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837 Naval Air Squadron

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837 Naval Air Squadron
Squadron badge
Active1942-1943
1944-1947
Disbanded6 October 1947
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeTorpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron
Role
  • Carrier-based maritime attack
  • Carrier-based reconnaissance
Part ofFleet Air Arm
EngagementsWorld War II
Battle honours
  • Atlantic 1943
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Captain Alexander Stephen Whitworth, DSC, RN[1]
Insignia
Squadron Badge DescriptionRed, in base water barry wavy of four white and blue a Chinese dragon reguardant in the dexter claw three flashes of lightning and in chief a sun in splendour all gold surmounted by a decrescent white (1947)
Identification Markings
  • single letters (Swordfish)
  • single letters (Barracuda)
  • Y1A+ (Barracuda April 1945)
  • 370-381 (Barracuda September 1945)
  • 270-283 (Firefly)
Fin Carrier Code
  • L (Barracuda September 1945)
  • Y:R (Firefly)
Aircraft flown
Bomber
ReconnaissanceFairey Firefly

837 Naval Air Squadron (837 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN).[2] Established in January 1942, at HMS Buzzard, RNAS Palisadoes, Jamaica, the squadron began as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance (TBR) unit. In October, it relocated to Floyd Bennett Field in New York, preparing to board the escort carrier HMS Dasher in July, to escort a North Atlantic convoy that departed in August. Upon arrival, the squadron operated from various shore bases, with its numbers fluctuating. In January 1943, the squadron split into two flights: 837A Flight was assigned to HMS Argus for anti-submarine protection of a convoy to Gibraltar, while 837D Flight reboarded HMS Dasher for a convoy to Iceland. When HMS Dasher exploded in the Firth of Clyde on 27 March, 837D was on land, and the squadron regrouped at HMS Jackdaw II, RNAS Dunino, Fife, two days later. After completing deck landing training on HMS Argus in late April 1943, the squadron was disbanded in June, becoming 'Z' Flight of 886 Naval Air Squadron at HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihanish.

Reformed at HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton, Cheshire, in August 1944, the unit continued as a TBR squadron, officially designated to operate Fairey Barracuda Mk II. However, the first aircraft did not arrive until September at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire. The squadron relocated to HMS Owl, RNAS Fearn, Scotland, in November and by December it had eighteen aircraft. In April 1945, it embarked in the light fleet carrier HMS Glory, using HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr, Scotland, as a shore base and set sail to join the British Pacific Fleet in May 1945. The squadron's strength was reduced by half until a visit to HMS Grebe, RNAS Dekheila, Egypt, in late May 1945 allowed it to increase to twelve aircraft before joining the 16th Carrier Air Group. Although the war concluded before the squadron could engage in combat, it remained with the carrier, utilising various shore bases in the Far East and Australia, and was present for the Japanese surrender at Rabaul.

In October, it changed its aircraft in Australia with Fariey Firefly FR.I. These aircraft were then re-embarked in HMS Glory in January 1946 for operations in the East Indies Fleet and the Far East. In June 1947, the squadron re-embarked from HMS Nabrock, RNAS Singapore, and after a tour in Australia, returned home to disband upon arrival on October 1947.

History

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Torpedo, bomber, reconnaissance squadron (1942-1943)

[edit]

On 15 March 1942, members of 837 Naval Air Squadron gathered at RNAS Eastleigh (HMS Raven)[3] and RNAS Worthy Down (HMS Kestrel),[4] both located in Hampshire. They departed on 3 April aboard the MS Port Phillip, heading for Jamaica.[5]

The squadron was then officially established at Royal Naval Air Station Palisadoes (HMS Buzzard), at Kingston, Jamaica, on 1 May 1942,[6] under the command of Lieutenant Commander A.S. Whitworth, DSC, RN. It was designated as a torpedo, bomber, reconnaissance (TBR) squadron and equipped with four Fairey Swordfish I biplane torpedo bombers.[7]

Two months later, they traveled north to the Royal Navy Air Section at Floyd Bennett Field in New York, where the Admiralty had been granted lodger rights for the Royal Navy Air Section and disembarked squadrons. Subsequently, they boarded the Avenger-class escort carrier, HMS Dasher, on 25 May 1942,[8] assigned to conduct anti-submarine patrols while en route to the United Kingdom.[5]

HMS Dasher experienced engine issues, which delayed its departure until 25 August. It then made its way to Boston, Massachusetts, to join convoy BX 35B on 28. The vessel reached Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 30 August and subsequently joined convoy HX 205 for its journey to Liverpool, England. On 10 September, the escort carrier separated from the convoy near Ireland and proceeded to deploy 837 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Campbeltown (HMS Landrail II) in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.[9][10][11]

Upon arrival, strength was expanded to six aircraft, which included several Fairey Swordfish II biplanes; however, by September, the number had dwindled back to just two aircraft. By the end of the year, the squadron had returned to six aircraft and was reorganised into two flights in January 1943. ‘A’ Flight was assigned to HMS Argus to offer anti-submarine protection for a convoy heading to Gibraltar, while ‘D’ Flight re embarked in HMS Dasher for a convoy mission to Iceland.[7]

