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Naval History by Country :
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No.804 Sqn FAA |
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Name : No.804 Sqn FAA Country : UK More Details : Fleet Air Arm |
Known Service Details : | |||||||
Pilot or Aircrew | Rank | Start of Service | End of Service | Known Dates | Aircraft | Airframes | Notes |
unknown | unknown | ||||||
Lieutenant | unknown | unknown | |||||
unknown | unknown | ||||||
| Pilots and Aircrew for : No.804 Sqn FAA | ||
| A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking their name. | ||
| Name | Info | |
| Bird, R. A. Click the name above to see a profile of Bird, R. A. | Bird, R. A. | |
| Birrell, M. A. Click the name above to see a profile of Birrell, M. A. | Birrell, M. A. | |
| Bunch, S. H. Click the name above to see a profile of Bunch, S. H.
| Bunch, S. H. Killed May 11th 1941 | |
| Carver, Lt. R. H. P. Click the name above to see a profile of Carver, Lt. R. H. P. | Carver, Lt. R. H. P. | |
| Chiltern, P. C. S. Click the name above to see a profile of Chiltern, P. C. S. | Chiltern, P. C. S. | |
| Coates, J. P. Click the name above to see a profile of Coates, J. P.
| Coates, J. P. Killed November 6th 1940 | |
| Cockburn, J. C. Click the name above to see a profile of Cockburn, J. C. | Cockburn, J. C. | |
| Crosley, Michael Click the name above to see a profile of Crosley, Michael
| Crosley, Michael Robert Michael Crosley was born on February 24 1920 , Mike Crosley was a Metropolitan Police constable (a reserved occupation) when war broke out, but volunteered on the day of the Fleet Air Arm strike on Taranto, November 11 1940. Fleet Air Arm Ace Mike Crosley joined the carrier HMS Eagle in late 1941, one of four FAA pilots flying Sea Hurricanes in defence of the Malta convoys, On June 12 he was on alert on the deck of HMS Eagle. After two hours strapped in his cockpit, he was expecting to stand down when he heard the klaxon sound. Within a few moments he was airborne, being directed by radar to an enemy aircraft; and when his flight leader turned back with engine trouble, Crosley decided to pursue the enemy alone. He closed until the wingspan of the three-engined Italian bomber filled his gunsight, then pressed the trigger. At that moment he noted sparks coming from the underside of the bomber – it was the enemy returning fire. Then smoke burst from the Italian's engines and its wingtip came dangerously close as it dived towards the sea. Crosley followed, determined to finish it off; but as he emerged from the cloud he saw the bomber floating on the water with a yellow life raft beside it. The next day Crosley shot down a twin-engined German fighter-bomber. He wove in and out of the German's slipstream, and when the target filled his gunsight he fired one long burst which hit the aircraft's wing, "sparking like firecrackers". In August 1942, during Operation Pedestal, he was lucky to escape with his life after the carrier was torpedoed and sunk by U73. She capsized within 7 minutes. He later joined HMS Biter flying Sea Hurricanes, in Operation Torch. and on November 8 he shot down two Vichy French fighters in a dogfight over the airfield of La Senia, near Oran. He was awarded his first DSC. Mike Crosley was then selected to pass on his experience to new fighter pilots at HMS Dipper, near Yeovilton, where he flew the Royal Navy's version of the Spitfire, known as the Seafire. By D-Day Crosley had joined 886 Naval Air Squadron, flying Seafires from Lee-on-the-Solent. His role was to direct the fire of the heavy ships which were bombarding the German defences. On the second day of the Allied landings he shot down a German Bf109, which crashed 15 miles south-west of Caen, and two days later damaged an Fw190 which he chased in a dogfight through the skies over Normandy. After D-Day Mike Crossley was appointed to command 880 Naval Air Squadron; this was based in Orkney as part of 30 Naval Air Wing, which embarked in the fleet carrier Implacable and carried out a series of attacks on German shipping in the fjords of Norway. By the time the war ended 880 Squadron and