Second World War Formation 806 Naval Air Squadron was formed at
HMS Kestrel, the Royal Naval Air Station near
Winchester,
Hampshire, on 1 February 1940 with
Lieutenant Commander Charles Evans as the
commanding officer and
Lieutenant Desmond Vincent-Jones as the Senior
Observer and using eight
Blackburn Skuas, a
carrier-based fighter-bomber and four
Blackburn Roc fighter aircraft. However, another source gives the date and location as being 15 February at
Eastleigh, possibly referring to
HMS Raven and states that the squadron did not have sufficient crews to operate its aircraft until the next group from the fighter training school had been trained.
Norwegian operations 806 Squadron then saw its first action when it was moved in the beginning of May to
HMS Sparrowhawk, Royal Naval Air Station Hatston the military airfield located one mile to the north west of
Kirkwall, on the island of
Mainland, Orkney, in order to finish working up and to then carry out bombing attacks on targets around
Bergen in Norway. In these the squadron attacked oil facilities and ships, escorted by
RAF Coastal Command Bristol Blenheims from
No. 254 Squadron RAF. Their first such attack was carried out on 9 May upon a ship at Doksjeir jetty in Bergen Harbour that was reported potentially to be a cruiser at the time but later believed to have been a transport. Escorted by six Blenheims the eight Skuas armed each with a 500 lb semi-armour-piercing bomb attacked the harbour in conjunction with their escorts. Enemy action shot down a single Blenheim and also damaged one Blackburn Skua but its crew, Petty Officer Jopling and Naval Airman Jones, managed to bring the damaged plane back and were unharmed. A source states that Lieutenant Campbell-Horsfall was leading the raid and that it resulted in a single direct hit claimed upon a transport and another upon an oil tank within the port and that some escort vessels were strafed by the
Skuas. According to Midshipman Hogg in quotes within the same source, reconnaissance photographs received on 11 May showed that the raid successfully sunk a training cruiser due to three direct hits, one forward, one amidships, one astern. Also Midshipman Hogg recalls that the Skua piloted by Sub Lieutenant Orr also returned with damage. Another source, however, only mentions several hits being claimed upon the transport and also states that the Commanding Officer and Senior Observer led the raid and each received a
Distinguished Service Cross, while Petty Officer Muskett and Petty Officer Clare both received a
Distinguished Service Medal. On May 11, an operation was conducted targeting an oil tank farm complex situated on
Askøy Island. Lieutenant Commander Charles Evans commanded six Blackburn Skuas, each equipped with a single 250 lb semi-armour-piercing bomb and four 20 lb cooper bombs. It is likely that only six Blackburn Skuas participated due to the unserviceability of the remaining two, which had sustained damage during the attack on 9 May 9. Additionally, three Bristol Blenheims, also armed with incendiary bombs, provided escort for the Blackburn Skuas. The attack by the squadrons faced virtually no opposition, resulting in no casualties for either squadron, and several hits on the oil tanks were reported, which were subsequently confirmed to be on fire through reconnaissance photographs. On 12 May, an assault targeted shipping near Bergen, focusing on an enemy transport vessel believed to be carrying anti-aircraft artillery for the port. Lieutenant Commander Evans led six Skuas, supported by three Blenheims, to attack the ship as it entered the fjords, accompanied by two destroyers. They executed a dive bombing in two waves, but all six 500 lb bombs missed, and no casualties were reported.
Dunkirk evacuations After the attacks over Norway the squadron returned to
HMS Kestrel It got worse as the remaining two, which were both
Blackburn Skuas, were then attacked by friendly fighters near
Goodwin Sands. This resulted in the Skua which was crewed by Lieutenant Campbell-Horsfall and Petty Officer Clare being shot down and picked up by a nearby destroyer while the other piloted by Midshipman Hogg had managed to limp to
RAF Manston damaged and Naval Airman Burton, the Telegraphist Air Gunner, killed. Lieutenant Campbell-Horsfall and Petty Officer Clare both received bullet wounds. Another section that was sent to patrol in the afternoon on 29 May with Lieutenant Barnes and Lieutenant Vincent-Jones leading in a Blackburn Skua. Another Blackburn Skua piloted by Sub Lieutenant Ayres and a single Blackburn Roc crewed by Midshipman Day and Naval Airman Newton were the other two machines in the section's patrol. They surprised five
Junkers Ju 88's that were attacking a convoy near
Ostend. Both Skuas attacked above while the Roc flew directly under the enemy and with the turret firing upwards managed to destroy one Ju 88 resulting in the Blackburn Roc's sole air-to-air kill in the war. Both Skuas also managed to damage another Ju 88 which was then seen limping away with serious damage and losing height. All three aircraft landed back at
RAF Detling safely. Another patrol on 30 May in poor conditions attacked a
Heinkel He 111 that was preparing to attack a transport. The enemy machine jettisoned its bombs due to the Skuas attack but was then lost in the poor visibility. later disembarking to the RN Air Section at
RAF Port Reitz,
Mombasa. of 806 Squadron landing on The squadron was split into two flights: 'A', was equipped with
Grumman Martlets for deployment aboard another
Illustrious-class aircraft carrier , which returned to the Mediterranean to participate in
Operation Pedestal, a convoy to Malta and 'B', which employed Fairey Fulmars for operations from HMS
Illustrious, in May 1942. The first flight was disbanded following the damage sustained by HMS
Indomitable during Operation Pedestal on 12 August 1942, resulting in 806B being designated as 806 Squadron, with HMS
Illustrious and continuing their patrols in the
Indian Ocean, as well as engaging in further operations in Madagascar during September. Ultimately, after disembarking in East Africa, the Flight was integrated into
803 Squadron while stationed in East Africa at RNAS Tanga (HMS
Kilele), (formerly Tanganyika, now Tanzania) on 18 January 1943.
