Red, in base water barry wavy of four white and blue a Chinese dragon reguardant in the dexter claw three flashes of lightning and in chief a sun in splendour all gold surmounted by a decrescent white (1947)
Established in January 1942, at HMS Buzzard, RNAS Palisadoes, Jamaica, the squadron began as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance (TBR) unit. In October, it relocated to Floyd Bennett Field in New York, preparing to board the escort carrier HMS Dasher in July, to escort a North Atlantic convoy that departed in August. Upon arrival, the squadron operated from various shore bases, with its numbers fluctuating. In January 1943, the squadron split into two flights: 837A Flight was assigned to HMS Argus for anti-submarine protection of a convoy to Gibraltar, while 837D Flight reboarded HMS Dasher for a convoy to Iceland. When HMS Dasher exploded in the Firth of Clyde on 27 March, 837D was on land, and the squadron regrouped at HMS Jackdaw II, RNAS Dunino, Fife, two days later. After completing deck landing training on HMS Argus in late April 1943, the squadron was disbanded in June, becoming 'Z' Flight of 886 Naval Air Squadron at HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihanish.
Reformed at HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton, Cheshire, in August 1944, the unit continued as a TBR squadron, officially designated to operate Fairey Barracuda Mk II. However, the first aircraft did not arrive until September at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire. The squadron relocated to HMS Owl, RNAS Fearn, Scotland, in November and by December it had eighteen aircraft. In April 1945, it embarked in the light fleet carrier HMS Glory, using HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr, Scotland, as a shore base and set sail to join the British Pacific Fleet in May 1945. The squadron's strength was reduced by half until a visit to HMS Grebe, RNAS Dekheila, Egypt, in late May 1945 allowed it to increase to twelve aircraft before joining the 16th Carrier Air Group. Although the war concluded before the squadron could engage in combat, it remained with the carrier, utilising various shore bases in the Far East and Australia, and was present for the Japanese surrender at Rabaul.
In October, it changed its aircraft in Australia with Fairey Firefly FR.I. These aircraft were then re-embarked in HMS Glory in January 1946 for operations in the East Indies Fleet and the Far East. In June 1947, the squadron re-embarked from HMS Nabrock, RNAS Singapore, and after a tour in Australia, returned home to disband upon arrival in October 1947.
Two months later, they traveled north to the Royal Navy Air Section at Floyd Bennett Field in New York, where the Admiralty had been granted lodger rights for the Royal Navy Air Section and disembarked squadrons. Subsequently, they boarded the Avenger-classescort carrier, HMSDasher, on 25 May 1942,[8] assigned to conduct anti-submarine patrols while en route to the United Kingdom.[5]
HMS Dasher experienced engine issues, which delayed its departure until 25 August. It then made its way to Boston, Massachusetts, to join convoy BX 35B on 28. The vessel reached Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 30 August and subsequently joined convoy HX 205 for its journey to Liverpool, England. On 10 September, the escort carrier separated from the convoy near Ireland and proceeded to deploy 837 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Campbeltown (HMS Landrail II) in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.[9][10][11]
Upon arrival, strength was expanded to six aircraft, which included several Fairey Swordfish II biplanes; however, by September, the number had dwindled back to just two aircraft. By the end of the year, the squadron had returned to six aircraft and was reorganised into two flights in January 1943. ‘A’ Flight was assigned to HMSArgus to offer anti-submarine protection for a convoy heading to Gibraltar, while ‘D’ Flight re embarked in HMS Dasher for a convoy mission to Iceland.[7]
The Second World War concluded prior to the squadron's engagement in combat; however, it continued to operate alongside the ship, utilising several shore bases in the Far East and Australia.[7]
HMS Glory reached Sydney, Australia, on 16 August, where it disembarked the 16th Carrier Air Group, comprising the Vought Corsair equipped 1831 and Fairey Barracuda of 837 Naval Air Squadrons, at RNAS Schofields (HMS Nabthorpe) in New South Wales. Subsequently, a couple of weeks later on 1 September, the 16th Carrier Air Group re-embarked aboard the carrier.[16]
It played a role in overseeing the Japanese surrender at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.[7] On 6 September 1945, Japanese General Hitoshi Imamura and Vice Admiral Jinichi Kusaka Lboarded the aircraft carrier HMS Glory, where they formally signed a document of surrender.[17]
In June 1947, the squadron re-embarked from RNAS Sembawang (HMS Simbang), Singapore[19] and following a tour in Australia, returned home, where it was disbanded upon arrival on 6 October.[5]
Aircraft flown
The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:[5]
837 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force stations in the UK and overseas, and also a Royal Navy fleet carriers and a number of escort carriers and other airbases overseas:[5]
Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN978-0-85130-489-2.
Thetford, Owen (1991). British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, an imprint of Conway Maritime Press Ltd. ISBN0-85177-849-6.
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United Kingdom 
Royal Navy 