795 Naval Air Squadron


795 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy which last disbanded at RNAS Ford, in Sussex, during March 1947. Originally formed as the Eastern Fleet Fighter Pool at RNAS Tanga, in Tanganyika, in June 1942, it’s 'A' Flight's supported the invasion of Madagascar, from HMS Illustrious, before being detached at Majunga on anti-submarine patrols as part of the Royal Air Force’s No. 207 Group. The squadron later moved to RNAS Mackinnon Road, in Kenya, before disbanding during August 1943. It reformed as a Refresher Training Squadron at RNAS Eglinton, in Northern Ireland, in August 1946 as part of the Fleet Air Arm’s 52nd Training Air Group and later included a couple of deployments in HMS Implacable.

History

Eastern Fleet Fighter Pool (1942–1943)

795 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Tanga, Tanganyika Territory, East Africa, on 24 June 1942 as the Eastern Fleet Fighter Pool. It was initially equipped with Fairey Fulmar, a British carrier-borne reconnaissance and fighter aircraft, and Grumman Martlet, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft. As part of the Battle of Madagascar, 'A' Flight, which was formed of six Fairey Fulmar aircraft, embarked in the lead ship of her class of aircraft carrier along with the Fairey Albacore biplane torpedo bomber equipped 796 Naval Air Squadron, on 29 August. On 11 September the flight was put ashore at Majunga, Madagascar and was tasked to provide anti-submarine patrols, under the direction of No. 207 Group RAF. The Flight undertook a number of active sorties but in November it moved to the ex-seaplane tender HMS Albatross. The main section of the squadron had moved to RNAS Mackinnon Road, in Kenya, East Africa, on 19 September 1942 and remained there for almost a year. 795 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 11 August 1943.

Refresher Training Squadron (1946–1947)

795 Naval Air Squadron reformed as a Refresher Training squadron, on 1 August 1946 at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), and as part of the 52nd Training Air Group. The squadron was equipped with Fairey Firefly, a carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft. Its role was to provide refresher training to aircraft carrier standard. On the 13 November 1946 the squadron exchanged Commanding Officer and staff with 719 Naval Air Squadron, then on 14 January 1947, the squadron embarked in, the name ship of her class.
795 Naval Air Squadron disbanded for the second time on 24 March, the squadron disembarked from Implacable to RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine), in Sussex, it’s aircraft flown to RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap), in Cheshire, to be put into storage, on the same day.

Aircraft flown

The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types and variants:

Naval air stations and aircraft carriers

795 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, both in the UK and overseas and a number of Royal Navy aircraft carriers:
1942 - 1943
1946 - 1947

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 795 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:
1942 - 1943
1946 - 1947
  • Lieutenant J.M. Brown,, RN, from 10 August 1946
  • Lieutenant C.R.J. Coxon, RN, from 13 November 1946
  • disbanded - 26 March 1947
Note: Abbreviation signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.