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898 Naval Air Squadron

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898 Naval Air Squadron
898 NAS badge
Active15 October 1942 - 3 July 1944
8 January - 12 December 1945
4 July 1951 - 1 January 1953
24 August 1953 - 19 April 1956
30 July 1957 - 2 May 1959
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeSingle-seat fighter squadron
RoleCarrier-based fighter squadron
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Home stationSee Naval air stations section for full list.
Motto(s)Far and Wide
EngagementsWorld War II[1]

Suez crisis

Battle honours
  • Atlantic 1944
  • Norway 1944
Commanders
Previous CommandersSee Commanding officers for full list.
Notable
commanders		Lieutenant Commander D.G. Parker, DSO, DSC, DFC, RN
Insignia
Squadron badgeBlue, a sun in splendour gold charged with a flying fish in bend black (1944)
Identification Markings7A+ (Martlet/Wildcat)
3A+ (Hellcat)
B9A+ and BOA+ (Hellcat July 1945)
143-149 (Sea Fury)
100-112 to 130-141 (Sea Hawk June 1955)
470-483 (Sea Hawk January 1956)
Fin Carrier CodesO:T (Sea Fury)
Z to O:Z (Sea Hawk from June 1955)
O:B:E (Sea Hawk from January 1956)
Aircraft flown
Fighter
Hawker Sea Hawk F.1 from 898 Naval Air Squadron

898 Naval Air Squadron (898 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). The squadron, which was last disbanded at HMS Goldcrest, RNAS Brawdy, on 2 May 1959, was initially established as a fighter unit on 15 October 1942. It joined HMS Victorious in February 1943 and participated in operations over the Coral Sea during May and June, providing support for the landings in the Solomon Islands. After its return to the United Kingdom, the squadron became part of the 7th Naval Fighter Wing. In April 1944, it provided fighter cover for an assault on the German battleship Tirpitz and conducted anti-shipping operations off the coast of Norway from May to June 1944, before disbanding into 882 Naval Air Squadron in July 1944. The squadron was re-established as a fighter unit in January 1945; however, it was too late to engage in further operations, leading to its eventual disbandment in December 1945.

In July 1951, 898 Naval Air Squadron was re-established and subsequently engaged in six months of active flight operations in the Mediterranean while attached to HMS Ocean. However, on 1 January 1953, the squadron was merged into 807 Naval Air Squadron after having spent most of its operational time abroad. The squadron was reformed in August 1953 at RNAS Brawdy and later boarded HMS Albion in September for a six-month deployment in the Mediterranean. Following a brief period with HMS Bulwark, the squadron reembarked on HMS Ark Royal in September for another six months in the Mediterranean, disbanding at RNAS Brawdy in April 1956. The squadron was reformed at RNAS Brawdy in July 1956 and joined HMS Ark Royal in January 1957. In June, it transitioned to HMS Bulwark, returned to HMS Ark Royal, and then moved back to HMS Bulwark in November. In May 1958, the squadron joined HMS Eagle for a six-month deployment, with another period aboard in early 1959.

History

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Single seat fighter squadron (1942-1944)

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On 17 September 1942, personnel for 898 Naval Air Squadron gathered at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) in Hampshire. They embarked in HMT Queen Mary, [3] setting sail for the United States and arriving at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, where the squadron was officially established as a fighter unit on 15 October, under the command of Royal Marines Captain A.J. Wright. The squadron was equipped with six Grumman Martlet Mk IV, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft.[4] These aircraft were the counterparts to the US Navy's F4F-4B variant and were generally comparable to the Mk II, but featuring two extra wing-mounted guns and powered by a Wright Cyclone engine.[5]

In January 1943, deck landing exercises were conducted on the USS Charger at Brunswick, Maine, after which the squadron joined HMS Victorious on 3 February. This occurred as HMS Victorious embarked on a journey to the Pacific through the Panama Canal to integrate with the United States Pacific Fleet.[4] The USS Hornet was lost, and the USS Enterprise sustained significant damage during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, resulting in the United States Navy (USN) having only one operational fleet carrier, the USS Saratoga, in the Pacific theater. In response to a request for additional carrier support, the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Victorious was loaned to the USN in late December 1942.[6]

A number of months was dedicated to operations in that theater, which encompassed reconnaissance missions in the Coral Sea region during May, succeeded in June by providing assistance for the landings conducted by United States forces in the Middle Solomons.[4] HMS Victorious arrived back in the United Kingdom on 26 September, with the squadron disembarking at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) in County Down, Northern Ireland. By this time, the unit had been re-equipped with ten Grumman Wildcat Mk V fighter aircraft and was integrated into the 7th Naval Fighter Wing.[3] This version of aircraft was comparable to the FM-1 Wildcat of the United States Navy, manufactured by General Motors and equipped with the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp engine.[5]

