No. 811 Naval Air Squadron
Encyclopedia
811 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of Britain's Fleet Air Arm
.
The squadron was flying the Fairey Swordfish
in 1939
from . When that ship was lost the survivors were drafted to help form 815 Naval Air Squadron
.
811 was reformed in July 1941 at Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus). Initially equipped with the Vought-Sikorsky Chesapeake and intended for duty with an escort carrier on the Atlantic convoy
s. After three months it was decided that the Chesapeake was not up to the job and the squadron re-equipped with the Swordfish.
After a long period re-training, initially at RNAS Arbroath, then at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) the squadron moved during August 1942
to RAF Bircham Newton
for mine
-laying and other anti-shipping
operations off the coast of the Netherlands
, Belgium
and North-East France
.
In December of that year there was another move, this time to RNAS Hatston
, Orkney.
It eventually got afloat in in March 1943.
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...
.
The squadron was flying 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 1939
1939 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1939:-Events:* Kawasaki Heavy Industries transfers its aircraft engine production business to its subsidiary, the Kawasaki Aircraft Engineering Company Ltd....
from . When that ship was lost the survivors were drafted to help form 815 Naval Air Squadron
815 Naval Air Squadron
815 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Fleet Air Arm, part of the Royal Navy. The squadron is currently based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, United Kingdom and it is the Navy's front line Lynx Naval Air Squadron. It currently comprises more than 30 Lynx helicopters of various types...
.
811 was reformed in July 1941 at Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus). Initially equipped with the Vought-Sikorsky Chesapeake and intended for duty with an escort carrier on the Atlantic convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
s. After three months it was decided that the Chesapeake was not up to the job and the squadron re-equipped with the Swordfish.
After a long period re-training, initially at RNAS Arbroath, then at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) the squadron moved during August 1942
1942 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1942:- Events :* The United States Coast Guard begins to use the national insignia for U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps aircraft on its own aircraft for the first time. The practice has continued ever since.-January:* The U.S...
to RAF Bircham Newton
RAF Bircham Newton
RAF Bircham Newton was a Royal Air Force airfield in the west of the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom, eight miles west of Fakenham.-History:...
for mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
-laying and other anti-shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
operations off the coast of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and North-East France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
In December of that year there was another move, this time to RNAS Hatston
RNAS Hatston
RNAS Hatston, also called HMS Sparrowhawk, was a Royal Naval Air Station.It was situated one mile to the north west of Kirkwall on the island of Mainland, Orkney...
, Orkney.
It eventually got afloat in in March 1943.