Just
after the outbreak of war, this Swordfish torpedo spotter
reconnaissance squadron from HMS Ark Royal attacked U-39 in the
North west Approaches, then sailed with the ship to the South
Atlantic and Indian Ocean in search of enemy shipping. The ship was
recalled from the Mediterranean in April 1940 for the defence of
Norway, when the squadron bombed enemy positions. On 21 June 1940
the squadron attempted an attack on the German battleship
Scharnhorst, disbanding in December, although X flight continued
with 6 aircraft on Malta convoys, to Gibraltar on HMS Argus and to
Malta on HMS Ark Royal where the aircraft were absorbed into 815
NAS.
The
squadron reformed in July 1941 at Detling for anti-submarine duties
in the Orkneys, transferring to Egypt in November for Western Desert
operations.
In March 1942 the squadron was re-equipped with 6 Albacore, flew
missions to bomb Rhodes and then on return to Egypt continued to
support ground forces from Maaten Bagush, Gambut and Daba. In
November 1942 the squadron transferred to Hal Far, Malta for
operations against shipping to North Africa. Four aircraft moving in
March 1943 to Castel Benito, Tripoli to provide support to RAF night
bombing in Libya, then in June the entire squadron transferred to
Tunis for anti-shipping duties. The squadron disbanded in October
1943 in the UK.
The
squadron reformed in May 1944 as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance
squadron with 12 Barracuda IIs, embarking on HMS Puncher in November
1944, carrying out mine-laying operations from February 1945 with
Barracuda IIIs, and from April also with 6 Wildcat VIs until June
1944.
In July 1944 the squadron embarked on HMS Trumpeter for the Far
East, but saw no action before VJ-Day
- Has
anyone more Informations about this Squadron - |