885 Naval Air Squadron
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| 885 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 27 September 1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Single-seat fighter squadron |
| Role | Fleet fighter squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | See Naval air stations section for full list. |
| Mottos | Celerrime (Latin for 'Very quickly') |
| Aircraft | See Aircraft operated section for full list. |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Battle honours |
|
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | Blue, issuant from water barry engrailed of four white and blue flames proper therein a cat emergent affronty black (1945)[1] |
| Identification Markings | single letters (Sea Hurricane) 7A+ (Sea Hurricane on HMS Victorious) 3A+ (Spitfire June 1944) 06A+ (Seafire on HMS Formidable) 2A+ (Seafire June 1944) single letters (Hellcat) K8A+ (Hellcat) single letters (Corsair) 100+ (Corsair) |
885 Naval Air Squadron (885 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. First formed on 1 March 1941, the squadron served as a fighter squadron during the Second World War. It operated in the Mediterranean in 1942–43, where it took part in Operation Torch, the Anglo-American invasion of French North Africa, the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Allied invasion of Italy. In 1944 it took part in the Allied invasion of Normandy, spotting for Allied artillery bombardments and in 1945, was deployed as part of the British Pacific Fleet. It was disbanded for the last time on 27 September 1945.
885 Naval Air Squadron was first formed on 1 March 1941 at RNAS Dhekeila (HMS Grebe) in Egypt, the pre-war Alexandria airport, as a carrier fighter squadron, equipped with a mix of Brewster Buffalo, an American fighter aircraft and Gloster Gladiator, a British biplane fighter.[2] The squadron briefly served aboard the carrier Eagle later that month, but was disbanded on 1 May 1941.[3]
The squadron was reformed at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), Somerset, equipped with Hawker Sea Hurricane fighters, a navalised version of the Hawker Hurricane, on 1 December 1941.[3] In June 1942, 885 NAS embarked on the carrier Victorious, strengthening the carrier's air wing before Victorious formed part of the distant escort for the disastrous arctic convoy PQ 17 and the return convoy QP 13.[3][4]
The squadron re-embarked its six Hawker Sea Hurricanes aboard Victorious on 31 July 1942 before the carrier set out to take part in the Malta Convoy,Operation Pedestal.[5][6] In September 1942, the squadron was ordered to RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, to re-equip with the Supermarine Seafire F Mk.IIc, a navalised Supermarine Spitfire, and then embarked on Formidable for Operation Torch, the Anglo-American invasion of French North Africa in November that year.[6][7] The Squadron remained on Formidable as the carrier covered the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 and Operation Avalanche, the Allied landings near Salerno, Italy in September 1943.[3][8][9] The squadron returned to Britain in October 1943 and was disbanded on 15 November 1943.[3]
The squadron reformed again at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, on 15 February 1944, again equipped with Supermarine Seafire. Following the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, the squadron was employed as part of RAF Second Tactical Air Force's air spotting pool, spotting for Allied artillery bombardments as well as escorting shipping in the Channel and carrying out fighter sweeps. In July, 886 and 897 Naval Air Squadrons, both also Seafire-equipped, were merged with 885 Naval Air Squadron. In November 1944, the squadron re-equipped with Grumman Hellcat, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft, in preparation for a transfer to the British Pacific Fleet.[6]
The squadron embarked on the escort carrier Ruler in December 1944,[10] with Ruler meeting up with the British Pacific fleet in April 1945.[11] Ruler was tasked with providing fighter and anti submarine protection for the Fleet Train replenishment ships supporting the fleet, with 885 Naval Air Squadron supplementing its eighteen Grumman Hellcats with four Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers for anti-submarine duties.[11][12] On 14–15 May, the squadron provided air cover while the British Pacific Fleet replenished during the Battle of Okinawa, with the squadron's aircraft also being used as targets to train the fleet's fighter controllers and anti-aircraft gunners.[13]
After the end of Okinawa operations, the squadron disembarked at RNAS Ponum (HMS Nabaron), Ponam Island off New Guinea, providing continuation flying for replacement pilots for the fleet, and temporarily adding some Vought Corsair, an American fighter aircraft, while ashore to improve the training it could offer.[14] From June, 885 Naval Air Squadron operated from Ruler to cover more refuelling operations during operations against Japan.[11][15] The squadron was disbanded at RAAF Station Schofields, near Sydney Australia on 27 September 1945.[10]
Aircraft operated
The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[1]
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- Gloster Sea Gladiator biplane fighter aircraft (March - May 1941)
- Brewster Buffalo fighter aircraft (March - May 1941)
- Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IB fighter aircraft (December 1941 - August 1942)
- Supermarine Spitfire Mk Va fighter aircraft (September - October 1942)
- Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb/hooked fighter aircraft (September - October 1942)
- Supermarine Seafire Mk.IIc fighter aircraft (September 1942 - November 1943)
- Supermarine Seafire Mk.Ib fighter aircraft (October 1942 - August 1943)
- Supermarine Seafire L MK.III fighter aircraft (February - November 1944)
- Supermarine Seafire F MK.III fighter aircraft (February - November 1944)
- Supermarine Seafire L MK.IIc fighter aircraft (August - November 1944)
- Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. I fighter aircraft (October 1944 - May 1945)
- Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. II fighter aircraft (October 1944 - September 1945)
- Grumman Tarpon GR.I torpedo bomber (May - September 1945)
- Grumman Avenger Mk.II torpedo bomber (May - September 1945)
- Vought Corsair Mk II fighter-bomber (June - August 1945)
- Vought Corsair Mk IV fighter-bomber (June - August 1945)
Battle honours
The battle honours awarded to 885 Naval Air Squadron are:[16]
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