833 Naval Air Squadron


833 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. The unit was last operational during World War II, primarily utilising the Fairey Swordfish throughout the conflict. In 1943, it also incorporated the Supermarine Seafire into its inventory, followed by the Grumman Wildcat in 1944, which were employed for combat air patrol missions.
A Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance squadron, it was created in December 1941 for HMS Dasher. After the ship exploded, the squadron was reduced in strength and joined HMS Biter in September 1942. It was tasked with supporting the North African landings and was divided in October, with 'A' Flight staying on HMS Biter and 'B' Flight on HMS Avenger, each having three Fairey Swordfish. The squadron regrouped on land at Gibraltar in November and boarded HMS Argus to return to HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton. In February 1943, it relocated to RAF Thorney Island to work with RAF Coastal Command, taking over 825 Naval Air Squadron's planes for operations over the English Channel. It moved to Scotland in April, increasing in strength at HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihanish and added a flight of six Supermarine Seafire fighters in June, at RAF Ballykelly, in Northern Ireland. In July, the squadron embarked in HMS Stalkerto protect a convoy to Gibraltar. Afterward, the Supermarine Seafire aircraft were transferred to 880 Naval Air Squadron, and the Fairey Swordfish became 833Z Sqn. The squadron regrouped at HMS Landrail with nine aircraft in October, aiming to provide MAC-ship flights of three aircraft each, but was disbanded into 836 Naval Air Squadron in January 1944.
Reformed in April 1944, on the escort carrier HMS Activity, with three Fairey Swordfish from 836 Naval Air Squadron and seven Grumman Wildcat from 816 and 819 Naval Air Squadrons. It protected an Arctic convoy and later two North Atlantic convoys, then covered a Gibraltar convoy before disbanding at HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, Northern Ireland, in September 1944.

History

Torpedo, Spotter, Reconnaissance squadron (1941-1944)

833 Naval Air Squadron was formed on 8 December 1941, as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance unit. It was equipped with nine Fairey Swordfish I biplane torpedo bombers and was led by Lieutenant Commander R.J.H. Stephens of the Royal Navy. Established at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) in Hampshire and originally intended for the,, however, on 27 March 1943, the carrier experienced a significant internal explosion, leading to its sinking in the Firth of Clyde.
In May 1942, the squadron was diminished to six aircraft and subsequently boarded the Avenger-class escort carrier in September, departing from RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) located in Argyll and Bute. Tasked with overseeing the North African landings, the squadron was divided in October 1942, with 'A' Flight staying on HMS Biter and 'B' Flight on the lead ship of her class,, each equipped with three Fairey Swordfish II aircraft. After regrouping on land at RN Air Section Gibraltar, located at RAF North Front, Gibraltar,on 11 November 1942, the squadron boarded the carrier on 25 December, to return to their base, RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap), Cheshire.
In February 1943, 833 Naval Air Squadron was assigned to RAF Coastal Command. Relocating to RAF Thorney Island, Sussex, it assumed control of the aircraft from 825 Naval Air Squadron to conduct night patrols, mine laying operations, and shipping assaults in the English Channel. By April, the squadron had moved north to Scotland, expanding its fleet to nine aircraft, and in June, a fighter flight comprising six Supermarine Seafire L Mk.IIc fighter aircraft was incorporated.
In July 1943, the Supermarine Seafire aircraft and six Fairey Swordfish were deployed aboard the,, to provide air cover for a convoy heading to Gibraltar. Subsequently, the Supermarine Seafire fighters were reassigned to 880 Naval Air Squadron, while the Fairey Swordfish were integrated into 833Z Naval Air Squadron.
Upon its return to the United Kingdom, the squadron's strength was reinstated to nine Fairey Swordfish II. In December, it relocated to RNAS Maydown, County Londonderry, for Merchant Aircraft Carrier operations; however, due to a policy shift, this operation was centralised, leading to its disbandment on 7 January 1944, after which it became 'N' Flight of 836 Naval Air Squadron.

Torpedo, Bomber, Reconnaissance squadron (1944)

The squadron reformed on 26 April 1944, aboard the escort carrier, incorporating three Fairey Swordfish II from 836 Naval Air Squadron and seven Grumman Wildcat Mk V fighters from 816 and 819 Naval Air Squadrons.
It was established while the carrier was located at Kola Bay in Northern Russia. Subsequently, the composite squadron conducted anti-submarine patrols and offered fighter protection for the returning convoy, convoy RA 59, air support was extended to the joint convoys OS78 and KMS52, which were en route to Gibraltar and West Africa on the 22 and 23 May. Subsequently, for the joint inward convoy SL158 and MKS 49 travelled from Gibraltar to Liverpool starting on 28 May and for the combined outward Convoy OS78/KMS52 on 2 June and the combined inward Convoy SL159/MKS50 on 3 June. The subsequent deployment involved the escort of the military convoy KMF33 from the United Kingdom to Gibraltar. The convoy departed from the Clyde on 18 July and reached Gibraltar on 28.
The unit returned to the United Kingdom and was officially disbanded at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), located in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on 13 September 1944.

Aircraft operated

The squadron has operated a couple of different aircraft types:

Battle honours

The Battle Honours awarded to 833 Naval Air Squadron are:

Naval air stations

833 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 number of Royal Navy escort carriers:
1941 - 1944
1944

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 833 Naval Air Squadron:
1941 - 1944
1944
  • Lieutenant J.G. Large, RNVR, from 26 April 1944
  • disbanded - 30 September 1944
Note: Abbreviation signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.