| 816 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 816 NAS badge | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 1 July 1948 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron |
| Role | Carrier-based:
|
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | SeeNaval air stations section for full list. |
| Motto | 'Imitate the action of the tiger' (Shakespeare -Henry V Act Ill Scene i) |
| Aircraft | SeeAircraft operated section for full list. |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Battle honours |
|
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | Blue, the head of an Indian tiger mouth agape affronty proper (1945) |
| Identification markings |
|
| Fin Carrier Code | O (Firefly 1947) |
816 Naval Air Squadron (816 NAS), also called 816 Squadron, was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN) which last operated theFairey Firefly FR.I fighter and reconnaissance aircraft within the Royal Navy.
It was first formed in March 1939, aboard the carrier HMSFurious, to support anti-submarine and strike missions for North Atlantic convoys. It conducted the first aerial torpedo attack of the war during the Norwegian Campaign in April 1940. An attack on the German battlecruiserScharnhorst was attempted in September 1940, and on the squadron joined RAF Coastal Command in March 1941 for operations along the Dutch and French coasts. The squadron re-embarked on HMSFurious in June 1941 to provide anti-submarine cover while RAF aircraft were sent to Malta. On the return trip, it transferred to HMSArk Royal and stayed with her until she sank in November 1941
It was reformed in February 1942, in Palisadoes, Jamaica, as a TBR squadron that joined HMSAvenger to escort a convoy from the USA to the UK. The squadron joined HMSDasher in February 1943 for Arctic convoy escort but faced heavy losses when the ship exploded in March 1943, during exercises in the Firth of Clyde. It regrouped at RNAS Machrihanish with new aircraft and by May 1943 was able to target German shipping in the English Channel. Later the squadron then embarked on HMSTracker for North Atlantic convoys. In March, an aircraft assisted the destroyer HMSOnslaught in sinking a German U-boat, followed by further operations in the days that followed.
It took part in operations in the English Channel to support the Normandy landings. Disbanded at RAF Perranporth in August 1944, it reformed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent in February 1945, as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance squadron on a light fleet carrier and stayed active until 1948.
In 1948 it was re-formed as816 Squadron RAN aRoyal Australian Navy,Fleet Air Arm (RAN) squadron withFairey Firefly and embarked onHMASSydney.
816 Naval Air Squadron was established on 3 October 1939, aboard theCourageous-class battlecruiser, converted to anaircraft carrier,HMS Furious, equipped with nineFairey Swordfish biplanetorpedo bombers. Its primary mission was to deliveranti-submarine warfare capabilities and strike support for convoys traversing theNorth Atlantic.[1]
In April 1940, the vessel participated in military operations aimed at defendingNorway. Notably, on 11 April, it executed the first airborne torpedo assault of the conflict, as eighteen aircraft from 816 and818 Naval Air Squadrons targeted twoDestroyers located inTrondheim Fjord.[2]
The squadron initiated its transition tofloatplanes in May; however, the evacuation of France necessitated a revision of this strategy.[1] It temporarily conducted operations fromJersey Airport, also known as RNAS Jersey. On 4 June, nine Fairey Swordfish aircraft from the Torpedo, Bomber, and Reconnaissance Squadron arrived fromRNAS Ford (HMSPeregrine),Sussex, for a week of operations, remaining until 11.[3]
In June 1940, the unit re-boarded the aircraft carrier. An assault was launched against theGerman battlecruiserScharnhorst in September 1940, and on September 22, 1940, five aircraft were lost during an operation targeting shipping atTrondheim[1] and on 16 October, a night-time aerial assault targeted the fuel storage facilities located inTromsø.[2]
The squadron joinedRAF Coastal Command in March 1941, engaging in operations along the coasts of theNetherlands andFrance. In April 1941, three aircraft were assigned toRAF Detling,Kent, where they established 816X Flight, which subsequently served as the foundation for821 Naval Air Squadron. In June 1941, the squadron re-boarded the aircraft carrier HMSFurious to deliver anti-submarine protection while RAF aircraft were transported toMalta.[1]
In July, it was assigned to the aircraft carrierHMS Ark Royal, where it operated in theMediterranean until the carrier was torpedoed on 13 November. Subsequently, the remaining elements of the squadron were integrated into812 Naval Air Squadron, leading to the disbandment of 816 Naval Air Squadron.[2]
