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On February 21st NABOB sailed to rendezvous with her sister ship HMS EMPRESS, off San Diego. She had sailed from Vancouver on February 17th with 853 Avenger squadron onboard and the two carriers were to proceed through the Panama Canal together, but EMPRESS had stripped a turbine and could not continue without repairs. NABOB was instructed to proceed to Balboa, the Pacific entrance to the Canal, alone arriving there on March 1st. She departed Cristobal on the Atlantic side of the Canal on March 2nd bound for Norfolk, Virginia. Flying continued on passage; two aircraft were damaged on the 7th when Sub-Lt K. R. Stevens RNZNVR in JZ167 was waved off to go around again but caught the barrier while attempting to accelerate away, the aircraft hit JZ162 ('2K’) parked forward writing it off. An unidentified pilot bounced on landing in JZ159 ('2F’) and the port wheel broke.
NABOB arrived at the U.S. Naval Dockyard Norfolk, Virginia on March 8th to be dry docked for a propeller change. Unserviceable aircraft were put ashore on the 12th and replacements embarked by lighter. She sailed from Norfolk on the 18th and secured at a quayside at Staten Island, New York on March 19th. Here the Avengers of 852 were stowed in the hangar and NABOB embarked a ferry cargo of 45 P51 Mustangs for delivery to the RAF. On completion of loading NABOB sailed from New York on March 23rd, joining the fast troop convoy UT.10 bound for Greenock. NABOB detached from the convoy off Ireland and docked at Gladstone Dock, Liverpool on April 5th and unloaded her cargo of Mustangs to RAF Speke, before continuing on to the Clyde; the aircraft of 852 squadron were flown off to RNAS Machrihanish on April 7th; NABOB then proceeded to enter a dockyard for repairs.
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The Avengers of 852 squadron parked along to the deck of HMS NABOB. |
The intensive flying work-up continued until July 8th. The only other flying incidents occurred on June 29th; Sub-Lt F. .M Batten RNZNVR in JZ164 ('2M') came in a little high and ran into the barrier which was unable to prevent it colliding with ('2G’) just forward of the barrier chewing off its tail and starboard wing, but causing only superficial damage to '2M' including a bent prop and damaged wing. Later while spreading wings ready for take-off the starboard wing of JZ272 ('2A') was caught in the arc of the prop of JZ249 (‘2R') tearing a large hole in the wing, and damaged the prop of ‘2R')'.
With the flying element of NABOBs work up completed 852 squadron disembarked to RNAS Abbotsinch on July 8th to re-equip with replacement aircraft, returning to RNAS Machrihanish on the 12th. On the 14th they re-embarked in NABOB to begin preparing for anti-shipping and mine laying operations to be conducted off the coast of Norway.
One of the new aircraft was put out of service during the embarkation; FN908 (''2O') flown by Lt. Cdr R. E. Bradshaw was another victim of the failing arrestor hook, his broke off and the aircraft entered the barrier damaging the prop & engine. Sub-Lt. M. E. R. Keates RNVR recorded the first Wildcat incident on the same date in JV 355, landing heavily on the port wheel causing minor damage. During the preparation for the operation there were two more barrier crashes, both involving Sub-Lt. D. Cash RNVR; on July 21st in FN898 ('2C') he crashed into the barrier due to the arrestor hook giving way on landing causing damage to the prop and undercarriage. The following day flying in FN806 ('2H') a similar incident happened when the arrester hook struck the rounddown and broke, the aircraft crashed into the barrier damaging the engine, prop and undercarriage; this aircraft was put ashore on July 26th and a replacement, FN875 was hoisted aboard on the 28th. A second Wildcat landing incident occurred on July 30th when JV536 ('S') flown by Sub-Lt W. P. Hughes RNZNVR caught No. 2 wire which parted and the aircraft pulled to port causing the tail oleo to collapse and wrinkled the fuselage.
From August 1st 1944 HMS NABOB was loaned to the Home Fleet and she proceeded to the anchorage at Scapa Flow. The squadron strength was increased to 13 Avengers and 6 Wildcats for this operation.
