893 Naval Air Squadron
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- 1942–1943
- 1956–1960
- 1960–1965
- 1965–1970
United Kingdom
Royal Navy| 893 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 14 July 1970 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Single-seat fighter squadron |
| Role | Carrier-based fighter squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | See Naval air stations section for full list. |
| Mottos | Saepe feriendum (Latin for 'Strike often') |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Battle honours |
|
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | Party per pale wory blue and black, a base barry wavy of six white and bive overall a flash of lightning sinister chief winged gold striking the water in dexter base (1944) |
| Identification Markings | 09A+ (Martlet on Formidable for Operation Torch) 9A+ (Martlet later) 090-099 (Sea Venom) 457-469 (Sea Venom September 1957) 255-259 (Sea Venom 1960) 455-464 (Sea Vixen FAW.1) 244-257 (Sea Vixen FAW.2) |
| Fin Carrier Codes | O (Sea Venom) O:V:A:R (Sea Venom September 1957) V (Sea Venom 1960) R:C:V (Sea Vixen FAW.1) V:H (Sea Vixen FAW.2) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | |
893 Naval Air Squadron (893 NAS), otherwise referred to as 893 Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN).[2] It most recently operated de Havilland Sea Vixen carrier-based fleet air-defence fighter aircraft, between August 1960 and July 1970.
The squadron was established as a fighter unit in June 1942. By October it was operating on the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable. The squadron provided air support for Operation Torch. It participated in the invasion of Sicily in July 1943 and the landings at Salerno in September 1943, but was disbanded in November.
The squadron was reformed in February 1956. Due to the Suez crisis, it expanded by absorbing 890 Naval Air Squadron. In December, it expanded further by taking in some aircraft from 892 Naval Air Squadron. It became the first squadron to equip de Havilland Sea Venom aircraft with Firestreak missiles, but disbanded in February 1960.
In August 1960, 893 Naval Air Squadron was reformed for HMS Hermes. During the Kuwait crisis in June 1961 it was on HMS Centaur and in August 1963 it moved to HMS Victorious for a long deployment in the Far East. During rising tensions with Indonesia, the squadron was at RAF Tengah from June to August 1964, however, the squadron disbanded in July 1965. It was reformed in November and six months later boarded HMS Victorious, serving in the Far East from July 1966 to March 1967. It moved to Cyprus in April 1968 and in May joined HMS Hermes for the Far East. The squadron was later in the Mediterranean, but disbanded in July 1970.
Throughout its history 893 NAS has operated Fulmars, Martlets, Sea Venoms and Sea Vixens.
Single-seat fighter squadron (1942-1943)
_off_Salerno_1943.jpg)
893 Naval Air Squadron was first stood up at RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), Fife, Scotland, on 15 June 1942 equipped with Grumman Martlet fighter aircraft and supplemented by a number of Fairey Fulmar fighter aircraft.[3] The original plan was for deployment on the Long Island-class escort carrier, HMS Archer;[4] however, it ultimately served on the Illustrious-class aircraft carrier, HMS Formidable, where it was equipped with ten Grumman Martlet Mk IV in October. This arrangement facilitated fighter patrols during Operation Torch, the North African landings. Throughout the subsequent months, patrols continued in the Mediterranean region. In July 1943, fighter cover focused on the Allied landings in Sicily, Operation Husky, while a comparable operation was conducted for the Salerno Landings, Operation Avalanche, in September. On 18 October, the squadron returned to RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, Scotland and subsequently re-embarked to provide support for an Arctic convoy. The squadron was disbanded on 18 November, shortly following its return.[5]
All-weather fighter squadron (1956-1960)
893 Naval Air Squadron was re established as an all-weather fighter unit at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), Somerset, England, in February 1956, initially equipped with six de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.21 jet fighter aircraft, designated for HMS Ark Royal.[4] However, the onset of the Suez Crisis necessitated a revision of these plans, leading to an expansion in June when the squadron grew to nine aircraft through the incorporation of 890 Naval Air Squadron. Subsequently, in December, 893 Naval Air Squadron further augmented its strength by integrating several aircraft from 892 Naval Air Squadron, thereby enhancing its operational capabilities from the Audacious-class aircraft carrier, HMS Eagle. In February 1957, the unit was assigned to HMS Ark Royal while operating in the Mediterranean, with additional deployments in Home waters and the Atlantic. Subsequently, in September 1958, the squadron transferred to Illustrious-class aircraft carrier, HMS Victorious, also stationed in the Mediterranean. The squadron distinguished itself as the first to operate de Havilland Sea Venom aircraft armed with Firestreak infrared homing (heat seeking) air-to-air missile, undergoing re-equipment with FAW.22 Sea Vixen variant in January 1959. The squadron was officially disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) on 29 February 1960.[6]
Sea Vixen (1960-1970)
In August 1960, 893 Naval Air Squadron was reformed at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), equipped with six de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 jet fighter aircraft. The squadron's first detachment was to the Centaur-class aircraft carrier, HMS Hermes prior to its commissioning on 1 September. Subsequently, the squadron flew to join HMS Ark Royal near Malta in November. By the time of the Kuwait crisis in June 1961, the squadron was aboard the lead ship of her class, HMS Centaur, and it later operated in both the Far East and the Mediterranean regions before transferring to HMS Victorious in August 1963. This vessel then embarked on an extended deployment to the Far East, which included stops in Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia. During a period of heightened tensions with Indonesia, the squadron was placed on alert and disembarked at RAF Tengah, Singapore, from June to August 1964 while the ship underwent refitting in HMNB Singapore. Upon returning to the United Kingdom, the squadron was disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton in July 1965.[6]
The squadron, equipped with eleven de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 aircraft, was re established at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) in November 1965 and subsequently embarked on HMS Victorious six months later. Following a deployment to the Far East from July 1966 to March 1967, the squadron returned to the United Kingdom before detaching to Cyprus in April 1968. In May, 893 Naval Air Squadron joined HMS Hermes for another expedition to the Far East. The squadron also spent time operating in the Mediterranean; however, it was disbanded on 14 July 1970.[6]
Aircraft flown
Types of aircraft flown by 893 Naval Air Squadron include:[6]
_c1964.jpg)
- Fairey Fulmar Mk.I reconnaissance/fighter aircraft (June - September 1942)
- Grumman Martlet Mk I fighter aircraft (June - October 1942)
- Grumman Martlet Mk II fighter aircraft (September - October 1942)
- Grumman Martlet Mk IV fighter aircraft (October 1942 - November 1943)
- de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.21 jet fighter-bomber (February 1956 - January 1959)
- de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.22 jet fighter-bomber (January 1959 - February 1960)
- de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 jet fighter aircraft (September 1960 - July 1965)
- de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 jet fighter aircraft (November 1965 - July 1970)
Battle honours
The battle honours awarded to 893 Naval Air Squadron are:
- Arctic 1941-1945[7]
- North Africa 1942-43[8]
- Sicily 1943[9]
- Salerno 1943[10]
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