824 Squadron

Formed Apr 1933 with Fairey IIIFs. Introduced to helicopters when the unit reformed at RNAS Eglington in Apr 1958 with Whirlwind HAS.7s but had a terrible time with the unreliability of the early engines. After short periods embarked on HMS Victorious and HMS Eagle, the unit conducted a month-long intensive flying trials period in Spring 1959 with newly issued airframes from Fleetlands, before disbanding at Culdrose in Apr 1959.

Reformed again in Nov 1959 at Culdrose and after deployment to the Mediteranean and North Atlantic on HMS Ark Royal between Mar 1960 and Feb 1961, assigned to HMS Centaur in Apr 1961. After absorbing 6 of 825 Sq airframes, it took over Kenyan flood relief operations on 9 Dec 1961. Disbanded May 1963 as the last operational Whirlwind HAS.7 Squadron.

Reformed on 24 Feb 1970 as the 1st operational Sea King unit at Culdrose initially with 4 HAS.1s, rising quickly to 7 (including 1 for COD duty, withdrawn in 1975). 3 a/c detachment carried out deck landing trials on RFA Engadine in Apr 1970 and on 12 Jun 1970, 824 Sq embarked on HMS Ark Royal. There was a brief detachment to RAF Manston in early May 1972. Transferred to HMS Hermes on 22 Sep 1973 and spent 6 months on RFA trials until going back to Ark Royal in Apr 1974, remaining there until Ark Royal paid off in Dec 1978.

Parent of RFA Sea Kings (in A, B, C & D Flights) from Dec 1978 (as 829 Sq Wessex were being withdrawn and replaced by Sea Kings on RFA vessels) until at least 1987.

During Falklands War, 6 Sea Kings in 3 Flights of 2; A Flt aboard RFA Olmeda, C Flt aboard RFA Fort Grange; B Flt deployed to Gibraltar to protect the Base. A Flt spent a few days at the beginning of Jun 1982 at the Port San Carlos FOB while D Flt reformed at Culdrose on 14 Jun 1982 and equipped with 2 HAS.2(AEW) pre-production machines in Aug 1982 on board HMS Illustrious, to provide AEW cover for those elements of fleet remaining in the South Atlantic. 824D disbanded on 31 Oct 1984 to form the new 849 Squadron. The squadron disbanded in Aug 1989 and its airframes were transferred to 819 Squadron at Prestwick.

Reformed 2 Jun 2000 with Merlin HM.1 at RNAS Culdrose. It passed responsibility for Small Ships Merlin to 829 NAS when that unit reformed in Oct 2004. The units Merlins are named after Knights of King Arthurs Round Table. 824 NAS is the leading training squadron for the Merlin HM Mk 1 helicopter with 8x Merlins on strength in Oct 2010. First 5 Merlin HM.2 issued to the unit on 19 Aug 2013.

During early May 2018, as part of an 824 NAS course, the unit detached 2 Merlin HM.2 for two weeks on Exercise Rogue Wizards 2018, to Haakonsvern Norwegian Naval helipad, to search for submarine HNoMS Uthaug under various conditions.