Party per pale wory blue and black, a base barry wavy of six white and bive overall a flash of lightning sinister chief winged gold striking the water in dexter base (1944)
893 Naval Air Squadron (893 NAS), otherwise referred to as 893 Squadron, was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN).[2] It most recently operatedde Havilland Sea Vixen carrier-based fleet air-defence fighter aircraft, between August 1960 and July 1970.
The squadron was established as a fighter unit in June 1942. By October it was operating on the aircraft carrier HMSFormidable. The squadron provided air support for Operation Torch. It participated in the invasion of Sicily in July 1943 and the landings at Salerno in September 1943, but was disbanded in November.
The squadron was reformed in February 1956. Due to the Suez crisis, it expanded by absorbing 890 Naval Air Squadron. In December, it expanded further by taking in some aircraft from 892 Naval Air Squadron. It became the first squadron to equip de Havilland Sea Venom aircraft with Firestreak missiles, but disbanded in February 1960.
In August 1960, 893 Naval Air Squadron was reformed for HMSHermes. During the Kuwait crisis in June 1961 it was on HMSCentaur and in August 1963 it moved to HMSVictorious for a long deployment in the Far East. During rising tensions with Indonesia, the squadron was at RAF Tengah from June to August 1964, however, the squadron disbanded in July 1965. It was reformed in November and six months later boarded HMSVictorious, serving in the Far East from July 1966 to March 1967. It moved to Cyprus in April 1968 and in May joined HMSHermes for the Far East. The squadron was later in the Mediterranean, but disbanded in July 1970.
de Havilland Sea Venom of 893 NAS after landing on HMSEagle with no undercarriage
893 Naval Air Squadron was re established as an all-weather fighter unit atRNAS Yeovilton (HMSHeron),Somerset, England, in February 1956, initially equipped with sixde Havilland Sea Venom FAW.21 jet fighter aircraft, designated forHMS Ark Royal.[4] However, the onset of theSuez crisis necessitated a revision of these plans, leading to an expansion in June when the squadron grew to nine aircraft through the incorporation of890 Naval Air Squadron. Subsequently, in December, 893 Naval Air Squadron further augmented its strength by integrating several aircraft from892 Naval Air Squadron, thereby enhancing its operational capabilities from theAudacious-classaircraft carrier,HMS Eagle. In February 1957, the unit was assigned to HMSArk Royal while operating in the Mediterranean, with additional deployments inHome waters and theAtlantic. Subsequently, in September 1958, the squadron transferred toIllustrious-class aircraft carrier,HMS Victorious, also stationed in the Mediterranean. The squadron distinguished itself as the first to operate de Havilland Sea Venom aircraft armed withFirestreakinfrared homing (heat seeking)air-to-air missile, undergoing re-equipment with FAW.22 Sea Vixen variant in January 1959. The squadron was officially disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton (HMSHeron) on 29 February 1960.[6]
893 NAS on HMSVictorious in Singapore ~December 1964
In August 1960, 893 Naval Air Squadron was reformed at RNAS Yeovilton (HMSHeron), equipped with sixde Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 jet fighter aircraft. The squadron's first detachment was to theCentaur-class aircraft carrier,HMS Hermes prior to its commissioning on 1 September. Subsequently, the squadron flew to join HMSArk Royal nearMalta in November. By the time of the Kuwait crisis in June 1961, the squadron was aboard thelead ship of her class,HMS Centaur, and it later operated in both theFar East and the Mediterranean regions before transferring to HMSVictorious in August 1963. This vessel then embarked on an extended deployment to the Far East, which included stops in Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia. During a period of heightened tensions with Indonesia, the squadron was placed on alert and disembarked atRAF Tengah,Singapore, from June to August 1964 while the ship underwent refitting inHMNB Singapore. Upon returning to the United Kingdom, the squadron was disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton in July 1965.[6]
The squadron, equipped with eleven de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 aircraft, was re established at RNAS Yeovilton (HMSHeron) in November 1965 and subsequently embarked on HMSVictorious six months later. Following a deployment to the Far East from July 1966 to March 1967, the squadron returned to the United Kingdom before detaching toCyprus in April 1968. In May, 893 Naval Air Squadron joined HMSHermes for another expedition to the Far East. The squadron also spent time operating in the Mediterranean; however, it was disbanded on 14 July 1970.[6]
Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016).The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited.ISBN978-0-85130-489-2.
United Kingdom
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