Second World War 815 Naval Air Squadron

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hms illustrious, somewhere in 1942



a still flying example of fairey swordfish


the squadron formed @ rnas worthy down on 9 october 1939, remnants of 811 , 822 squadrons had survived sinking of carrier hms courageous in september 1939, fairey swordfish aircraft. squadron disbanded in november 1939, reformed same month however. in may 1940 squadron provided support dunkirk evacuation. in june 1940, squadron embarked on hms illustrious , sailed mediterranean in august, attacking , minelaying benghazi, rhodes , tobruk. squadron gained fame involvement in battle of taranto in 1940. battle consisted of raid on italian battlefleet in harbour @ taranto redefined use of air power sea. during battle 1 squadron aircraft lost (unfortunately squadron s commanding officer), compared crippling of half italian fleet. in march 1941, squadron once again involved in major battle of second world war @ battle of cape matapan. squadron re-equipped in august 1941 mixture of swordfish , fairey albacore aircraft, operating shore bases in support of north african campaign. in july 1943, 815 squadron assigned no. 201 (naval co-operation) group detachment of swordfish assigned ahq malta. both units participated in operation husky on 10 july 1943, before 815 squadron disbanded.


on fairey barracudas

a fairey barracuda


the squadron reformed in october 1943 @ rnas lee-on-solent (hms daedalus) operate fairey barracuda torpedo bombers, operating indomitable eastern fleet, flying airstrikes on sumatra in august–september 1944. disbanded once again in november 1944 before reforming in december 1944 @ rnas machrihanish (hms landrail), flying barracudas anti-submarine operations, following month being spent doing dlt (deck landing training) on hms campania.


the squadron transferred far east aboard hms smiter, saw no action before vj-day, , returned uk in september 1945 aboard hms fencer.








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