On the
outbreak of war, this torpedo spotter reconnaissance Swordfish
squadron embarked from Dekheila, Egypt to HMS Glorious in search of
enemy shipping in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
The ship returned to the Mediterranean in January 1940, the squadron
operating from Hal Far, Malta until March 1940 when the ship was
recalled for the defence of Norway. The squadron disembarked at
Prestwick. HMS Glorious was sunk by the German battleships Gneisenau
and Scharnhorst on 8 June 1940, and the squadron operated from
Worthy Down, Detling and RAF Thorney Island in operations against
the advancing German forces in the Low countries and France. Eight
of the 12 aircraft were lost during the Dunkirk evacuations
including the CO L/C JB Buckley RN, when 5 aircraft were lost in one
bombing raid over France on 29 May 1940.
In July 1940 the remnants of the squadron were augmented to 9
aircraft and embarked on HMS Furious for operations in September
including night attacks on Trondheim and Tromso.
In February 1941 the squadron undertook convoy duties with HMS
Furious to the Gold Coast, and in May 1941 the squadron joined HMS
Victorious, taking part in the successful attack on the German
Battleship Bismarck. The squadron swordfish sighted the Bismarck on
24 Amy 1941, and made its attack the following day on 25 May 1941,
one hit reduced her speed. The Bismarck was crippled in a later
strike by 810/818 squadrons on 26 May and sunk by the Fleet on 27
May 1941.
From June 1941 the Squadron embarked on HMS Ark Royal for Malta
convoy duties, and in September was involved in attacking targets in
Pantellaria, Sardinia and Sicily. When HMS Ark Royal was torpedoed
on 13 November 1941 the remnants of the squadron flew to Gibraltar
and ceased to exist.
In January 1942 the squadron was reformed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent with
swordfish for torpedo bomber reconnaissance duties, 6 aircraft
attacking the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau from
Manston in the English Channel, no hits were achieved and all the
aircraft were lost. The CO, Lt Cdr E Esmonde was awarded a
posthumous Victoria Cross, and the 5 surviving crew members were
also decorated.
The squadron regrouped at RNAS Lee-on-Solent in March 1942, 3
aircraft subsequently embarking on HMS Avenger for Arctic convoy
duties to Russia during which 6 U-Boats were attacked, and U-Boat
U-589 was sunk shared with HMS Onslow. The squadron then carrying
out operations under 16th Group RAF Coastal Command from Thorney
Island and Exeter.
From March 1943 the squadron embarked on HMS Furious for convoy
duties to Iceland and sweeps off the Norwegian coast. In December
1943 the squadron embarked on HMS Vindex, with a fighter flight of 6
Sea Hurricane IICs and later also 3 Fulmars, for Atlantic convoys,
sinking U-653 on 15 March 1944 and U-765 NAS on 6 May 1944.
In August, the squadron now re-equipped with 12 Swordfish IIIs
embarked on HMS Vindex for Arctic convoys to Russia, sinking U-354
on 22 August 1944, Sea Hurricanes damaging another the same day, and
claiming a possible on 23 August 1944. The next day on 24 August
U-344 was sunk jointly with the Fleet, and U-394 sunk on 2 September
1944.
In March 1945 the squadron embarked on HMS Campania, the Sea
Hurricanes having been replaced by 8 Wildcat VIs, for further Arctic
convoy duties. On return the Swordfish were absorbed by 815 squadron
and the Wildcats continued in 825 until also absorbed in May 1945. |