834 Naval Air Squadron

Last updated

834 Naval Air Squadron
The Royal Navy during the Second World War A21600.jpg
Pilots of 834 Squadron and a Supermarine Seafire on the flight deck of HMS Battler
Active1941-1944
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
BranchNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
Role Torpedo bomber
Fighter
Part of Fleet Air Arm
Motto(s)Una feriendo delmus (Latin: By striking together we destroy) [1]
Battle honours Atlantic 1941-43
Salerno 1943 [2]

834 Naval Air Squadron (834 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. The squadron was formed in Jamaica in December 1941 as a torpedo bomber squadron equipped with Fairey Swordfish aircraft. The squadron was embarked on HMS Archer from March 1942 to February 1943 and involved in convoy escorted duties in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. 834 NAS then joined No. 19 Group RAF Coastal Command for duties in the English Channel. In June a flight of Supermarine Seafires was formed and the next month the squadron was embarked on HMS Hunter. The squadron took part in the Salerno landings in September, before being transferred to HMS Battler to provide convoy escort duties in the Indian Ocean. 834 NAS received a further flight of 6 Wildcat Vs in April 1944 and the Seafire flight was disbanded in July. The squadron returned to the UK in November 1944 and was disbanded in December. [3]

834 NAS contained a number of New Zealanders seconded from the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve who served as pilots and, at one point, the squadron commander. [4] In 1994 the designation of 834 Squadron was transferred from the Royal Navy to the Royal New Zealand Navy. [1]

The Fleet Air Arm Museum contains a surviving Fairey Swordfish (HS618) which was operated by 834 NAS from May 1943 until it was damaged in the hangar of HMS Hunter during bad weather. It is currently painted in the colours of 813 Naval Air Squadron. [5]

Aircraft operated by 834 Naval Air Squadron [3]
FromToAircraftVersion
December 1941April 1943 Fairey Swordfish MK.I
September 1942November 1944Fairey SwordfishMk.II
June 1943July 1944 Supermarine Seafire Mk.IIc
April 1944November 1944 Grumman Wildcat Mk.V

Related Research Articles

HMS <i>Battler</i> (D18) 1942 Attacker-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy

HMS Battler (D18) was an American-built escort carrier that served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">811 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

811 Naval Air Squadron was a unit of the British Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was first founded in 1933, and served during World War II, seeing action in the battle of the Atlantic and on Russian convoys, and was eventually disbanded in 1956.

<i>Attacker</i>-class escort carrier 1942 class of escort aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy

The Attacker class were a class of escort aircraft carriers in service with the British Royal Navy during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">816 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

816 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which formed at the start of the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">701 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

701 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN), which last disbanded during September 1958 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent where it was a Helicopter Trials, Communications and Fleet Requirements Unit. It initially formed during July 1936 as a Catapult Flight operating out of Malta and routinely embarking in RN ships such as, HMS Barham, HMS Malaya, HMS Valiant and HMS Warspite. By autumn 1939 it was known as 701 Naval Air Squadron but disbanded in January 1940. It was active twice more during the Second World War, between May 1940 and June 1941 on special duties and then between October 1942 and August 1943 performing anti-submarine patrols. Reforming in April 1945 it was designated a Communications Unit, operating out of Heston until disbanding in 1947. It last reformed as a Fleet Requirements Unit at HMS Daedalus, Lee-on-Solent, during October 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">820 Naval Air Squadron</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

820 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier-based squadron flying the AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 in Anti-Submarine and Airborne Early Warning (AEW) roles from RNAS Culdrose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">899 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

899 Naval Air Squadron was a squadron of the Fleet Air Arm of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">886 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

886 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was formed at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, as a Fleet Fighter squadron during March 1942. The squadron was loaned to RAF Fighter Command during the summer of 1942, returning the Fleet Air Arm later on in the year. 1943 saw it participate in Operation Avalanche, part of the Allied invasion of Italy. The following year it was involved with operations over Normandy, spotting for the allied invasion of France from 6 to the end of June 1944, disbanding the following month.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">887 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

