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842 Naval Air Squadron

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842 Naval Air Squadron
Squadron badge
Active1 March 1943 - 15 January 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeTorpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron
RoleMaritime attack
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Home stationSee Naval air stations section for full list.
Motto(s)'Tantivy'
EngagementsWorld War II
Battle honours
  • Atlantic 1943-44
  • Norway 1944
  • Arctic 1944
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Lieutenant Commander(A) Charles Bentall Lamb, DSO, DSC,RN[1]
Insignia
Squadron Badge DescritionBlue, over a base barry wavy of six white and blue a winged anchor erect white suspended there from by a riband gold a bugle horn also white (1944)
Identification Markings
  • single letters (Swordfish)
  • FA+ (Swordfish aboard HMS Fencer)
  • single letters (Seafire and Wildcat)
Aircraft flown
BomberFairey Swordfish
Fighter

842 Naval Air Squadron (842 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN).[2] The unit was established at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in March 1943 as a Torpedo, Bomber, and Reconnaissance (TBR) squadron, initially equipped with Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers. It subsequently relocated to Scotland for further training, during which it acquired a fighter flight of Supermarine Seafires. In August, the squadron embarked on HMS Fencer, providing anti-submarine support during the occupation of the Azores from October to November 1943. The squadron's fighter capabilities were enhanced in November by the addition of four Grumman Wildcats from 'A' Flight of 1832 Naval Air Squadron, one of which successfully shot down a German aircraft while escorting a convoy to Gibraltar in December. In February, a Fairey Swordfish sank U-666. The number of Fairey Swordfish increased aboard HMS Fencer to escort an Arctic convoy, where they engaged eleven German U-boats, sinking three: U-277 on 1 May, followed by U-674 and U-959 the next day.

In July 1944, the squadron was divided, with some Fairey Swordfish being assigned to HMS Indefatigable and HMS Furious, where they participated in attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz, while the remaining aircraft stayed with HMS Fencer for a convoy mission to Gibraltar. The Grumman Wildcats were transferred to HMS Campania in October 1944, while the Fairey Swordfish were consolidated under RAF Coastal Command in September 1944 for operations in Scotland. The Grumman Wildcats were reassigned to 813 Naval Air Squadron in November 1944, and the Fairey Swordfish were moved to RAF Thorney Island, where the squadron was disbanded in January 1945.

History

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Torpedo, bomber, reconnaissance squadron (1943-1945)

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842 Naval Air Squadron was initially scheduled to be established at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, on 1 September 1942; however, it ultimately became operational there on 1 March 1943. The squadron was designated as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance (TBR) unit and was equipped with six Fairey Swordfish II, a biplane torpedo bomber.[3]

Fairey Swordfish; an example of the type used by 842 NAS

In April, the squadron relocated to Scotland for work-up. On 1 April, they arrived at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) in Argyll and Bute, and in May, they moved to RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) on Mainland, Orkney. During this period, they also received an additional three Fairey Swordfish biplanes and a flight of six Supermarine Seafire L Mk.IIc fighter aircraft from 895 Naval Air Squadron.[4] The L Mk.IIc Seafire aircraft were quickly reassigned to 897 Naval Air Squadron and they were substituted by six Supermarine Seafire Mk.Ib fighter aircraft.[3]

In August, the squadron boarded the Attacker-class escort carrier, HMS Fencer and offered anti-submarine protection during the occupation of the Azores from October to November 1943.[4] Starting on 19 November, 'A' Flight of 1832 Naval Air Squadron was assigned to the unit, with its Grumman Wildcat Mk V fighter aircraft functioning as 'Q' Flight. For a period, the squadron operated three distinct types of aircraft.[3]

On 1 December one of the Grumman Wildcat aircraft successfully downed an enemy aircraft while the ship was providing escort for a convoy to Gibraltar.[4] Subsequently, on 10 February 1944, a squadron aircraft managed to sink German submarine U-666 in the Atlantic, west of Ireland. In March, the Supermarine Seafires were substituted with an additional four Grumman Wildcat fighter aircraft from 'E' Flight of 1832 Naval Air Squadron, and in April, the number of Fairey Swordfish was augmented to twelve.[3]

Continual sweeping of the snow-covered flight deck on board HMS Fencer during convoys to Russia. Two Fairey Swordfish aircraft of 842 NAS at the far end of the flight deck.

HMS Fencer served as an escort for an Arctic convoy, during which it engaged eleven German U-boats, successfully sinking three: U-277 on 1 May, followed by U-674 and U-959 the following day.[4] In July 1944, the squadron was reorganised, with six Fairey Swordfish aircraft assigned to Implacable-class aircraft carrier, HMS Indefatigable and three to the modified Courageous-class battlecruiser to aircraft carrier, HMS Furious. These aircraft launched attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz, while the remaining Fairey Swordfish and Grumman Wildcat aircraft stayed with HMS Fencer to escort a convoy to Gibraltar. The Grumman Wildcat fighters, reduced to four, remained with the carrier until their transfer to the Nairana-class escort carrier, HMS Campania in October 1944. Meanwhile, the Fairey Swordfish were consolidated under RAF Coastal Command in September 1944 for operations in Scotland.[3]

The remaining Grumman Wildcat aircraft were assigned to 813 Naval Air Squadron upon their arrival in November, just prior to the Fairey Swordfish relocating south to carry on operations from RAF Thorney Island, Sussex, where it was disbanded on 15 January 1945.[4]

Aircraft operated

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The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[3]

Battle honours

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The Battle Honours awarded to 842 Naval Air Squadron are:

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842 Naval Air Squadron operated mostly from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force stations in the UK and both a Royal Navy fleet carrier and an escort carrier:[3]

HMS Fencer

'Q' Flight (Wildcat)

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  • Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) (19 - 20 November 1943)
  • HMS Fencer (20 November 1943 - 22 March 1944)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) (22 - 27 March 1944)
  • HMS Fencer (27 March - 11 April 1944)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) (11 - 18 April 1944)
  • HMS Fencer (18 April - 7 May 1944)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) (7 May - 10 June 1944)
  • HMS Fencer (10 - 26 June 1944)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Grimsetter (HMS Robin) (26 June - 5 July 1944)
  • HMS Fencer (5 July - 10 August 1944)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) (10 August44
    • HMS Furious (Detachment two aircraft 14 - 28 August 1944)
    • HMS Fencer (Detachment four aircraft 27 September - 19 October 1944)
    • HMS Campania (Detachment four aircraft 27 September - 19 October 1944)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) 19.10.44
  • disbanded - (28 October 1944)

Commanding officers

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List of commanding officers of 842 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[4]

  • Lieutenant Commander(A) C.B. Lamb, DSO, DSC,RN, from 1 March 1943
  • Lieutenant Commander(A) L.R. Tivy, RN, from 21 April 1943
  • Lieutenant Commander(A) G.F.S. Hodson, RNR, from 27 March 1944
  • Lieutenant Commander(A) L.A. Edwards, RN from 2 August 1944
  • disbanded - 15 January 1945

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ "Charles Lamb". .worldnavalships.com. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  2. ^ "842 Squadron". Fleet Air Arm Archive. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 208.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Wragg 2019, p. 172.
  5. ^ "Atlantic 1939-45". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Norway 1940-45". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Arctic 1941-45". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2025.

Bibliography

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