Operational History and Background

In August 1942, the squadron formed at Stretton as a fighter squadron with 3 Seafire IICs and 3 Fulmar IIs, and subsequently disbanded the following month.

The squadron reformed at Stretton in December 1942 with 6 Sea Hurricane Ibs, moving subsequently to Charlton Horethorne until March. After spending May and June 1943 in St Merryn, the squadron embarked on HMS Unicorn in August with 10 Seafire L.IICs to take part in the September landings in Salerno, one detachment being shore based at Paestrum. Subsequently, in October 1943 the squadron joined the 3rd Naval Fighter Wing at Burscough, embarking on HMS Stalker from December till February 1944.

In March 1944 the squadron re-equipped with Spitfire L.Vb at Lee-on-Solent to provide cover for the D-Day Normandy invasion forces, shooting down 1 Me 109 and damaged a German midget submarine. Then in July 1944 the squadron merged with 855 squadron and ceased to exist.

Battle Honours
 Salerno 1943, Normandy 1944

Commanding Officers and Squadron Personnel

• Capt RC Hay, DSC, RM Aug 1942-Sept 1942
• L/C(A) WC Simpson, DSC, RN Dec 1942-July 1944

Aircraft

Seafire IIc Aug 1942-Sept 1942

Fulmar II Aug 1942-Sept 1942

Sea Hurriane Ib Dec 1942-March 1943

Spitfire Ib March 1943-March 1943

Seafire Ib March 1943-July 1943

Spitfire Vb/hooked March 1943-Dec 1943

Seafire L.IIc Aug 1943-May 1944

Spitfire L.Vb March 1944-July 1944

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   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 Squadrons

        Last Modified: 23-2-2001

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