800 Naval Air Squadron

"Nunquam non Paratus"

....

History 

3. April 1933 800 NAS formed from 402 Flt and 404 Flt.
5. December 1945 800 NAS disbanded in The UK
15. August 1946 800 NAS reformed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent
10. November 1950 800 NAS disbanded at RNAS ?
22. August 1951 800 NAS reformed at RNAS Ford
1. June 1954 800 NAS disbanded at RNAS Ford
8. November 1954 800 NAS reformed at RNAS Brawdy
3. March 1959 800 NAS disbanded at RNAS Brawdy
1. July 1959 800 NAS reformed at RNAS Lossiemouth
25. February 1964 800 NAS disbanded at RNAS Lossiemouth
18. March 1964 800 NAS reformed at RNAS Lossiemouth
23. February 1972 800 NAS disbanded at RNAS Lossiemouth
31. March 1980 800 NAS reformed at RNAS Yeovilton
  800 NAS disbanded at RNAS
Planes:
 

 

 

19?? - 19??
Osprey
 
 

 

 

May 1939 - May 1941
Skua I
 
 

 

 

May 1941 - Jun. 1941
Fulmar I
 
 

 

 

Jun. 1941 - Jul. 1942
Fulmar II
     
 

 

 

Jun. 1942 - Oct. 1942
Sea Hurricane Ib
   
 

 

 

 Oct.1942 - Nov 1943
Sea Hurrican IIc
     
 

 

 

Jun. 1942 - Oct. 1942
Sea Hurrican Ib
     
 

 

 

Jul. 1943 - May 1945
Hellcat I
 
 

 

 

Oct 1944 - 1945
Hellcat II
   
 

 

 

Apr. 1949 - Nov. 1950
Seafire FR.47
   
.
 

 

 

Aug. 1951 - May 1952
Attacker F.1
   
 

 

 

Feb. 1952 - Jun. 1954
Attacker FB.2
     
.
 

 

 

Nov. 1954 - Jul. 1954
Sea Hawk FB.3
     
 

 

 

Jun. 1955 - Aug. 1956
Sea Hawk FGA.4
   
 

 

 

Jun. 1955 - Mar. 1959
Sea Hawk FGA.6
 
.
 

 

 

Jul. 1959 - Feb. 1964
Scimitar F.1
 
.
 

 

 

Mar. 1964 - Nov. 1966
Buccaneer S.1
   
 

 

 

Jun. 1966 - Feb. 1972
Buccaneer S.2
   
.
 

 

 

Mar. 1980 - 1998
Sea Harrier FRS.1
   
 

 

 

1998 - 2004
Sea Harrier FA.2
 

 

   
..
800 Sqn. Deployments 
        -
        -
         
8.6.55-23.6.55 HMS Bulwark - Sea Hawk FGA.4 100-111 O
27. 9. 1955 - 24.10.1955 HMS Ark Royal - Sea Hawk FGA.4 100-111 O
17.2.55 - 26.3.55 HMS Ark Royal - Sea Hawk FGA.4 100-111 O
15. September 1956 - 28. October 1956 HMS Albion - Sea Hawk FGA.6 100-111 Z
25.1.57-6.3.57 HMS Albion - Sea Hawk FGA.6 100-111 Z
16.4.57-15.5.57 HMS Albion - Sea Hawk FGA.6 100-111 Z
16.6.57-27.5.57 HMS Albion - Sea Hawk FGA.6 100-111 Z
3.10.57-29.10.57 HMS Albion - Sea Hawk FGA.6 100-111 Z
25.1.58-5.7.58 HMS Ark Royal - Sea Hawk FGA.6 100-111 R
29.11.58 - 2.12.58 HMS Centauer - Sea Hawk FGA.6 100-111 R
         
..
800 Sqn. Commanding Officers 
     
Lt-Cdr G. N. Torry, RN

Nov 1938 

Apr 1940

Lt E. G. D. Finch-Noyes, RN (Temp)

May 1940

Jun 1940

Capt R. T. Partridge, RM (POW)

 Apr 1940

May 1940

Lt E. G. D. Finch-Noyes RN (Temp)

