813 Naval Air Squadron


813 Naval Air Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy during World War II and again post-war. It most recently operated the Westland Wyvern between November 1956 and April 1958.
It initially operated Fairey Swordfish from the aircraft carrier and took part in the Battle of Taranto in November 1940. In July 1943, the squadron was a component of RAF Gibraltar but a detachment of its Swordfish was based at Tafaraoui, Algeria and assigned to the Northwest African Coastal Air Force for Operation Husky.
From April 1944 the squadron, including a detachment of Grumman Wildcat and three Fairey Fulmar night fighters, were deployed on the escort carrier operating in the Arctic Ocean on convoy duty. On 13 December 1944 two 813 NAS Swordfish were responsible for the sinking of by depth charges.
After the war, the squadron was torpedo fighter unit, initially equipped with Blackburn Firebrand aircraft.

History

Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance squadron (1937–1943)

813 Naval Air Squadron was initially formed at RAF Gosport in Hampshire on 18 January 1937, as a Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance squadron, it was equipped with a fleet of nine Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers. The squadron was embarked in in Singapore, utilising RAF Seletar as a land-based support facility at the start of the Second World War. The aircraft carrier and its naval air squadrons conducted operations to locate enemy vessels in the Indian Ocean.
The Admiralty formally assumed control of the squadron on 24 May 1939 while it was embarked in HMS Eagle. Following a refit, HMS Eagle departed for the Mediterranean, where in June, four Sea Gladiators, a biplane fighter aircraft, were incorporated into the squadron's strength. These aircraft swiftly achieved success by shooting down two Regia Aeronautica bombers, more aircraft being shot down in subsequent months. The Swordfish were responsible for the sinking of merchant vessels and a destroyer during a raid on Tobruk, as well as another destroyer in a subsequent operation in Sicily. Four of its aircraft participated alongside in the Battle of Taranto during the night of 11/12 November 1940.
In March 1941, the Sea Gladiators were withdrawn, with 813 Naval Air Squadron accompanying 824 Naval Air Squadron to Port Sudan to support local military operations. During this assignment, the squadron engaged five Regia Marina destroyers located north of Massawa, resulting in the sinking of two vessels, the beaching of two others and the subsequent scuttling of the remaining ship. After completing its mission, 813 Naval Air Squadron re-joined the carrier and proceeded to sail via Cape Town, spending some time in the Atlantic. On 6 June, it located and sank the U-boat supply ship Elbe, subsequently compelling the German tanker Lothringen to surrender.
Upon its return home in late October 1941, the squadron established a temporary base at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, Scotland. After a brief period, the squadron moved to RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), on the south coast of England. Here the squadron was equipped with nine new Fairey Swordfish aircraft. Initially, the squadron was also provided with two Sea Hurricanes, a naval variant of the Hurricane fighter.
In January 1942, 813 Naval Air Squadron re-boarded HMS Eagle and arrived in Gibraltar by late February, where it engaged in patrols and participated in various operations to transport aircraft to Malta alongside HMS Eagle and. The squadron was temporarily reduced to six aircraft and were fortuitously stationed on land in Gibraltar when HMS Eagle was sunk on 11 August, although four Sea Hurricanes that were on board were lost.
The squadron's capacity was increased twofold in a span of ten days, enabling it to provide assistance for the Operation Torch the landings in North African, including a flight assigned to Algeria. It maintained operations from both Gibraltar and Algeria until it was transported to Britain, where it was disbanded on 18 October 1943.

Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron (1943–1945)

In November 1943, 813 Naval Air Squadron was reformed at RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), Fife, Scotland, incorporating nine new Fairey Swordfish II aircraft. In March 1944, three Fulmar night fighters were assigned to the squadron from 784 Naval Air Squadron. These aircraft, along with the Swordfish, were deployed aboard in April to escort convoys in the Atlantic and North Russian regions.
The squadron also operated four Wildcats, an American carrier-borne fighter aircraft, from 1832 Naval Air Squadron off Campania. Engaging in operations within the North Atlantic and supporting Arctic convoys, the Swordfish aircraft sank the on September 30 and on 13 December while the Wildcat fighters were credited with the destruction of four Luftwaffe aircraft. In January 1945, a portion of the squadron returned to duty for anti-submarine missions along the Norwegian coast. By March 1945, the equipping with Swordfish Mk III was completed, coinciding with the withdrawal of the Fulmars and the introduction of eight new Wildcat Mk Vs into service. The squadron conducted its final Arctic convoy operation aboard in April 1945 and disbanded on 15 May 1945.

Firebrand (1945–1953)

813 Naval Air Squadron was re-established at RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine) in Sussex on 1 September 1945, functioning as a Torpedo Strike Squadron with Blackburn Firebrand T.F. IV strike fighters as its primary aircraft. This version of the aircraft encountered significant problems; it was the inaugural model designed to serve as a fighter, dive-bomber and torpedo strike aircraft but suffered from numerous complications, preventing the squadron from achieving operational status. the squadron was disbanded at RNAS Ford on 30 September 1946, just over a year after its formation.
The Blackburn Firebrand T.F. 5 strike fighter entered service with the Fleet Air Am in May 1947, when 813 Naval Air Squadron reformed at RNAS Ford and experienced greater success. It encountered several problems, limiting the squadron's ability to conduct extended operations aboard HMS Illustrious and over the next 18 months. Ultimately, the aircraft were integrated into HMS Implacable in January 1949 as part of the 1st Carrier Air Group, engaging in cruises and exercises before being reassigned to two years later. From December 1951, the squadron returned to shore-based operations, focusing on training and participating in exercises. Due to a shortage of spare parts, the serviceability of the aircraft declined significantly, resulting in minimal flying activity.

