52 FLYPAST May 2015194019401940
W
hen 806 Squadron Fleet
Air Arm was formed
under Lt Cdr Charles
‘Crash’ Evans in February 1940 it
was equipped with Blackburn Skuas
and a few of its turret-equipped
derivative, the Roc. Most of his
pilots were newly trained but he had
experienced flight commanders in
Lts Colin Campbell-Horsfall and
Bill Barnes, plus the senior observer,
Lt Desmond Vincent-Jones.
The newcomers were ‘blooded’
during the Norwegian campaign in
May when the squadron flew attacks
on Bergen. On returning south,
sterner tests awaited the personnel
of 806.
Early on May 28 the unit was
alerted for an immediate move and
eight Skuas and four Rocs flew
to Detling in Kent to cover the
evacuation beaches at Dunkirk. It
was a traumatic day, as Desmond
Vincent-Jones recalled: “Our first
section under Lt Campbell-HorsfallSAILOR S
OVER DUNKIRK
OPERATION DYNAMOAbove
Skua L3011 was with 806
Squadron when it was
detached to cover the
evacuation from Dunkirk.
VIA R C B ASHWORTHRight
A Fleet Air Arm Roc
undergoing maintenance.
KEYFar right
Skua L3003 of 801
Squadron is believed to
have been fl own by Lt
Ronnie Hay on May 31
when it was attacked by a
formation of Bf 109s.
VIA AUTHOR52-56_Blitzkrieg_fpSBB.indd 52 13/03/2015 10:31