888 Naval Air Squadron


888 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. It was first established as a Fleet fighter unit at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in November 1941. The squadron boarded HMS Formidable in February 1942, heading to the Indian Ocean for the Madagascar invasion. It returned to HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle in September and the next month re-embarked for the North African landings, where it shot down two enemy aircraft. Throughout most of 1943, the squadron operated in the Mediterranean, supporting landings in Sicily and Salerno. The squadron was disbanded at HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton in November 1943.
It was reformed at HMS Ringtail, RNAS Burscough in June 1944. In September, the squadron joined HMS Rajah for Ceylon, operating as a PR unit from land. It joined HMS Indefatigable in December and began PR missions over Sumatra, moving to HMS Empress in February for PR missions over the Kra Isthmus, Penang, Phuket, and Sumatra. From then until the war's end, the squadron continued similar operations from other escort carriers and using mainly HMS Berhunda, RNAS Colombo Racecourse, as a base. After the war, the squadron focused on aerial surveys and returned to the United Kingdom to disband in August 1946.

History

Fleet fighter squadron (1941-1943)

888 Naval Air Squadron, a fleet fighter unit, was established at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, on 1 November 1941. Initially equipped with six Grumman Martlet Mk I, an American carrier-borne fighter aircraft, the squadron transitioned to a fleet of twelve Grumman Martlet Mk II fighter aircraft before the conclusion of the year.
The Grumman Martlet served as the British counterpart to the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps F4F-3, commonly referred to in the United States as the Grumman Wildcat. It was procured for the Fleet Air Arm concurrently with its acceptance into service by US forces. The manufacturers designated it as the G-36. The Mk I was powered by one 1,240 hp Wright Cyclone G-205A, whereas the Mk II used one 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp S3C4-G.
On February 4, 1942, the squadron departed from RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, Scotland, and embarked in the,, proceeding to the Indian Ocean in preparation for the invasion of Madagascar. During this operation, various detachments were deployed ashore, primarily to the RN Air Section at Royal Air Force Port Reitz, Mombasa, Kenya, East Africa. Subsequently, conducting reconnaissance of the peripheral islands to assess the potential presence of Japanese military forces.
Upon returning to RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), Fife, Scotland, on 21 September, the squadron received Grumman Martlet Mk IV fighter aircraft in the subsequent month. On 20 October, the squadron re-deployed for the North African landings, Operation Torch, during which it successfully engaged and accounted for two enemy aircraft.
The majority of the subsequent year was dedicated to operations in the Mediterranean region, which encompassed support for the landings in Sicily during July, Operation Husky, and the landings at Salerno in September, Operation Avalanche. Following these engagements, the squadron returned to the United Kingdom. In November 1943, the squadron was officially disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), Somerset, England, marking the conclusion of its activities after a year characterised by significant military involvement in the Mediterranean.

Single-seat fighter squadron (1944-1946)

888 Naval Air Squadron was re-established at RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail), Lancashire, England, on 10 June 1944, equipped with six Grumman Hellcat FR. Mk. II fighter aircraft, this particular variant was fitted with camera equipment.
The Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. II was the British equivalent of the United States Navy's F6F-5 variant fitted with one 2,250 hp Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp R-2800-10W engine.
In September, the squadron was conveyed to Ceylon aboard the,. Subsequently, 888 Naval Air Squadron engaged in training sorties focused on photographic reconnaissance, and by the year's conclusion, it was embarked in the,, to conduct operations over Sumatra in early 1945.
Remaining stationed in Ceylon, the squadron was present when the British Pacific Fleet departed for Australia. Subsequently, in February, it transitioned to the escort carrier,, undertaking photographic reconnaissance sorties across Kra Isthmus, Penang, Phuket Island, and northern Sumatra, operating at elevations between and. A total of twenty-two reconnaissance missions were conducted from 22 February to 7 March.
During this period leading up to the conclusion of the war, the squadron undertook comparable responsibilities while operating from various escort carriers, such as,,, and. Additionally, the squadron had another assignment aboard HMS Empress, utilising airfields in Ceylon, predominantly RNAS Colombo Racecourse (HMS Berhunda), as its shore station.
Following Victory over Japan Day, the squadron journeyed to Singapore, maintaining its primary function by engaging in aerial survey operations under the jurisdiction of Air Command, South East Asia of the Royal Air Force. The unit returned home in June 1946 and was officially disbanded upon its arrival in August.

Aircraft operated

888 Naval Air Squadron operated a couple of different aircraft types and variants:

Battle honours

The battle honours awarded to 888 Naval Air Squadron are:

Naval air stations and aircraft carriers

888 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force stations in the UK and overseas, and also a number of Royal Navy fleet carriers and escort carriers and other airbases overseas, throughout its existence:
1941 - 1943
1944 - 1946

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 888 Naval Air Squadron, with date of appointment:
1941 - 1943
1944 - 1946
Note: Abbreviation signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.