The squadron was reformed at RNAS Palisadoes (HMSBuzzard),Jamaica, on 1 February 1942, equipped with four Fairey Swordfish I aircraft.[4] The unit was transferred to the RN Air Section Norfolk, located atUSNAS Norfolk inVirginia, on 22 March 1942, and subsequently boarded thename ship of herclass ofescort carrier,HMS Avenger on 3 May 1942.[5]
Just after 5 am on 4 May, HMSAvenger deployed two Fairey Swordfish aircraft for a dawn patrol mission. By 9 am, the aircraft had not returned, prompting the dispatch of theUSS Rowan to conduct a search approximately 10 miles (16 km) behind the convoy. Unfortunately, no evidence of the aircraft or the six crew members was discovered. It was suspected that adverse weather conditions and limited visibility hindered their ability to locate the carrier, leading them to ditch the aircraft after exhausting their fuel supply. Continued poor weather conditions precluded any further flight operations during the passage. HMSAvenger ultimately reached theClyde on 11 May, while 816 Naval Air Squadron proceeded toRNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus),Hampshire, for re-equipment.[6]
Following the re-equipping with six Fairey Swordfish II aircraft and subsequent working up, the squadron conducted night operations in theEnglish Channel from September to December, under the auspices of RAF Coastal Command. In February 1943, the squadron was assigned to theAvenger-class escort carrierHMS Dasher for the purpose of supportingNorth Russian convoy missions. However, on 27 March 1943, the vessel suffered a catastrophic explosion in the Clyde due to an accident, resulting in significant casualties, including the loss of the squadron'sCommanding Officer, Lieutenant R.C.B. Stallard-Penoyre.[2]
816 Naval Air Squadron reassembled atRNAS Machrihanish (HMSLandrail) inArgyll and Bute, where it was equipped with six new Fairey Swordfish II aircraft. In May, the squadron conducted operations targeting German shipping in the English Channel. By June, it relocated toRNAS Fearn (HMSOwl) inRoss and Cromarty, where it integrated half of895 Naval Air Squadron to establish a fighter flight, utilising six Supermarine Seafire L Mk.IIc fighter aircraft.[1]
Subsequently, these aircraft were reassigned to897 Naval Air Squadron. Following this, the squadron received six Supermarine Seafire Mk.Ib aircraft and there was an increase in the number of Fairey Swordfish from six to nine. The squadron then embarked onAttacker-classescort carrier,HMS Tracker to participate in North Atlantic convoy operations. The Supermarine Seafire were replaced byGrumman Wildcat Mk IV fighter aircraft with in January 1944, after which the squadron was transferred tosister ship,HMS Chaser to serve in the Arctic convoys.[2]
On 4 March, aircraft 'B' assistedHMS Onslaught in the sinking of theGerman submarineU-472.[2] In the subsequent days, the aircraft of the squadron successfully sank both the German submarinesU-366 andU-973.[1] The Grumman Wildcat aircraft were reallocated to assist in the establishment of833 Naval Air Squadron. Subsequently, the number of Fairey Swordfish aircraft rose to twelve. Utilising this increased strength, the squadron conducted operations in theEnglish Channel in collaboration with RAF Coastal Command, during theNormandy invasion, until their disbandment atRAF Perranporth, Cornwall, in August.[7]
816 Naval Air Squadron reformed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus),Hampshire, on 1 February 1945, with eighteenFairey Barracuda Mk II, a torpedo and dive bomber, designated for torpedo bomber reconnaissance operations, aboard a light fleet carrier.[7]
The objective was to embark in aColossus-classaircraft carrier with a diminished capacity of twelve aircraft, contributing to the formation of the anticipated20th Carrier Air Group. However, in July 1945, it underwent re-equipment with twelveFairey Firefly FR.I, acarrier-borne fighter and anti-submarine aircraft.
In May 1946, a Night Fighter Unit known as Black Flight, equipped with four Fairey Firefly NF.Mk Inight fighter variant was attached to the unit and subsequently joinedHMS Ocean for deployment in the Mediterranean as part of the 20th Carrier Air Group. By November 1946, the Night Fighter Unit was reassigned, but it reverted back to 816 Naval Air Squadron in January 1947. HMSOcean made its return to the United Kingdom at the conclusion of June 1948, leading to the disbandment of 816 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Lee-on-Solent on 1 July 1948.[2]
The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[8]
Thebattle honours awarded to 816 Naval Air Squadron are:
816 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:
816 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force stations, in the UK and overseas, and also a number of Royal Navy fleet carriers and escort carriers and other airbases overseas:[8]
1939 - 1941
1942 - 1944
1945 - 1948
List ofcommanding officers of 816 Naval Air Squadron, with date of appointment:[8][7]
1939 - 1941
1942 - 1944
1945 - 1948
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[17]