 May 1940

Jun 1940

Lt R. D. Smeeton, RN

Jun 1940

May 1941

Lt-Cdr J. A. D. Wroughton DSC, RN

May 1941

Mar 1942

Lt-Cdr J. M. Bruen DSC, RN

Mar 1942

Dec 1942

Lt-Cdr H. Muir-Mackenzie, DSC, RN

 Dec 1942

Jul 1943

Lt-Cdr S. J. Hall, DSC, RN

Jul 1943

Sep 1944

Lt-Cdr Fell, DSC, RN

 Sep 1944

Dec 1944

Lt-Cdr (A) D. B. Law, DSC, RN

Dec 1944

May 1945

Lt-Cdr H. De Wit, RNethN

May 1945

Dec 1945

Lt-Cdr G. C. Baldwin DSC

22. Aug 1951

3. Dec 1952

Lt-Cdr R. W. Kearsley

3. Dec 1952

23. Dec 1953

1959 - 1964
Lt-Cdr P. D. Norman

1. Jul 1959

2. Oct.1961

Lt-Cdr PA. Mancais

2. Oct.1961

1963

Lt-Cdr Mills

1963

4. May 1963

Lt-Cdr P. Newmann

4. May 1963

25. Feb. 1964

1964 - 1972
Lt-Cdr W. I. Campbell

23. Dec 1953

11. Jun 1954

Lt-Cdr J. C. Mather RN

18. Mar. 1964

 26. Mar. 1965

Lt-Cdr C. G. Giles RN

 26. Mar. 1965

1. Nov. 1966

Lt-Cdr J. W. Moore RN

1. Nov. 1966

1. Aug. 1968

Lt-Cdr S. D. Mather RN

1. Aug. 1968

11. Dec. 1969

Lt-Cdr JOFD Billingham RN

11. Dec. 1969

11. Jan. 1971

Lt-Cdr R. Wren RN

11. Jan. 1971

23. Feb. 1972

...

History 

At the beginning of the war, 800 NAS was flying the Skua and a few Rocs from HMS Ark Royal. Fighter patrols were carried out off Norway and submarine patrols in the NW approaches.

During the German invasion of Norway in 1940, whilst based at RNAS Hatston, 800 NAS and 803 NAS dive-bombed the German cruiser Konigsberg at Bergen. Squadron aircraft shot down six He111s. The 800 NAS CO, Capt R. T. Partridge, RM was taken POW and four aircraft lost on an attack on the Scharnhorst. In July 1940, the squadron was involved in the attack on the French Fleet at Oran. Two SM 79 bombers shot down off Sardinia.

The squadron was regrouped with Fulmars in April 1941 at Gibraltar, proceeding with two Flights, to HMS Victorious to search for the Bismarck, and to HMS Argus. On regrouping in June 1941, the squadron joined HMS Furious for an attack on Petsamo, and after the West Indies onboard HMS Indomitable was involved in the Madagascar operations.

Sea Hurricanes were received in 1942 and took part in the North African landings in HMS Biter in November 1942.

In July 1943, 800 NAS was the first FAA squadron to equip with the Hellcat. Joining No. 7 Naval Fighter Wing the squadron provided escort for April 1944 attacks against the German battleship Tirpitz from HMS Emperor.

Royal Navy Hellcat I's (F6F-3) from 800 squadron were involved in escorting Barracuda attacks on the german battleship Tirpitz from April to August 1944 in Alta Fjord, Norway. One of these operations, on 8 May 1944, the Luftwaffe fighters flew up to protect the battleship. Some of the 800 squadron Hellcats from HMS Emperor went to attack the German aircraft and shot down 1 Fw-190 and two Bf-109G fighters. The Hellcats suffered one loss to the Luftwaffe and another to anti-aircraft fire. Sub Lt. B. Richie claimed the Focke-Wulf and went on to claim a total of 6 kills, becoming one of only a few Royal Navy Hellcat aces.

In June 1944, 804 NAS was absorbed and the squadron took part in the invasion of southern France in August 1944. In May 1945 the squadron took part in the recapture of Rangoon, aircraft operating from HMS Shah and HMS Emperor. The squadron returned to the UK after the end of the war.  

- Has anyone more Informations about this Squadron -

....

-

last update 1. Februay 2014

written 1. March 2011

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