812 Naval Air Squadron
Encyclopedia
812 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the British Royal Navy
's Fleet Air Arm
, which was active between 1933 and 1956, and saw service in World War II
and the Korean War
.
The squadron was first formed on 3 April 1933 aboard , then part of the Mediterranean Fleet
, by amalgamating No.'s 461 and 462 (Fleet Torpedo) Flights
. Originally equipped with the Blackburn Ripon
, these were replaced with the Blackburn Baffin
in 1934, and the Fairey Swordfish
in 1936. Apart from a short visit to the UK to take part in the 1937 Coronation Review at Spithead
, the squadron remained in the Mediterranean until the outbreak of the war in September 1939. Glorious was then sent to patrol the Indian Ocean
, but was recalled to home waters in early 1940, and 812 Squadron was transferred to RAF Coastal Command
to take part in mining and bombing operations in the low countries
and in the Dunkirk evacuation.
In March 1941 the squadron left Coastal Command to take part in Malta convoy
protection duties aboard . In July, aboard , they participated in the attack on Petsamo
. Further Malta convoy duties followed aboard Furious, transferring to in September. After the Ark Royal was torpedoed and sunk on 13 November, the squadron regrouped at Gibraltar
. While based at RNAS North Front
, the squadron received new aircraft equipped with ASV (Air to Surface Vessel) radar
, enabling them to sink the U-boat
, and to damage five others. The squadron returned to the UK in April 1942 aboard , and were reattached to Coastal Command in September to fly operations over the English Channel
. On 18 December 1942, it was amalgamated into 811 Squadron.
and equipped with the Fairey Barracuda
. After short spells at RNAS Ballyhalbert
(HMS Corncrake), Northern Ireland, and RAF Heathfield
(HMS Wagtail), Scotland, the squadron embarked on in February 1945, along with 1850 Squadron, flying the Vought F4U Corsair, to form the 13th Carrier Air Group. Returning to the Mediterranean, 13 CAG were based at HMS Falcon at Hal Far
, Malta, and flew exercises over Sicily. After the German surrender on 8 May 1945, the group were assigned to serve with the British Pacific Fleet
.
The group sailed for Australia aboard Vengeance, and were based at HMS Nabswick
(MONAB V) at Jervis Bay
from 22 July 1945, where they trained for the planned invasion of Japan
. After the Japanese surrender
on 8 August, they were temporarily based at Ponam in the Admiralty Islands
, before being sent to Hong Kong
, arriving at HMS Nabcatcher (MONAB VIII) at Kai-Tak
, in October 1945, and remaining there until the end of the year.
No. 812 Squadron was re-equipped with the Fairey Firefly
, and returned to Australia in January 1946, where they were based (MONAB VI) at Schofields, New South Wales
, while Vengeance was in dry dock for repairs. In March 1946 Vengeance and her squadrons returned to the UK, via Ceylon
, and arrived at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) on 12 August 1946, where 812 Squadron was disbanded.
The squadron was reformed again on 1 October 1946 at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet)
in Derry
, Northern Ireland, and joined 804 Squadron
, flying the Supermarine Seafire
, to form the 14th Carrier Air Group. In February 1947, 14 CAG sailed aboard on a lengthy Far Eastern cruise, eventually returning in December.
In August 1948 the group sailed for the Mediterranean aboard , where Hal Far was used as a shore base. The group was transferred to in November 1949, and participated in several cruises and exercises, with landings being made on in October.
In March 1951 Glory sailed for Korea, where 812 Squadron flew 852 sortie
s over the next six months, during which three aircraft were lost and several others damaged by AA fire
. After two months based in Australia, Glory returned to Korean operations, where the squadron flew another 689 sorties, with 104 of them flown in one day. In May 1952 the squadron transferred its aircraft to Ocean, and the crews sailed home in Theseus.
In June 1952, the squadron was re-equipped with the Firefly AS Mk.6 at RNAS Anthorn (HMS Nuthatch)
, and in September sailed aboard for exercises and a visit to Oslo
. In January 1953 the squadron joined Theseus for a cruise, returning to Eagle in June for exercises off northern Scotland. It was disbanded at Eglinton on 20 October 1953.
, flying the Fairey Gannet
. In April 1956 it sailed to the Mediterranean in Eagle, taking part in visits and exercises before flying home from Malta, and was disbanded on arrival at Lee-on-Solent on 13 December 1956.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
, which was active between 1933 and 1956, and saw service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
First formation
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
, by amalgamating No.'s 461 and 462 (Fleet Torpedo) Flights
Flight (military unit)
A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. It usually comprises three to six aircraft, with their aircrews and ground staff; or, in the case of a non-flying ground flight, no aircraft and a roughly equivalent number of support personnel. In most usages,...