Implacable were prosecuting the war in the Pacific, striking at the Japanese mainland. Crosley was mentioned in despatches, and in August 1945 received a Bar to his DSC. he finished the war in the Far East, with 5.5 victories. After the war Mike Crosley joined No 6 Empire Test Pilots' Course, and left the Navy to test Short's flying boats under development in Belfast. On the outbreak of the Korean War he rejoined the Navy, helping to train new pilots and flying 75 missions over Korea from the carrier Ocean. He wrote pilots' notes for a range of aircraft, which he flew to their limits, and was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air. In 1954-55 he was commanding officer of 813 Squadron, flying the Wyvern from the new HMS Eagle. In 1958 Crosley was promoted commander and returned to test flying at Boscombe Down, making the first deck landings of the Buccaneer low-level bomber. Mike Crosley logged 2,818 flying hours in 147 different types of aircraft and made 415 deck landings. Throughout the war he kept extensive diaries, on which he based two books: They Gave Me a Seafire (1986) and In Harm's Way (1995). Sadly Mike Crosley died at the age of 90 on the 20th June 2010. | |
| Grant, D. Click the name above to see a profile of Grant, D. | Grant, D. | |
| Hutchison, D. A. Click the name above to see a profile of Hutchison, D. A.
| Hutchison, D. A. Killed November 15th 1942** | |
| Lamb, R. R. Click the name above to see a profile of Lamb, R. R.
| Lamb, R. R. Killed August 24th 1942 | |
| Mackinnon, A. McL. Click the name above to see a profile of Mackinnon, A. McL. | Mackinnon, A. McL. Lieutenant Adam MacCloud MacKinnon was with No 804 Squadron flying Sea Gladiator's on dockyard defence. He later flew from the Ark Royal and the Illustrious. | |
| Mahoney, T. J. Click the name above to see a profile of Mahoney, T. J. | Mahoney, T. J. | |
| Marsh, A. E. Click the name above to see a profile of Marsh, A. E. | Marsh, A. E. | |
| Nowell, W. R. Click the name above to see a profile of Nowell, W. R. | Nowell, W. R. | |
| Orr, S Click the name above to see a profile of Orr, S | Orr, S | |
| Parke, T. R. V. Click the name above to see a profile of Parke, T. R. V.
| Parke, T. R. V. Killed July 7th 1941 | |
| Paterson, B. Click the name above to see a profile of Paterson, B. | Paterson, B. | |
| Patterson, N. H. Click the name above to see a profile of Patterson, N. H.
| Patterson, N. H. Killed Dec 22nd 1941 on HMS Audacity** | |
| Pickering, James Click the name above to see a profile of Pickering, James | Pickering, James Jim Pickering joined the RAFVR in 1937, and was attached to 769 Sqn FAA, then 804 Sqn FAA. In June 1940 he returned to the RAF and flew Spitfires with 64 Sqn during the Battle of Britain. With 418 Flight Jim flew Hurricanes to Malta from HMS Argus on 2nd August 1940. This flight was to reinforce Maltas handful of outdated Gladiators and few surviving Hurricanes, and on 16th August was amalgamated to become 261 Squadron. With this unit Jim flew Hurricanes and at least five operations in the legendary Gladiators, which have been immortalised as Faith, Hope, and Charity. In April 1941 Jim was posted, first to Egypt, then 80 Squadron in October 1942, and 145 Squadron in December. He returned to the UK in 1943. Born in 1915 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England, James Pickering studied the printing business in Europe during the 1930s. Convinced that Hitler represented a threat which could lead to war, Pickering joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1937. As a "week-end" flyer he earned his wings as a Sergeant Pilot in April of 1939. In September of that year Pickerings unit was mobilized. He was sent to an attachment of the Fleet Air Arm, where he flew Gladiators, Skuas, and Rocs, following his carrier training. In June of 1940 Pickering returned to the RAF flying Spitfires with No. 64 Squadron based in Kenley during the Battle of Britain. Pickering was selected along with eleven other carrier-qualified pilots to fly Hurricanes to Malta off the deck of the HMS Argus. On arrival in Malta these new Hurricanes and their pilots were integrated with