820 Naval Air Squadron
| 820 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
Squadron badge | |
| Active | Royal Air Force 1933–1939 Royal Navy
|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron |
| Role | Carrier-based Anti-submarine warfare and airborne surveillance, and control |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | RNAS Culdrose |
| Motto(s) | Tutamen et ultor (Latin for 'Safeguard and avenger') |
| Aircraft | AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 |
| Website | Official website |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Commander Al Woodward, RN |
820 Naval Air Squadron (802 NAS), also referred to as 820 Squadron, is a carrier-based Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It currently operates the Merlin HM2 in two capacities, either for anti-submarine warfare or for airborne surveillance, and control, to protect the RN carrier strike group, with a shore base at RNAS Culdrose.
The Squadron was formed at RNAS Gosport on 3 April 1933 with the transferral of the Fairey III aircraft from 450 Flight and half of 445 Flight of the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy.