The
squadron formed at RNAS St Merryn in October 1942 as a Fleet Fighter
unit with 6 Fulmar Is, where subsequently it operated from Charlton
Horethorne and Old Sarum on Army Support training.
In March 1943 the squadron moved to RNAS Stretton to re-equip with
10 Seafire Ibs, and subsequently moved to Andover for Army
co-operation training with No 36 (AC) Wing with 10 Seafire L.IICs.
The squadron embarked on HMS Attacker in July 1943 for the
Mediterranean, taking part in the Salerno landings. On return to the
UK the squadron joined the 4th Naval Fighter Wing, and incorporated
886 NAS aircraft and crew to bring the squadron to 20 aircraft. The
squadron being based at Andover and Burscough until February 1944.
The squadron returned with HMS Attacker to the Mediterranean in
April 1944, with detachments at Gibraltar, Blida, Algeria and
Pomigliano, Capodichino, Orvieto and Castiglione with the Desert Air
Force in Italy, including undertaking support to the Army.
In July 1944 the squadron re-embarked on HMS Attacker and took part
in the landings in the South of France, and operations in the Aegean
including from Mitylene.
In December the squadron dis-embarked at Dekheila where it was
re-equipped with 24 Seafire L.IICs and L.IIIs.
The squadron re-embarked on HMS Attacker in April 1945 for
Katukurunda and Trincomallee, Ceylon, and saw action against the
Malay Peninsula on HMS Attacker just before VJ-Day, although one
detachment was also carrying out DLT on HMS Hunter at the time.
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