Wyvern (1953–1958)

In May 1953, the squadron at RNAS Ford began transitioning to the Westland Wyvern S. 4 strike aircraft, which were intended to replace the Blackburn Firebrand. However, initial operational challenges delayed the integration of the new aircraft, preventing their deployment aboard the Centaur-class light fleet carrier until 1954. The squadron returned home in March 1955 and subsequently joined the Audacious-class aircraft carrier in June for missions in the Mediterranean and Norway. Ultimately, the squadron was disbanded upon its arrival at HMNB Devonport on 21 November.
The Westland Wyvern S. 4 were used when the squadron was reformed at RNAS Ford on 26 November 1956. In February 1957, an independent 'X' Flight was created, consisting of three aircraft, which subsequently transferred to 831 Naval Air Squadron in April. 813 Naval Air Squadron was deployed aboard HMS Eagle in August, participating in exercises in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean during early 1958, after which the squadron was disbanded at RNAS Ford in April.

Aircraft flown

Types of aircraft flown by 813 Naval Air Squadron include:

Battle honours

The following Battle Honours have been awarded to 813 Naval Air Squadron.

Assignments

813 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:

Naval air stations and aircraft carriers

813 Naval Air Squadron was active at various naval air stations of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force stations, both within the United Kingdom and internationally. Additionally, it operated from several Royal Navy fleet carriers, as well as other airbases located abroad.

RAF Stations

List of Royal Air Force stations and other airbases that 813 Naval Air Squadron used while administrative management of the Fleet Air Arm was with the RAF, from formation to 24 May 1939:

Aircraft carrier deployments

813 Naval Air Squadron was embarked in on numerous occasions while administrative management of the Fleet Air Arm was with the RAF. List of dates:
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS Eagle
  • HMS ''Eagle''

Royal Navy and World War Two

List of airbases and aircraft carriers that 813 Naval Air Squadron used after administrative management of the Fleet Air Arm was transferred to the Royal Navy, from 24 May 1939 and subsequently during the Second World War:
1939–1943
1943–1945

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 813 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:
1937–1943
  • Lieutenant Commander C.R.V. Pugh, RN,, from 18 January 1937
  • Squadron Leader E.G. Forbes, RAF, from 10 March 1938
  • Lieutenant Commander N. Kennedy,, RN,, from 1 September 1938
  • Lieutenant Commander D.H. Elles, RN, from 9 January 1941
  • Lieutenant Commander A.V. Lyle, RN, from 5 March 1941
  • Lieutenant Commander D.H. Elles, RN, from 28 August 1941
  • Lieutenant Commander A.V. Lyle, RN, from 25 November 1941
  • Lieutenant Commander C.L. Hutchinson, RN, from 25 March 1942;
  • Lieutenant Commander D.A.P. Weatherall, RN, from 8 February 1943
  • Lieutenant J.H. Ree, RN, from 27 June 1943
  • Lieutenant Commander D.A.P. Weatherall, RN, from 1 August 1943
  • disbanded - 18 October 1943
1943–1945
  • Lieutenant Commander J.R. Parrish, DSC, RNVR, from 1 November 1943
  • Lieutenant Commander C.A. Allen, RNVR, 2 September 1944;
  • Lieutenant Commander S.G. Cooke, RNVR, 12 October 1944
  • disbanded - 15 May 1945
1945–1946
  • Lieutenant Commander K. Lee-White,, RN, from 1 September 1945
  • Lieutenant W. Orr, RN, from 27 August 1946
  • disbanded - 30 September 1946
1947–1955
  • Lieutenant Commander A.W.R. Turney, RN, from 1 May 1947
  • Lieutenant Commander C.R.J. Coxon, RN, from 22 October 1947
  • Lieutenant Commander C.K. Roberts, RN, from 1 September 1948
  • Lieutenant Commander J.M. Henry, RN, from 5 April 1949
  • Lieutenant Commander D.R.S. Abbott, RN, from 21 August 1950
  • Lieutenant Commander J.S. Barnes, RN, from 2 October 1950
  • Lieutenant Commander L.W.A. Barrington, RN, from 15 March 1951
  • Lieutenant Commander A.D. Corkhill, DSC, RN, from 12 February 1952
  • Lieutenant Commander S.S. Laurie, RN, from 3 March 1953
  • Lieutenant Commander C.E. Price,, RN, 4 July 1953
  • Lieutenant Commander R.M. Crosley,, RN, 20 December 1954
  • disbanded - 21 November 1955
1956–1958
  • Lieutenant Commander R.W. Halliday, AFC, RN, from 26 November 1956
  • Lieutenant Commander R.W.T. Abraham, RN, from 2 December 1957
  • disbanded – 22 April 1958
Note: Abbreviation signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.