RAN FAA Patch Sqn Royal Australian Navy 816 Squadron Crest

RAN FAA Patch Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm 816 Squadron Crest Patch S 70B 2 Seahawk 1990s anti submarine helicopter Embroidered on twill merrowed edge 140mm by 112mm five and seven sixteenth inches by four and three eighth inches.

Free Shipping

Following service as a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron 816 Squadron was reactivated as a Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron in 1948 equipped with Firefly aircraft as part of the 20 Carrier Air Group embarked on HMAS Sydney. In 1952 816 Squadron participated in the Montebello Islands atomic weapons tests and in 1953 saw service in the Korean War.

In 1956 with the arrival of HMAS Melbourne 816 Squadron embarked as part of the 21 Carrier Air Group equipped with Gannet and Sea Venom aircraft. 816 Squadron was re-equipped with Grumman S-2E Trackers in 1967 and HMAS Melbourne was extensively upgraded to handle the faster and heavier aircraft.

On 5 December 1976 a fire lit by a Fleet Air Arm member near the aircraft hangars at HMAS Albatross destroyed or seriously damaged twelve of the thirteen S 2 Trackers in the RANs inventory. 15 second hand S2 G Trackers were purchased from the US and the serviceable or repairable S2 E Trackers were upgraded to the S 2G standard. 816 Squadron disbanded on the decommissioning of HMAS Melbourne in 1982.

816 Squadron was reactivated in 1984 equipped with Wessex helicopters in the Army support role and was disbanded in 1987.

816 Squadron reformed in 1992 to operate S 70B 2 Seahawk anti submarine anti shipping surveillance and targeting helicopters embarked on RAN Adelaide class and Anzac class frigates participating in operations including the Persian Gulf.

816 Squadron is due to upgrade to MH 60R Seahawk, with 725 Squadron being reformed to be the MH 60R Seahawk training squadron.

This patch dates from the 1990s.