On August 10th NABOB operated with the fleet carrier INDEFATIGABLE and sister CVE TRUMPETER in Operation 'OFFSPRING'. This was an operation laying aerial mines in Haarhamsfjord and Lepsorev. On reaching the operational area on the 11th of August, NABOB launched two Wildcats as combat air patrol (CAP) over the fleet. Beginning at 1300 the 12 Avengers of 852 squadron, carrying a mine apiece, were launched; these formed up with another 12 from 846 squadron from TRUMPETER. Fighter protection was provided by Seafires, Fireflies and Hellcats from INDEFATIGABLE.
All the mines were laid without loss. The strike force arrived back over the ship as one of the escorting de¬stroyers was attacking the enemy ahead of NABOB . The returning planes had to circle the carrier until she could resume the landing-on course. Once the aircraft had touched down, they were checked, refueled and rearmed in preparation for a second strike. Launch time for the second strike was 1815; this time the enemy was prepared but all mines were successfully placed and the force was back over the carriers by 1945. One Avenger from 846 squadron was lost. This was the largest aircraft mine laying operation by elements of the Home Fleet, 47 mines were successfully laid by the Avenger crews. 'OFFSPRING' also saw fighter aircraft attacking ground targets, a WT station on Vigra Island and 6 Bf-110 aircraft on the ground at Gossen airfield were strafed and destroyed, and sunk a 90-ton minesweeper, R-89.: 1 Firefly and 3 Seafires of the fighter escort were lost. The extra Avenger embarked with 852 did not participate, it was armed and ready but did not launch.
The Force withdrew to regroup, NABOB and TRUMPETER proceeded to Rosyth to embark more mines in preparation for the next operation. Avenger FN896 ('2P') flown by Sub-Lt L. S Watson RNZNVR caught a late wire landing on the 12th and entered the barrier
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The aircrew briefing room on board HMS NABOB, squadron pilots and observers gathered for a pre-flight briefing. |
Operation 'GOODWOOD' was a three-stage series of strikes against the German Battle Ship TIRPITZ to take place between the 21st and 28th of August 1944. This operation was to see 247 sorties of Barracudas, Hellcats and Corsairs launched from four carriers, VICTORIOUS, FURIOUS, TRUMPETER and STRIKER. NABOB and 852 were tasked with providing anti-submarine cover for the task force. For this operation NABOB embarked an additional three Avengers from 856 naval air squadron from RNAS Eglington, Northern Ireland on the 18th.
Due to bad weather over the target area the H-hour for Operation Goodwood had been delayed and it was decided that the Avengers would not participate in the first strike. NABOB launched her four Wildcats at 1225 for CAP sorties, one made a successful emergency landing at 1432, the remaining three Wildcats were landed on at 1504. At 1530 KENT, TRUMPETER, NABOB and the 5th escort group were detached to the westward. NABOB was instructed to fuel three destroyer escorts commencing at 1800 and TRUMPETER was to provide patrols and strikes. The flight deck was being cleared of aircraft and the hands were laying out the fueling hose.
At 1715 NABOB was struck by a single acoustic torpedo fired by U-354 which struck her on the starboard side, causing a 32-square foot hole abaft the engine room, below the waterline. She began to take on water at an alarming rate; within minutes NABOB was listing to Starboard and was 15 feet down by the stern. All electrical power had been lost and NABOB was dead in the water. A second torpedo was launched which struck HMS BICKERTON at 1723, she quickly sank.
The Canadian escort HMCS ALGONQUIN took 205 men off the carrier to lighten the ship as the damage control parties worked to shore up the hole and stem the flooding. It was some time before power was restored and the ship was able to make way under her own steam, three knots being the maximum speed she could safely make. The U-Boat was still a threat and it was decided to attempt to launch an Avenger to deter it form getting in too close. At 0230 on the 23rd Lt. Cdr Bradshaw and his crew were successfully accelerated off the sloping deck in FN875 ('2H'), this was followed by a second Avenger piloted by Sub-Lt D. G. Jupp RNVR. The two aircraft successfully thwarted the submarine during their 4-hour patrol. On returning to the carrier the weather reduced visibility on the approach to the sloping and listing deck; Sub-Lt Jupp managed to safely land on first but Lt. Cdr Bradshaw was not so lucky, his aircraft missed the arrestor wires and snagged the barrier bringing it down into the aircraft park on top of JZ249 ('2F') causing major damage, also damaging Avenger FN887 ('2L') & Wildcats ‘D’ &’N’. The aircraft guns fired on impact and its depth charges broke free and rolled down the deck, they were stopped before they could go over the side and sink NABOB. On clearing the wreckage Avengers '2H' & '2F' were jettisoned as beyond repair and the remaining aircraft were secured.
