Fleet Air Arm Squadron 830 based at Malta

[Felix C]

Reading Kenneth Poolman's book and the squadron appears to have scored many success at night such that the author could not track them all. Is it known how successful this unit was? I am guessing KP was using the war diary and claims are recounted.
Reading the other book about torpedo bombers in the Med at this time by Patrick Gibbs the daylight Beauforts were roughly handled with few successes for the cost.

[Alex Smart]

Thought that you May like this.

INDEX OF NAVAL AIR SQUADRONS

830
squadron

Operational History and Background
This Hal Far based Swordfish squadron first formed in July 1940 from 767 Deck Landing training squadron on its arrival at Malta, carrying out attacks throughout 1940 and 1941 against targets in Sicily and Libya, attacking on 19 July 1940 a U-boat and in August a dive bombing attack on oil storage tanks in Sicily.
In March 1942 the squadron only had 3 serviceable aircraft, merging with 828 squadron to form the Naval Air Squadron, Malta, to provide illumination flares to targeted attacks. But the aircraft numbers declined and in March 1943 the squadron ceased to exist.
In total 828 and 830 squadrons had accounted for sinking 30 enemy ships and damaged another 50 ships.

In May 1943 the squadron reformed at Lee-on-Solent as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance squadron with 12 Barracuda IIs and squadron aircrew largely drawn from New Zealand, working up at Hatston and Machrihanish.

The squadron joined No 8 Naval TBR Wing along with 827 squadron in October 1943, operating from Hatston and HMS Furious.

In March 1944 the squadron embarked on HMS Furious for a successful dive-bombing attack, Operation Tungsten, on 3 April 1944 with 827, 829 and 831 squadrons which crippled the German battleship Tirpitz in Kaa Fjord, north Norway. One aircraft was lost. The squadron subsequently returned to Hatston.

Barracuda dive bombers of 827 and 830 squadron from the fleet carriers HMS Victorious and
HMS Furious lead the first strike in attacking the German battleship Tirpitz, 3 April 1944

Successful attack in Operation Tungsten of 3 April 1944 on the Tirpitz in Kaa Fjord, North Norway by 827 and 830 squadron Barracuda dive-bombers from HMS Furious and HMS Victorious

Barracudas from 827 and 830 squadron landing on after the Tungsten strike, April 1944

In May 1944 whilst operating from HMS Furious the squadron was successful in attacking and sinking enemy convoys on the coast of Norway, and in July 1944 joined HMS Formidable for further attacks on Tirpitz but was restricted by enemy smoke screens. The 8th TBR Wing Leader L/C RS Baker-Falkner RN and his crew being lost on the return to Scapa.

Strike leader of the attack on the Tirpitz, Lt Cdr RS Baker-Falkner RN,
Wing Leader of No 8 Naval TBR

In August 1944 the squadron re-embarked on HMS Furious for further operations against the Tirpitz, when hits were made against.

salvage being done to the Tirpitz (52090 bytes)
Salvaging the Tirpitz postwar near Tromso

In October 1944 the squadron was absorbed by 827 squadron at Hatston and ceased to exist.

WESTLAND WYVERN S. Mk.4, 830 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, H.M.S. Eagle, November 1956
"Operation Musketeer" (Suez Invasion) © Rick Kent FAUCONBERG AEROGRAPHICS

Battle Honours
Mediterranean 1940 - 2, Norway 1944
Commanding Officers and Squadron Personnel

L/C FD Horne, DSO, RN July 1940-Aug 1940
Capt. KL Ford, RM Aug 1940-Sept 1941
L/C JG Hunt, RN Sept 1941-Dec 1941
L/C FHE Hopkins, RN Dec 1941-June 1942
L/C AJT Roe, RN June 1942-Feb 1943
L/C(A) FH Fox, RN May 1943-Jan 1944
L/C(A) RD Kingdon, DSC, RNVR Jan 1944-Oct 1944
Aircraft
Swordfish I July 1940-March 1943
Skua II Oct 1940-Nov 1940
Albacore I Sept !940-July 1942
Barracuda II May 1943-Oct 1944
Ships and Squadron bases
To be listed
The Squadron Today
Link to current Fleet Air Arm squadron information

Associations and Reunions

827/830 Naval Air Squadron Reunion (No 8 TBR)
Reunion last met 1994. R.T. Matthias, 3 Kennedy Walk, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs., ST9 OEW. Tel: +44 0782 302618
FURTHER INFORMATION

WPA Film Library database Wartime footage of the Tirpitz bombed vs planes of the fleet air arm taking off from deck of carrier for the attack. Vs aircraft returning to the carrier. Fleet Air Arm pilots on the deck posing for camera.
World Aircraft Carrier Lists and Photo Gallery - from 1913 to 2000. Naval History Information Center, Haze Gray & Underway American based World Aircraft Carrier Lists & Photo Gallery - one of the definitive online sources for British and world aircraft carrier & seaplane tender data, histories and images - over 1000 photos.
Sturtivant, R & Ballance, T (1994). 'The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' Published by Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1994 ISBN: 0 85130 223 8
Robert Horsten's FAA
Squadrons

Last Modified: 23-2-2001

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[Felix C]

Thank you.
Very impressive results for a few aircraft.
FYI searching the other squadron, 828, led to this interesting link: https://web.archive.org/web/20081201...sbarker01.html

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Felix, good to read the historical information from an ordinary airman, most we see are from Officer and high ranking Officers.

[Alex Smart]

Catalogue description
Night operations of 830 Naval Air Squadron, Malta
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Reference: ADM 199/108
Description:
Night operations of 830 Naval Air Squadron, Malta

Date: 1941-1942