the 3 flyable Gladiators and 3 Hurricanes already there to form No. 261 Squadron. This unit carried on the defense of Malta against Italian and German bombing missions which were launched regularly from Sicily, only sixty miles distant. Because of his earlier experience with the Gladiator, Pickering flew both Gladiators and Hurricanes at Malta for eight months. It is believed that Pickering is the last living RAF pilot to fly the Gladiator at Malta. Following his assignment in Malta, Pickering joined No. 1 Aircraft Delivery Unit which ferried aircraft from the West African Gold Coast and Port Sudan to various points throughout the war theater of operations. Pickering delivered a P-40 Warhawk to the Flying Tigers which involved one of the first flights "over the hump." In October of 1942 Pickering returned to operational flying with No. 80 Squadron (Hurricanes) at EI Alamein, and later with No. 145 Squadron (Spitfires). Having completed three separate operational tours, Pickering returned to England when victory was achieved in North Africa. In England, Pickering was assigned as a test pilot with No. 3501 Servicing Unit. He tested modifications to the Spitfire, and also test flew a number of P-51 Mustangs. Later he was transferred to No. 151 Repair Unit as its Chief Test Pilot. This was the largest unit of this kind in the RAF. Because of these experiences, Pickering is unusual in having flown eighty different types of aircraft during the War. Awarded the Air Force Cross, Pickering was released from the RAF at Wars end. He returned to his family-owned printing business, and spent his working career with the company, from which he retired in 1965. He also served as an outside Director of the largest Building Society in Britain. Pickering joined the Volunteer Reserve once again following the War, and continued to fly with the RAF until reaching the mandatory age limit of sixty. Pickering has had a private pilots license since 1938. He has flown thousands of hours and he is an expert on geological and archaeological research from the air. A Fellow of both the Geological Society and the Society of Antiquaries, Jim Pickering epitomizes the English character of determination and persistence which was so vastly underestimated by Hitler during WW 11. | |
| Reardon-Parker, J. Click the name above to see a profile of Reardon-Parker, J.
| Reardon-Parker, J. Killed June 7th 1944 | |
| Russell, G. F. Click the name above to see a profile of Russell, G. F.
| Russell, G. F. Killed December 13th 1940 | |
| Sabey, A Click the name above to see a profile of Sabey, A | Sabey, A | |
| Sewell, A Click the name above to see a profile of Sewell, A | Sewell, A | |
| Shaw, F. J. Click the name above to see a profile of Shaw, F. J.
| Shaw, F. J. Killed August 2nd 1942** | |
| Sleigh, J. W. Click the name above to see a profile of Sleigh, J. W. | Sleigh, J. W. | |
| Stockwell, W. E. J. Click the name above to see a profile of Stockwell, W. E. J. | Stockwell, W. E. J. | |
| Wright, A. J. Click the name above to see a profile of Wright, A. J. | Wright, A. J. | |
Known Individual Aircraft of No.804 Sqn FAA : | ||||||||
Type | Serial | Codes | First Flew | Squadron History | Aircrew History | History Notes | Engine | Factory |
- | no information | no information | Griffon 87 | |||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 87 | |||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 88 | |||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 88 | |||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 88 | |||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 88 | |||||
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Everything we obtain for this site is shown on the site, we do not have any more photos, crew lists or further information on any of the ships. COPYRIGHT NOTICE. ALL IMAGES DISPLAYED ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW, AND ARE OWNED BY CRANSTON FINE ARTS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. NO REPRODUCTION OR COPYING ALLOWED ON OTHER WEBSITES, BOOKS OR ARTICLES WITHOUT PRIOR AGREEMENT. |
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Died : 11 / 5 / 1941