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1844 Naval Air Squadron

1844 Naval Air Squadron (1844 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) between 1943 and 1945 and then a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Squadron from 1954 to 1957. It formed in Northern Ireland at HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, in December 1943, as a fighter squadron. It embarked in HMS Begum, in February 1944, for the Far East, arriving in Ceylon, in June and joining HMS Indomitable the following month. August, September and October saw the squadron undertake photographic reconnaissance and provide fighter cover for the attacks on Indaroeng and Emmahaven in Sumatra, then on Sigli, followed by the Nicobar Islands respectively.

1844 Naval Air Squadron
1844 NAS badge
Active15 December 1943 - 30 November 1945
15 February 1954 - 10 March 1957[1]
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
Type
Role
  • Fighter squadron
  • Anti-submarine squadron
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Home stationSee Naval air stations section for full list.
Motto(s)Strength in reserve
AircraftSee Aircraft flown section for full list.
EngagementsWorld War II
Battle honours
  • East Indies 1944-45
  • Palembang 1945
  • Okinawa 1945
Insignia
Squadron Badge DescriptionBlue, in base two bars wavy white on a rock issuant from sinister a panther couchant all proper (1955)[2]
Identification Markings6A
R6A (October 1944)
131-146, 162-163 (March 1945)
201-206, 252-264 to 891-896 Firefly
257-258 to 897-898 (January 1956) Sea Balliol
892-896 Avenger
Tail CodesW (March 1945)
BR Firefly, Sea Balliol & Avenger
A Fleet Air Arm Grumman Hellcat

During the first two months of 1945 it performed similar roles attacking the oil installations at Belawan Deli, airfields at Pangkalan Brandan, and oil refineries at Palembang. Raids on the Sakashima Islands and also Formosa followed. When the Second World War ended, its aircraft were left behind at HMS Nabbington and the squadron's personnel returned to the UK, disbanding on arrival in November 1945.

In February 1954, the squadron reformed at HMS Gamecock, RNAS Bramcote, as a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch anti-submarine squadron in the Midland Air Division. However, in March 1957, 1844 RNVR Air Squadron disbanded under that year's defence cuts.

History

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Single-seat fighter squadron (1944 - 1945)

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1844 Naval Air Squadron formed on 15 December 1943 in Northern Ireland at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), which was located just outside Derry, as a Single Seat Fighter Squadron, under the command of Lieutenant Commander(A) T.W. Harrington, RN.[3]

It formed part of the 5th Naval Fighter Wing, along with 1839 Naval Air Squadron, and was initially equipped with ten Grumman Hellcat, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft.[2] These were the F6F-3 variant, designated Hellcat F. Mk. I by the Fleet Air Arm.[4]

On 25 February, 1844 Naval Air Squadron flew to Royal Naval Air Maintenance Yard Belfast (HMS Gadwall), Belfast,[5] embarking the following day in the Ruler-class escort carrier, HMS Begum.[6] With loading completed two days later, HMS Begum returned to the Clyde to finish loading stores and passengers before sailing on 3 March for the Far East,[5] the squadron disembarked at Madras, India, on 10 April and immediately flew to RAF Ulunderpet.[2]

In early June, 1844 Naval Air Squadron moved to Ceylon, arriving at RNAS Colombo Racecourse (HMS Berhunda), Colombo, on the 7, then moving again to RN Air Section China Bay, located at RAF China Bay, Trincomalee, on the 12.[6] Here the squadron undertook Deck Landing Training (DLT) on the aircraft repair ship and light aircraft carrier, HMS Unicorn during 14-15.[5]

After working up, the Wing embarked in the modified Illustrious-class aircraft carrier, HMS Indomitable, on 25 July, and during August provided fighter cover for the attacks on Indaroeng and Emmahaven in Sumatra, Operations Boomerang and Banquet, as well as providing photographic reconnaissance. The same roles ware undertaken in September during the attacks on Sigli, Operation Light, and in October the squadron provided fighter cover for the attack on Car Nicobar, Operation Millet.[6]

At the beginning of September the squadron CO, Lieutenant Commander Harrington, was appointed as the new 5th Naval Fighter Wing leader,[7] he was replaced as CO by Lieutenant Commander(A) M.S. Godson RN.[6]

