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Few of the squadron officers had previous squadron experience, the others were pilots who had just completed their training with the US Navy at Pensacola and Fort Lauderdale, and observers who had recently finished their training at RNAS Piarco, Trinidad. The squadron complement also included 13 Telegraphist-Air-Gunners and a ground staff of 107 Petty Officers and ratings. After familiarisation with the aircraft and equipment the squadron began training in earnest to prepare for active service. The 12-week work-up period embraced all the many aspects of the work of torpedo bomber reconnaissance squadrons and included navigation exercises, low flying, formation flying and combat tactics, torpedo and depth charge attack techniques. There were six flying incidents during their time at Squantum; the first was on October 19th when Sub-Lt J. H. Day RNVR taxying in JZ107 at night was run intro by JZ103; on the 23rd FN945 flown by Sub-Lt G. O. Hunkin RNVR was hit by a seagull in flight which smashed through a Perspex panel in the cockpit; on the 25th The undercarriage of JZ105, flown by Sub-Lt S. Stanbrook, collapsed on landing. The squadron undertook a period of Deck Landing Training (DLT) with the training carrier USS CHARGER from November 9th and two aircraft suffered crashes on landing; Sub-Lt A. Dickson RNVR in FN919 slewed to port on touchdown and ran into the catwalk; on the 12th Sub-Lt D. R. Whitehead in JZ113 suffered an arrester hook failure, it broke off on the arrester wire and the starboard wingtip hit the island and the aircraft crashed. Tragedy struck the squadron on November 18th when JZ169 dived into the sea while on night flying exercises killing the crew, Sub-Lt A. Dickson RNVR, Lt. R. Stainer and leading Airman T. C. R. Williams.
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C. February 1944, aircraft of 850 squadron being ranged on EMPRESS's flight deck. |
On the 21st of February EMPRESS was to rendezvous with NABOB off San Diego; the two ships were to proceed to Norfolk together, but EMPRESS had stripped a turbine and could not continue without repairs, so NABOB was instructed to proceed to Balboa alone. EMPRESS arrived at San Diego on February 23rd to effect repairs, she was back at sea on the 29th bound for Balboa. There were two barrier crashes on this day, Sub-Lt G. Goodchild RNVR in JZ120 made a fast approach, caught No. 7 wire and continued into the barrier, Sub-Lt D. R. Whitehead RNVR in JZ153 also ended in the barrier.
EMPRESS reached Balboa on 8th March and passed through the Panama Canal the following day. On reaching Cristobal on the Atlantic side, she met up with her sister CVE HMS SPEAKER and several other US and Canadian vessels which were destined for Norfolk, Virginia. It was decided that these ships would form a small convoy consisting of three CVEs, the U.S.S. TULAGI, HMS EMPRESS and HMS SPEAKER, two American Destroyer escorts and two Canadian Corvettes, these proceeded to Norfolk on March 18th. While on rout to Norfolk one of 850 squadron's Avengers operated with SPEAKER giving the ship's flight deck parties and air department their first experience of deck landings and take-offs.
EMPRESS and SPEAKER spent the next week at Norfolk dockyard for repairs to defects left outstanding from Vancouver and those that had developed on route to be carried out. On completion they sailed for New York on the 25th in preparation for joining the Liverpool bound convoy CU 19 which departed on March 28th. SPEAKER embarked a ferry load of aircraft at New York while EMPRESS was to operate her squadron for anti-submarine patrols on the crossing. On reaching the Irish coast the two carriers broke away from the convoy; SPEAKER headed for Liverpool while EMPRESS made for the Clyde, arriving at Greenock on April 8th; 850 squadron departed on the 10th bound for RNAS Lee-on-Solent.
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HMS EMPRESS launches one of 850 Avengers C. March 1944. |
The squadron spent two weeks at RNAS Lee-on-Solent before being allocated to operate with RAF Coastal Command and they arrived at RAF Station Perranporth, on the north coast of Cornwall on April 16th. From here the squadron flew anti-shipping and anti-submarine sorties in the English Channel and western approaches.
The squadron’s flying safety record was very good, only two minor landing incidents are recoded in late April, and none in May. FN945 flown by Sub-Lt D. R. Whitehead RNVR burst its port tyre landing on at night and swerved off the runway on April 26th. the next day Sub-Lt G. G. Hunkin RNVR in FN912 ('4L’) taxied his Starboard wing into the prop of a stationary aircraft.
In late May ‘bumble bee’ invasion stripes were painted on all squadron aircraft in preparation for operations in support of the allied landings in Normandy. June however was uneventful with no enemy engagements and only two incidents the ground; on June 16th FN914 ('4K') flown by Sub-Lt D. R. Whitehead RNVR was caught by a gusting wind landing at RNAS St. Merryn causing his port wing to drop and scrape the runway. On the 20th Sub-Lt J. Incley in FN942 hit overhead electric cable at Perranporth. At the start of July Lt. A.T. Bohn also got caught by the gusting cross-winds on the station in JZ216 ('4A') and burst his port tyre before tipping over and damaging a wing tip on the 6th. On July 24th squadron aircraft encountered and sank the German Vorpostenboot l V 209 Dr. Rudolf Wahrendorff and damaged another off St. Peter Port, Guernsey.
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The squadron aircraft wore 'invasion stripes' for operations in the channel from June 1944. |
On July 30th a fighter flight of 4 Wildcat Vs was formed at RNAS Eglinton but appears to have operated independently of the main body of 850 squadron. From Eglinton it embarked in HMS FENCER on September 23rd before transferring to HMS CAMPANIA on October 18th. The flight was put ashore to RNAS Machrihanish on November 16th; they flew south, calling at RNAS Burscough on the 29th and arriving at RNAS Yeovilton on the 30th, The flight was disbanded on December 3rd 1944.
From The squadron mover to RAF Limavady on August 1st but this was only a temporary stay, they RNAS Maydown on August 13th. Anti-submarine patrols were flown from Maydown until November 6th when the squadron was again on the move, this time to RAF Mullaghmore.
The squadron was disbanded at RAF Mullaghmore on December 24th 1944.
Content revised: 09 January 2021
Sources used in compiling this account:Sturtivant, R. & Burrows, M. (1995)'Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945' Tonbridge Wells, Air Britain (Historians)Sturtivant, R & Balance, T., (1994)'Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' Tonbridge Wells, Air Britain (Historians)Warrilow, B. (1989) ''NABOB'' The First Canadian-Manned Aircraft Carrier. Ontario, Esccort Carriers AssociationBritish officers (including Commonwealth officers serving in British units) Part of WWII Unit Histories and Officers web site. |
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Mo badge issued |
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Battle HonoursNORMANDY 1944 ATLANTIC 1944
Aircraft TypesSeamew |Mk.1 Jan 43 Avenger I Sep 43 - Dec 44
Wildcat V Jun 44 - Sep 44
Commanding OfficersLt. J. H. Stenning RN 01 JJan 43
Squadron disbanded 24 December 1944
Aircrew and Squadron Personnel
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