Although the crews and staff were mustered by the end of 1943, the unit did not officially form with Avenger IIs as an anti-shipping squadron until 1 Jan 1944 at Squantum in the USA. After a short period of operations over the English Channel prior to D-Day, and about a year in the Far East, the unit left its Avenger IIIs behind, sailed for the UK and disbanded on 8 Dec 1945. 
The unit reformed with the Sea King ASaC.7 on 13 Dec 2006 at RNAS Culdrose from 849 Squadron, A Flight.
In May 2009, 854 NAS deployed 3 Sea King ASaC.7 airframes and four crews plus engineering and administrative support to Afghanistan. This was followed by a Nov 2010 deployment to Afghanistan, being relieved by 857 NAS in Mar 2012 and returned to Culdrose. Took part in the security operation for London 2012 Olympics between mid Jul and mid Sep, detaching to RAF Northolt.
Disbanded in Dec 2014 to become Normandy Flight of 849 Squadron.
News of 854 Squadron | |
  UK Forces have been deployed in Afghanistan since 2002 under Operation Herrick pushing back the Taliban and preventing them from using the country as a base for terrorism |
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Locations | |
| Years | Location | ICAO/FAA |
| 2012/14 | RNAS Culdrose | EGDR |
| 2012 | RAF Northolt | EGWU |
| 2010/12 |  Camp Bastion | OAZI |
| 2006/10 | RNAS Culdrose | EGDR |
Models | Login to Edit | |
| Years | Models | |
| 2006/14 | Sea King ASaC.7 | |
854 NAS List of helicopters | Help Us | |
| C/N | Version | Built | In this Org | In other Org | |||
 | wa 637 | has.1 | 1969 | XV649 : Conv to ASaC.7, 849Sq HQ Flt/180-CU by Jul 2003; still Sep 2004; 854Sq/180+ | |||
| wa 644 | has.1 | 1969 | XV656 : 854Sq /85 by Jul 2009;
857Sq /85 by Oct 2009 | |||
| wa 652 | has.1 | 1970 | XV664 : 854Sq /90 by Jul 2009;
857Sq /90 by Oct 2009 | |||
| wa 660 | has.1 | 1970 | XV672 : 854 NAS/187 by Oct 2012, embarked on HMS Illustrious for her Cougar 12 dep+ | |||
| wa 685 | has.1 | 1972 | XV714 : Nov13 with 854 NAS on Ops : Apr14 as 854 NAS /88 in Bastion, Afghanistan | |||
| wa 945 | has.5 | 1985 | ZD636 : ASaC.7 857Sq by Aug 2009; 854Sq /82 by Sep 2009 | |||
| wa 961 | has.5 | 1986 | ZE422 : ASaC.7;
854Sq /92 by Jul 2009;
857Sq /92 by Oct 2009 | |||
Operations | |
| Dates | Operation | |
| jun-14 | jul-14 | Operation Herrick |
| nov-10 | apr-12 | Operation Herrick |