Seafire (1945-1947) F Mk.XV prototype 806 Naval Air Squadron was reformed at
RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail),
Argyll and Bute, in August 1945, initially equipped with twelve
Supermarine Seafire L Mk.IIIs, which were subsequently replaced by F Mk.XVs. The Seafire F Mk.XV, recognised as the first variant equipped with the
Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, conducted its initial flight in February 1944. Besides the integration of the Griffon VI engine, the Mk.XV was differentiated from earlier models by its increased fuel capacity, which included
tanks situated within the wings. Additionally, the sting-type
arrester hook was standardised. It began its operational service with FAA squadrons in August 1945. However, these aircraft were left behind when the unit sailed to the
Far East in April 1946. The intention was for the squadron to join the
21st Carrier Air Group aboard a
light fleet carrier, but this plan did not come to fruition. Instead, it became part of the
16th Carrier Air Group, operating with twelve Seafire F Mk.XVs and embarking in in September. Following a tour in Australia, the ship returned to the UK, and the squadron was disbanded upon arrival in October 1947.
Aerobatic team (1948) , 806 Squadron, in flight over the Exhibition Stadium, Toronto In May 1948, 806 Squadron was re-established as the sole Royal Navy Aerobatic Team for a tour in North America. The squadron was equipped with two
de Havilland Sea Hornets, which were borrowed from
801 Squadron, along with two
Hawker Sea Furies and a
de Havilland Sea Vampire. After embarking in the
light aircraft carrier , the squadron disembarked to ,
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where they performed displays in
Halifax, Nova Scotia and participated in the International Air Exposition at
Idlewild Airport in New York (now known as John F. Kennedy Airport). The squadron then continued to
Toronto,
Ontario and
Ottawa, Ontario before being transported back home to disband in September.
Sea Hawk (1953-1960) 806 Naval Air Squadron reformed at
RNAS Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest),
Pembrokeshire, on 2 March 1953. It was equipped with
Hawker Sea Hawk F.1, being the first Fleet Air Arm front-line squadron in the Fleet Air Arm to use the type. It embarked, to take part in angle-deck trials, later in 1953, on the United States Navy's aircraft carrier . The Hawker Sea Hawk was first introduced to the FAA squadron in 1953, replacing the Supermarine Attacker jet and the Hawker Sea Fury piston-engine fighters. The inaugural production model of the Seahawk F.1 took to the skies on 14 November 1951, while the last production variant, the FGA.6, was handed over in early 1956. In February 1954, the squadron embarked in the for a Mediterranean cruise. Upon its return, the squadron re-equipped in July with twelve Sea Hawk FB.3s, a
fighter-bomber variant that featured reinforced wings for carrying external loads. Subsequently, it joined the
lead ship of her
class, , to return to the Mediterranean. During this deployment, the squadron was awarded the
Boyd Trophy for 1955, recognising its pioneering use of the Sea Hawk at sea and its contributions to tactical research in the night strike role. In March 1955, FGA.4s were introduced, designed for
close-support operations; however, the squadron was disbanded in November upon disembarking. FGA.6 806 Naval Air Squadron was re-established at
RNAS Lossiemouth (HMS Fulmar), located in
Moray, in January 1957, equipped with ten Sea Hawk FB.5s, which were a retrofitted version of the FB.3. The squadron embarked on HMS
Eagle in August. In April 1958, these aircraft were replaced with FGA.6s, and the carrier departed for a Mediterranean cruise. By February 1960, the squadron had transitioned to the
Centaur-class light aircraft carrier , which subsequently set sail for the
Far East. The squadron was also the last front-line Fleet Air Arm squadron to use the Sea Hawk, disbanding upon its return to the UK at RNAS Brawdy with the FGA.6 variant, on the 15 December 1960. == Aircraft flown ==