On 12 September, the unit commenced operations aboard HMS Searcher, a Ruler-class escort carrier, to support North Atlantic convoys, primarily utilising RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, as a base of operations.[4] In April 1944, the 7th Naval Fighter Wing took part in an assault on the German battleship Tirpitz located in Altafjord, Norway. Over the subsequent two months, multiple shipping strikes were executed off the coast of Norway, resulting in the downing of a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor maritime patrol aircraft and four Blohm & Voss BV 138 Seedrache flying boats. In June 1944, the squadron offered protection for a convoy heading to Gibraltar, before being amalgamated into 882 Naval Air Squadron on July 5, 1944.[7]

Grumman Hellcat (1945)

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898 Naval Air Squadron was reformed at RNAS Wingfield (HMS Malagas), in Cape Town, South Africa on 8 January 1945, as a single-seat fighter unit.[8] The squadron was equipped with twenty-four Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. II fighter aircraft.[7] This version was comparable to the F6F-5 Hellcat of the United States Navy and was equipped with the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine.[9] In June, it embarked in the escort carrier HMS Attacker for deployment to Ceylon. The aircraft were equipped with rocket projectiles in July; however, the squadron did not engage in any combat prior to V-J Day. Subsequently, the pilots returned home aboard the Attacker-class escort carrier HMS Pursuer, without their aircraft, and the squadron was officially disbanded upon their arrival to the United Kingdom on 12 December.[7]

Hawker Sea Fury (1951-1953)

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898 Naval Air Squadron was reestablished at RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), Angus, Scotland, in July 1951. It was equipped with eight Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 fighter-bomber aircraft. The squadron subsequently embarked on the Colossus-class light fleet aircraft carrier, HMS Ocean for a six-month period of rigorous flight operations in the Mediterranean region. In February 1952, the squadron transitioned to Ocean's sister ship HMS Theseus while still in the Mediterranean, followed by a transfer to another sister ship, HMS Glory in July, and a return to HMS Theseus in October. After rejoining HMS Ocean in December, the squadron was merged into 807 Naval Air Squadron on 1 January 1953.[10]

Hawker Sea Hawk (1953-1956, 1956-1959)

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Hawker Sea Hawk F.1 of 898 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Brawdy, Pembrokeshire, in 1954.

On 24 August 1953, the squadron was reestablished at RNAS Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) in Pembrokeshire, Wales, initially equipped with twelve Hawker Sea Hawk F.1 jet day fighter aircraft. In July 1954, these were replaced with the FB.3 variant, designed for fighter-bomber operations. 898 Naval Air Squadron remained on land until it boarded the Centaur-class light fleet carrier, HMS Albion in September for a six-month deployment in the Mediterranean. In May 1955, the squadron had a brief deployment with sister ship, HMS Bulwark, during a visit to Oslo, after which it re-equipped with the Fighter/Ground attack variant FGA.6 upon its return. In September, the squadron embarked in the Audacious-class aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal for another six-month operation in the Mediterranean, ultimately disbanding at RNAS Brawdy on April 19, 1956.[10]

898 Naval Air Squadron was reformed at RNAS Brawdy on 30 July 1956, initially equipped with twelve Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.4 aircraft. These were gradually substituted with the FGA.6 variant starting in January 1957, during which time the squadron embarked in HMS Ark Royal. In June of the same year, the squadron transitioned to HMS Bulwark, only to return to HMS Ark Royal in September, and then revert back to HMS Bulwark in November. The squadron was assigned to Ark Royal's sister ship HMS Eagle in May 1958 for a six-month deployment in the Mediterranean, followed by another period aboard her in early 1959, before eventually being disbanded at RNAS Brawdy on 2 May.[10]

Aircraft operated

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The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[10]

Battle honours

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The battle honours awarded to 898 Naval Air Squadron are:

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898 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy in the UK and overseas, and also a number of Royal Navy fleet carriers and escort carriers and other airbases overseas:[10]

HMS Victorious at Noumea in 1943. during operations with the U.S. Navy Task Force 36 in the Solomons, between May and September 1943

1942 - 1944

HMS Searcher
  • HMS Searcher (9 December 1943 - 4 January 1944)
  • RN Air Section Brunswick (4 January - 8 February 1944)
  • HMS Searcher (8 - 28 February 1944)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Eglinton (HMS Gannet) (28 February - 2 March 1944)
  • HMS Searcher (2 March - 7 April 1944)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) (7 - 11 April 1944)
  • HMS Fencer (11 - 15 April 1944)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) (15 - 18 April 1944)
  • HMS Searcher (18 - 28 April 1944)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) (28 April - 3 May 1944)
  • HMS Searcher (3 May - 1 June 1944)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) (1 - 8 June 1944)
  • HMS Searcher (8 June - 3 July 1944)
  • disbanded - (3 July 1944)

