Operational History and Background

 
The squadron was officially formed in August 1943 as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance Avenger squadron at Quonset Point, and subsequently embarked on HMS Khedive in November 1943 for the UK, where it was based at Grimsetter.

In April 1944 the squadron was attached to 19 Group RAF Coastal Command at Perranporth for duties in the English Channel leading up to D-Day activities at Normandy.

In September 1944 the squadron embarked on HMS Rajah for Ceylon, subsequently joining No 2 Naval Strike Wing with 820 squadron in December 1944.

Tarpon II, JZ525, 849 Squadron, HMS Victorious Flown against Pangkalan Brandan refinery, 5 January 1945
© Scott Fraser
 
 

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".

The squadron subsequently embarked on HMS Victorious for bombing raids on Pangkalan Brandon and Palembang oil refineries, Sumatra in January 1945. It subsequently was involved in strikes on the Sakashima Gunto islands and Formosa, before the ship withdrew to Australia in May/June 1945 when the squadron disembarked at Nowra. The squadron re-embarking on HMS Victorious later in the month for strikes in July1945 against the Japanese mainland near Tokyo up until VJ-Day.
 

On July 1945 an 849 Squadron aircraft from HMS Victorious located and scored the first bomb hit on the Japanese escort aircraft carrier Kaiyo (or Kayo), which was seriously damaged by the FAA aircraft in Beppu Bay, Kyushu, on 24 July 1945. Kaiyo was stricken from the Japanese naval register in November 1945 and was scrapped at Beppu Bay in 1946-48.

Battle Honours
Normandy 1944, Palembang 1945, Okinawa 1945, Japan 1945

Commanding Officers and Squadron Personnel

• L/C(A) KG Sharp, RN Aug 1943-Sept 1944
• L/C(A) DR Foster, DSO, DSC, RNVR Sept 1944-June 1945
• L/C AJ Griffith, DSC, RNVR June 1945-end of WW2

Aircraft

Avenger I Aug 1943-end of WW2

Avenger II Sept 1944-end of WW2

Ships and Squadron bases
To be listed

The Squadron Today
Link to current Fleet Air Arm squadron information

Associations and Reunions
No information

FURTHER INFORMATION   849 squadron today. MOD website 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   849 history and Robert Horsten's FAA Squadrons   The following profiles are offered by Scott Fraser, owner of Tally Ho! decals, Tarpon II, JZ525, 849 Squadron, HMS Victorious Flown against Pangkalan Brandan refinery, January 5, 1945

        Last Modified: 23-2-2001

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