The
squadron was formed as a torpedo spotter reconnaissance Albacore
squadron at RNAS Ford, East Sussex in March 1940.
In May 1940, the squadron provided cover for the Dunkirk evacuation
from Detling, and on 31 May bombed targets at Westende, and E-boats
off Zeebrugge. The squadron then operated from Bircham Newton under
RAF Coastal Command carrying out operations in Holland, Belgium and
France when 5 enemy aircraft were destroyed or damaged.
In November 1940 the squadron embarked on HMS Formidable for convoy
duties via Capetown to Egypt, and in February 1941 the squadron
attacked Mogadishu, Somalia, and Massawa, Eritrea before joining the
Mediterranean Fleet.
In March 1941 the squadron, now also with Swordfish, took part in
the Battle of Matapan and damaged the Italian battleship Vittorio
Veneto by torpedo, subsequently taking part in operations against
Tripoli and Bardia.
In May 1941, when the ship was badly damaged after raids against
Scarpanto island, the squadron disembarked to Dekheila and then Fuka
and Maaten Bagush in the Western Desert.
In July operations from Nicosia, Cyprus, were made against Vichy
French ships at Beirut, followed by a return to Maaten Bagush to
support the 8th Army, where it provided night illumination flares
for the 7th Cruiser squadron – operations that were so successful
that the squadron then carried out these duties for the army and
Desert Air Force as well as attacking enemy harbours and shipping
strikes.
In December 1942, half the squadron was temporarily attached to 821
NAS on Malta for attacks on enemy convoys between Sicily and North
Africa, returning in January 1943 to Dekheila. The squadron moved to
Malta in June 1943 to provide support for the Sicily landings, and
was disbanded in August 1943.
The squadron reformed as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance squadron
with 12 Barracuda IIs in December 1943 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, and
joined the 9th Naval TBR Wing.
In June 1944 it embarked on HMS Indefatigable for the 17 July
Operation Mascot against the German battleship Tirpitz at Kaa Fjord,
North Norway, and subsequent patrols off the Norwegian coast. The
squadron later embarking on HMS Formidable for further strikes
against the Tirpitz in the Operations Goodwood in August 1944,
followed by strikes against enemy shipping and shore targets in
Norway. The squadron subsequently disbanded at RAF Machrihanish in
October 1944.
The
squadron reformed on 15 August 1945 at East Haven as a
Canadian-manned torpedo bomber reconnaissance squadron with 12
Barracuda IIs with ASH radar. 826 NAS remained as part of the Royal
Navy until it was disbanded in February 1946. It was then reformed
as part of the RCN in May 1947 and later renumbered to 881 NAS (RCN)
in May 1951 whereupon the 826 designation returned to the Royal Navy.
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