Operational History and Background

The squadron formed at Hatston in December 1942 as a fighter squadron with 12 Seafire IICs.In March 1943 the squadron embarked on HMS Indomitable for the Mediteranean to take part in the landings on Sicily, but when the ship was damaged by a torpedo the squadron disembarked at North Front, Gibraltar.

The squadron embarked on HMS Hunter in August to provide cover in the landings in Salerno the following month, one detachment being shore based at Paestrum. Subsequently, the squadron was intended to join the 30th Naval Fighter Wing onboard HMS Implacable, however in April 1944 the squadron embarked on HMS Khedive with 20 Seafire L.IIIs and took part in the landings in the south of France in August 1944. Then in September 1944 the squadron took part in attacks off Crete and Rhodes, subsequently spending most of winter at Long Kesh.

In February 1945 the squadron embarked on HMS Chaser with 24 Seafire L.III, and subsequently disembarked at Schofield, Australia in April 1945 as a Seafire Pool.
Subsequently the squadron became an Operational Training squadron with the task to train experienced former RAAF pilots for naval duties to form the nucleus of the Australian Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Australian Navy, DLT being carried out with HMS Indomitable. The squadron was carrying out DLT on HMS Arbiter on VJ-Day.

Battle Honours
 Sicily 1943, Salerno 1943, Aegean 1944, South France 1944

Commanding Officers and Squadron Personnel

• L/C(A)RF Walker, RNVR Dec 1942-Aug 1943
• L/C(A) RB Howarth, RNVR Aug 1943-Nov 1944
• L/C(A) G Dennison, RNVR Nov 1944-end of WW2

Aircraft

Seafire IIc Dec 1942-Jan 1944

Spitfire Vb Dec 1943-March 1944

Spitfire Vb/hooked Dec 1943-March 1944

seafire L.III Feb 1944-Sept 1945

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   899 squadron today. MOD website Anne Collis has written a march for 899 Squadron. Website of the National Symphony orchestra 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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