Over sixty-six front line Royal Naval Air Squadrons operated from escort carriers during World War Two; they operated in all weathers, by day and by night - many of those who flew from these small ships  never returned.

Aircraft

Many different types of aircraft operated from CVEs, some British built, others supplied to Britain under the Lend/Lease agreement with the United States.

British aircraft:

Fairey Swordfish,  Bi-plane three seat torpedo, bomber & reconnaissance aircraft.

Fairey Firefly, Two seat Fighter Reconnaissance plane, with anti-submarine role.

Fairey Fulmar, Two seat Fighter - operated form training CVEs for deck landing practice.

Fairey Barracuda, Mono-plane three seat torpedo, bomber & reconnaissance aircraft.

Hawker Sea Hurricane, a single seat fighter adaptation of the RAF fighter of Battle of Britain fame.

Supermarine Seafire, a single seat fighter adaptation of the RAF fighter of Battle of Britain fame.

Supermarine Walrus, Reconnaissance and Air/Sea rescue amphibian.

Supermarine Sea Otter,  Reconnaissance and Air/Sea rescue amphibian.

American aircraft:

Chance-Vought F4U Corsair, a single seat fighter and one of the most successful fighter aircraft of WWII.

Grumman F6F Hellcat, a single seat fighter, also operated in the photo reconnaissance role.

Grumman F4F Wildcat (Originally named Martlet by RN), a single seat fighter.

Grumman TBF Avenger (Originally named Tarpon by RN) a three seat torpedo, bomber, Fighter aircraft.

OPERATIONS

RN air squadrons operated in all theatres of World War Two, from the freezing Arctic convoy runs to the sweltering heat of the South Pacific. Some of the squadrons operated performed specific tasks, 899 for example operated a conversion course for Royal Australian Air Force pilots transferring to the Fleet Air Arm, 784 operated as a deck landing training squadron dedicated to teaching the skills that could mean life or death for a pilot attempting to land on a small pitching deck at sea.

Some of these squadrons have passed into the history books as a result of their actions, whilst others  were short lived, being absorbed into other squadrons to replace aircraft and aircrews lost in action.