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]
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.