890 Naval Air Squadron


890 Naval Air Squadron, sometimes known as 890 Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. It most recently operated de Havilland Sea Vixen carrier-based fleet air-defence fighter aircraft between August 1967 and August 1971.
The squadron was formed in June 1942 in Nova Scotia as a fighter unit and did not receive aircraft until it reached Norfolk, Virginia, in June. There, it obtained ex-USN F4F-3 Wildcats and later exchanged for Grumman Martlet Mk IV before boarding HMS Battler on December 8 for a trip to the UK, arriving in January 1943. After incorporating 'A' Flight from 881 Naval Air Squadron, it joined HMS Illustrious in June for operations in Iceland and Norway, later supporting the Salerno landings in September 1943, before disbanding in Puttalam, Ceylon, in August 1944.
In March 1952, the squadron came together at HMS Peregrine, RNAS Ford, as a fighter unit and was officially commissioned on April 22. Operating with Supermarine Attacker, its primary role was to supply pilots and aircraft to 800 and 803 Naval Air Squadrons. In October, but was disbanded in December.
890 Naval Air Squadron was reformed in March 1954 as an All Weather Fighter squadron, with de Havilland Sea Venom and joined HMS Albion in July 1955. However, it was moved to second-line status in October and became 766 Naval Air Squadron. It was reformed again in February 1956 with de Havilland Sea Venom. It disbanded into 893 Naval Air Squadron in June after losing two crews in accidents.
The squadron reformed in February 1960 with de Havilland Sea Vixen, joining HMS Hermes in July for operations in the Mediterranean and Far East, returning in May 1961. In November, the squadron moved to HMS Ark Royal for more Mediterranean operations, returning home in early 1962 before heading back to the Far East, visiting Australia in August and arriving in the UK for Christmas. The squadron reformed again in August 1967 with de Havilland Sea Vixen and eventually disbanded in August 1971 after absorbing aircraft from 766 Naval Air Squadron.

History

Single-seat fighter squadron (1942–1944)

890 Naval Air Squadron was formed on 15 June 1942, at RCAF Station Dartmouth, Shearwater, Nova Scotia, Canada, as a fighter squadron. However, it did not receive any aircraft until it arrived at RN Air Section Norfolk, situated at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, United States, on 26 June, where it acquired former United States Navy F4F-3 Wildcat fighter aircraft. Following this acquisition, the squadron underwent deck landing training on the in late August 1942. In September 1942, the squadron was further equipped with six Grumman Martlet Mk. IV fighter aircraft, enhancing its operational capabilities. This addition marked a significant step in the squadron's development as it prepared for deployment. On 8 December, 890 Naval Air Squadron embarked in the,, for the United Kingdom.
On 8 December 1942, HMS Battler commenced the process of embarking 890 Squadron to transport them back to the United Kingdom. The carrier reached New York on 18 December and subsequently set sail on 21 December to join the convoy HX 220, which was gathering off the coast of New York. After enduring a tumultuous crossing of the Atlantic, HMS Battler finally arrived in the Clyde on 8 January 1943.
On 8 January 1943, the squadron disembarked to RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, Scotland and then subsequently moved to RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), Fife, Scotland, where it expanded by incorporating 'A' Flight from 881 Naval Air Squadron. This newly augmented squadron embarked on the name ship of her class, the aircraft carrier on 14 June, to participate in operations in the waters surrounding Iceland and Norway. Following its initial engagements, the squadron became part of Force H in the Mediterranean. It played a crucial role in providing air support during the Salerno landings in September 1943, contributing significantly to the Allied efforts in that operation. Upon their return to the United Kingdom, the squadron was re-equipped with ten Grumman Wildcat Mk V fighter aircraft and personnel subsequently boarded for transportation to Ceylon. The squadron ultimately disbanded at RNAS Puttalam, Puttalam, Ceylon, on 1 August 1944.

Single-seat fighter squadron (1952)

In March 1952, the squadron convened at RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine), Sussex, initially functioning as a fighter squadron. It was officially commissioned on 22 April, equipped with eight Supermarine Attacker F.1 jet fighter aircraft, primarily tasked with supplying pilots and aircraft to 800 and 803 Naval Air Squadrons. In October, the squadron was deployed aboard the, ; however, it was disbanded upon returning to RNAS Ford in December, with its aircraft redistributed to the other two squadrons.

Sea Venom (1954–1956)

In the 1950s, the squadron was operational on two separate occasions, and on each instance, it was equipped with de Havilland Sea Venom fighter aircraft. 890 Naval Air Squadron was re-established at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), Somerset, in March 1954, designated as an All Weather Fighter squadron. Initially equipped with nine de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.20 fighter aircraft, the squadron embarked on the,, in July 1955. However, by October of the same year, it was downgraded to second-line status and subsequently reclassified as 766 Naval Air Squadron. In February 1956, 890 Naval Air Squadron reformed at RNAS Yeovilton, this time being equipped with six de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.21 fighter aircraft. However, the squadron was disbanded in June 1956 following the tragic loss of two of its crews, which included the Commanding Officer, due to accidents.

