1849 Naval Air Squadron


1849 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. It formed in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick as a fighter squadron at the start of 1944, equipped with Vought Corsair fighter aircraft. It embarked in HMS Reaper for transport to the UK in November. The squadron suffered from a high accident rate and disbanded on arrival in the UK, in December, with its aircraft and personnel dispersed between 1845 and 1850 Naval Air Squadrons.

History

Single-seat fighter squadron (1944)

1849 Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 August 1944 in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick, which was located at United States Naval Air Station (USNAS) Brunswick, Maine, as a Single Seat Fighter Squadron, under the command of Lieutenant Commander P.C.S. Chilton, RN.
It was equipped with eighteen Vought Corsair aircraft, an American carrier-borne fighter-bomber. These were the Brewster built F4U-1 variant, designated Corsair Mk III by the Fleet Air Arm. Training involved formation flying, air combat and navigation. Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landings were undertaken at the nearby Bar Harbor Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Bar Harbor, Maine. 1849 Naval Air Squadron was the last Fleet Air Arm squadron to be equipped with the Mk III variant of Vought Corsair, but these were replaced on 24 October with the Goodyear built FG-1D variant, designated Vought Corsair Mk IV by the Fleet Air Arm.
With working up completed the squadron left RN Air Section Brunswick and flew to RN Air Section Floyd Bennett Field, located at USNAS Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, New York City, on 15 November. Leaving the aircraft behind the aircrew travelled to Naval Station Norfolk to embarked in the,. She sailed to New York City, where she embarked the squadron aircraft and joined Convoy CU.48 for the Atlantic crossing to the United Kingdom on 24 November. On 6 December the squadron disembarked to Royal Naval Air Maintenance Yard Belfast (HMS Gadwall).
With the large amount of losses from air accidents it was decided 1849 Naval Air Squadron would be disbanded on arrival in the United Kingdom. The aircraft and personnel were distributed between 1845 and 1850 Naval Air Squadrons. 1849 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 6 December 1944.

Aircraft flown

1849 Naval Air Squadron flew two variants of only one aircraft type:

Naval air stations

1849 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy overseas, and a Royal Navy escort carrier:

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 1849 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:
Note: Abbreviation signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.