| 1848 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Vought Corsair; an example of the type used by 1848 NAS | |
| Active | 1944 |
| Disbanded | 21 November 1944[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Single-seat fighter squadron |
| Role | Fighter squadron |
| Size | Eighteen aircraft |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | SeeNaval air stations section for full list. |
| Insignia | |
| Identification Markings | 1+ V9 individual letters |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Vought Corsair |
1848 Naval Air Squadron (1848 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom'sRoyal Navy (RN). It officially formed in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick, in July 1944 as afighter squadron. It was quipped with Vought Corsair fighter aircraft. The squadron embarked in HMSRanee in October for the Atlantic crossing back to the United Kingdom. However, soon after arrival it disbanded at HMSLandrail, at RNAS Machrihanish, in November, its resources shared equally between 1843, 1845 and 1846 Naval Air Squadrons.
1848 Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 July 1944 in theUnited States at RN Air Section Brunswick, which was located atUnited States Naval Air Station (USNAS) Brunswick,Maine, as a Single Seat Fighter Squadron,[2] under the command ofLieutenant Commander(A) E.J. Clark,RNVR.[3]
It was initially equipped with twelveVought Corsair aircraft, an Americancarrier-bornefighter-bomber. These were made up of a mixture of the F4U-1 and F4U-1A variant, designated Corsair Mk I and II respectively, by the Fleet Air Arm.[4] As part of the training programme, aerodrome Dummy Deck Landings (ADDLs) were undertaken at the nearbyBar Harbor Naval Auxiliary Air Facility (NAAF),Bar Harbor, Maine, from 30 July returning to RN Air Section Brunswick on 5 August.[5]
On completion of working up the squadron strength was increased to eighteen aircraft and the squadron flew to RN Air Section Norfolk, situatedUSNAS Norfolk, Virginia, on 15 October, and then on 18 it embarked in theRuler-classescort carrier,HMS Ranee, for passage to the United Kingdom.[6] The carrier sailed forNew York City on 22 October and then joined with theLiverpool bound Convoy CU.44 for theAtlantic crossing, but broke off forBelfast, Northern Ireland, with the squadron disembarking toRoyal Naval Air Maintenance Yard Belfast (HMSGadwall).[5][7]
1848 Naval Air Squadron flew to Scotland, to be based atRNAS Machrihanish (HMSLandrail),Argyll and Bute, on 3 November. However, on 21 November the squadron was disbanded and its aircraft and pilots were shared equally between Nos.1843,1845 and1846 Naval Air Squadrons, bringing them up to twenty four aircraft each.[3]
1848 Naval Air Squadron flew two variants of only one aircraft type:[8]
1848 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom, and number overseas, and a Royal Navyescort carrier:[8]
List ofcommanding officers of 1848 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[3][8]
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[9]