History 

HMS Battler

History 

1942 - 1946
894 NAS personnel assembld at RNAS Stretton 15. July 1942 and were shipped to the USA where they formed up at NAS Norfolk, Virginia on 15. August 1942 as a single seater fighter squadron. Equipped with 6 Martlet IVs, the squadron sailed for the UK in December in HMS Battler, re-equipping at RNAS Hatston in March 1943 with 9 Seafire IIcs.
In July 1943 894 NAS joined HMS lllustrious for a trip to Iceland, followed by an operation off the Norwegian coast. Taking passage to Malta in August, the squadron was engaged the next month in support of the Salerno landings, some aircraft operating from a captured airstrip. On returning home the squadron became part of the 24th Naval Fighter Wing at RNAS Henstridge, re-equipping with 12 Seafire F.IIIs in November.
In April 1944, these accompanied RAF Typhoons carrying out anti-shipping attacks in the English Channel. Embarking in HMS Indefatigable in July 1944, operations were carried out over Norway, including providing cover for two attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz, two enemy alrcraft being shot down on 22. August 1944.
In November the squadron re-quipped with 24 Seafire LIIIs, then sailed for Ceylon to provide cover in January for attacks on Sumatran oil installations. Similar cover was provided in March and April for attacks on the Sakishima Gunto group of lslands in the South China Seas, and shortly before VJ-Day attacks ms made on the Japanese mainland. Some time was then spent in Australia, followed by a visit to New Zealand in November 1944. Returning hone in the New Year. 894 NAS disbanded at RNAS Gosport on arrival on 15. March 1946.

1957 - 1960
Reformed at RNAS Merryfield on 14. January 1957 as an aIl-weather fighter squadron, 894 NAS received 12 Sea Venom FAW.22s, though some FAW.21s were used at first until the full complement arrived. It embarked in HMS Eagle ln August 1957, spending much of 1958 in the Mediterranean. Most of 1959 was spent at Yeovilton, but in February 1960 the squadron joined HMS Albion for a spell in the Far East before retuning home to disband at RNAS Yeovilton on 17. December 1960.

- Has anyone more Informations about this Squadron -