. Originally equipped with the Blackburn Ripon
Blackburn Ripon
-See also:-External links:* in Flight...
, these were replaced with the Blackburn Baffin
Blackburn Baffin
-See also:-External links:* * http://avia.russian.ee/air/england/black_baffin.php...
in 1934, and the Fairey Swordfish
Fairey Swordfish
The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
in 1936. Apart from a short visit to the UK to take part in the 1937 Coronation Review at Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
, the squadron remained in the Mediterranean until the outbreak of the war in September 1939. Glorious was then sent to patrol the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, but was recalled to home waters in early 1940, and 812 Squadron was transferred to RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command was a formation within the Royal Air Force . Founded in 1936, it was the RAF's premier maritime arm, after the Royal Navy's secondment of the Fleet Air Arm in 1937. Naval aviation was neglected in the inter-war period, 1919–1939, and as a consequence the service did not receive...
to take part in mining and bombing operations in the low countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
and in the Dunkirk evacuation.
In March 1941 the squadron left Coastal Command to take part in Malta convoy
Malta Convoys
The Malta Convoys were a series of Allied supply convoys that sustained the besieged island of Malta during the Mediterranean Theatre of the Second World War...
protection duties aboard . In July, aboard , they participated in the attack on Petsamo
Raid on Kirkenes and Petsamo
The raid on Kirkenes and Petsamo took place on 30 July 1941 during the Second World War. The Royal Navy air arm launched this unsuccessful raid from the aircraft carriers and to inflict damage on merchant vessels owned by Germany and Finland and to show support for their new ally, the Soviet...
. Further Malta convoy duties followed aboard Furious, transferring to in September. After the Ark Royal was torpedoed and sunk on 13 November, the squadron regrouped at Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. While based at RNAS North Front
RAF Gibraltar
Royal Air Force Station Gibraltar, better known as RAF Gibraltar and formally as North Front, is a Royal Air Force station on Gibraltar. No military aircraft are currently stationed there, but there are regular visits...
, the squadron received new aircraft equipped with ASV (Air to Surface Vessel) radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
, enabling them to sink the U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
, and to damage five others. The squadron returned to the UK in April 1942 aboard , and were reattached to Coastal Command in September to fly operations over the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. On 18 December 1942, it was amalgamated into 811 Squadron.
First reformation
No. 812 Squadron was reformed on 1 June 1944 at RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap)RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap)
Royal Naval Air Station Stretton , was an airfield in the village of Appleton Thorn, close to the village of Stretton, south of Warrington, in Cheshire....
and equipped with the Fairey Barracuda
Fairey Barracuda
The Fairey Barracuda was a British carrier-borne torpedo- and dive bomber used during the Second World War, the first of its type used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm to be fabricated entirely from metal. It was introduced as a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Albacore biplanes...
. After short spells at RNAS Ballyhalbert
RNAS Ballyhalbert
RNAS Ballyhalbert was an airfield near Ballyhalbert, in North Down, Northern Ireland during the Second World War, used by the Royal Air Force in the defence of Belfast and, later, by the Royal Naval Air Service, when it was a naval air station commissioned as HMS Corncrake...
(HMS Corncrake), Northern Ireland, and RAF Heathfield
RAF Heathfield
RAF Heathfield, sometimes known as RAF Ayr/Heathfield due to its proximity to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, which was also used by military flights, was a Royal Air Force Second World War airfield....
(HMS Wagtail), Scotland, the squadron embarked on in February 1945, along with 1850 Squadron, flying the Vought F4U Corsair, to form the 13th Carrier Air Group. Returning to the Mediterranean, 13 CAG were based at HMS Falcon at Hal Far
RAF Hal Far
The RAF Hal Far airfield in Malta, titled HMS Falcon during the Royal Navy base, was constructed and opened on 1 April 1929, and was used by Royal Navy air crews. It was the first permanent airfield to be built in Malta. It was transferred to the Maltese Government and redeveloped as from January...
, Malta, and flew exercises over Sicily. After the German surrender on 8 May 1945, the group were assigned to serve with the British Pacific Fleet
British Pacific Fleet
The British Pacific Fleet was a British Commonwealth naval force which saw action against Japan during World War II. The fleet was composed of British Commonwealth naval vessels. The BPF formally came into being on 22 November 1944...
.
The group sailed for Australia aboard Vengeance, and were based at HMS Nabswick
Jervis Bay Airport
Jervis Bay Territory Airport is the only airport of the Jervis Bay Territory, Australia. It is located about 10 kilometres east of Sussex Inlet and about 2 kilometres south of Jervis Bay Village and HMAS Creswell....