887 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, which last disbanded during March 1946. It was formed as a Fleet Fighter squadron in May 1942 at HMS Daedalus, RNAS, Lee-on-Solent. The squadron embarked in HMS Unicorn during 1943 for convoy escort duties and later in the year to cover the allied landings at Salerno, Italy. At the end of 1943 it formed part of the 24th Naval Fighter Wing. 1944 saw it embark in HMS Indefatigable and the squadron saw action in operations against the german battleship Tirpitz during early 1944 and then joined the British Pacific Fleet at the end of the year. It was part of the attacks on the oil refineries at Palembang at the start of 1945 and later in the year it was involved in sorties around Tokyo, as part of the 7th Carrier Air Group, before V-J Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">710 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

710 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was created as a Seaplane Squadron for the seaplane tender HMS Albatross at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in August 1939. It started with six Supermarine Walrus aircraft, plus three more kept in reserve. The squadron was deployed on the ship based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where it focused on hunting U-boats and commerce raiders. In mid-1940, a shore base was set up, allowing for more frequent operations from land. The squadron and its aircraft participated in the Madagascar Campaign in 1942. It was disbanded at HMS Daedalus on 14 October 1943, but was later reformed at HMS Urley, RNAS Ronaldsway, on 7 October 1944, as a Torpedo Training Squadron, flying Fairey Barracuda and some Fairey Swordfish. The squadron was disbanded again after the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">731 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

731 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was active between 1943 and 1945 and its sole role throughout its formation was a Deck Landing Control Officer training squadron. Through this role the squadron pilots were nicknamed 'Clockwork Mice'. It was based out of the purpose built airbase, commissioned as HMS Peewit, known as Royal Naval Air Station East Haven, in Scotland, as part of the Deck Landing Training School there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">764 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

764 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It initially formed in April 1940, at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as an Advance Seaplane Training Squadron. The Squadron moved to RAF Pembroke Dock in July 1940, and later to HMS Daedalus II, RNAS Lawrenny Ferry in October 1941 and remaining there until the Squadron disbanded in November 1943. It reformed at HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, in February 1944, as the User Trials Unit, however, the squadron was decommissioned for the second time in September 1945. 764 Naval Air Squadron reformed again, at HMS Fulmar, RNAS Lossiemouth, in May 1953, where it became an Advanced Training Unit. It moved to HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, in September 1953, where it received its first jet aircraft. In November 1954 the Squadron disbanded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">766 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

766 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was to have initially formed in 1939 at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as a Seaplane School, however, it formed at HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihannish, as a Night ALT Course, in 1942. It moved to HMS Nightjar, RNAS Inskip, in 1943, to become part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit. By 1944, it was operating over 30 Swordfish aircraft, but, during the year, also acquired Firefly aircraft from 1772 NAS, and Sea Hurricane aircraft from 760 NAS. It moved to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray, early in 1946, but later that year, moved to HMS Fulmar, RNAS Lossiemouth, where it received Seafire aircraft, along with being Part 1 of the Operational Flying School. By late 1951, Sea Fury trainer aircraft were also added to its varied list of types operated. In 1953, the squadron moved to HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose, where it disbanded in 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">768 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

768 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It last disbanded at HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, Northern Ireland, in March 1949, having been formed as a Deck Landing Control Officer Training Squadron, in December 1948, to ensure one American-style signal trained DLCO could be located at every FAA station. It first formed as part of the Deck Landing Training School at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, in January 1941, as a Deck Landing Training Squadron. Advanced training was in HMS Argus, for which a detachment was maintained at HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihanish, where it wholly moved to in March 1943. September saw a move to RAF Heathfield, Ayr, followed by a further move to HMS Sanderling, RNAS Abbotsinch in January 1944. Training used escort carriers on the Firth of Clyde and a detachment was maintained at (Heathfield)Ayr throughout this period, with the squadron returning there in July 1945, at this time HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr. In August the squadron moved to HMS Corncrake, RNAS Ballyhalbert in Northern Ireland but then in October it joined up with the Deck Landing School at HMS Peewit, RNAS East Haven, Scotland, where it disbanded in April 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">775 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

