832 Naval Air Squadron

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832 Naval Air Squadron
Avenger 832 Squadron RN on carrier.jpg
A Royal Navy Grumman Avenger from 832 NAS, on an aircraft carrier
Active
  • 1941–1945
Disbanded21 February 1945
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchNaval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
Type Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron
Role Carrier-based:
Part of Fleet Air Arm
Engagements World War II
Battle honours
  • Arctic 1942
  • Malta Convoys 1942
  • North Africa 1942
  • East Indies 1944
Insignia
Identification Markings
  • 4A+ (Albacore and Avenger)
  • single letters (Wildcat)
Aircraft flown
Bomber
Fighter Grumman Wildcat

832 Naval Air Squadron (832 NAS), also referred to as 832 Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). [1] It was last active during World War II and it most recently operated with Grumman Avenger between September 1943 and January 1945 and also flew Grumman Wildcat for combat air patrol (CAP) between January and November 1944.

Contents

The squadron was established as a Torpedo, Spotter, Reconnaissance (TSR) unit at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in April 1941. It embarked on the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious in August, utilising HMS Sparrowhawk, RNAS Hatston, as a base for operations in Norway. The carrier operated near Iceland in November 1941 and February 1942 and subsequently, it escorted Arctic convoys from March to July, with the exception of an unsuccessful attack on the German battleship Tirpitz. The squadron disembarked to HMS Jackdaw, RNAS Crail, in August, after providing escort for the fast Malta convoy, Operation Pedestal. Operations continued until the squadron re-embarked in October 1942 for the North African landings, Operation Torch, while leaving a flight behind for mine-laying and anti-shipping missions at RAF Manston.

In January 1943, while visiting the USA aboard HMS Victorious, the squadron re-equipped with ex-United States Navy Avenger TBF-1 aircraft and transited the Panama Canal to the Pacific. Operations were conducted from HMS Victorious in the Coral Sea in May 1943, before briefly transferring to the USS Saratoga in June to support landings in the Solomons. The squadron re-embarked in HMS Victorious in July 1943 and returned home.

In February 1944, it journeyed to Ceylon, disembarking at the airfield HMS Ukussa, RNAS Katukurunda, in April and embarked in the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in May for a bombing raid on Surabaya. Maintaining HMS Ukussa as a shore base, the squadron then embarked in the escort carrier HMS Begum, in May, for six months, providing cover for Allied shipping, before returning home and disbanding early 1945.

Notably, the officers of the squadron are acknowledged for creating the naval adaptation of British battledress at their own expense, tackling the difficulties presented by conventional uniforms in the demanding environment of open cockpit aviation.

History

Torpedo, spotter, reconnaissance squadron (1941–1945)

832 Naval Air Squadron was formed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, on 1 April 1941, as a Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance squadron, initially equipped with twelve Fairey Albacore biplane torpedo bomber aircraft, under the command of Lieutenant Commander A.J.P. Plugge, RN. [2]

In August, the squadron embarked in the Illustrious-class aircraft carrier, HMS Victorious and utilised the airbase RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, as a shore base for operations off Norway. [3] On 12 September, they conducted attacks on shipping near the Lofoten Islands, followed by similar operations in the Bodø area the next month. The ship then traveled to Iceland in November, returning to the region in February 1942, during which the Commanding Officer was lost while searching for enemy naval units in adverse weather off Norway. [4]

Fairey Albacores loaded with torpedoes to strike at the Tirpitz, on the flight deck of HMS Victorious Albacores on HMS Victorious 1944 IWM A 7901.jpg
Fairey Albacores loaded with torpedoes to strike at the Tirpitz, on the flight deck of HMS Victorious

The officers of the squadron are recognised for developing the naval adaptation of British battledress at their own cost, addressing the challenges posed by the wear and tear of traditional uniforms in the demanding environment of open cockpit flying. [3] After escorting a North Russian convoy in March, the squadron took part in an unsuccessful assault on the German battleship Tirpitz before resuming its duties with North Russian convoys. This mission concluded in July when the ship was assigned to escort a fast Malta convoy as part of Operation Pedestal. [4]

Operations were carried out from RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw), Fife and RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, until October 1942, when 832 Naval Air Squadron re-embarked for the North African landings, known as Operation Torch. During this transition, a contingent was left behind at the Royal Air Force (RAF) station at Manston, Kent, to continue mine-laying and anti-shipping missions. [3]

During this time, the squadron conducted attacks on forts in Algiers and engaged in anti-submarine patrols before reuniting with the sub-Flight. In December, the squadron re-embarked for the United States as the aircraft carrier was temporarily transferred to the United States Navy (USN). [4] It had lost the USS Hornet and the USS Enterprise had sustained significant damage during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, resulting in the USN having only one operational fleet carrier, the USS Saratoga, in the Pacific theater. In response to a request for additional carrier support, the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Victorious was loaned to the USN in late December 1942. [5]

