800 Sqn or 804 Sqn Grumman Hellcat MkI EB JV102 launched from HMS Emperor May 1944

Grumman Hellcats of 804 Naval Air Squadron

Grumman Hellcats of 804 Naval Air Squadron

The squadron was re-equipped in August 1943 Grumman Hellcat Is and in October joined No 7 Naval Fighter Wing. Two months later they embarked on HMS Emperor and accompanied a US-bound convoy.

The squadron participated in the successful attack on 3 April 1944 on the German battleship Tirpitz in Altafjord, northern Norway. Fleet Air Arm Barracuda dive-bombers from HMS Furious and HMS Victorious were covered by the 7th Naval Fighter Wing, including 804 NAS.

In June 1944, 804 was absorbed into 800 squadron. The squadron reformed in September 1944 at Wingfield airfield, South Africa with 24 Hellcat IIs and in January 1945, they embarked on HMS Ameer to provide cover during the landings on Ramree Island, and subsequently missions over Sumatra and Malaya. In April 1945 the squadron embarked on HMS Empress and also HMS Shah for attacks on the Andaman Islands and the coast of Burma, returning to HMS Ameer in June for attacks on Sumatran airfields and Phuket Island, only returning to the United Kingdom after VJ Day in November 1945.

800 or 804 Naval Air Squadrons

During April and May 1944 when both squadrons were aboard HMS Empress