775 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded in March 1946. 775 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMS Grebe, RNAS Dekheila, during November 1940, as a Fleet Requirements Unit in support of the Mediterranean Fleet, based at Alexandria, Egypt. Between October 1941 and March 1942 the squadron also included the RN Fighter Flight. It absorbed 728 Naval Air Squadron in July 1943 and moved to RN Air Section Gibraltar at the start of February 1944. The squadron returned to HMS Grebe, RNAS Dekheila during August 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">777 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

777 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN), which formed as a Fleet Requirements Unit in West Africa during the Second World War. Throughout most of 1943, the squadron was responsible for the air defence of Sierra Leone. It disbanded at HMS Spurwing, RNAS Hastings, Sierra Leone, during December 1944. The squadron reformed in May 1945, from 'B' Flight of 778 Naval Air Squadron, as a Carrier Trials Unit operating aboard HMS Pretoria Castle, and using shore bases at HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, and HMS Peregrine, RNAS Ford in England, and HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr, in Scotland. 777 Naval Air Squadron number was assigned to the aircraft collection at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in April 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">784 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

784 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded in the autumn of 1946. 784 NAS was a Night Fighter Training Squadron which formed at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, in June 1942, moving to HMS Nighthawk, RNAS Drem, East Lothian, in October 1942. Squadron Personnel were also detached to the Naval Air Radio Installation Unit at RAF Christchurch, in 1943 and in the same year, a number of crews were attached to RAF night fighter squadrons, with two officers gained Distinguished Flying Crosses. In 1944, three squadron Flights were attached for service to each of 813, 825 and 835 Naval Air Squadrons, embarked in the escort carriers HMS Campania, HMS Vindex, and HMS Nairana respectively, on convoy protection duties. At the beginning of 1946 the squadron moved to Wales, operating out of HMS Goldcrest II, RNAS Brawdy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">791 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

791 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded at Sembawang in June 1947. It formed as an Air Target Towing Unit, at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, in Scotland, in October 1940. It operated various types of aircraft for target towing duties, used to support air gunnery training and practice. The squadron disbanded in December 1944, at Arbroath. It reformed at RNAS Trincomalee, in British Ceylon,, in November 1945, as a Fleet Requirements Unit. The squadron moved to RNAS Sembawang, in Singapore, in December 1945, ferried via the escort carrier, HMS Smiter. It also operated a Communications Flight and an Air-Sea Rescue Flight, as well as undertaking anti Mosquito spraying duties.

RNAS Twatt (HMS <i>Tern</i>) Former Royal Naval Air Station in Orkney, Scotland

Royal Naval Air Station Twatt, is a former military airfield, located near Twatt, Orkney, Scotland, of the Royal Navy. It was built by the Admiralty and was commissioned on 1 April 1941. On 1 January 1942 it became an independent command as HMS Tern. The airbase was designed to provide accommodation for disembarked Front-Line squadrons and accommodation for disembarked Ship's Flight Aircraft and was home to the Home Fleet Fleet Requirements Unit, 771 Naval Air Squadron.

References

  1. 1 2 Dennerly 1997 , p. 60
  2. Dennerly 1997, p. 66.
  3. 1 2 "834 Squadron". Fleet Air Arm Archive. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  4. Waters, S. D. (1956). The Royal New Zealand Navy. The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939-1945. Wellington: Historical Publications Branch. p. 513.
  5. "Fairey Swordfish II (HS618)". Fleet Air Arm Museum. Retrieved 13 August 2022.