On this day 10 January 1943

First Barracuda squadron formed at RNAS Stretton

The Barracuda first entered operational service on 10 January 1943, when 827 NAS reformed with 12 MkIIs at tretton, Cheshire. 827NAS had had until the previous August flown Albacores. During 1943 the Barracuda force was steadily built up. 810NAS, also at Stretton became the second Barracuda unit in February 1943 and thereafter, Albacore and Swordfish squadrons were reequipped, one by one, until i January 1944 the FAA had 12 squadrons of Barracudas on the front line.

The Barracuda was the first FAA aircraft with an all-metal stressed skin construction. It was multi-role but was most prominently used as a dive bomber. They were in action in September 1943 when they served with 810NAS in Illustrious during the Allied landings at Salerno and later in attacks on the Tirpitz and anti-shipping strikes off the Norwegian coast.