FAA in home waters 1939

[Alex Smart]

FAA in home waters 1939

September 1939
10 - Swordfish I - 822 Sqn - HMS Courageous - P4090 - Lt. WAH PLAYFAIR (Playford ?); S/Lt. HA WHEATMAN ; NA. F. FRIZZELL, all killed.
14 - Skua II - 803 Sqn - L2873 (A7M ) - Lt. GBK GRIFFITHS, RM ( POW); P/O. J. SIMPSON killed.
14 - Skua II - 803 Sqn - L2957 (A7K ) - Lt. RP THURSTON (POW); P/O. GV McKAY KILLED.
17 - 811 and 822 Sqdn's - 25 aircraft lost when HMS Courageous was sunk.
26 - Skua - 803 Sqn - HMS. Ark Royal - Lt. BS McEWEN ; P/O. BM SEYMOUR, both safe.

October 1939
23 - Skua - 803 Sqn - A/c Failed to return - P/O. LR TREGILLIS (HMS Furious); NA1. RE EASON (HMS Merlin ), both killed.
24 - Skua - 803 Sqn - Y0036 - See TREGILLIS and EASON .

November 1939
1 - 816/818 Sqn's(?) - HMS Furious - a/c ditched, crew safe.
13 - 814 Sqn HMS HERMES - (a/c (H3C ) ditched crew ?
14 - Skua II - 774 Sqn - L3036 - HMS Pembroke - S/Lt. ES WOODFORD (758 Sqn ),killed.
26 - Skua II - 770 Sqn - L3022 - HMS Argue - S/Lt. MR PIKE, killed.( from Mylor, Cornwall ).
27 - 818 Sqn - Se Furious - a/c failed to return, crew Lt. SGJ APPLEBY and two other's all safe.

December 1939
12 - Walrus I - K8556 - 754 Sqn - HMS Daedalus - Lt. RHM HERIOT-HILL; P/O. M FORTRUM, 41278 (RAF); LA. M McLOUGHLIN - All killed.
17 - Skua - 803 Sqn - Y0054 - HMS Merlin - P/O. LL PARKER, killed.

There may well be others and I am sure if I made any errors fellow members will correct them.
Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Additional detail for FAA losses on 17/09/1939

HMS Courageous.

BAKER, Edward Isaac - Chief Air Artificer - F.55030.
BARRETT, Frederick Kimber - Air Mechanic - FX.76846.
BYRNE, Douglas John - Leading Air Fitter - FX.76099.
BYRNE, Reginald James William - Naval Airman 1st Class - FX.77847.
COMASKEY, Douglas Weir - Petty Officer - FX.76115.
CONNOLLY, Richard James Andrew - Air Mechanic - FX.76849.
DAVIES, Henry William - Petty Officer - F-55017.
DODGSON, Matthew - Leading Air Fitter - FX.75198.
GREEN, Ronald - Leading Air Fitter - FX.76091.
HONEYWELL, John Ronald - Air Mechanic - FX. 85760.
MacDONALD, Thomas Donald Mackintosh - Lieutenant (A).
McCARTHY, Michael Anthony - Air Mechanic - FX.76765.
MARSH, Alfred - Naval Airman 1st Class - F.55042.
MITCHELL, Frederick James - Leading Air Fitter - FX.75201.
OWEN, Bernard John - Petty Officer - F.55127.
PINK, Edward George - Leading Air Fitter - FX.75848.
REES, Francis Alfred - Chief Petty Officer - FX.75210.
TAMLYN, Harold Henry John - Leading Air Fitter - FX.75854.
TULLY, John William - Leading Air Fitter - FX.760760.
TURNER, Samuel Henry - Leading Air Fitter - FX.75857.
WEEKS, William - Leading Air Fitter - FX.761091.
WILLIAMS, David Frederick - Sub/Lieutenant (A).

All are remembered on the Lee-On-Solent Memorial, Hampshire.

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Bearing in mind that sources say the 25 Swordfish were lost with the sinking of HMS Courageous.

Having looked through -
"Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939-1945", " The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm" and " The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm".
I found the following Swordfish I'd that were linked to 811, 822 and HMS Courageous in 1939.

811 Sqn side numbers were -"601" to "614" - 14 a/c ?
822 Sqn side numbers were -"901" to "912". -12 a/c.

They were -

K5942 - Hooton Park, 07/05/40.
K5997 - 767 Sqn 07/40.
K6006 - 811(602).
K6009 - 822(912).
K8374(612) - LoS 01/40.
K8434 - LoS 01/40.
K8449 - to Roborough 17/09/1939.
K8881 - to Roborough 17/09/1939.
L2737 - 822.
L2855 - to Roborough 17/09/1939.
P4000 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4002 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4003 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4004 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4005 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4006 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4012 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4033 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4034 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4066 - 811 Sqn - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
K4088 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
K4089 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4090 - 822 Sqn - 11/09/1939.
P4091 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4092 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4093 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4094 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.
P4128 - possibly lost 17/09/1939.

Can anyone add to this list ?

Many thanks
Alex

[Alex Smart]

P4000 not lost with HMS Coragious ?
Was in collision with L2774, HMS Ark Royal on 25/11/39.

Perhaps the FAA Aircraft 1939-1945 second edition will correct or confirm the two entries in the first edition ?