On 27 March 1943, HMS Dasher experienced a significant internal explosion, leading to its sinking in the Firth of Clyde.[12][13] ‘D’ Flight was on land at the time and the squadron regrouped in Scotland at RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II), Fife, in late March, then relocated to RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, in April, where they conducted deck-landing training aboard HMS Argus. Following additional training sessions in Northern Ireland at RAF Ballykelly and RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), both County Londonderry, the squadron returned to and disbanded at RNAS Machrihanish, to be designated as 'B' Flight of 886 Naval Air Squadron.[5]

Torpedo, bomber, reconnaissance squadron (1944-1947)

[edit]

Reformed at RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap), Cheshire, on 1 August 1944, the unit continued to function as a Torpedo, Bomber, Reconnaissance (TBR) unit, officially designated with a complement of sixteen Fairey Barracuda Mk II aircraft.[7] These were a three-crew, British torpedo and dive bomber aircraft, powered by a single 1,640 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 32 engine.[14] However, the first of these aircraft was not received until 4 September, when the unit was located at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire.[7]

In November, the squadron relocated north, to RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl), Scottish Highlands.[5] By April 1945, 837 Naval Air Squadron had embarked in the Colossus-class light fleet carrier, HMS Glory, alongside 1831 Naval Air Squadron, with both units becoming components of the 16th Carrier Air Group. This included a month-long stop for the squadron at HMS Grebe , the Royal Naval Air Station at Dekheila, Alexandria, Egypt, before proceeding to Ceylon to serve with the British Pacific Fleet.[15]

The Second World War concluded prior to the squadron's engagement in combat; however, it continued to operate alongside the ship, utilising several shore bases in the Far East and Australia.[7]

HMS Glory reached Sydney, Australia, on 16 August, where it disembarked the 16th Carrier Air Group, comprising the Vought Corsair equipped 1831 and Fairey Barracuda of 837 Naval Air Squadrons, at RNAS Schofields (HMS Nabthorpe) in New South Wales. Subsequently, a couple of weeks later on 1 September, the 16th Carrier Air Group re-embarked aboard the carrier.[16]

It played a role in overseeing the Japanese surrender at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.[7] On 6 September 1945, Japanese General Hitoshi Imamura and Vice Admiral Jinichi Kusaka Lboarded the aircraft carrier HMS Glory, where they formally signed a document of surrender.[17]

In October, the squadron was re-equipped in Australia with twelve Fairey Firefly FR.I, a British carrier-borne fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. Subsequently, in January 1946, these aircraft were re-embarked aboard HMS Glory for deployment with the East Indies Fleet.[18]

In June 1947, the squadron re-embarked from RNAS Sembawang (HMS Simbang), Singapore[19] and following a tour in Australia, returned home, where it was disbanded upon arrival on 6 October.[5]

Aircraft flown

[edit]

The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:[5]

Battle honours

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The Battle Honours awarded to 837 Naval Air Squadron are:

Assignments

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837 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:[21]

[edit]

837 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 Royal Navy fleet carriers and a number of escort carriers and other airbases overseas:[5]

1942 - 1942

1944 - 1947

HMS Glory

Commanding officers

[edit]

List of commanding officers of 837 Naval Air Squadron:[5]

1942 -1943

  • Lieutenant A.S. Whitworth, DSC, RN, from 15 March 1942
  • disbanded - 15 June 1943

1944 - 1947

  • Lieutenant Commander(A) R.B. Martin, RNVR, from 1 August 1944
  • Lieutenant Commander(A) W. Siddall-Simpson, DSC, RNVR, from 14 December 1945
  • Lieutenant Commander G.H. Bates, MBE, RN, from 25 January 1946 (KiFA 7 March 1947[22])
  • Lieutenant Commander R.H. Hain, RN, from 8 March 1947
  • disbanded - 6 October 1947

Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[23]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945". unithistories.com. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  2. ^ "837 Squadron". Fleet Air Arm Archive. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Eastleigh". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Worthy Down". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 205.
  6. ^ "Palisadoes". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Wragg 2019, p. 170.
  8. ^ "Floyd Bennett Field". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  9. ^ "A history of HMS Dasher". Royal Navy Research Archive. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Convoy BX.35B". convoyweb.org. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Convoy HX 205". warsailers.com. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  12. ^ "The sinking of HMS Dasher". scottishhistory.org. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  13. ^ "Families of HMS Dasher dead want honest answers". bbc.co.uk. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  14. ^ Thetford 1991, p. 166.
  15. ^ "A history of 1831 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Naval Air Squadrons 1938 - present day. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  16. ^ "Schofields". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  17. ^ "Surrender ceremony on board HMS Glory". awm.gov.au. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Nowra". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  19. ^ "Sembawang". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  20. ^ "Atlantic 1939-45". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  21. ^ Wragg 2019, p. 203.
  22. ^ "Lieut-Commander Geoffrey Hamilton Bates". cwgc.org. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  23. ^ Wragg 2019, p. 257.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • 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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