| 1834 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 30 April 1955[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | |
| Role | Carrier-based fighter squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | SeeNaval air stations section for full list. |
| Mottos | 'Cleaving earth and sky' |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Battle honours |
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lieutenant Commander(A) A.M. Tritton,DSC,RNVR |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | Blue, in base barry wavy of six white and blue a sword point downwards and a plough in saltire gold (1955)[The post-war CO and many of his officers were farmers, the sword represented the Sea Fury in the air and a plough on the ground][2] |
| Identification Markings |
|
| Fin Carrier Code | P (March 1945) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | |
| Trainer | |
1834 Naval Air Squadron (1834 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It was established as a single-seat fighter squadron in July 1943, at RNAS Quonset Point (HMSSaker II) in the United States. During its formation, the squadron underwent deck landing training aboard the USSCharger. The squadron embarked in HMSKhedive in November, from where it traveled to the UK, disembarking at RNAS Maydown. The squadron then relocated to RN Air Section Speke, returned to RNAS Maydown on November 22, and ultimately settled at HMSBlackcap the Royal Naval Air Station at Stretton in December. In January 1944, it became part of the 47th Naval Fighter Wing, and in February the squadron moved to HMSLandrail, RNAS Machrihanish, to prepare for deck landing training on HMSRavager, before joining the aircraft carrier HMSVictorious. Following its provision of air cover during assaults on the battleshipTirpitz, the squadron embarked with the carrier to the Far East in June, disembarking at HMSBerhunda, RNAS Colombo Racecourse in July. From July to January 1945, the squadron supported operations against Sumatra, later joining the British Pacific Fleet and participating in missions against the Sakishima Gunto from March to May 1945. As part of the 1st Carrier Air Group, the squadron conducted strikes in the Tokyo region, with the carrier proceeding to Australia after the conclusion of the war. In the postwar period, the squadron left its aircraft at HMSNabbington, RNAS Nowra, near Sydney, and returned home aboard the carrier, officially disbanding upon arrival in October. It reformed as a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch fighter squadron, in the Southern Air Division, from 1953 and disbanded in 1955.
The personnel of 1834 Naval Air Squadron gathered at bothHMSMerlin, theRoyal Naval Air Station atDonibristle,Dunfermline[3] andHMS Waxwing, which served as the Fleet Air Arm Transit Camp, Royal Naval Air Establishment (RNAE) Townhill, Dunfermline,Fife,[4] on 15 June 1943 for passage to theUSA.[2]
The squadron was formally established on 15 July at RNAS Quonset Point (HMSSaker II), which refers to the United StatesNaval Air Station Quonset Point situated inRhode Island. TheAdmiralty obtained access to this facility beginning in October 1942.[5] The unit was established as a single-seat fighter squadron, led byLieutenant Commander(A) A.M. Tritton, DSC,RNVR, and was originally equipped with a fleet of tenVought Corsair aircraft.[6] The aircraft in question were the F4U-1 variants, constructed byVought Chance, which were designated as the Corsair Mk I within the Fleet Air Arm.[7]
Following initial familiarisation, the flying training regimen encompassednavigation exercises,low-altitude maneuvers,formation flying, andcombat tactics. Additionally, training included Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landing (ADDL) and night flying.[8] On 27 August, the squadron relocated to RN Air Section Brunswick at the USNaval Air Station Brunswick inMaine to further their training. Another critical skill that required extensive practice was carrier deck landing. Consequently, the squadron temporarily transferred to RN Air Section Norfolk atUSNAS Norfolk on 14 October to engage in Deck Landing Training (DLT) aboard the training carrierUSS Charger inChesapeake Bay, before returning to Brunswick on the 17.[9]
On the 30, the squadron departed for the RN Air Section atUSNAS Floyd Bennett Field to replace their Mk I aircraft with Mk II. Following this exchange, they boarded theRuler-classescort carrier,HMS Khedive, which then set sail forNew York to join convoy UT.4a. This convoy departed from New York on 5 November, with its destination set for theClyde. UT.4a reached the Clyde on 15 November, after which HMSKhedive continued toLiverpool the next day to unload its cargo.[8] Subsequently, the squadron flew toRNAS Maydown in Northern Ireland, arriving on the 22, before relocating toRNAS Stretton (HMSBlackcap),Cheshire.[6]