Sea Vixen (1960–1971)

The squadron reformed at RNAS Yeovilton in February 1960, equipped with ten de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 fighter aircraft. In July, these aircraft were deployed aboard the Centaur-class aircraft carrier, initially operating in the Mediterranean before proceeding to the Far East, with a return scheduled for May 1961. In November, the squadron transferred to the Audacious-class aircraft carrier for additional operations in the Mediterranean. After returning home in early 1962, it re-joined HMS Ark Royal in March, navigating through the Mediterranean to the Far East and visiting Australia in August, ultimately returning to Yeovilton for Christmas.
A subsequent deployment aboard HMS Ark Royal in 1963 included several weeks in the Indian Ocean, with stops in Aden, Yemen and Mombasa, Kenya, as well as a detachment to Nairobi, Kenya, before heading back to the Far East. Following another return at the end of the year, most of 1964 was spent on land, with only brief assignments on HMS Hermes and HMS Eagle. A detachment re-joined HMS Ark Royal for catapult and arrester wire trials upon her recommissioning in November 1965, and after a short period in Home waters, the squadron participated in the Beira Patrol off Mozambique before returning to the Far East. The squadron undertook several more Beira patrols in 1966 before disbanding at RNAS Yeovilton in October of that year.
In August 1967, the squadron was reformed at RNAS Yeovilton with four Sea Vixen FAW.1 fighter aircraft, which were subsequently upgraded to FAW.2 variants for operational trials and training purposes. Beginning in April 1970, Airwork took over the maintenance of its aircraft, and on 10 December the squadron transferred its Forward Refuelling Unit and refuelling responsibilities to the local Airwork Fleet Requirements Unit, which also replaced its aging de Havilland Sea Venom aircraft with the de Havilland Sea Vixens. Subsequently, 890 Naval Air Squadron integrated the aircraft from 766 Naval Air Squadron, temporarily functioning as the de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 Headquarters squadron, but it ultimately disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton in August 1971.

Aircraft operated

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

Battle honours

The battle honours awarded to 890 Naval Air Squadron are:

Naval air stations and aircraft carriers

890 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:
1942–1944
1952
1954–1955
1956
1960–1966
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • *
  • HMS Hermes
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon), Malta
  • HMS Hermes
  • * Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, Moray
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • HMS Hermes
  • * RN Air Section Gibraltar, Gibraltar
  • * Royal Air Force Tengah, Singapore
  • * Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far, Malta
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • HMS Hermes
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • HMS Hermes
  • * RN Air Section Gibraltar, Gibraltar
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • *
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • * RN Air Section Gibraltar, Somerset
  • * Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far, Malta
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • * Royal Air Force Tengah, Singapore
  • * Royal Air Force Tengah, Singapore
  • * RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia
  • * Royal Air Force Tengah, Singapore
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • * Embakasi, Kenya
  • * Royal Air Force Tengah, Singapore
  • * Royal Air Force Tengah, Singapore
  • * Embakasi, Kenya
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • HMS Hermes
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • * HMS Eagle
  • * HMS Ark Royal
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • * Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, Moray
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • Royal Air Force Changi, Singapore
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • Royal Air Force Changi, Singapore
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • Royal Air Force Changi, Singapore
  • RAAF Butterworth, Malaysia
  • Royal Air Force Changi, Singapore
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • Royal Air Force Changi, Singapore
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • Royal Air Force Changi, Singapore
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • disbanded
1967–1971
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • * Royal Air Force Akrotiri, Cyprus
  • * Nordholz Naval Airbase, Germany
  • * Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, Moray
  • Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, Moray
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • Air Base Karup, Denmark
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset
  • disbanded

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 890 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:
1942–1944
1952
  • Lieutenant Commander R.W. Kearsley, RN, from 26 March 1952
  • disbanded – 3 December 1952
1954–1955
  • Lieutenant Commander A. Gordon-Johnson, RN, from 2 March 1954
  • Lieutenant Commander L.A. Jeyes, RN, from 7 August 1955
  • disbanded – 18 October 1955
1956
  • Lieutenant Commander P.S. Brewer, RN, from 6 February 1956
  • Lieutenant Commander P.G. Young, RN, from 5 June 1956
  • disbanded – 25 June 1956
1960–1966
  • Lieutenant Commander W.R. Hart,, RN, from 1 February 1960
  • Lieutenant Commander D. Monsell, RN, from 11 September 1961
  • Lieutenant Commander R.G.M. Campbell, RN, from 15 July 1963
  • Lieutenant Commander A.M.G. Pearson, RN, from 15 April 1965
  • disbanded – 7 October 1966
1967–1971
  • Lieutenant Commander M.F. Kennett, RN, from 14 August 1967
  • Lieutenant Commander W.R. Patterson, RN, from 2 February 1968
  • Lieutenant Commander M.J. Bateman, RN, from 6 January 1969
  • Lieutenant Commander F. Milner, RN, from 23 January 1970
  • Lieutenant Commander P.R. Sheppard, RN, from 14 January 1971
  • disbanded – 6 August 1971