800 Naval Air Squadron
"Nunquam non Paratus"
|
History |
|
| 3. April 1933 | 800 NAS formed from 402 Flt and 404 Flt. |
| 5. December 1945 | 800 NAS disbanded in The UK |
| 15. August 1946 | 800 NAS reformed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent |
| 10. November 1950 | 800 NAS disbanded at RNAS ? |
| 22. August 1951 | 800 NAS reformed at RNAS Ford |
| 1. June 1954 | 800 NAS disbanded at RNAS Ford |
| 8. November 1954 | 800 NAS reformed at RNAS Brawdy |
| 3. March 1959 | 800 NAS disbanded at RNAS Brawdy |
| 1. July 1959 | 800 NAS reformed at RNAS Lossiemouth |
| 25. February 1964 | 800 NAS disbanded at RNAS Lossiemouth |
| 18. March 1964 | 800 NAS reformed at RNAS Lossiemouth |
| 23. February 1972 | 800 NAS disbanded at RNAS Lossiemouth |
| 31. March 1980 | 800 NAS reformed at RNAS Yeovilton |
| 800 NAS disbanded at RNAS | |
| Planes: |
Osprey
Skua I
Fulmar I
Fulmar II
Sea Hurricane Ib
Sea Hurrican IIc
Sea Hurrican Ib
Hellcat I
Hellcat II
Seafire FR.47
Attacker F.1
Attacker FB.2
Sea Hawk FB.3
Sea Hawk FGA.4
Sea Hawk FGA.6
Scimitar F.1
Buccaneer S.1
Buccaneer S.2
Sea Harrier FRS.1
Sea Harrier FA.2
| 800 Sqn. Deployments | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| 8.6.55-23.6.55 | HMS Bulwark | - | Sea Hawk FGA.4 | 100-111 O |
| 27. 9. 1955 - 24.10.1955 | HMS Ark Royal | - | Sea Hawk FGA.4 | 100-111 O |
| 17.2.55 - 26.3.55 | HMS Ark Royal | - | Sea Hawk FGA.4 | 100-111 O |
| 15. September 1956 - 28. October 1956 | HMS Albion | - | Sea Hawk FGA.6 | 100-111 Z |
| 25.1.57-6.3.57 | HMS Albion | - | Sea Hawk FGA.6 | 100-111 Z |
| 16.4.57-15.5.57 | HMS Albion | - | Sea Hawk FGA.6 | 100-111 Z |
| 16.6.57-27.5.57 | HMS Albion | - | Sea Hawk FGA.6 | 100-111 Z |
| 3.10.57-29.10.57 | HMS Albion | - | Sea Hawk FGA.6 | 100-111 Z |
| 25.1.58-5.7.58 | HMS Ark Royal | - | Sea Hawk FGA.6 | 100-111 R |
| 29.11.58 - 2.12.58 | HMS Centauer | - | Sea Hawk FGA.6 | 100-111 R |
| 800 Sqn. Commanding Officers | ||
| Lt-Cdr G. N. Torry, RN |
Nov 1938 |
Apr 1940 |
| Lt E. G. D. Finch-Noyes, RN (Temp) |
May 1940 |
Jun 1940 |
| Capt R. T. Partridge, RM (POW) |
Apr 1940 |
May 1940 |
| Lt E. G. D. Finch-Noyes RN (Temp) |
May 1940 |
Jun 1940 |
| Lt R. D. Smeeton, RN |
Jun 1940 |
May 1941 |
|
Lt-Cdr J. A. D. Wroughton DSC, RN |
May 1941 |
Mar 1942 |
| Lt-Cdr J. M. Bruen DSC, RN |
Mar 1942 |
Dec 1942 |
| Lt-Cdr H. Muir-Mackenzie, DSC, RN |
Dec 1942 |
Jul 1943 |
|
Lt-Cdr S. J. Hall, DSC, RN |
Jul 1943 |
Sep 1944 |
| Lt-Cdr Fell, DSC, RN |
Sep 1944 |
Dec 1944 |
| Lt-Cdr (A) D. B. Law, DSC, RN |
Dec 1944 |
May 1945 |
| Lt-Cdr H. De Wit, RNethN |
May 1945 |
Dec 1945 |
| Lt-Cdr G. C. Baldwin DSC |
22. Aug 1951 |
3. Dec 1952 |
| Lt-Cdr R. W. Kearsley |
3. Dec 1952 |
23. Dec 1953 |
| 1959 - 1964 | ||
| Lt-Cdr P. D. Norman |
1. Jul 1959 |
2. Oct.1961 |
