825 Naval Air Squadron

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Short description 825 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Naval Air Squadron which was re-commissioned on 10 October 2014 and currently flies the AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2.[1]

It was a carrier-based squadron that was formed on 8 October 1934 from the aircraft and personnel of 824 Naval Air Squadron.[2] It operated in most of the theatres of the Second World War, carrying out a number of attacks on prominent German warships, including the battleship Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". in the Atlantic and the pocket battleships Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". and Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". and heavy cruiser Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". during their Channel Dash.[3][4][5][6] The squadron also saw action in later conflicts, including the Korean War and the Falklands War.

History

Pre-war history

825 Squadron's first assignment after commissioning was to board the aircraft carrier Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". for service on the China Station. This was short-lived, and by January 1935 both the squadron and the carrier were in the Mediterranean.[7] The squadron was transferred to Hal Far, Malta in March, while Eagle returned to Britain for a refit. Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". replaced Eagle, and the squadron alternated its time between the carrier and the aerodrome at Hal Far. They returned briefly to the UK in May 1937 to attend the Coronation Fleet Review, before retaking their station in the Mediterranean, and were transferred to Admiralty control on 24 May 1939.[2][7]

Wartime service

Mediterranean and the North Sea

File:825 Squadron Sea Hurricane.jpg
A Hawker Sea Hurricane of 825 Squadron takes off from the flight deck of the escort carrier Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". during an Atlantic convoy. One of the carrier's escort vessels can be seen ahead.

With the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, 825 Squadron embarked on HMS Glorious at Dekheila, Egypt and headed into the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea to search for enemy shipping. They carried out these duties throughout the rest of 1939, returning the Mediterranean in January 1940, where they again returned to Hal Far.[8] The squadron re-embarked on Glorious in March and sailed to Britain to defend Norway after the German invasion. On their arrival, they disembarked at RNAS Prestwick. With the sinking of HMS Glorious by the German battleships Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". and Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". on 8 June 1940, the squadron was transferred to operate from Worthy Down, Detling and Thorney Island, covering allied forces in France and the Low Countries as the German forces advanced.[8] They were active in covering the Dunkirk evacuation, during which they lost eight of their 12 aircraft; five were lost in a single bombing raid on 29 May 1940,[8] including its commander Jimmy Buckley who was awarded the DSC for his actions during this period.[9]

Atlantic and the Bismarck

The depleted squadron was brought up to nine aircraft in July 1940 and embarked aboard Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".. They then operated off the Norwegian coast in September, carrying out night attacks on Trondheim and Tromsø. After the British withdrawal, the squadron remained aboard Furious, and by February 1941 was off the Gold Coast.[8] They joined Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in May 1941, and took part in the Home Fleet's hunt for the battleship Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".. After sighting Bismarck on 24 May, aircraft from the squadron carried out an attack on 25 May, scoring a single hit which slowed her. Another series of attacks by Fairey Swordfish of 810 and 818 Naval Air Squadrons flying from Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". the following day succeeded in disabling BismarckTemplate:'s steering gear. She was subsequently engaged by ships of the Home Fleet and sank on 27 May.[8]

The Channel Dash

The squadron embarked on Ark Royal in June 1941 to provide cover for the Malta Convoys. Aircraft of 825 Squadron carried out raids on targets in Pantellaria, Sardinia and Sicily in September.[8] A number of the squadron's aircraft were lost in the sinking of Ark Royal on 14 October. The remainder flew to Gibraltar, where the squadron was disbanded. It was re-formed with Fairey Swordfish at RNAS Lee-on-Solent in January 1942, and tasked with a torpedo bomber reconnaissance duties.[8] Six of the squadron's aircraft flew off from RAF Manston to attack Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". in the English Channel, as they carried out Operation Cerberus. The attacking aircraft failed to score any hits, and all six were lost.[8] The Commanding Officer—Eugene Esmonde—was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Five of the aircrew survived, and were also decorated.[4][8]

Arctic and Atlantic convoys

File:HMS Furious 825 Squadron.jpg
Fairey Swordfish of No 825 Squadron on board HMS Furious in northern waters.

After regrouping at Lee-on-Solent in March 1942, the squadron sent three aircraft aboard Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". where they covered the Arctic convoys to Russia.[8] They attacked six U-boats, and shared credit with the destroyer Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". for sinking Template:GS. The squadron then operated under No. 16 Group RAF Coastal Command, flying out of Thorney Island and Exeter.[8]

