889 Naval Air Squadron

889 Naval Air Squadron, sometimes referred to as 889 Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy.
It was last active during 1945 operating Grumman Hellcat fighter aircraft.
The squadron was created from the RN Fighter Flight in March 1942, to protect the Suez Canal. It initially conducted night fighter missions in Syria. By the end of the year, the squadron returned to Egypt for operations in the Western Desert. It was disbanded in February 1943. It was reformed in Ceylon in April 1944 and joined HMS Atheling in May for missions over the Bay of Bengal. Unfortunately, the squadron faced heavy losses due to accidents, including the loss of its commanding officer, leading to its disbandment in Ceylon in July. The squadron reformed again in June 1945, intended for the British Pacific Fleet, but it disbanded on September 11, the day after it embarked.

History

Single-seat fighter squadron (1942-1943)

889 Naval Air Squadron was initially established on 16 March 1942, originating from the RN Fighter Flight. The squadron was equipped with twelve Fairey Fulmar Mk II, a carrier-based reconnaissance/fighter aircraft, tasked with the defense of the Suez Canal.
From Fuka South, Egypt, the operation focused on maritime security and the defense of the Canal Zone, which included engagements during nighttime operations. In executing these defensive measures, each squadron was assigned to a specific ground beacon positioned along the North African coastline. The underlying principle was that any aircraft detected during a state of alert was presumed to be hostile and thus warranted an attack. However, despite numerous sorties, 889 Naval Air Squadron ultimately did not achieve any successful engagements.
Early night fighter operations were conducted governed by the Royal Air Force's 234 and 252 Wings, and subsequently by 250 Wing in Syria. At the conclusion of the year, the squadron made its return to Egypt, where it was partially re-equipped with seven Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC fighter aircraft for missions in the Western Desert. The squadron was officially disbanded on 28 February 1943.

Single-seat fighter squadron (1944)

On 1 April 1944, 889 Naval Air Squadron was reformed at RNAS Colombo Racecourse (HMS Berhunda) in Ceylon, operating as a fighter unit with a complement of ten Supermarine Seafire L Mk.IIc and F Mk.III fighter aircraft, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire. The squadron embarked in the escort carrier, to conduct an offensive sweep over the Bay of Bengal. However, following the loss of several pilots in various accidents, including the original commanding officer, the squadron was disbanded at RNAS Puttalam, Ceylon, on 11 July.

Single-seat fighter squadron (1945)

Re-established on 6 June 1945, at RNAS Woodvale (HMS Ringtail II), Merseyside, the squadron comprised six Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. I and FR. Mk. II, a carrier-borne fighter aircraft with the latter variant fitted with camera equipment, with the unit designated for service with the British Pacific Fleet. However, it was disbanded on 11 September, the day following its initial embarkation.
When the war ended, 889 Naval Air Squadron, equipped with six Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. I and FR. Mk. II photo-reconnaissance variants, was preparing to depart from Scotland for the Far East, the squadron had been based at RNAS Woodvale since its re-formation after VE Day, and practising carrier operations on before moving to, to replace 888 Naval Air Squadron, and intended to photograph Japanese beaches prior planned invasion that was forestalled by the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With the cessation of hostilities, the squadron was disbanded and the Hellcat fighter aircraft dumped off the Scottish coast.