History 

HMS Battler

19. Apr. 1946

History 

892 Naval Air Squadron  was formed in 1943, flying Grumman Martlets, and was the only operational Fleet Air Arm squadron to fly the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1.

1942 - 1943
The squadron formed at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, USA as a single seater fighter squadron in on 15 July 1942.  6 Martlet IVs, embarking on HMS Battler in December for a month, disembarking in January to Machrihanish. In February 1943 the squadron embarked on HMS Archer for convoy duties, disembarking in April 1943 for Ballykelly. In June 1943 the squadron reduced to 3 aircraft and embarked on HMS Archer. It subsequently disbanded in August 1943 when absorbed into 819 NAS.

1945 - 1946
In April 1945 the squadron reformed at RNAS Eglington with 16 Hellcat IINFs, after embarking briefly on HMS Premier, the squadron was subsequently undertaking night fighter training at Drem and joined HMS Ocean in December 1945. On return from a spell in the Mediterranen it disbanded at RNAS Gosport on 19. April 1946

1955 - 1956
On 4. JuIy 1955 892 NAS reformed at RNAS Yeovilton as an all-weather fighter squadron equipped with 8 Sea Venom FAW.21s. Enbarking in HMS Albion in January 1956 for the Mediterranean and Far East, the ship returned home in May 1956. In July the squadron flew out to MaIta, to join HMS Eagle the following month, attacking Egyptian airfields during the Suez operations. On 26. December 1956 it was absorbed by 893 NAS abord HMS Eagle.

1959 - 1968
The Squadron reformed at RNAS Yeovilton on 1. July 1959 out of No. 700Y Flight with 12 Sea Vixen FAW.Is. Four of these broke away as a separate B-Flight in Novenber 1959, to act as an Intensive Flying Trials Unit for the evaluation of Firestreak Missiles. A-Flight embarked in HMS Ark Royal in March 1960 for an exercise in the Mediterranean, where it was joined in August by B-Flight to be reunited. Returning home, 892 NAS transferred in Oktober to HMS Victorious for the remainder of this lengthy exercise, then in New year sailed for the Far East, returning home in December 1961. Transfered to HMS Hemes in May 1962 for a futher spell in the Far East, the squadron again retuned hone briefly, then sailed back to the Eastern waters in HMS Centaur in December 1963.
From July 1965, 892 NAS was shore basd at RNAS Yeovilton for almost a year, gradually re-equipping from December with 12 Sea Viren FAW.2. It joined HMS Hermes with these in September 1966, making a futher trip to the Far East the following year.  In 1968 the squadron operated the widely acclaimed Simon's Sircus aerobatic team, led by Lt Cdr Simon Idiens. The display team comprising six Sea Vixen FAW.2. They displayed at numerous RAF Airshows and Royal Navy Air Station Air Days during the 1968 season culminating in the SBAC Farnborough Airshow on 20, 21 and 22 September. The team were highly acclaimed by many who saw them display, due in no small part to the fact that the Sea Vixens used were over five times heavier than the Folland Gnats used by the well known Red Arrows aerobatic team of the RAF. Following the conclusion of the Farnborough displays Simon’s Sircus and 892 Squadron were officially disbanded. 892 NAS disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton on 4. October 1968

1969 - 1978
On 31 March 1969, 892 NAS reformed at RNAS Yeovilton fron a nucleus of of 700P Squadron with Phantom FG.1s. In 1964 the Royal Navy had envisaged operating 143 Phantoms with a combined carrier fleet of HMS Ark Royal, HMS Eagle, and the new super-carrier CVA-01. However, these plans were significantly curtailed when the government's 1966 Defence White Paper cancelled the CVA-01 project in 1966, and, amid further defence cuts, only proceeded to refurbish Ark Royal and Eagle. As a result, the number of Phantoms planned to be operated was cut to 134 and then to 110. Eventually only 48 examples were ordered, which was enough for two squadrons of 12 aircraft each for Ark Royal and Eagle, and with additional aircraft for a training squadron (767 NAS) and reserves. However, as aircraft were beginning to be delivered during 1968 Eagle’s refit was cancelled and 20 aircraft were allocated to the RAF. Against a backdrop of defence cuts 892 Squadron suspected that it would become the last fixed-wing squadron and poignantly adopted a large Ω symbol on a white diamond placed on a red fin flash as its squadron symbol.
892 NAS gained worldwide exposure when one of their Phantoms won the Daily Mail Trans-Atlantic Air Race in May 1969. Lt Cdr Brian Davies, and Lt Cdr Peter Goddard set a record for flight time from New York to London of 4 hours 46 minutes and 57 seconds.
Numerous periods were spent afloat in HMS Ark Royal, including a trip to the Mediterranean during 1971-1973, and visits to the Caribbean and the USA in 1975, 1976 and 1978. Throughout the 1970s the unit was involved in a variety of NATO and Royal Navy exercises. However, the complex maintenance of the Phantom was to consistently plague the aircraft, despite great efforts by crew and maintainers.
With HMS Ark Royal due to pay off in December 1978 it was confirmed that there was to be no future for 892 NAS. On 27. November 1978 XT870/012 became the last aircraft to be catapulted from a British aircraft carrier. 892 NAS was disbanded on 15. December 1978 and its Phantom FG.1s were transferred to No. 111 Squadron RAF at RAF Leuchars.