Subsequently the squadron was rearmed in January 1943 with the United States Navy's Avenger TBF-1, an American, Wright R-2600 Twin Cyclone engined, torpedo bomber, becoming the first FAA squadron to operate this aircraft type. [6] After navigating through the Panama Canal to the Pacific, the squadron underwent an intensive training program in Hawaii, logging 1,500 flight hours over six weeks. The carrier then joined with the USS Saratoga for an unsuccessful mission to locate a Japanese fleet in the Coral Sea in May, before the squadron transferred to the USS Saratoga the following month to support the United States Marine Corps landings in the Solomon Islands. [4]

In July 1943, the squadron re-embarked in the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, setting course for home via Pearl Harbor and the Panama Canal. Upon arrival in September, it underwent re-equipment with Grumman Avenger Mk I at RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk). In January 1944, the squadron received four Grumman Wildcat Mk V fighter aircraft from 1832 Naval Air Squadron, and by February, it had embarked in the aircraft transport ship HMS Athene and HMS Engadine, a seaplane depot ship, heading to Ceylon. The squadron disembarked at RNAS Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), Ceylon, on 15 April 1944. [7]

Avenger being armed on HMS Illustrious, prior to the raid on Soerabaya Avenger being armed on HMS Illustrious (87) 1944.jpg
Avenger being armed on HMS Illustrious, prior to the raid on Soerabaya

On 17 May, four additional Grumman Wildcat fighters were transferred from 809 Naval Air Squadron to support 832 Naval Air Squadron, which was deployed aboard the lead ship of her class, HMS Illustrious, for a bombing mission targeting Surabaya. [8] The squadron maintained RNAS Katukurunda as its shore base before embarking in the Ruler-class escort carrier, HMS Begum, on 26 May, for a six-month mission to provide protection for Allied shipping. By October 1944, the squadron's operational strength was reduced to nine aircraft. [7] [9] The Wildcat Flight departed in November. The escort carrier and its squadron set sail for the United Kingdom at the beginning of the New Year, and the squadron was disbanded upon their arrival on 21 February 1945. [8]

Aircraft operated

The squadron has operated three different aircraft types: [8]

Battle honours

The Battle Honours awarded to 832 Naval Air Squadron are:

832 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force stations in the UK and overseas, and also a number of Royal Navy escort carriers: [8]

HMS Victorious at Noumea in 1943 HMS Victorious (R38) at Noumea in 1943.jpg
HMS Victorious at Noumea in 1943
USS Saratoga USS Saratoga (CV-3) 1943-44.jpg
USS Saratoga
HMS Illustrious underway in the Indian Ocean, between March and May 1944 HMS Illustrious (R87) underway in the Indian Ocean, between March and May 1944.jpg
HMS Illustrious underway in the Indian Ocean, between March and May 1944
HMS Begum HMSBegumD38.JPG
HMS Begum

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 832 Naval Air Squadron: [8]

Lieutenant J.C.N. Shrubsole, RN (with hat), talking to Lieutenant Commander Plugge, RN, in flying kit, CO of 832 NAS, on board HMS Victorious The Royal Navy during the Second World War A6986.jpg
Lieutenant J.C.N. Shrubsole, RN (with hat), talking to Lieutenant Commander Plugge, RN, in flying kit, CO of 832 NAS, on board HMS Victorious

Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR. [15]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "832 Squadron". Fleet Air Arm Archive. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Wragg 2019, pp. 166–167.
  3. 1 2 3 Wragg 2019, pp. 166.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 196.
  5. ↑ Apps 1971, pp. 113–114.
  6. ↑ Thetford 1991, p. 218.
  7. 1 2 Wragg 2019, pp. 167.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 197.
  9. ↑ "A history of HMS Begum". Royal Navy Research Archive. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  10. ↑ "Arctic 1941-45". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "Malta Convoys 1941-42". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  12. ↑ "North Africa 1942-43". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "East Indies 1940-45". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  14. ↑ "Lieutenant-Commander Arthur James Philson (Peter) PLUGGE, MiD". ags.recollect.co.nz. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  15. ↑ Wragg 2019, p. 257.

Bibliography

  • Apps, Michael (1971). Send Her Victorious. London: William Kimber & Co. ISBN   0-7183-0102-1.
  • Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN   978-0-85130-489-2.
  • Thetford, Owen (1991). British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, an imprint of Conway Maritime Press Ltd. ISBN   0-85177-849-6.
  • Wragg, David (2019). The Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939-1945. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK: The History Press. ISBN   978-0-7509-9303-6.
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