777 Squadron/FRU responsible for the air defence of Sierra Leone 1943

[phasselgren]

Hi,

I was re-reading the Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939-1945 by David Wragg when the following sentence caught my attention: “Throughout most of 1943 the squadron [777 Squadron, a fleet requirements unit] was responsible for the air defence of Sierra Leone.”

The aircrafts of this unit were not of the types I would expect for an air defence unit in 1943 even if the air threat to Sierra Leone must have been minimal during this period. This squadron had been formed at Hastings, Sierra Leone 01/08/41 with a small number of Blackburn Rocs and Fairey Swordfish. Boulton-Paul Defiants and Supermarine Walruses were added in 1942. The Rocs and Defiants were fighters but both had been phased out from operational fighter units (Roc already in 1940).

I checked in The Turret Fighters – Defiant and Roc by Alec Brew for more information. 777 FRU had three Rocs (L3067, L3090 and L3165) but in this area were all Rocs operated without turrets. The Defiants used by Fleet Air Arm were unarmed target tugs. There is a photo of three Defiant TT.I of 777 FRU in the book. I have also tried Google but found no confirmation that any of these aircraft were armed and used in the air defence role by this unit.

Is there anyone that can add some information about this unit and its air defence role?

Thanks in advance,
Peter

[Stig Jarlevik]

Peter

In 1943 the primary air-defence aircraft was the Fairey Fulmar (April to December) In 1942 - 43 their primary work was coastal patrols, convoy escort and ASW patrols using primarily Swordfish and Walrus aircraft.
They also performed some duties for local Army units, and perhaps it was there that the Rocs and Defiants came into the picture and used for AA-fire practice?

By 1944 the Axis were heavily pushed back and with Africa in Allied hands and Italy (and in June also France) invaded the need for a FRU gradually diminished and the unit was thus disbanded on X-mas day the same year.

Cheers
Stig

[Leendert]

Just FYI https://www.flickr.com/photos/39411748@N06/7232394832
and
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...War_A22312.jpg
Regards,
Leendert

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Leendert

I know about that photo already, which shows X8806 at Hastings (undated)

Cheers
Stig

[phasselgren]

Stig and Leendert,

Thank you for your replies. Just what I hoping for.

Interesting unit with so many aircraft types and roles at the same time. I wonder if the Fulmar pilots received any comments about the top speed of their aircraft from the Defiant pilots. Not often the target tugs are faster than the fighters.

Regards,
Peter

[Stig Jarlevik]

Well Peter

Sometimes the truth works better than fiction.
Just look at the Swedish S 5A which managed to shoot down a He 111 off the Swedish West Coast in 1940 (OK OK with a little help from AA-fire and loads of luck, but still...). Talk about speed difference.....

Anyway in 1943 no enemy fighters could reach Sierra Leone, so I don't believe the Fulmar boys were too worried.

Cheers
Stig