The squadron became part of the newly formed47th Naval Fighter Wing (47 Wing), in conjunction with the1836 Naval Air Squadron, under the leadership of Lieutenant Commander F.R.A. Turnbull, DSC,RN.[10] By 1 February 1944, it relocated toRNAS Machrihanish (HMSLandrail),Argyll and Bute, Scotland, to prepare for deck landing training on theAttacker-classescort carrier,HMS Ravager, subsequently joining theIllustrious-classaircraft carrier,HMS Victorious on 12 February.[6] The squadron was later tasked with participating in several planned operations, includingOperation Tungsten, a Fleet Air Arm mission aimed at theGerman battleshipTirpitz, which was stationed in anorwegian fjord.[2]
In June, HMSVictorious departed from the UK, destined forCeylon (nowSri Lanka). The carrier reached Ceylon the following month, at which point the Vought Corsair aircraft belonging to the squadron were disembarked toRNAS Colombo Racecourse (HMSBerhunda),Colombo, Ceylon, on 7 July.[11]
Operations were conducted against targets from July 1944 to January 1945.Operation Crimson involved assaults on airfields located nearSabang, Sumatra.[12]Operation Banquet comprised a sequence of assaults aimed at the Padang airfield,Emmehaven harbour, and the Indaroeng Cement Works located inPadang.[13]Operation Light represented a dual-faceted initiative designed to carry out air strikes against Japanese military forces located inSigli, Northern Sumatra, while simultaneously engaging inaerial reconnaissance missions over theNicobar Islands.[14]Operation Millet involved a series of naval bombardments and aerial strikes targeting Japanese facilities in the Nicobar Islands, conducted between 17 and 20 October.[15]
On 22 November, HMSVictorious and her squadrons were transferred to the newly formedBritish Pacific Fleet (BPF).[16]Operation Lentil subsequently commenced, concentrating on targeting theoil refineries located inPangkalan Brandan, Northern Sumatra.[15]Operation Meridian followed, focusing on the Japanese oil assets located in thePalembang area of southern Sumatra.[17]Operation Iceberg was subsequently initiated with the objective of neutralising six airfields situated in theSakishima Gunto.[18]
On 30 June, the 47th Naval Fighter Wing was officially disbanded as the Admiralty transitioned to the United States model ofCarrier Air Groups. In the revised organisational framework, all squadrons allocated to a carrier were consolidated into a Carrier Air Group (CAG). HMSVictorious was assigned the1st Carrier Air Group, comprising 1834, 1836, and849 Naval Air Squadrons, under the command ofCommander J.C.N. Shrubsole, RN.[19] The squadron was re-equipped with a new variant of the Vought Corsair, specifically the FG-1D model produced byGoodyear, which was designated as the Corsair Mk IV by the Fleet Air Arm.[20]
The squadron engaged in missions aimed at the Japanese mainland, focusing specifically on targets within theTokyo area. AfterVictory over Japan Day, the carrier made its way to Australia. In the aftermath of the war, the squadron left its aircraft atRNAS Nowra (HMSNabbington),Sydney, Australia, before the personnel made the journey back to the United Kingdom aboard the carrier, where it was officially disbanded upon arrival on 31 October 1945.[6]
On 10 October 1953, 1834 Naval Air Squadron was re-established atRAF Benson inOxfordshire, serving as a fighter unit within theRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve under the Southern Air Division, under the command of Lieutenant Commander(A) A.C.B. Ford VRD, DSC, RNVR. The squadron was primarily outfitted withHawker Sea Fury FB.11fighter-bomber aircraft. On 16 January 1954, it relocated toRNAS Yeovilton (HMSHeron) inSomerset, where it was officially disbanded on 30 April 1955.[21]
1834 Naval Air Squadron flew different variants of only one aircraft type during World War II:[2]
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TheBattle Honours awarded to 1834 Naval Air Squadron are:
1834 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:[19]
1834 Naval Air Squadron operated mostly from a number ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy in the UK and overseas, aRoyal Navy fleet carrier and a couple ofescort carriers:[2]
1943 - 1945
1953 - 1955
List ofcommanding officers of 1834 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[2]
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[28]
1943 - 1945
1953 - 1955