Fairey Albacore Torpedo Bombers of HMS Formidable

Fairey Albacore Torpedo Bombers of HMS Formidable

The following Fairey Albacore equipped squadrons operated from HMS Formidable.

818	4 February 1942 – 20 April 1942
820	3 February 1942 – 11 November 1943
826	26 November 1940 – 27 May 1941
829	15 November 1940 – 23 August 1941 10–21 December 1941

818 Naval Air Squadron

While embarked on HMS Formidable, 818 NAS operated with the Eastern Fleet, providing reconnaissance and anti-shipping strikes against Japanese targets.

820 Naval Air Squadron

820 NAS took part in the invasion of Madagascar, followed by Operation Torch in North Africa. During the North Africa Landings an 820 Squadron aircraft sank U-331. Following this this squadron supported the landings in Sicily and Salerno before being disbanded.

826 Naval Air Squadron

While operating from HMS Formidable, 826 NAS covered convoys in the Mediterranean, attacked shore targets and took part in the Battle of Cape Mattapan, targeting the Italian Battleship Vittorio Veneto. During the Battle for Crete, the squadron helped cover the Allied withdrawal from the island. Following Formidable’s damage and move to the US for repairs, the squadron became land based operating in North Africa.

829 Naval Air Squadron

After providing convoy escort duties down the west coast of Africa, 829 NAS undertook attacks on Mogadishu and Massawa as Formidable sailed up the east coast of Africa. In the Mediterranean, one of the squadron’s aircraft scored a torpedo hit on the Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto during the Battle of Cape Mattapan.