1945

1951 - 1953

HMS Ocean with Hawker Sea Fury on deck
  • HMS Ocean (24 July - 3 August 1951)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (3 August - 12 September 1951)
  • HMS Ocean (12 September - 17 October 1951)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (17 October - 12 November 1951)
  • HMS Ocean (12 November 1951 - 26 February 1952)
  • HMS Theseus (26 February - 9 April 1952)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (9 - 21 April 1952)
  • HMS Theseus (21 - 30 April 1952)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (30 April - 23 June 1952)
  • Royal Air Force Kasfareet (23 June - 6 July 1952)
  • HMS Glory (6 - 8 July 1952)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (8 - 21 July 1952)
  • HMS Glory (21 July - 15 August 1952)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (15 August - 15 October 1952)
  • HMS Theseus (15 October - 12 November 1952)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (12 November - 8 December 1952)
    • HMS Ocean (Detachment 28 November - 8 December 1952)
  • HMS Ocean (8 December 1952 - 1 January 1953)
  • disbanded - (1 January 1953)

1953 - 1959

HMS Ark Royal during the 1950s
  • HMS Ark Royal (28 September 1955 - 6 March 1956)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) (6 March - 19 April 1956)
  • disbanded - (19 April 1956)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) (30 July 1956 - 9 January 1957)
  • HMS Ark Royal (9 January - 25 February 1957)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) (25 February - 6 May 1957)
  • HMS Ark Royal (6 May - 28 June 1957)
  • HMS Bulwark (28 June - 4 August 1957)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) (4 August - 5 September 1957)
  • HMS Ark Royal (5 September - 1 November 1957)
  • HMS Bulwark (1 - 27 November 1957
  • Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) (27 November 1957 - 20 May 1958)
  • HMS Eagle (20 May - 2 December 1958)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) (2 December 1958 - 14 January 1959)
  • HMS Eagle (14 January - 29 April 1959)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) (29 April - 2 May 1959)
  • disbanded - (2 May 1959)

Commanding officers

[edit]

List of commanding officers of 898 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[7]

1942 - 1944

  • Captain A.J. Wright, RM, from 15 October 1942
  • Lieutenant Commander(A) I.L.F. Lowe, DSC, RN, from 24 November 1942
  • Lieutenant Commander(A) G.R. Henderson, DSC, RNVR, from 20 October 1943
  • disbanded - 3 July 1944

1945

  • Lieutenant Commander(A) R.W. Kearsley, RN, from 1 January 1945
  • disbanded - 12 December 1945

1951 - 1956

  • Lieutenant Commander T.L.M. Brander, DSC, RN, from 4 July 1951
  • disbanded - 1 January 1953
  • Lieutenant Commander D.G. Parker, DSO, DSC, DFC, RN, from 24 August 1953
  • Lieutenant Commander W.I. Campbell, RN, from 12 July 1954
  • Lieutenant Commander J.H.S. Pearce, DSC, RN, from 29 August 1955
  • disbanded - 19 April 1956

1956 - 1959

  • Lieutenant Commander D.B. Morison, RN, from 30 July 1956
  • Lieutenant Commander P.L. Keighly-Peach, DSO, RN, from 5 November 1957
  • Lieutenant Commander W.H. Cowling, RN, from 2 December 1957
  • disbanded - 2 May 1959

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ "898 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Naval Air Squadrons 1938 - present day. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  2. ^ "On This Day 31 October 1956". fleetairarmoa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 270.
  4. ^ a b c d Wragg 2019, p. 187.
  5. ^ a b Thetford 1991, p. 213.
  6. ^ Apps 1971, pp. 113–114.
  7. ^ a b c d Wragg 2019, p. 188.
  8. ^ "Wingfield". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  9. ^ Thetford 1991, p. 224.
  10. ^ a b c d e Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 271.
  11. ^ "Norway 1940-45". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Atlantic 1939-45". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2024.

Bibliography

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  • Apps, Michael (1971). Send Her Victorious. London: William Kimber & Co. ISBN 0-7183-0102-1.
  • Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN 978-0-85130-489-2.
  • Thetford, Owen (1991). British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, an imprint of Conway Maritime Press Ltd. ISBN 0-85177-849-6.
  • Wragg, David (2019). The Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939-1945. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-9303-6.
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