(MONAB V) at Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is a large bay bounded by the state of New South Wales, the Jervis Bay Territory, and a detached enclave of the Australian Capital Territory. HMAS Creswell is located between Jervis Bay Village and Greenpatch in the Jervis Bay Territory.-History:...
from 22 July 1945, where they trained for the planned invasion of Japan
Operation Downfall
Operation Downfall was the Allied plan for the invasion of Japan near the end of World War II. The operation was cancelled when Japan surrendered after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan. The operation had two parts: Operation...
. After the Japanese surrender
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
on 8 August, they were temporarily based at Ponam in the Admiralty Islands
Admiralty Islands
The Admiralty Islands are a group of eighteen islands in the Bismarck Archipelago, to the north of New Guinea in the south Pacific Ocean. These are also sometimes called the Manus Islands, after the largest island. These rainforest-covered islands form part of Manus Province, the smallest and...
, before being sent to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, arriving at HMS Nabcatcher (MONAB VIII) at Kai-Tak
RAF Kai Tak
RAF Kai Tak was a Royal Air Force station in Hong Kong. It was opened in 1927 and used for seaplanes. The RAF flight operated a few land based aircraft as well as having spare aircraft for naval units.-History:...
, in October 1945, and remaining there until the end of the year.
No. 812 Squadron was re-equipped with the Fairey Firefly
Fairey Firefly
The Fairey Firefly was a British Second World War-era carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm ....
, and returned to Australia in January 1946, where they were based (MONAB VI) at Schofields, New South Wales
Schofields, New South Wales
Schofields is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Schofields is located 45 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown...
, while Vengeance was in dry dock for repairs. In March 1946 Vengeance and her squadrons returned to the UK, via Ceylon
British Ceylon
British Ceylon refers to British rule prior to 1948 of the island territory now known as Sri Lanka.-From the Dutch to the British:Before the beginning of the Dutch governance, the island of Ceylon was divided between the Portuguese Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy, who were in the midst of a war for...
, and arrived at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) on 12 August 1946, where 812 Squadron was disbanded.
Second reformation
City of Derry Airport
City of Derry Airport is an airport located northeast of Derry, Northern Ireland. It is located on the south bank of Lough Foyle, a short distance from the village of Eglinton and from the city centre...
in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland, and joined 804 Squadron
804 Naval Air Squadron
804 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy, formed in November 1939 from part of 769 NAS Sea Gladiators which had been detached to RNAS Hatston. The squadron was merged into 800 NAS in June 1944 and subsequently reformed in September.-World War II:During World War II, she...
, flying the Supermarine Seafire
Supermarine Seafire
The Supermarine Seafire was a naval version of the Supermarine Spitfire specially adapted for operation from aircraft carriers. The name Seafire was arrived at by collapsing the longer name Sea Spitfire.-Origins of the Seafire:...
, to form the 14th Carrier Air Group. In February 1947, 14 CAG sailed aboard on a lengthy Far Eastern cruise, eventually returning in December.
In August 1948 the group sailed for the Mediterranean aboard , where Hal Far was used as a shore base. The group was transferred to in November 1949, and participated in several cruises and exercises, with landings being made on in October.
In March 1951 Glory sailed for Korea, where 812 Squadron flew 852 sortie
Sortie
Sortie is a term for deployment or dispatch of one military unit, be it an aircraft, ship, or troops from a strongpoint. The sortie, whether by one or more aircraft or vessels, usually has a specific mission....
s over the next six months, during which three aircraft were lost and several others damaged by AA fire
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
. After two months based in Australia, Glory returned to Korean operations, where the squadron flew another 689 sorties, with 104 of them flown in one day. In May 1952 the squadron transferred its aircraft to Ocean, and the crews sailed home in Theseus.
In June 1952, the squadron was re-equipped with the Firefly AS Mk.6 at RNAS Anthorn (HMS Nuthatch)
Anthorn
Anthorn is a village in Cumbria, England. It is situated on the south side of the Solway Firth, on the Wampool estuary, about thirteen miles west of Carlisle...
, and in September sailed aboard for exercises and a visit to Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. In January 1953 the squadron joined Theseus for a cruise, returning to Eagle in June for exercises off northern Scotland. It was disbanded at Eglinton on 20 October 1953.
Third reformation
The squadron was reformed for a third time at Eglinton on 7 November 1955 as an anti-submarine squadronAnti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
, flying the Fairey Gannet
Fairey Gannet
The Fairey Gannet was a British carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning aircraft of the post-Second World War era developed for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm by the Fairey Aviation Company...
. In April 1956 it sailed to the Mediterranean in Eagle, taking part in visits and exercises before flying home from Malta, and was disbanded on arrival at Lee-on-Solent on 13 December 1956.