835 Naval Air Squadron (835 NAS), also referred to as 835 Squadron, is an inactive Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was originally formed in February 1942 as a torpedo bomber and reconnaissance unit flying Fairey Swordfish. In June 1943, six Sea Hurricanes were added to the squadron as a fighter flight. The composite unit exchanged the Hurricanes in September 1944 for Grumman Wildcats, serving on until 1 April 1945, when the squadron disbanded.
History 1942
The first members of the squadron assembled at the Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Eastleigh (also known as HMS Raven) in January 1942 near Southampton in Hampshire.Barringer 1995, pp. 3, 10–11. They left Eastleigh on 29 January to board the SS Andalucia Star at Glasgow. The ship sailed from Glasgow on 4 February and arrived in Kingston, Jamaica on 17 February.Barringer 1995, p. 13. 835 Naval Air Squadron officially formed that day at Palisadoes (HMS Buzzard), Jamaica as a torpedo-bomber and reconnaissance squadron of Fairey Swordfish. After patrolling the seas around Jamaica until 12 March 1942, the squadron moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where a refitted lay waiting to take them aboard. HMS Furious left Norfolk on 3 April 1942,Barringer 1995, p. 28. and arrived at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, on 15 April. The squadron moved to RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, Scotland, in June 1942. During a period of frequent relocation the squadron moved to RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap), Cheshire, on 22 September 1942 and to RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll, on 29 October to spend November doing initial Deck Launch Training (DLT) on the escort carrier .Barringer 1995, p. 44. December saw temporary return to RNAS Machrihanish before relocation to RAF Kirkistown, County Down, Northern Ireland.
1943
Return to RNAS Machrihanish on 29 January 1943 caused the base to be nicknamed "Clapham Junction" by the squadron. Carrier embarkation was aboard on 8 April 1943 for convoy duties, but the squadron returned to RNAS Machrihanish for RP-3 Rocket Projectile training on 7 May. After a short return to HMS Battler, the squadron moved to RAF Ballykelly, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland on 15 May and to RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) on 22 May.Barringer 1995, p. 51. In June 1943, 835 Squadron was reinforced with a flight of six Sea Hurricane Mk.IIcs from 804 squadron. The Hurricanes spent part of September and October 1943 operating from , while some of the Swordfishes served aboard and the others remained at RAF Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland. After a period ashore at RNAS Eglington, the squadron shortly embarked on for three weeks before transfer to RNAS Abbotsinch (HMS Sanderling) and thence to RNAS Eglington.
1944
The squadron transferred to the escort carrier on 31 December 1943, and returned ashore at RNAS Hatston and RNAS Machrihanish in January 1944. Most of 1944, however, was spent onboard HMS Nairana, on Atlantic convoy duties and on the Gibraltar Run. The squadron also served in 1944 with a successful submarine Hunter-Killer Group in the North Atlantic under the overall command of Captain Frederick Walker. Three Ju 290s were shot down in May and June. The squadron became involved in the Murmansk Convoys to and from RNAS Hatston in August. Squadron pilots faced the most dangerous flying conditions of the war to attack two U-boats and shoot down four enemy aircraft in the Arctic. The aging Sea Hurricanes were replaced by Grumman Wildcat Mk.VIs in September.
1945
The squadron of 14 Swordfish and six Grumman Wildcats was led by Lieutenant-Commander Val Jones, a Swordfish Observer. The Senior Pilot of the squadron was Lieutenant Allen Burgham, DSC, MiD, who flew Sea Hurricane Mk.IIcs and later Wildcat Mk.VIs, and was Flight Commander of the Fighter Component. Lt-Commander John Godley RNVR, who had previously been in command of 'P' Flight of 836 Naval Air Squadron, became commander of the squadron on 9 January 1945.
Lieutenant-Commander Godley served as Squadron Commanding Officer for one Murmansk Convoy in February 1945. 835 Squadron saw further combat doing two coastal anti-shipping raids along the Norwegian coast off Trondheim, before being disbanded on 1 April 1945 at RNAS Hatston,Barringer 1995, p. 177. with its fighter flight transferring to 821 Naval Air Squadron. Lieutenant-Commander Godley was transferred to command 714 Naval Air Squadron.
Aircraft operated
The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types:
Aircraft operated by 835 Naval Air Squadron Aircraft Variant Type From To Fairey Swordfish I torpedo bomber February 1942 February 1943 Fairey Swordfish II torpedo bomber October 1942 June 1944 Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IIC fighter aircraft June 1943 September 1944 Fairey Swordfish III torpedo bomber July 1944 March 1945 Grumman Wildcat Mk.VI fighter aircraft September 1944 March 1945
Battle honours
The battle honours awarded to 835 Naval Air Squadron are:
Atlantic 1943-44 Arctic 1944-45
Naval air stations and aircraft carriers
835 Naval Air Squadron was active at various naval air stations of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force stations, both within the United Kingdom and internationally. Additionally, it operated from several Royal Navy escort carriers.