It returned to Ceylon, flying to RN Air Section China Bay, on 21 October, but later in 1944, in December, the squadron re-embarked for operations, in HMS Indomitable, participating in attacks on the oil installations at Belawan Deli in Sumatra, Operation Robson. In January 1945, airfields were attacked at Pangkalan Brandan, Operation Lentil and later in the same month, oil refineries were attacked at Palembang in Operation Meridian.[3] Sailing to Australia, 1844 Naval Air Squadron disembarked to RNAS Nowra (HMS Nabbington) (Mobile Naval Air Base No. 1), which was at RAAF Nowra, New South Wales, and here it exchanged its aircraft and received eighteen improved Grumman Wildcat fighters.[8] These were the F6F-5 Hellcat, known as Hellcat F. Mk. II in Fleet Air Arm service.[4]

The squadron re-embarked in HMS Indomitable on 27 February, for Operation Iceberg, which included the attacks on the Sakishima Gunto group of islands, and also Formosa.[2] During Operation Iceberg, on 12 May, the squadron CO, Lieutenant Commander M.S. Godson, was killed. His aircraft was hit by flak, while dive bombing at Hirara airfield on Miyako, causing a fire and the aircraft dived and exploded on hitting the ground.[5] His replacement was Lieutenant Commander(A) P.J.P. Leckie, RN.[3]

On 5 June the squadron disembarked back to RNAS Nowra (HMS Nabbington) and on 30 the 5th Naval Fighter Wing was disbanded.[5] It was immediately replaced with the 11th Carrier Air Group (11 CAG), which included 1839 and 1844 Naval Air Squadrons from the Wing, and along with 857 Naval Air Squadron.[9] The Admiralty had decided to move to the American system of all ships squadrons under a single Carrier Air Group (CAG).[10]

However, following the Japanese surrender, further planned operations during August were cancelled. The aircraft remained in Australia at RNAS Nowra (HMS Nabbington), while the squadron personel sailed on HMS Indomitable for the United Kingdom , where it disbanded on arrival, on 30 November.[2]

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Squadron

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Anti-submarine squadron

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1844 Naval Air Squadron reformed at RNAS Bramcote (HMS Gamecock), Nuneaton, Warwickshire, on 15 February 1954,[11] as a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch, anti-submarine squadron, in the Midland Air Division, under the command of Lieutenant Commander(A) D. Woodhead, RNVR.[12]

It was equipped initially with six Fairey Firefly, a British anti-submarine aircraft. These were the AS.Mk 5 variant which carried American sonobuoys and equipment. In December 1955 these were swapped for six AS.Mk 6, which carried British equipment.[13] The squadron replaced the Fairey Firefly aircraft in March 1956, when it received six Grumman Avenger, an American torpedo bomber. These were the TBM-3S variant, known as Avenger AS5 by the Fleet Air Arm.[14]

In 1957, the Minister of Defence’s White Paper on Defence, announced the ending of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch, The organisation, and its squadrons, were disbanded on 10 March 1957.[12]

Aircraft flown

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The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:[2]

 
Fairey Firefly AS.Mk 5

Battle honours

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The battle honours awarded to 1844 Naval Air Squadron are:

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1844 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom, and overseas, and a Royal Navy fleet carrier and a couple of escort carriers:[2]

 
HMS Indomitable

Commanding officers

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List of commanding officers of 1844 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[6][2]

  • Lieutenant Commander(A) T.W. Harrington, RN, from 15 December 1943
  • Lieutenant Commander(A) M.S. Godson, RN, from 9 September 1944 (KiA 12 May 1945)
  • Lieutenant Commander(A) P.J.P. Leckie, RN, from 12 May 1945
  • disbanded - 30 November 1945
  • Lieutenant Commander(A) D. Woodhead, RNVR, from 15 February 1954
  • disbanded - 10 March 1957

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 356.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 295.
  3. ^ a b c Wragg 2019, p. 198.
  4. ^ a b Thetford 1991, pp. 224–226.
  5. ^ a b c d e "A history of 1844 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Naval Air Squadrons 1938 - present day. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e Wragg 2019, p. 197.
  7. ^ Wragg 2019, p. 200.
  8. ^ "Nowra". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  9. ^ Wragg 2019, p. 203.
  10. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 305.
  11. ^ "Bramcote". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  12. ^ a b "A history of 1844 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Squadron". Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Naval Air Squadrons 1938 - present day. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  13. ^ Thetford 1991, pp. 185.
  14. ^ Thetford 1991, pp. 228.
  15. ^ "East Indies 1940-45". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Palembang 1945". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Okinawa 1945". britainsnavy.co.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2024.

Bibliography

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