| Lt-Cdr PA. Mancais |
2. Oct.1961 |
1963 |
| Lt-Cdr Mills |
1963 |
4. May 1963 |
| Lt-Cdr P. Newmann |
4. May 1963 |
25. Feb. 1964 |
| 1964 - 1972 | ||
| Lt-Cdr W. I. Campbell |
23. Dec 1953 |
11. Jun 1954 |
|
Lt-Cdr J. C. Mather RN |
18. Mar. 1964 |
26. Mar. 1965 |
|
Lt-Cdr C. G. Giles RN |
26. Mar. 1965 |
1. Nov. 1966 |
|
Lt-Cdr J. W. Moore RN |
1. Nov. 1966 |
1. Aug. 1968 |
|
Lt-Cdr S. D. Mather RN |
1. Aug. 1968 |
11. Dec. 1969 |
|
Lt-Cdr JOFD Billingham RN |
11. Dec. 1969 |
11. Jan. 1971 |
|
Lt-Cdr R. Wren RN |
11. Jan. 1971 |
23. Feb. 1972 |
|
History |
|
At the beginning of the war, 800 NAS was flying the Skua and a few Rocs from HMS Ark Royal. Fighter patrols were carried out off Norway and submarine patrols in the NW approaches. During the German invasion of Norway in 1940, whilst based at RNAS Hatston, 800 NAS and 803 NAS dive-bombed the German cruiser Konigsberg at Bergen. Squadron aircraft shot down six He111s. The 800 NAS CO, Capt R. T. Partridge, RM was taken POW and four aircraft lost on an attack on the Scharnhorst. In July 1940, the squadron was involved in the attack on the French Fleet at Oran. Two SM 79 bombers shot down off Sardinia. The squadron was regrouped with Fulmars in April 1941 at Gibraltar, proceeding with two Flights, to HMS Victorious to search for the Bismarck, and to HMS Argus. On regrouping in June 1941, the squadron joined HMS Furious for an attack on Petsamo, and after the West Indies onboard HMS Indomitable was involved in the Madagascar operations. Sea Hurricanes were received in 1942 and took part in the North African landings in HMS Biter in November 1942. In July 1943, 800 NAS was the first FAA squadron to equip with the Hellcat. Joining No. 7 Naval Fighter Wing the squadron provided escort for April 1944 attacks against the German battleship Tirpitz from HMS Emperor. Royal Navy Hellcat I's (F6F-3) from 800 squadron were involved in escorting Barracuda attacks on the german battleship Tirpitz from April to August 1944 in Alta Fjord, Norway. One of these operations, on 8 May 1944, the Luftwaffe fighters flew up to protect the battleship. Some of the 800 squadron Hellcats from HMS Emperor went to attack the German aircraft and shot down 1 Fw-190 and two Bf-109G fighters. The Hellcats suffered one loss to the Luftwaffe and another to anti-aircraft fire. Sub Lt. B. Richie claimed the Focke-Wulf and went on to claim a total of 6 kills, becoming one of only a few Royal Navy Hellcat aces. In June 1944, 804 NAS was absorbed and the squadron took part in the invasion of southern France in August 1944. In May 1945 the squadron took part in the recapture of Rangoon, aircraft operating from HMS Shah and HMS Emperor. The squadron returned to the UK after the end of the war. - Has anyone more Informations about this Squadron - |