,
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory to track along
Anzac Parade and over the
Australian War Memorial before returning to Nowra for decommissioning. 817 Squadron was first formed as a
Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron in 1941, operating
Fairey Albacore aircraft in the
ASW role in Icelandic and Mediterranean waters. The Squadron reformed in 1943 with
Fairey Barracuda aircraft and carried out operations in Sumatra and the Nicobar area before disbanding in 1945. On 25 April 1950, 817 Squadron was re-formed as a Royal Australian Navy FAA squadron operating
Fairey Firefly AS6 aircraft. The Squadron embarked on
HMAS Sydney and served with distinction during the Korean War, operating the Fairey Firefly Mk5. In October 1953 the squadron embarked on
HMAS Vengeance. The Squadron disbanded and reformed with
Fairey Gannets in 1955, operating from
HMAS Melbourne and conducting Fleet ASW support and training until 1958. 817 Squadron reformed in 1963 to conduct ASW, Fleet Utility support and training, equipped with
Westland Wessex HAS.31A helicopters. These were updated to Wessex HAS.31Bs in 1968, and the Squadron was re-equipped with Westland Sea King MK50 helicopters in 1976. 817 Squadron operated from
HMAS Melbourne, until the aircraft carrier decommissioned in 1982 without replacement. Recent operational deployments have included UN operations in
Somalia in 1993, peace keeping operations in
Bougainville during 1994 (where one aircraft was hit by ground fire) and Operation Stabilise in
East Timor during 1999 and 2000. 817 Squadron has also provided operational air support to the
2000 Sydney Olympic Games and support to the people of the
Solomon Islands during 2000 and 2001 in Operation Trek, after the civil insurgence. The squadron was also called upon in 2003 to provide further air support in the Solomon Islands as part of Operation Anode. 817 Squadron has been heavily committed to the fight against terrorism with continuing deployments to the Persian Gulf aboard
HMAS Kanimbla and
HMAS Manoora. These deployments have formed an integral part of the Australian contingent of the International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT). During late 2001 and 2002, 817 Squadron aircraft deployed to the
Persian Gulf as part of
Operation Slipper to enforce UN sanctions against Iraq, and again in 2003 as part of
Operation Falconer with the invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq. The Squadron also has maintained one aircraft and crew at
Christmas Island for various periods to provide a surveillance capability in defence of Australia's northern borders. Most recently, 817 Squadron has provided aircraft for
Operation Sumatra Assist and Operation Sumatra Assist II, which were Australia's contribution to the humanitarian effort in Indonesia as a result of the
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the subsequent
2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake. During the latter operation, one of the two Seakings (Shark 02) embarked on
HMAS Kanimbla,
crashed on the Island of
Nias with the loss of nine personnel. The accident occurred as a result of a series of maintenance errors, specifically the incorrect re-fitting of a nut and split pin during maintenance performed on the aircraft some two months before the crash. Deficiencies in maintenance practices, training, support and logistics operations within the Navy were also identified as contributing factors. Following the accident, several major changes were made to maintenance and safety management practices at 817 Squadron. 817 Squadron was decommissioned on 16 December 2011. ==Battle honours==