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HMS NABOB dead in the water, listing to starboard and down by the stern after being torpedoed August 22nd 1944, five Avengers are still on the sloping deck and two would later be launched to deter a shadowing U-Boat. |
NABOB arrived at Scapa Flow on August 27th to undergo emergency repairs; The Avengers of 825 were put ashore to RNAS Hatston on this date, the Wildcats followed on September 1st. The squadron would not return to NABOB, she was damaged beyond economical repair and would see no further service; 21 men were killed, including 6 from 852 squadron, and a further 6 injured in the attack.
The squadron was now based out of RNAS Hatston, and a number of personnel were reassigned to other squadrons. On September 11th the 12 Avengers and 4 Wildcats embarked in HMS TRUMPETER together with the aircraft of 846 squadron for further aerial minelaying operations, Operation BEGONIA. The force comprised of the Fleet carrier FURIOUS, on her final operational mission, H. M. Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, Destroyers MYNGS, MARNE, MUSKETEER, VIGILANT, VERULAM, and HMCS ALGONQUIN. Mines were laid south of Vosko Island on the 12th, the forces returned to Scapa on the 13th. On arrival 852 disembarked to RNAS Hatston. Two squadron aircraft were damaged during the operation both by flak; Avenger JZ272 ('2A') flown by the squadron C.O. Lt. Cdr R. E. Bradshaw was damaged by flak causing the undercarriage to collapse on landing back on, and Wildcat JV650 ('2H') flown by Sub-Lt W. J. Kurney RNZNVR had a large hole punched in his starboard alerion during an attack on shipping, he landed on TRUMPETER safely.
A detachment of 4 Avengers was embarked in TRUMPETERon September 23rd and the 4 Wildcats in FENCER on the 27th in preparation for Operation TENABLE, aerial minelaying in in Ramisoysund, Lepsoyrev, and Harhamsfjord. The force comprising H.M cruiser EURYALUS, CVEs FENCER & TRUMPETER, Destroyers CASSANDRA, CAPRICE, MYNGS, CAMBRIAN, ZAMBESI, & SAVAGE left Scapa on the 28th. They reached the operational area, but the operation was eventually abandoned owing to continuing bad weather; the force arrived back at Scapa on October 5th. Both detachments disembarked to RNAS Hatston, the Wildcats on the 7th, the Avengers on the 8th.
Elements of the squadron re-embarked in FENCER on the 10th and TRUMPETER on the 12th for Operation LYCIDAS, a repeat of the abandoned Operation TENABLE mining in Lepsoyrev, Ramsoyund, and Harhamsfiord (presumably 3 Avengers in TRUMPETER and 4 Wildcats in FENCER). The force left Scapa on the 13th and on October 15th the Avengers laid mines off Åramsund and Sado as a result of a navigational error. Mines were also sown in the designated area during the following day.
One day out from Scapa Avenger JZ166 ('2Q') flown by Sub-Lt I. P. Davis RNZNVR suffered starboard wing damaged landing on TRUMPETER, on the 15th Sub-Lt L. Dunbar RNVR made a flapless landing in FN8I4 ('2R') and entered the barrier on TRUMPETER. The last recorded incident was on October 16th when FN887; ('2L'), operating from FENCER dropped its starboard wing on take-off and dove into the sea; the crew Sub-Lt L. S. Watson RNZNVR, Sub-Lt E. Brimelow RNVR & PO W. Aitken were picked up by the destroyer SCORPION.
The force arrived back at Scapa on the 17th and 852 squadron was officially disbanded on arrival at RNAS Hatston.
Content revised: 01 June 2022
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 HonoursNORWAY 1944
Aircraft TypesAvenger II Nov 43 - Oct 44
Wildcat IV Jun 44 - Sep 44
Commanding OfficersLt. Cdr (A) (P) R. E. Bradshaw DSC, RN 01 Nov 1943 Squadron disbanded 17October 1944
Aircrew and Squadron Personnel
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