842 Naval Air Squadron


842 Naval Air Squadron, also referred to as 842 Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. The squadron 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 fleet, followed by the Grumman Wildcat. Both of these aircraft were deployed for combat air patrol missions, enhancing the squadron's capabilities during the war.
The unit was established at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in March 1943 as a Torpedo, Bomber, and Reconnaissance 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

Torpedo, bomber, reconnaissance squadron (1943-1945)

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 unit and was equipped with six Fairey Swordfish II, a biplane torpedo bomber.
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. 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.
In August, the squadron boarded the, and offered anti-submarine protection during the occupation of the Azores from October to November 1943. 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.
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. 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.
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. In July 1944, the squadron was reorganised, with six Fairey Swordfish aircraft assigned to, and three to the modified to aircraft carrier,. 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, in October 1944. Meanwhile, the Fairey Swordfish were consolidated under RAF Coastal Command in September 1944 for operations in Scotland.
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.

Aircraft operated

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

Battle honours

The Battle Honours awarded to 842 Naval Air Squadron are:

Naval air stations

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:

'Q' Flight (Wildcat)

  • Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish, Argyll and Bute,
  • HMS Fencer
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston, Mainland, Orkney,
  • HMS Fencer
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston, Mainland, Orkney,
  • HMS Fencer
  • Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish, Mainland, Orkney,
  • HMS Fencer
  • Royal Naval Air Station Grimsetter, Mainland, Orkney,
  • HMS Fencer
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston, Mainland, Orkney,
  • * HMS Fencer
  • *
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston, Mainland, Orkney,
  • disbanded -

Commanding officers

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