprus
  • Malta
  • Algeria
  • East Haven
  • Fearn
  • Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (Royal Canadian Navy)
  • RNAS Culdrose, Helston, Cornwall

826 Naval Air Squadron was disbanded at Culdrose in July 1993.