| 891 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 27 July 1961 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Single-seat fighter squadron |
| Role | Carrier-basedfighter squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | SeeNaval air stations section for full list. |
| Mottos | Venamus ut necemus (Latin for 'We search in order to kill') |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Battle honours |
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lieutenant Commander Maurice Andrew Birrell,DSC,RN[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | White, in base three bars wavy blue overall a representation of the Polynesian god Kon Tiki red and gold (1955)[The commanding officer of the squadron contactedThor Heyerdahl to request authorisation for the use of theKon Tiki deity's head as the squadron's emblem] |
| Identification Markings | 281-283 (Sea Venom) 435-444 (Sea Venom September 1956) 221-233 (Sea Venom FAW.20) 435-444 (Sea Venom FAW.21/22) |
| Fin Carrier Codes | O (Sea Venom) B:C (Sea Venom FAW.21/22) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | |
891 Naval Air Squadron (891 NAS), sometimes referred to as 891 Squadron, was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It most recently operatedde Havilland Sea Venom all-weather fighter aircraft between September 1956 and July 1961.
In August 1942 the squadron transferred fromRNAS Lee-on-Solent where it had been formed in July toRNAS Charlton Horethorne withHawker Sea Hurricane aircraft to prepare for carrier operations, later transferring toRNAS St Merryn and then embarking onHMS Dasher to take part inOperation Torch.[2] The squadron was disbanded in April 1943, but was reformed in June 1945 and equipped withGrumman Hellcat in order to operate in the Pacific, but the war ended before they could be deployed. The squadron was disbanded in September 1945.[3]
In November 1954, 891 Naval Air Squadron was recommissioned withde Havilland Sea Venom under the command of Lieutenant Commander M.A. Birrell, DSC, RN. The squadron was initially equipped with two de Havilland Sea Venom fighters and fourde Havilland Sea Vampire T.22 trainer aircraft, then on 1 March 1955 the squadron formed an 'X' flight commanded by Lieutenant Commander G.M. Jude, RAN, to train Royal Australian Navy crews in preparation for the formation of808 Squadron RAN in August 1955 the squadron replaced its FAW.20 Sea Venoms with FAW.21 variants in June 1955, then in April 1956 the squadron disbanded, only to reform in September 1957 under the command of Lieutenant Commander I.J. Brown, RN, usingRNAS Merryfield with Sea Venom FAW.22. 891 Naval Air Squadron was the last de Havilland Sea Venom squadron to see active service, when, operating fromHMS Centaur, it became involved in Operation Damen, carrying out rocket attacks against Yemeni rebel infiltrations inAden. The squadron disbanded as the last frontline de Havilland Sea Venom squadron in July 1961.
891 Naval Air Squadron was established atRNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus),Hampshire, England, on 1 July 1942, under the command ofLieutenant(A) M.J.S. Newman,RN. The squadron was initially tasked as a single-seat fighter unit, operating with a complement of sixHawker Sea Hurricane Mk IBfighter aircraft, thenavalised version of theHawker Hurricane fighter aircraft.[4]
Originally designated for theAttacker-classescort carrier,HMS Stalker, this carrier was not ready when the squadron was required to support thelandings in North Africa.[5] Following its work up atRNAS Charlton Horethorne (HMSHeron II),Somerset, England andRNAS St Merryn (HMSVulture),Cornwall, England, the unit embarked inHMS Dasher on October 15, where it was re-equipped with six Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IIC fighter aircraft. The vessel then set sail to deliver air cover for the invasion beaches in North Africa.[4]
In December, the squadron received three more aircraft while stationed with theHome Fleet in northern waters. During this period,RNAS Machrihanish (HMSLandrail),Argyll and Bute, Scotland andRNAS Hatston (HMSSparrowhawk),Mainland, Orkney, served as the squadron's shore bases. The squadron was tasked with providing fighter cover for a convoy to Iceland alongside HMSDasher. A detachment of three aircraft was on board when HMSDasher tragically exploded in the Firth of Clyde on 27 March 1943, resulting in significant loss of life. The squadron was officially disbanded on 5 April 1943.[4]
On 1 June 1945, 891 Naval Air Squadron was re-established atRNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet),County Antrim, Northern Ireland, as a single-seat night fighter unit, equipped with sixteenGrumman Hellcat aircraft. However, the squadron was disbanded atRNAS Nutts Corner (HMSPintail), County Antrim, on 24 September of the same year.[4]
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The squadron was re-established atRNAS Yeovilton (HMSHeron),Somerset, on 8 November 1954, as an All-Weather Fighter squadron equipped initially with twode Havilland Sea Venom FAW.20jet fighters and fourde Havilland Sea Vampire T.22 two-seat jet trainer aircraft. By the onset of the New Year, the number of de Havilland Sea Venom aircraft had increased to nine. In early 1956, 891 Naval Air Squadron spent several weeks aboardHMS Ark Royal in theMediterranean, but it was ultimately disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton on 17 April. Additionally, 'X' Flight was established on 1 March 1955 to provide training forRoyal Australian Navy personnel on this aircraft type, in anticipation of the formation of808 Squadron RAN in August.[5]
In September 1956, 891 Naval Air Squadron was re-established at RNAS Yeovilton (HMSHeron), equipped with eight de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.21 all-weather fighter aircraft. Due to runway reconstruction at RNAS Yeovilton,RNAS Merryfield served as the shore base starting in November. The squadron embarked inHMS Bulwark in March 1957, engaging in several periods of operations in Home Waters. In April 1958, it deployed to theFar East for exercises alongsideUnited States Navy and Royal Australian Navy carriers and vessels, returning throughAden.[5]
In June 1959, 891 Naval Air Squadron transferred toHMS Centaur and again set sail for the Far East, with a visit to Australia in November. Upon returning home in April 1960, the squadron was primarily stationed at RNAS Yeovilton, except for a deployment to Norway for an exercise in September, until its disbandment on 27 July 1961.[5]
The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[6]
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Thebattle honours awarded to 891 Naval Air Squadron are:
891 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force stations, in the UK and overseas, and also a number ofRoyal Navy fleet carriers andescort carriers and other airbases overseas:[5]
1942 - 1943
1945
1954 - 1956
1956 - 1961
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List ofcommanding officers of 890 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[4][8]
1942 - 1943
1945
1954 - 1956
1956 - 1961
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[9]