INDEX OF NAVAL AIR SQUADRONS |
820squadron |
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Fairey
Swordfish Mk.I L9781, 820 Sqn FAA, HMS Ark Royal, 1939
In April 1940 the squadron carried out bombing attacks on Vaernes airfield,
when the ship was recalled for the defence of Norway, then with the Fall
of France attacked French battleships at Oran, and subsequently attacked
Cagliari and Dakar.
In November 1940 the squadron attempted an attack on the Italian battleship Littorio off Sardinia, and remained in the Mediterranean the rest of the year.
In May 1941 the squadron was involved in the successful torpedo attack on the German Battleship Bismarck which was subsequently sunk by the Fleet. In June 1941 the squadron was involved in Malta convoys, returning on HMS Victorious to Iceland in November, and to the Indian Ocean with HMS Formidable in February 1942.
In April 1942 the squadron participated in the Madagascar operations, and subsequently the North African landings during which it sunk U-331 on 17 November, and remaining in the Mediterranean for the Sicily and Salerno landings.
The squadron disbanded in November 1943 at Donibristle.
Taken shortly after the Operation Goodwood II strike
on 22 August 1944.
Tirpitz is located in the upper right corner, hiding
behind the smoke.
The squadron reformed in January 1944 at Lee-on-Solent as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance squadron with 12 Barracuda IIs, embarking in June on HMS Indefatigable to take part in attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz in Kaa Fjord, Alta, North Norway Norway (Operation Mascot 17 July 1944, and Operations Goodwood in August 1944).
29 August 1944. Barracudas of 820 and 826 sqdns from
HMS Indefatigable carry out another attack on Tirpitz in Operation "Goodwood
IV". The Barracudas can be seen approaching the coast at low level to avoid
detection by the German radar.
In September 1944 it re-equipped with 21 Avengers and embarked on HMS
Indefatigable in November for the Far East. At Ceylon the squadron joined
No 2 Strike Wing with 849 squadron, and took part in the attack on the
oil refineries at Palembang, Sumatra in January 1945. It subsequently was
involved in strikes on the Sakashima Gunto islands.
24-29 January 1945 - Fleet Air Arm strikes on oil installations
at Pladjoe around Palembang, Sumatra - the largest operation ever undertaken
by the Fleet Air Arm - successful strikes are made by aircraft from
Task Force 63 - HM carriers "Indomitable", "Illustrious", "Indefatigable"
and "Victorious".
In June 1945 the squadron joined 7th Carrier Air Group, and was involved
in strikes around Tokyo just before VJ-Day. The ship and squadrons finally
returned to the UK in March 1946.
| Norm Struthers, was a telegraphist air gunner with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm during WW2. He was part of the crew of a Grumman Avenger ( 820 Squadron A/C No. JZ595-pilot, John Baggs - observer, Don Withers ) from HMS Indefatigable that took part in the raid on the oil refineries at Palembang, Sumatra on January 24, 1945. They had to dive through fighters ,flak and barrage balloons to strike the targets. Corsairs and Fireflies provided fighter cover and attacked the Japanese airfields. The raid was a success and it denied much needed petroleum products to the Japanese military. |
Battle Honours
Norway 1940 - 1, Spartivento 1940, 'Bismarck' 1941, Atlantic 1941, Malta Convoys 1941, North Africa 1942 - 3, Sicily 1943, Salerno 1943, Palembang 1945, Okinawa 1945, Japan 1945Commanding Officers and Squadron Personnel
L/CGB Hodgkinson, RN Jan 1939-Aug 1940 L/C A Yeoman, RN Aug 1940-Oct 1940 L/C JA Stewart-Moore, RN Oct 1940-July 1941 L/C W Elliott, RN July 1941-June 1943 L/C JCN Shrubsole, RN 4 June 1943-Nov 1943 Lt(A) WR Nowell, RN Jan 1944-Oct 1944 L/C(A) SP Luke, RN Oct 1944-May 1945 L/C(A) FL Jones, DSC & bar, RNVR May 1945-June 1945 L/C JP Camp, DSC & bar, RN June 1945-end of WW2 Aircraft
- Swordfish I Sept 1937-June 1941
- Battle April 1939-April 1939
- Albacore I July 1941-Nov 1943
- Barracuda II Jan 1944-Oct 1944
- Avenger I Oct 1944-end of WW2
Ships and Squadron bases
To be listedThe Squadron Today
Link to current Fleet Air Arm squadron information
Associations and Reunions
No information
820 squadron today. MOD website Order of Battle Mers-el-Kebir (Operation Catapult) 3 July 1940. Contributed by Dan Muir Role of 820 sqdn in the Battle With Gallantry and Determination" The Story of the Torpedoing of the Bismarck by Mark E. Horan World Aircraft Carrier Lists and Photo Gallery - from 1913 to 2000. Naval History Information Center, Haze Gray & Underway American based World Aircraft Carrier Lists & Photo Gallery - one of the definitive online sources for British and world aircraft carrier & seaplane tender data, histories and images - over 1000 photos. Sturtivant, R & Ballance, T (1994). 'The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' Published by Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1994 ISBN: 0 85130 223 8 Robert Horsten's FAA
SquadronsLast Modified: 23-2-2001
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