811 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of Britain's Fleet Air Arm.
The squadron was flying the Fairey Swordfish in 1939 from Courageous. When that ship was lost the survivors were drafted to help form 815 Naval Air Squadron.
811 was reformed in July 1941 at Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus). Initially equipped with the Vought-Sikorsky Chesapeake and intended for duty with an escort carrier on the Atlantic convoys. After three months it was decided that the Chesapeake was not up to the job and the squadron re-equipped with the Swordfish.
After a long period re-training, initially at RNAS Arbroath, then at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) the squadron moved during August 1942 to RAF Bircham Newton for mine-laying and other anti-shipping operations off the coast of the Netherlands, Belgium and North-East France.
In December of that year there was another move, this time to RNAS Hatston, Orkney.
It eventually got afloat in Biter in March 1943.
|
Famous quotes containing the words naval, air and/or squadron:
“The world was a huge ball then, the universe a might harmony of ellipses, everything moved mysteriously, incalculable distances through the ether.
We used to feel the awe of the distant stars upon us. All that led to was the eighty-eight naval guns, ersatz, and the night air-raids over cities. A magnificent spectacle.
After the collapse of the socialist dream, I came to America.”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)
“Old among the young, poor among the rich, I adopt an air of indefinable superiority.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“Well gentlemen, this is it. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Tonight your target is Tokyo. And you’re gonna play ‘em the Star Spangled Banner with two-ton bombs. All you’ve got to do is to remember what you’ve learned and follow your squadron leaders. They’ll get you in, and they’ll get you out. Any questions? All right that’s all. Good luck to you. Give ‘em hell.”
—Dudley Nichols (1895–1960)