| 795 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Grumman Martlet Mk II, an example of the type used by 795 NAS | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 24 March 1947[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role |
|
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | SeeNaval air stations section for full list. |
| Insignia | |
| Identification Markings | Letters only (1942 - 1943) A4+ (from 1946) 200-215 (later)[2] |
| Fin Carrier Code | A |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Fairey Firefly |
| Fighter | |
| Trainer | North American Harvard |
795 Naval Air Squadron (795 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN) which last disbanded at RNAS Ford (HMSPeregrine), in Sussex, during March 1947. Originally formed as theEastern Fleet Fighter Pool at RNAS Tanga (HMSKilele), in Tanganyika, in June 1942, it’s 'A' Flight's supported the invasion of Madagascar, from HMSIllustrious, before being detached at Majunga on anti-submarine patrols as part of the Royal Air Force’s No. 207 Group. The squadron later moved to RNAS Mackinnon Road, in Kenya, before disbanding during August 1943. It reformed as aRefresher Training Squadron at RNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet), in Northern Ireland, in August 1946 as part of the Fleet Air Arm’s 52nd Training Air Group and later included a couple of deployments in HMSImplacable.
795 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Tanga (HMSKilele),Tanganyika Territory,East Africa, on 24 June 1942 as the Eastern Fleet Fighter Pool. It was initially equipped withFairey Fulmar, a Britishcarrier-bornereconnaissance andfighter aircraft, andGrumman Martlet, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft.[3] As part of theBattle of Madagascar, 'A' Flight, which was formed of six Fairey Fulmar aircraft, embarked in thelead ship ofher class ofaircraft carrierHMS Illustrious along with theFairey Albacorebiplanetorpedo bomber equipped796 Naval Air Squadron, on 29 August.[2] On 11 September the flight was put ashore atMajunga,Madagascar and was tasked to provideanti-submarine patrols, under the direction ofNo. 207 Group RAF.[3] The Flight undertook a number of active sorties but in November it moved to the ex-seaplane tenderHMSAlbatross.[2] The main section of the squadron had moved toRNAS Mackinnon Road, inKenya, East Africa, on 19 September 1942 and remained there for almost a year. 795 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 11 August 1943.[4]
795 Naval Air Squadron reformed as a Refresher Training squadron, on 1 August 1946 atRNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet), and as part of the52nd Training Air Group. The squadron was equipped withFairey Firefly, a carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft. Its role was to provide refresher training to aircraft carrier standard. On the 13 November 1946 the squadron exchanged Commanding Officer and staff with719 Naval Air Squadron, then on 14 January 1947, the squadron embarked inHMS Implacable, thename ship ofher class.[2]
795 Naval Air Squadron disbanded for the second time on 24 March, the squadron disembarked fromImplacable toRNAS Ford (HMSPeregrine), inSussex,[5] it’s aircraft flown toRNAS Stretton (HMSBlackcap), inCheshire, to be put into storage, on the same day.[2]
The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types and variants:[2][6]
795 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy, both in the UK and overseas and a number of Royal Navyaircraft carriers:[3][2]
1942 - 1943
1946 - 1947
List ofcommanding officers of 795 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[2][6]
1942 - 1943
1946 - 1947
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[7]