812 Naval Air Squadron 812 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the British Royal Navy ' s Fleet Air Arm , which was active between 1933 and 1956 , and saw service in World War II and the Korean War . Service history . First formation . The squadron was first formed on 3 April 1933 aboard , then part of the Mediterranean Fleet , by amalgamating No . ' s 461 and 462 ( Fleet Torpedo ) Flights . Originally equipped with the Blackburn Ripon , these were replaced with the Blackburn Baffin in 1934 , and the Fairey Swordfish in 1936 . Apart from a short visit to the UK to take part in the 1937 Coronation Review at Spithead , the squadron remained in the Mediterranean until the outbreak of the war in September 1939 . " Glorious " was then sent to patrol the Indian Ocean , but was recalled to home waters in early 1940 , and 812 Squadron was transferred to RAF Coastal Command to take part in mining and bombing operations in the low countries and in the Dunkirk evacuation . In March 1941 the squadron left Coastal Command to take part in Malta convoy protection duties aboard . In July , aboard , they participated in the attack on Petsamo . Further Malta convoy duties followed aboard " Furious " , transferring to in September . After the " Ark Royal " was torpedoed and sunk on 13 November , the squadron regrouped at Gibraltar . While based at RNAS North Front , the squadron received new aircraft equipped with ASV ( Air to Surface Vessel ) radar , enabling them to sink the U - boat on the night of 21 December 1941 , and to damage five others . The squadron returned to the UK in April 1942 aboard , and were reattached to Coastal Command in September to fly operations over the English Channel . On 18 December 1942 , it was amalgamated into 811 Squadron . First reformation . No . 812 Squadron was reformed on 1 June 1944 at RNAS Stretton ( HMS " Blackcap " ) and equipped with the Fairey Barracuda . After short spells at RNAS Ballyhalbert ( HMS " Corncrake " ) , Northern Ireland , and RAF Heathfield ( HMS " Wagtail " ) , Scotland , the squadron embarked on in February 1945 , along with 1850 Squadron , flying the Vought F4U Corsair , to form the 13th Carrier Air Group . Returning to the Mediterranean , 13 CAG were based at HMS " Falcon " at Hal Far , Malta , and flew exercises over Sicily . After the German surrender on 8 May 1945 , the group were assigned to serve with the British Pacific Fleet . The group sailed for Australia aboard " Vengeance " , and were based at HMS " Nabswick " ( MONAB V ) at Jervis Bay from 22 July 1945 , where they trained for the planned invasion of Japan . After the Japanese surrender on 8 August , they were temporarily based at Ponam in the Admiralty Islands , before being sent to Hong Kong , arriving at HMS " Nabcatcher " ( MONAB VIII ) at Kai - Tak , in October 1945 , and remaining there until the end of the year . No . 812 Squadron was re - equipped with the Fairey Firefly , and returned to Australia in January 1946 , where they were based ( MONAB VI ) at Schofields , New South Wales , while " Vengeance " was in dry dock for repairs . In March 1946 " Vengeance " and her squadrons returned to the UK , via Ceylon , and arrived at RNAS Lee - on - Solent ( HMS " Daedalus " ) on 12 August 1946 , where 812 Squadron was disbanded . Second reformation . The squadron was reformed again on 1 October 1946 at RNAS Eglinton ( HMS " Gannet " ) in Derry , Northern Ireland , and joined 804 Squadron , flying the Supermarine Seafire , to form the 14th Carrier Air Group . In February 1947 , 14 CAG sailed aboard on a lengthy Far Eastern cruise , eventually returning in December . In August 1948 the group sailed for the Mediterranean aboard , where Hal Far was used as a shore base . The group was transferred to in November 1949 , and participated in several cruises and exercises , with landings being made on in October . In March 1951 " Glory " sailed for Korea , where 812 Squadron flew 852 sortie s over the next six months , during which three aircraft were lost and several others damaged by AA fire . After two months based in Australia , " Glory " returned to Korean operations , where the squadron flew another 689 sorties , with 104 of them flown in one day . In May 1952 the squadron transferred its aircraft to " Ocean " , and the crews sailed home in " Theseus " . In June 1952 , the squadron was re - equipped with the Firefly AS Mk . 6 at RNAS Anthorn ( HMS " Nuthatch " ) , and in September sailed aboard for exercises and a visit to Oslo . In January 1953 the squadron joined " Theseus " for a cruise , returning to " Eagle " in June for exercises off northern Scotland . It was disbanded at Eglinton on 20 October 1953 . Third reformation . The squadron was reformed for a third time at Eglinton on 7 November 1955 as an anti - submarine squadron , flying the Fairey Gannet . In April 1956 it sailed to the Mediterranean in " Eagle " , taking part in visits and exercises before flying home from Malta , and was disbanded on arrival at Lee - on - Solent on 13 December 1956 . References .