History 

History 

1942
897 NAS formed at RNAS Stretton on 1. August 1942 as a single seater fighter squadron with 3 Seafire IIcs and 3 Fulmar IIs, but on 3. September 1942 it was disbanded into 801 NAS  and 880 NAS.

1942 - 1944
The squadron reforned at RNAS Stretton on 1. December 1942, again as a single seater fighter squadron, with 6 Sea Hurricane Ibs, moving subsequently to Charlton Horethorne in March. The Sea Hurricanes were replaced in March 1943 by 10 Seafire Ibs, which in turn gave way in August 1942 to 10 Seafire LIIcs with which 897 NAS joined HMS Unicorn to provide cover the following month for the Salerno landings, two aircraft operating ashore from Paestrum. Retuning home, the squadron joined the 3rd Naval Fighter Wing, training in tactical reconnaissance and bombardment spotting work. Changing to Spitfire LF.Vbs, or L.Vbs as the Navy preferred to call them, cover was provided for the Normandy invasion forces, one Me 109 being shot down and a midget submarine damaged. This task  completed, 897 NAS was amalgamated with 885 NAS at RNAS Lee-on-Solent on 15. July 1944.

1955 - 1957
Reformed at RNAS Brawdy on 7. November 1955 as a fighter unit with 12 Sea Hawk FB.3s, it embarked five months later in HMS Eagle for the Mediteruanean. On 12 October 1956 its aircaft were exchanged for the FGA.6s of No.895 NAS for operations during the Suez crisis, in which they bombed Egyptian airfields. The squadron returned home afterwards to disband on 5. January 1957.

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