They then embarked aboard HMS Furious in March 1943, covering convoys sailing to Iceland and making sweeps for enemy submarines off Norway. They transferred to Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". with six Sea Hurricane IICs, and later another three Fulmar IIs to cover the Atlantic convoys. Aircraft from the squadron sank Template:GS on 15 March 1944 and Template:GS on 6 May 1944.[8] 825 Squadron was re-equipped with 12 Swordfish IIIs in August and sailed with Vindex to cover the Arctic convoys. They sank Template:GS on 22 August 1944, while the squadron's Sea Hurricanes damaged another and claimed another as a possible kill that same day. Template:GS was sunk jointly with the Fleet on 24 August, and Template:GS was sunk on 2 September.[8] The squadron transferred to Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in March 1945, where the Sea Hurricanes were replaced by eight Wildcat VIs. They continued in the Arctic before returning to Britain. The Swordfish were then absorbed into 815 Naval Air Squadron, followed by the Wildcats in May. 825 Squadron then ceased to exist.[8] 825 Squadron was reformed in July 1945 at RNAS Rattray as a Canadian-manned force. It was intended that it would consist of 12 Barracuda IIs, and form part of the 19th Carrier Air Group aboard a Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".. This did not happen immediately, and the squadron remained a Royal Navy one.[8]

Post-war service

File:825 Squadron Fairey Firefly.jpg
A Fairey Firefly off the eastern coast of South Korea, 1952

The commissioning of HMCS Warrior in January 1946 led to the transferral of the squadron to the Royal Canadian Navy. It served with them until being renumbered 880 Squadron (RCN) in May 1951.[8][10] The 825 designation then returned to the Royal Navy, and the squadron reformed in June 1951 at RNAS Eglinton.[3] The squadron was recommissioned several times over the next decade, operating as an anti-submarine unit equipped with Fairey Gannets, and seeing service in the Korean War.[3][11] During this period, they spent time operating off Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".. It then re-formed at RNAS Culdrose on 16 August 1960, equipped with Whirlwind HAS.7s. The squadron was deployed in the Middle East during crises between Iraq and Kuwait in 1961. It then transferred most of its aircraft to 824 Squadron, returning to the UK aboard Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".. In late 1961 they took part in relief operations after Mombasa was hit by flooding.[12] They were again disbanded on 2 April 1962.[3]

The outbreak of the Falklands War in 1982 led to the re-forming of the squadron on 3 May 1982 equipped with Sea King HAS.2/2As. The aircraft came from 706 Naval Air Squadron, or were taken from other units or storage.[3] Eight Sea Kings sailed for the Falklands on 12 May, aboard the Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., with another two sailing the following day aboard Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".. The squadron operated from Port San Carlos and then the Landing Site (LS) "Busby" at San Carlos Settlement where they were billeted with the local farmer. They returned to the UK in late July. They were disbanded at Culdrose on 17 September 1982.[3][13]

Current formation

File:Royal Navy Wildcat Helicopter MOD 45158427.jpg
An 825 NAS Wildcat in flight over the UK

825 Naval Air Squadron is currently the Royal Navy’s Operational Conversion Unit for Wildcat[14] after being re-commissioned as the Royal Navy's first frontline Wildcat HMA2 Squadron on 10 October 2014, with the merger of 700(W) Naval Air Squadron and 702 Naval Air Squadron.[1] It operated the first four Wildcat Flights to convert and deploy to sea on Type 45 destroyers and Type 23 frigates. It delivers training to aircrew along with Air Engineers awaiting frontline qualification and is responsible for continuing Wildcat Tactical Development: identifying and understanding the significant potential of the aircraft.[15]

Flights

  • 201 Flight (Wildcat HMA.2) – Voodoo – aboard Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". between March 2015 and December 2015.[16][17][18]
  • 209 Flight (Wildcat HMA.2) between April and October 2016.

Aircraft operated

File:UK RN Black Cats AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2 ZZ375 and ZZ515 ILA Berlin 2016 08.jpg
Two AW159 Wildcat HMA.2 flying at ILA 2016 forming the "Black Cats" display team within the 825 Naval Air Squadron.

The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:Template:Sfn

Battle honours

825 Naval Air Squadron has received the following battle honours:[19]

  • Dunkirk 1940
  • English Channel 1940–42
  • Norway 1940
  • Bismarck 1941
  • Malta Convoys 1941
  • Arctic 1942–45
  • Atlantic 1944
  • Japan 1945
  • Korea 1952
  • Falkland Islands 1982

Commanding Officers

  • 2014-2018 Commander Simon Collins Royal Navy
  • 2018-2020 Commander Duncan Thomas Royal Navy
  • 2020 - 2021 Commander Scott Simpson Royal Navy
  • 2021 - 2023 Commander Hugh Saltonstall Royal Navy
  • 2023 - Present Commander Ben Dando Royal Navy

References

Citations

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  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  3. ↑ a b c d e f 825 Squadron's history
  4. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b rafweb.org 825 Squadron's pre-war history Template:Webarchive
  8. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Mombasa flood relief operations
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Fleet Air Arm battle honours

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Bibliography

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External links

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Template:Royal Naval Air Squadrons

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