897 Naval Air Squadron


897 Naval Air Squadron, sometimes expressed as 897 Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. It most recently operated Hawker Sea Hawk between November 1955 and January 1957.
Established as a fighter squadron with Supermarine Seafire, Supermarine Spitfire and Fairey Fulmar at HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton, on 1 August 1942, the squadron was disbanded into 801 and 880 Naval Air Squadrons on 3 September. It reformed at HMS Blackcap as a fighter unit with Hawker Sea Hurricane on 1 December 1942. On August 4, the squadron joined HMS Unicorn and provided air support for Operation Avalanche, part of the Allied invasion of Italy, in September 1943. The squadron became part of the 3rd Naval Fighter Wing, focusing on tactical reconnaissance and bombardment spotting and transitioning back to Seafire and Spitfire. It provided cover during the Operation Neptune, the Normandy landings, where it claimed a Messerschmidt Bf 109 and inflicted damage on a midget submarine. The squadron disbanded into 885 Naval Air Squadron on 15 July 1944.
It re-established at HMS Goldcrest, RNAS Brawdy, on 7 November 1955 as a fighter unit, deploying five months later aboard HMS Eagle to the Mediterranean. On 12 October 1956, the squadron participated in the Suez Crisis, completing well over one hundred sorties. It subsequently returned home and was disbanded on 5 January 1957.

History

Single seat fighter squadron (1942–1944)

897 Naval Air Squadron was established at RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap), Cheshire, England, on 1 August 1942, as a single-seat fighter unit, initially equipped with three Supermarine Seafire F Mk IIc aircraft, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire and three Fairey Fulmar Mk II carrier-borne fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. However, it was disbanded on 3 September, subsequently merging into 801 and 880 Naval Air Squadrons.
The squadron was re-established at RNAS Stretton on 1 December 1942, once more functioning as a single-seat fighter unit, initially equipped with six Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IB fighter aircraft, a navalised version of the Hawker Hurricane. In March 1943, these were substituted with ten Supermarine Seafire F Mk Ib fighter aircraft, which were subsequently replaced in August by ten Mk IIc variants. With these aircraft, 897 Naval Air Squadron joined the aircraft repair ship and light aircraft carrier,, to offer air support for the Salerno landings the following month. During this operation, a section commanded by the squadron leader successfully executed one of the rare interceptions of enemy aircraft.
Upon relocating to RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail), Lancashire, England, in October 1943, the squadron integrated into the 3rd Naval Fighter Wing, focusing on tactical reconnaissance and bombardment spotting training. In March 1944, it transitioned to Supermarine Spitfire L.Mk Vb fighter aircraft, playing a crucial role in providing air support for the Normandy landings, during which it claimed the destruction of a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft and inflicted damage on a midget submarine. This operation encompassed 374 sorties conducted between 6 June and 12 July and upon its completion, the squadron was officially disbanded on 15 July 1944, merging into 885 Naval Air Squadron while stationed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, England.

Hawker Sea Hawk (1955–1957)

897 Naval Air Squadron reestablished at RNAS Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest), Pembrokeshire, Wales, on 7 November 1955 as a fighter unit equipped with twelve Hawker Sea Hawk FB.3 jet fighter-bomber aircraft, the squadron deployed aboard the, to the Mediterranean five months later. On 12 October 1956, the unit's aircraft were swapped for the FGA.6 Fighter/Ground attack variant from 895 Naval Air Squadron, to participate in operations during the Suez Crisis, completing 169 sorties from 1 to 6 November, targeting shipping, military facilities, and airfields. Subsequently, the squadron returned to the United Kingdom and was disbanded on 5 January 1957.

Aircraft operated

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

Battle honours

The battle honours awarded to 897 Naval Air Squadron are:

Assignments

897 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:

Naval air stations and aircraft carriers

897 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy in the UK and overseas, and also a number of Royal Navy fleet carriers and escort carriers and other airbases overseas:
1942
1942 – 1944
1955 – 1957

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 897 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:
1942
  • Captain R.C. Hay,, RM, from 1 August 1942
  • disbanded – 3 September 1942
1942 – 1944
  • Lieutenant W.C. Simpson, RN, from 1 December 1942
  • disbanded – 17 July 1944
1955 – 1957
Note: Abbreviation signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.