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.
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