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825 Squadron Royal Navy
History
Motto: "Nihil Obstat" ("Nothing Stops Us")
On the outbreak of war, this torpedo spotter reconnaissance Swordfish squadron embarked from Dekheila, Egypt to HMS Glorious in search of enemy shipping in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
The ship returned to the Mediterranean in January 1940, the squadron operating from Hal Far, Malta until March 1940 when the ship was recalled for the defence of Norway. The squadron disembarked at Prestwick. HMS Glorious was sunk by the German battleships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst on 8 June 1940, and the squadron operated from Worthy Down, Detling and Thorney Island in operations against the advancing German forces in the Low countries and France. Eight of the 12 aircraft were lost during the Dunkirk evacuations including the CO L/C JB Buckley RN, when 5 aircraft were lost in one bombing raid over France on 29 May 1940.
In July 1940 the remnants of the squadron were augmented to 9 aircraft and embarked on HMS Furious for operations in September including night attacks on Trondheim and Tromso.
In February 1941 the squadron undertook convoy duties with HMS Furious to the Gold Coast, and in May 1941 the squadron joined HMS Victorious, taking part in the successful attack on the German Battleship Bismarck. The squadron swordfish sighted the Bismarck on 24 Amy 1941, and made its attack the following day on 25 May 1941, one hit reduced her speed. The Bismarck was crippled in a later strike by 810/818 squadrons on 26 May and sunk by the Fleet on 27 May 1941.
From June 1941 the Squadron embarked on HMS Ark Royal for Malta convoy duties, and in September was involved in attacking targets in Pantellaria, Sardinia and Sicily. When HMS Ark Royal was torpedoed on 13 November 1941 the remnants of the squadron flew to Gibraltar and ceased to exist.
In January 1942 the squadron was reformed at Lee-on-Solent with swordfish for torpedo bomber reconnaissance duties, 6 aircraft attacking the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau from Manston in the English Channel, no hits were achieved and all the aircraft were lost. The CO, Lt Cdr E Esmonde was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, and the 5 surviving crew members were also decorated.
The squadron regrouped at Lee-on-Solent in March 1942, 3 aircraft subsequently embarking on HMS Avenger for Arctic convoy duties to Russia during which 6 U-Boats were attacked, and U-Boat U-589 was sunk shared with HMS Onslow. The squadron then carrying out operations under 16th Group RAF Coastal Command from Thorney Island and Exeter.
From March 1943 the squadron embarked on HMS Furious for convoy duties to Iceland and sweeps off the Norwegian coast. In December 1943 the squadron embarked on HMS Vindex, with a fighter flight of 6 Sea Hurricane IICs and later also 3 Fulmars, for Atlantic convoys, sinking U-653 on 15 March 1944 and U-765 on 6 May 1944.
In August, the squadron now re-equipped with 12 Swordfish IIIs embarked on HMS Vindex for Arctic convoys to Russia, sinking U-354 on 22 August 1944, Sea Hurricanes damaging another the same day, and claiming a possible on 23 August 1944. The next day on 24 August U-344 was sunk jointly with the Fleet, and U-394 sunk on 2 September 1944.
In March 1945 the squadron embarked on HMS Campania, the Sea Hurricanes having been replaced by 8 Wildcat VIs, for further Arctic convoy duties. On return the Swordfish were absorbed by 815 squadron and the Wildcats continued in 825 until also absorbed in May 1945.
(Source and ©: Fleet Air Arm Archive)
Acknowledgements:
RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery OfficeRelevant Websites
Casualties of the squadron, buried in the Netherlands.
