The
squadron was first formed as a
fighter squadron of the Fleet Air Arm on 15 January 1941 at
RNAS Arbroath in Scotland. It was initially equipped with a mix of aircraft, including
Grumman Martlets,
Gloster Sea Gladiators and
Hawker Sea Hurricane Ias, before settling on the carrier-compatible Sea Hurricane Ib in July that year. On 21 July, a
flight of four Hurricanes from the squadron embarked on the carrier to take part in a
raid on the ports of
Kirkenes in Norway and
Petsamo in Finland. The Hurricanes took part in the attack on Petsamo on 30 July, and on 31 July, one of the flight's Hurricanes shot down a German aircraft shadowing the British force. In October that year, the complete squadron embarked aboard the newly completed carrier , which was allocated to the Far East. In May 1942, the squadron took part in the
invasion of Madagascar, being largely employed in ground attack duties during the capture of
Diego-Suarez at the start of the invasion, and destroying one light aircraft by strafing at
Arrachart airfield, leaving air superiority duties to the Martlets of
881 and
882 Squadrons operating off . In July 1942,
Indomitable, with 880 Squadron aboard, returned to Britain to prepare for
Operation Pedestal, a plan to run a convoy carrying vital fuel, supplies and food to
besieged Malta. The squadron claimed eight German and Italian aircraft shot down and three more damaged during Pedestal, for a loss of three aircraft, while
Indomitable was badly damaged by German bombs on 12 August. Squadrons aboard in 1945.
Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers are ranged at the aft end of the ship's flight deck After
Indomitables return to Britain later that month, 880 Squadron re-equipped with
Supermarine Seafires, joining in October 1942 as
Indomitable was still under repair. In March 1943, the squadron re-embarked on
Indomitable, with the carrier part of the covering force protecting the
Allied invasion of Sicily from any intervention by Italian naval forces in July 1943.
Indomitable was damaged during the Sicily operations, and in August, 880 Squadron joined the
Escort carrier , helping to provide a
Combat Air Patrol over the
landings at Salerno, Italy, in September 1943. In February 1944, the Squadron embarked aboard
Furious for operations off Norway, continuing operations off that carrier until September that year, taking part in
Operation Tungsten, an attack against the German battleship on 3 April 1944. In November the squadron embarked aboard , which took part in operations off Norway in November and December that year. In March 1945, the squadron was on board
Implacable as the carrier left Britain on passage to join the
British Pacific Fleet. In June 1945, 880 Squadron took part in
Operation Inmate, an attack on the isolated Japanese base at
Truk atoll by
Implacable and supporting ships.
Implacables Seafires (from 880 and
801 Squadrons)
dive-bombed oil tanks and
spotted for the cruisers of the task force as they shelled targets on the atoll. In July–August 1945,
Implacables air wing, including 880 Squadron, (with the squadron's Seafires now fitted with
drop tanks to increase range), took part in strikes against the Japanese home islands. The squadron was disbanded at , situated
RAAF Station Schofields, near
Sydney, Australia, on 11 September 1945, when it was merged with
801 Squadron. ==Canada==