884 Naval Air Squadron


884 Naval Air Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy, which last disbanded in July 1943. It formed at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, as a Fleet Fighter squadron, in November 1941. The squadron supported RAF Fighter Command by offering fighter protection and engaged in various operations, including efforts to alleviate the Siege of Malta and the Allied invasion of French North Africa.

History

Fleet fighter squadron (1941–1943)

884 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), Fife, on 1 November 1941 as a Fleet Fighter squadron. It was initially equipped with six Fairey Fulmar Mk.II, a carrier-based reconnaissance and fighter aircraft.
The squadron was intended to embark on, but after working up it operated as part of No. 13 Group RAF in Fighter Command, from 22 March 1942. It was based at RAF Turnhouse, in Edinburgh, Scotland, but moved to RAF Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, before returning to RAF Turnhouse.
The squadron returned to the Fleet Air Arm on 21 July at RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, and then embarked in the to help provide fighter cover for the Malta convoy Operation Pedestal.
884 Naval Air Squadron returned to the United Kingdom but was back with the Royal Air Force at RAF Skeabrae, Mainland, Orkney. Its Fairey Fulmar were replaced by hooked Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft and it also converted to Supermarine Seafire, a navalised Spitfire, however, the squadron re-embarked to provide fighter cover during Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa.
It then returned to fighter defence with Nos. 13 and 14 Groups in Fighter Command, operating from various Royal Air Force stations around Scotland, before disbanding at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), on 20 July 1943.
There was a proposed 22nd Carrier Air Group for the British Pacific Fleet in 1945 and it was intended to use a reformed 884 Naval Air Squadron with twenty-one Supermarine Seafire as part of its make-up, however, it wasn’t required following V-J Day.

Aircraft operated

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

Battle honours

The battle honours awarded to 884 Naval Air Squadron are:

Naval air stations and aircraft carriers

884 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force stations in the UK, and a Royal Navy fleet carrier:

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 884 Naval Air Squadron: