| 1837 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Vought Corsair; an example of the type used by 1837 NAS | |
| Active | 1 September 1943 - 9 September 1944 1 July - 18 August 1945[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Single-seat fighter squadron |
| Role | Carrier-based fighter squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | SeeNaval air stations section for full list. |
| Engagements | World War II
|
| Battle honours |
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lieutenant Commander(A) Alfred Jack Sewell,DSC,RNVR[2] |
| Insignia | |
| Identification Markings |
|
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Vought Corsair |
1837 Naval Air Squadron (1837 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). The squadron was established in the United States at HMSSaker II, the Royal Naval Air Station at USNAS Quonset Point in January 1943. It boarded HMSBegum in January 1944, and landed at HMSRingtail, RNAS Burscough, in February, then moved to HMSBlackcap, RNAS Stretton. As the only squadron in the 6th Naval Fighter Wing, it joined HMSAtheling and sailed to Ceylon, landing at the RAF station in Minneriya in April. The squadron boarded HMSIllustrious participating in operations over the Andaman Islands. In July, it provided air cover for a raid on Sabang. In August the squadron transferred to HMSVictorious but was disbanded into 1834 and 1836 Naval Air Squadrons in September. It was reformed in July 1945, at HMSGannet, RNAS Eglinton, but was disbanded again in August at HMSPintail, RNAS Nutts Corner.
1837 Naval Air Squadron was officially established in the United States (US) at RNAS Quonset Point (HMSSaker II), which had beencommissioned at the USNaval Air Station Quonset Point a naval air station loaned to theAdmiralty, in the state ofRhode Island, on 1 September 1943.[3] This squadron was designated as a single-seater fighter unit and was commanded byLieutenant Commander(A) A.J. Sewell,DSC,RNVR.[4]
The aircraft it initially operated were tenVought Corsair carrier-basedfighter aircraft, these were theVought Chance built F4U-1 and known as the Corsair Mk I in the Fleet Air Arm.[5] Following the initial familiarisation with the aircraft and associated equipment, the squadron commenced rigorous training to ready itself for active deployment. This training encompassed a variety of flying exercises, includingnavigation drills,low-altitude manoeuvres,formation flying, andair combat tactics. Additionally, the squadron engaged in Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landing (ADDL) training and conducted night flying operations.[6]
The squadron relocated to the RN Air Section located at USNaval Air Station Brunswick,Maine, on 1 October 1943, another naval air station loaned to the Admiralty, from August 1943.[7] Shortly thereafter, on 4 October, thecommanding officer, piloting Corsair JT190, andLieutenant D.J.F. Watson, RNVR, in Corsair JT198, tragically lost their lives in amid-air collision.[6] Subsequently, Lieutenant Commander R. Pridham-Wippell, RN, was designated as the new commanding officer, effective 17 October.[4]
At the beginning of the New Year, the Corsair Mk I was withdrawn and substituted with fourteen new Vought Corsair F4U-1A aircraft, which were designated Corsair Mk II within the Fleet Air Arm.[5] On 9 January 1944, the squadron departed for the RN Air Section atUSNAS Norfolk to conduct a day of Deck Landing Training (DLT) aboard theUSS Charger on 13.[8] Subsequently, 1837 Naval Air Squadron was scheduled to embark on a journey to the United Kingdom via theescort carrier,HMS Begum.[9]
HMSBegum, aRuler-class escort carrier, set sail fromNorfolk Naval Station on the afternoon of 14 January, transporting 1837 Naval Air Squadron. After arriving inNew York Harbor on 16 January, the ship resumed its voyage, departing the port on 18 January to join convoy UT.7, which was en route toLiverpool. The carrier reachedLiverpool port on 29 January, at which time the squadron disembarked and made their way to the naval air stationRNAS Burscough (HMSRingtail) located inLancashire.[10]
On 12 February, the squadron relocated toRNAS Stretton (HMSBlackcap),Cheshire, subsequently departing forCeylon aboard theRuler-class escort carrier,HMS Atheling, on 26 February. Two days later it was integrated into the6th Naval Fighter Wing.[11] The squadron disembarked at the Royal Navy Air Section located atRAF Minneriya, Ceylon, on 13 April.[4]
The squadron engaged in flight training in Ceylon and temporarily boarded the Maintenance CarrierHMS Unicorn, an aircraft repair ship andlight aircraft carrier, on 5 June, for a two-day session of Deck Landing Training (DLT). Subsequently, on 19 June, the squadron transferred to thename ship of herclass,HMS Illustrious, to enhance the carrier's fighter capabilities for operations targeting theAndaman Islands as part of Operation Pedal.[9]
1837 Naval Air Squadron returned to RN Air Section Minneriya on June 26th; however, this visit was brief, as the unit was scheduled to re-embark on HMSIllustrious on 8 July to conduct a strike against targets located inSabang, Sumatra, as part ofOperation Crimson.[4]
In early August 1944, the 1837 squadron was integrated into the47th Naval Fighter Wing, alongside1834 and1836 Naval Air Squadrons.[9] On August 14th, 1944, the squadron boarded HMSIllustrious'ssister ship, the Fleet Carrier,HMS Victorious to prepare for operations targeting thePadang airfield as part ofOperation Banquet.[6] The unit was ultimately disbanded on 9 September to facilitate the expansion of the 1834 and 1836 Naval Air Squadrons.[4]
On 1 July 1945, 1837 Naval Air Squadron was reformed as a single-seat fighter unit atRNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet),County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It was equipped with twenty-two Vought Corsair,[4] these were theBrewster built F3A-1 and F3A-1D, known as the Mk III in Fleet Air Arm service.[5]
It was primarily sourced from1835 Naval Air Squadron, and designated for the4th Carrier Air Group aboard HMSIllustrious within theBritish Pacific Fleet. Following theconclusion of hostilities withJapan, the squadron was deemed unnecessary and subsequently disbanded on 18 August atRNAS Nutts Corner (HMSPintail),County Antrim, Northern Ireland, with its aircraft transferred to No. 1 Naval Air Fighter School located atRNAS Yeovilton (HMSHeron),Somerset.[9]
1837 Naval Air Squadron flew three variants of only one aircraft type:[9]
The followingBattle Honours have been awarded to 1837 Naval Air Squadron:
1837 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:[14]
1837 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy in the UK and overseas, a couple of Royal Navy fleet carriers and a couple of escort carriers:[9]
1943 - 1944
1945
List ofcommanding officers of 1837 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[4]
1943 - 1944
1945
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[15]