History 

HMS Battler

HMS Hermes

HMS Hermes

HMS Hermes

HMS Hermes

HMS Hermes

13. November 1961 - 10. January 1962

HMS Ark Royal

10. March 1962 - 14. December 1962

History 

1942 - 1944
890 NAS assembled on 20. May 1942 Eastleigh, Southampton for passage, officially forming at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia as a single seater fighter squadron on 15 June 1942. Moving to NAS Norfolk, VA the squadron initially received a number of US Navy F4F-3s, known to the Royal Navy as Martlet IIIs. In September these gave way to 6 Martlet IVs, which after work-up embarked in HMS Battler for the RAF Machrihanish in December 1942, where 'A' Flight ol No 881 NAS was absorbed.
From January to June 1943 the squadron was shore-based at RNAS Donibristle, RAF Machrihanish and subsequently RNAS Hatston. After futher training the Squadron joined HMS Illustrious in June 1943 carrying out patrols off Iceland and Norway.
This was followed in August by a spell in the Mediteranean with Force H, support being provided in September for the Salerno landings. In October 1943 the squadron joined 15 Group RAF Fighter Command at Port Ellen, leaving for RNAS Eglington in December 1943.
After retuning home, 890 NAS requipped with 10 Wildcat Vs. In February 1944 the squadron personnel embarked on HMS London for Ceylon, remaining at RNAS Puttalam from March to May. Re-embarking this time on HMS Atheling the squadron remained with the ship until July when it returned to RNAS Puttalam, where it disbanded in August 1944.

1952
On 30. January 1952 the squadron reformed at RNAS Ford as a fighter squadron, but it was not until 22. ApriI that it commissioned with 8 Attacker F.1s, its main task being to act as a pool to provide pilots and aircraft as required to 800 NAS and 803 NAS. In October 1952 it embarked in HMS Eagle, but disbanded aboard her on 3. December 1952, the aircraft being dispersed amongst the other two  Squadrons.

1954 - 1955
The number was next taken up when 890 NAS reformed at RNAS Yeovilton on 20. March 1954 as an All-Weather Fighter squadron. Equipped with 9 Sea Venom FAW.20, lt embarked in HMS Albion in Julv 1955, but was relegated to second-line status on 18. October 1955, becoming 766 NAS.

1956
890 NAS next reformed at RNAS Yeovilton on 1 February 1956, again as an All-Weather Fighter squadron, equipped this time with 6 Sea Venom FAW.21s. It disbanded into 893 NAS on 25. June 1956 after losing two of its crews in accidents, including the CO Lt-Cdr P. S. Brewer, RN.

1960 - 1966
The squadron again reformed at RNAS Yeovilton on 1.February 1960 in the All-Wether Fighter capacity, this time with 10 Sea Vixen FAW.1s. These joined HMS Hermes in July, being initially in the Mediterranean before sailing on the Far Fast.
Retuning in ülay 1961, the squadron transferred in November to HMS Ark Royal for a further spell in the Mediterranan. Returning home early in 1962, it rejoined her in March and sailed by way of the Mediterranean to the Far East, visiting Australia in August, to arrive back at RNAS Yeovilton for Christmas.
A third voyage in HMS Ark Royal during 1963 included some weeks in the Indian Ocean, with visits to Aden and Mombasa as well as a detachment to Nairobi before sailing on to the Far Eest. Again returning at the end of the year, most of 1964 was spent ashore, apart from brief periods in HMS Hermes and HMS Eagle. A detachment rejoined HMS Ark Royal when she recommissioned in November 1965, for catapult and arrester wire trials, then after a brief spell in Home waters 890 NAS joined the ship on the Beira patrol off the coast of Mozambique before she sailed on once again to the Far Fast.
Several more spells were spent on the Beira Patrol in 1966, but 890 NAS disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton on 7. October 1966.

1967 - 1971
On 14. August 1967 the sqadron again reformed at RNAS Yeovilton as an All-Wether Fighter squadron, with 6 Sea Vixen FAW.2s for operational trials and training on this type. From December 1969 its aircraft were maintained by Airwork, then on 10 October 1970 its Fleet Requirements Unit and tanking tasks were landed over to the locally based Airwork FRU, which als took over the Sea Vlxens in replacement for its own ageing Sea Venoms. 890 NAS then absorbed the aircraft of 766 NAS to operate for a tine as the Sea Vixen FAW.2 Headquarters squadron, but on 6. August 1971 it disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton.

- Has anyone more Informations about this Squadron -