808 Naval Air Squadron

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808 Squadron, RAN/
808 Naval Air Squadron (UK)
Unit badge for 808 Squadron while in RAN service
Active1940–1941
1942–1945
1950–1954
1955–1958
2011–
Country Australia
 United Kingdom (former)
Branch Royal Australian Navy
 Royal Navy (former)
TypeShip based helicopter squadron
RoleTactical transport
SizeOne squadron
Part ofFleet Air Arm (RAN)
Motto(s)Strength in Unity
EquipmentMRH-90 Taipan
Battle honoursSpartivento 1940
'Bismarck' 1941
Malta Convoys 1941
Atlantic 1943
Salerno 1943
Normandy 1944
Burma 1945
Korea 1951-2

808 Naval Air Squadron is a

ship-based helicopter squadron of the Royal Australian Navy
.

The squadron was originally part of the British Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm; it was formed in July 1940 as a fleet fighter squadron. It served on a number of the Navy's aircraft carriers during the Second World War, serving in most of the theatres of the war, before decommissioning at the end of the war.

It was re-formed in 1950 as 808 Squadron RAN, a carrier-based attack squadron of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Air Arm, and saw action during the Korean War before disbanding again in 1958.

It was re-formed in 2011 to operate the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter.

History

Royal Navy

808 Squadron was formed at

Wick for the defence of the dockyards. Following this, the squadron was reassigned to RAF Fighter Command and was one of only two Allied naval aviation squadrons to take part in the Battle of Britain, the other being 804 Naval Air Squadron
.

In September 1940, the squadron was assigned to the aircraft carrier

sinking of the Bismarck, the carrier returned to the Mediterranean, with 807 and 808 Squadrons claiming fifteen aerial kills during July and August. 808 Squadron was embarked when Ark Royal was torpedoed and sunk by the U-81
on 13 November 1941. Although all of the squadron personnel survived the sinking, many of the aircraft were lost in the attack: the surviving aircraft were flown from Ark Royal before the carrier sank and on arrival in Gibraltar were merged with the survivors of 807 Squadron, which had also been embarked.

808 Squadron was re-formed with six Fulmar IIs aboard

3rd Naval Fighter Wing, returning to the United Kingdom aboard HMS Hunter
.

The Squadron was re-equipped in May 1944 at

Normandy Landings.[1] On D-Day, "pooling" of the spotting units' aircraft meant that all units flew either Spitfires or Seafires.[2]
This role of "spotters" lasted until 26 June, by which time the fighting was too far inland to be covered by the ship's guns.

Following this, the squadron was re-equipped with 24

Eastern Fleet in January 1945, embarked aboard the escort carrier HMS Khedive. While part of the Eastern Fleet, the squadron operated off Malaya and Sumatra, with periods spent flying off HMS Emperor. They covered the re-occupation of Rangoon in Operation Dracula in May, carried out attacks against Japanese airfields in Sumatra in June and covered the re-occupation of Malaya after the Surrender of Japan
; the squadron was disbanded at the end of the war.

Royal Australian Navy

Sea Fury of 808 Squadron landing on HMAS Sydney during the Korean War

808 Squadron was re-formed on 25 April 1950 at RNAS St Merryn, equipped with Hawker Sea Furies and assigned to operate with the Royal Australian Navy. The squadron was embarked aboard HMAS Sydney as part of the 21st Carrier Air Group.

808 Squadron was one of three RAN squadrons embarked aboard Sydney during her deployment to the Korean War. 808 Squadron's tour of Korea primarily consisted of combat air patrols, ground attack support, armed reconnaissance, and anti-shipping strikes. In 1954, the squadron was decommissioned, but was re-formed a year later, equipped with de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.53s, and assigned to the new Australian carrier, HMAS Melbourne. 808 Squadron remained in service for three years, and was finally decommissioned on 1 December 1958.

808 Squadron re-formed in 2011 to operate the RAN's six MRH90 helicopters.[3] The squadron was formally recommissioned on 11 July 2013.[4] In April 2022, the RAN ceased flying the MRH90 and the fleet was placed into storage.[5][6]

The MRH-90 is out of service

Aircraft

One of 808 Squadron's MRH90s in 2011

Helicopters (2010s)

Korean War (1950s)

World War II (1940s)

References

Citations

  1. ^ Price 1991, pp.108–112.
  2. ^ Naval Aviation News May–June 1994, p.32.
  3. ^ Arney, Steve (2010). "Establishment of 808 Squadron: External Interface Complexities" (PDF). Presentation delivered to SMM Conference 2010. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  4. ^ "Navy commissions 808 Squadron and new helicopter". Department of Defence. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  5. ^ Hurst, Daniel (9 November 2022). "Australia pays to maintain trouble-plagued Taipan helicopters no longer being used by navy". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  6. ISBN 9781925890587
    . Retrieved 22 March 2023.

Bibliography

External links


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