| 1849 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Vought Corsair; an example of the type used by 1849 NAS | |
| Active | 1944 |
| Disbanded | 6 December 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+ V11 individual letters |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Vought Corsair |
1849 Naval Air Squadron (1849 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It formed in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick as afighter squadron at the start of 1944, equipped with Vought Corsair fighter aircraft. It embarked in HMSReaper for transport to the UK in November. The squadron suffered from a high accident rate and disbanded on arrival in the UK, in December, with its aircraft and personnel dispersed between 1845 and 1850 Naval Air Squadrons.
1849 Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 August 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 of Lieutenant Commander(A) P.C.S. Chilton, RN.[3]
It was equipped with eighteenVought Corsair aircraft, an Americancarrier-bornefighter-bomber. These were theBrewster built F4U-1 variant, designated Corsair Mk III by the Fleet Air Arm.[4] Training involved formation flying, air combat and navigation. Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landings (ADDLs) were undertaken at the nearbyBar Harbor Naval Auxiliary Air Facility (NAAF),Bar Harbor, Maine. 1849 Naval Air Squadron was the last Fleet Air Arm squadron to be equipped with the Mk III variant of Vought Corsair, but these were replaced on 24 October[5] with theGoodyear built FG-1D variant, designated Vought Corsair Mk IV by the Fleet Air Arm.[4]
With working up completed the squadron left RN Air Section Brunswick and flew to RN Air Section Floyd Bennett Field, located atUSNAS Floyd Bennett Field,Brooklyn, New York City, on 15 November.[6] Leaving the aircraft behind the aircrew travelled toNaval Station Norfolk to embarked in theruler-classescort carrier,HMS Reaper. She sailed toNew York City, where she embarked the squadron aircraft and joined Convoy CU.48 for theAtlantic crossing to the United Kingdom on 24 November. On 6 December the squadron disembarked toRoyal Naval Air Maintenance Yard Belfast (HMSGadwall).[7][8]
With the large amount of losses fromair accidents it was decided 1849 Naval Air Squadron would be disbanded on arrival in the United Kingdom. The aircraft and personnel were distributed between1845 and1850 Naval Air Squadrons. 1849 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 6 December 1944.[3]
1849 Naval Air Squadron flew two variants of only one aircraft type:[9]
1849 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy overseas, and a Royal Navyescort carrier:[9]
List ofcommanding officers of 1849 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[10][9]
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[11]