History 815 Naval Air Squadron

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1 history

1.1 second world war

1.1.1 on fairey barracudas


1.2 post second world war

1.2.1 avenger , gannet
1.2.2 westland whirlwind
1.2.3 westland wessex
1.2.4 westland lynx
1.2.5 agustawestland wildcat







history
second world war

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


post second world war
avenger , gannet

a fairey gannet as.4



a grumman avenger as.5, albeit 1 of 744 naval air squadron


the squadron disbanded time after war , reformed in 1947 744 squadron, flying grumman avengers, replaced in turn fairey gannets last fixed-wing aircraft of squadron when disbanded @ rnas culdrose (hms seahawk), july 1958.


westland whirlwind

in september 1958, squadron reformed , first helicopters arrived in form of westland whirlwind has.7, moving rnas portland (hms osprey) when engine troubles started plague whirlwinds. squadron disbanded here on august 1959, being renumbered 737 squadron.


the squadron reformed again on 8 september 1959, still on whirlwinds. after far east tour on hms albion, disbanded again in december 1960.


westland wessex

a westland wessex, has.1 xm837 @ sbac show farnborough 1962


on july 4, 1961, squadron recommissioned @ rnas culdrose westland wessex has.1. squadron embarked on hms ark royal in november 1961, moving hms centaur in 1964 , provided support against disturbances in aden , in tanganyika (now tanzania). after final deployment on hms ark royal, unit disbanded @ rnas culdrose in october 1966.


westland lynx

a westland lynx hma.8 of 815 nas


in january 1981, after gap of 15 years, squadron re-commissioned @ rnas yeovilton (hms heron) lynx has.2 headquarters squadron embarked lynx flights. moved rnas portland (hms osprey) in 1982 , saw action during falklands war of 1982. flights shared 829 naval air squadron until amalgamated in 1993 when became largest helicopter squadron in world @ time. in 1998/9 after absence of 17 years, unit moved rnas yeovilton, closure of rnas portland.


in 2002, lynx 815 squadron crashed atlantic ocean while participating in joint british–american exercise, loss of pilot, lieutenant rod skidmore, , observer, lieutenant jenny lewis. several of lynx helicopters stated part of response force task group. in november 2012, lynx of 217 flight deployed horn of africa 4 months on board french frigate surcouf, first extended deployment of british helicopter on french warship.


agustawestland wildcat

the squadron began reequipping agustawestland wildcat hma.2 19 april 2016, , on next 11 months replace lynx hma.8 s.








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