World War Two air stations and aircraft carriers
Air stations and aircraft carriers used by 835 Naval Air Squadron during World War two including dates:
From To Base Remark1 January 1942 29 January 1942 RNAS Eastleigh (HMS Raven), Hampshire 29 January 1942 17 February 1942 En route to Jamaica17 February 1942 12 March 1942 Palisadoes (HMS Buzzard), Kingston, Jamaica 12 March 1942 2 April 1942En route to Norfolk, Virginia3 April 1942 15 April 1942 15 April 1942 June 1942 RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire June 1942 21 September 1942 RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Orkney, Scotland 22 September 1942 28 October 1942 RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap), Cheshire 29 October 1942 12 November 1942 RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll, Scotland 13 November 1942 27 November 1942 28 November 1942 18 December 1942 RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll, Scotland 18 December 1942 29 January 1943 RAF Kirkistown, County Down, Northern Ireland 29 January 1943 8 April 1943 RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll, Scotland 9 April 1943 7 May 1943 7 May 1943 14 May 1943 RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll, Scotland 14 May 1943 15 May 1943 HMS Battler 15 May 1943 22 May 1943 RAF Ballykelly, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland 22 May 1943 4 June 1943 RNAS Eglington (HMS Gannet), County Londonderry, Northern Ireland 4 June 1943 28 June 1943 HMS Battler Detachment at RNAS Eglington, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland28 June 1943 July 1943 RNAS Eglington (HMS Gannet), County Londonderry, Northern Ireland July 1943 30 July 1943 HMS Battler 30 July 1943 6 November 1943 RAF Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland 9 September 1943 6 November 1943 Sea Hurricane flight9 September 1943 6 November 1943 part of Swordfish flight6 November 1943 27 November 1943 27 November 1943 16 December 1943 RNAS Abbotsinch (HMS Sanderling), Renfrewshire, Scotland 16 December 1943 30 December 1943 RNAS Eglington (HMS Gannet), County Londonderry, Northern Ireland 31 December 1943 January 1944 January 1944 24 February 1944 RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) and RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) 24 February 1944 6 March 1944 HMS Nairana 6 March 1944 8 March 1944 RAF Gibraltar 8 March 1944 15 March 1944 HMS Nairana 15 March 1944 17 March 1944 RNAS Abbotsinch (HMS Sanderling), Renfrewshire, Scotland 17 March 5 April 1944 HMS Nairana 5 April 1944 10 April 1944 RAF Gibraltar 10 April 1944 17 April 1944 HMS Nairana 17 April 1944 13 May 1944 RNAS Abbotsinch (HMS Sanderling), Renfrewshire, Scotland 13 May 1944 4 July 1944 HMS Nairana 4 July 1944 13 August 1944 RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail), Lancashire 13 August 1944 14 September 1944 HMS Nairana 14 September 1944 14 October 1944 RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), Somerset 14 October 1944 29 October 1944 HMS Nairana 29 October 1944 2 November 1944 Murmansk, Russia 2 November 1944 9 November 1944 HMS Nairana 9 November 1944 30 November 1944 RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll, Scotland 30 November 1944 20 December 1944 HMS Nairana 20 December 1944 27 December 1945 RAF Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland 27 December 1944 5 January 1945 HMS Nairana 5 January 1945 22 January 1945 RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll, Scotland 22 January 1945 29 January 1945 HMS Nairana 29 January 1945 5 February 1945 RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Orkney, Scotland 5 February 1945 28 February 1945 HMS Nairana 28 February 1945 26 March 1945 RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Orkney, Scotland 26 March 1945 29 March 1945 HMS Nairana 29 March 1945 1 April 1945 RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Orkney, Scotland
Commanding officers
List of commanding officers of 835 Naval Air Squadron:
Commanding Officers - 835 Naval Air SquadronBarringer 1995, p. 181. Name From ToLieutenant Commander M. Johnstone, DSC, RN 17 February 1942 15 April 1942Lieutenant Commander J.R. Lang, RN 15 April 1942 28 June 1943 Lieutenant Commander W.N. Waller, RN 28 June 1943 December 1943Lieutenant Commander(A) T.T. Miller, RN December 1943 9 February 1944 Lieutenant Commander E.E. Barringer, RNVR 9 February 1944 13 August 1944 Lieutenant Commander(A) F.V. Jones, RNVR 13 August 1944 9 January 1945 Lieutenant Commander(A) J.R. Godley, RNVR 9 January 1945 31 March 1945
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.
See also List of Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadrons
References Notes
Bibliography
Barringer, E.E. "Alone on a Wide, Wide Sea" London: Leo Cooper, 1995. . Kilbracken, John. Bring Back My Stringbag: Swordfish Pilot at War, 1940–1945. London: Pen & Sword, 1996. . Sadler, George E. Swordfish Patrol. Wrexham, UK: Bridge Books, 1996. .
External links