No. 815 Naval Air Squadron (FAA): Second World War

Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books

On HMS Illustrious when her first cruise started on 22 August 1940

Aircraft
9 October 1939-August 1941: Fairey Swordfish
August 1941-24 July 1943: Mostly Albacore with some radar-equipped Swordfish
September 1942-July 1943: Fairey Fulmar I/II ???

1 October 1943-Summer 1945: Barracuda

Summer 1945: To convert to Avenger, aircraft never arrived

Location
9 October-November 1939: Worthy Down
23 November 1939-February 1940: ?
February-April 1940: Cardiff
April-June 1940: Bircham Newton (Coastal Command)
June 1940-10 January 1941: HMS Illustrious
10 January 1941: Reforms on Malta, then moves to Dekheila
January-April 1941: Crete
April 1941: Evacuates to Dekheila
?April 1941-August 1941: Cyprus
August 1941-: Dekheila, then Western Desert
24 July 1943: Disbands at Mersa Matruh

1 October 1943-: Lee on Solent
February 1944-: HMS Begum
July 1944-November 1944: HMS Indomitable
November 1944: HMS Activity
November 1944-Spring 1945: Machrihanish
c.April 1945: HMS Campania (deck landing training)
Summer 1945: HMS Smiter (minus aircraft)
After end of war: HMS Fencer

Squadron Codes: Swordfish U3A+ to L4A+ and single letters; Albacore S7A+; Barracuda 4A+ to I7A+

Duty
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Books

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