882 Naval Air Squadron

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882 Naval Air Squadron
Active1941-1942
1942-1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
Part ofFleet Air Arm

882 Naval Air Squadron (882 NAS) was a

Second World War. It took part in the British invasion of Madagascar and Operation Torch, the Anglo-American invasion of North Africa in 1942, and in the invasion of Southern France
in August 1945, also taking part in operations in the Aegean and off Norway. It was disbanded after the end of the war, in October 1945.

Service

881 Naval Air Squadron was first formed on 15 July 1941 at

Hawker Sea Hurricanes, although it settled on the Martlet before it embarked on its first carrier, Illustrious, in March 1942.[2] While a detachment of two aircraft joined the escort carrier Archer in April that year, the rest of the squadron remained with Illustrious as the fleet carrier took part in the invasion of Madagascar in May 1942.[3] The squadron's Martlets, together with those of 881 Squadron, carried out fighter patrols and ground attack missions during the initial attacks on Diego Suarez from 5 to 7 May.[4] 882 Squadron was merged into 881 Squadron on 19 May, although the former 882 Squadron operated as a semi-independent unit at first. The detachment aboard Archer continued to operate after the main part of the squadron disbanded, disembarking from Archer at New York in July and disbanding at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn on 30 September.[3]

An 882 Naval Air Squadron Martlet landing on Victorious

The squadron reformed at Donibristle on 7 September 1942, from a core of personnel from "A" Flight of 806 Squadron, embarking on the carrier Victorious in October that year to take part in Operation Torch, the Anglo-American invasion of North Africa.[5][6] On the morning of 8 November, the first day of the landings, four of the squadron's Martlets strafed Blida Airfield, claiming two Vichy French aircraft, a Douglas DB-7 bomber and a Potez 540 transport destroyed on the ground, while later that morning, when a second flight of four 882 Squadron Martlets patrolled over Blida, White flags were seen being waved, and one of the Martlets landed and took the surrender of the airfield, waiting there until a group of Commandos arrived to take possession of the airfield.[7][8] On 9 November, two of the squadron's Martlets shot down a German Heinkel He 111 bomber, while a German Junkers Ju 88 bomber was damaged by two more Martlets.[9] 882 Squadron remained aboard Victorious when the carrier was deployed to the Pacific to work with the US Fleet in May–July 1943, supplementing its Martlets with a few US Navy Wildcats during the deployment.[3]

The squadron disembarked from Victorious in September 1943, joining the escort carrier Searcher in December that year alongside 898 Squadron, also equipped with Martlets.[10] In March 1944, Searcher joined the British Home Fleet and on 3 April 1944, took part in Operation Tungsten, a carrier strike against the German battleship Tirpitz at Kaafjord in the far north of Norway.[11] 882 Squadron provided close escort to the attacking Fairey Barracuda dive bombers, and strafed Tirpitz to suppress anti-aircraft fire before the Barracudas bombed.[12] Searcher carried out further operations off Norway through the rest of April and into May, and was then used to escort convoys to Gibraltar.[11] On 5 July 1944, 882 Squadron absorbed 898 Squadron, which was disbanded, with the strength of 882 Squadron increasing to 24 Wildcats.[2]

On 15 July 1944, Searcher left for the Mediterranean with 882 Squadron aboard, and from 15 August took part in

RNAS Ballyhalbert and RAF Long Kesh, Northern Ireland while Searcher was refitted at a shipyard on the River Clyde.[2][11] The squadron returned to Searcher in February 1945, and continued to be employed in operations off Norway, taking part in Operation Judgement, a strike by aircraft from Searcher, HMS Trumpeter and Queen attacked a German U-boat base at Kilbotn, Norway on 4 May 1945, the last combat operation by the Home Fleet.[13]

The squadron left for the Far East in June 1945 aboard Searcher, but had only reached

Ceylon when the war against Japan ended on 15 August. The squadron disbanded when Searcher arrived back at Britain on 9 October 1945.[2]

Battle honours

The following Battle Honours have been awarded to 882 Naval Air Squadron.[2]

  • Diego Suarez 1942
  • North Africa 1942
  • Atlantic 1943–44
  • South France 1944
  • Norway 1944–45
  • Arctic 1945

References

  1. ^ The Martlet was the British name for the American Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter. The Fleet Air Arm adopted the name Wildcat in January 1944.[1]
  1. ^ Thetford 1978, pp. 201–202, 205
  2. ^ a b c d e Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 305
  3. ^ a b c Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, pp. 305–306
  4. ^ Shores 1996, pp. 278–283
  5. ^ Apps 1971, p. 103
  6. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, pp. 148, 305
  7. ^ Shores et al. 2016, pp. 55, 66
  8. ^ Apps 1971, pp. 106–107
  9. ^ Shores et al. 2016, pp. 92–93
  10. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, pp. 305, 332
  11. ^ a b c d Hobbs 2013, p. 148
  12. ^ Konstam 2018, pp. 52–54, 56–57
  13. ^ Hobbs 2013, pp. 148–149
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