The
squadron formed at RNAS Donibristle in July 1941 as a Fleet Fighter
squadron with 9 Martlet Is, moving to St Merryn in November, RNAS
Yeovilton in December, and subsequently to Turnhouse with 13 Group
RAF until mid March when it transferred to Machrihanish.
In May 1942, the squadron embarked in HMS Illustrious to provide
support during the invasion of Madagascar, after which it merged
into 881 squadron.
A remaining detachment still existed, and had embarked on HMS Archer
in April 1942, disembarking at Floyd Bennett Field, New York, USA
carrying out anti-submarine patrols with Swordfish until it was
disbanded in September 1942.
The squadron was reformed in September 1942 at RNAS Donibristle with
12 Martlet IVs, embarking on HMS Victorious the following month to
take part in the landings in North Africa. The ship then sailed
through the Panama Canal to undertake sweeps in the Coral Sea, and
provide support to US forces in the Middle Solomon islands including
by using US Navy F4F-4s.
The squadron disembarked at RNAS Eglington in September 1943, and
joined the 7th Naval Fighter Wing, embarking in HMS Searcher for
convoy duties to the USA in December 1943. January 1944 was spent in
NAS Brunswick, MA.
In February 1944, HMS Searcher joined the Home Fleet and was
involved in a number of operations against Norwegian targets,
including the Operation Tungsten dive-bombing strike against the
German battleship Tirpitz in Kaa Fjord, northern Norway, on 3 April
1944, returning to RNAS Hatston two days later on 6 April 1944.
Subsequently the ship sailed for the Mediterranean, the squadron in
detachments at Ta Kali and Dekheila. The squadron provided bombing
attacks in support of the US Army during the landings in southern
France, and subsequently took part in operations in the Aegean in
September 1944.
October till December 1944 was spent at Long Kesh, the squadron
subsequently embarking on HMS Searcher in February 1945 for further
operations off Norway, including a successful strike on the U-Boat
base at Kilbotn in May 1945.
In June 1945 the ship sailed for Ceylon, arriving at Cochin in July
1945, and Katukurunda, Ceylon just after VJ-Day on 20 August 1945.
Commanding Officer of 882. Sqn Fleet Air Arm, between Oct. 1943 and
July 1944, was Lt Cdr John Cooper.
Knut
Støre
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