885 Naval Air Squadron Explained

Unit Name:885 Naval Air Squadron
Dates:1 March - 1 May 1941
1 December 1941 - 15 December 1943
15 February 1944 -27 September 1945
Type:Single-seat fighter squadron
Role:Fleet fighter squadron
Command Structure:Fleet Air Arm
Garrison:See Naval air stations section for full list.
Garrison Label:Home station
Equipment:See Aircraft operated section for full list.
Equipment Label:Aircraft
Battles:World War II
Battle Honours:
  • Malta Convoys 1942
  • North Africa 1942
  • Sicily 1942
  • Normandy 1944
  • Okinawa 1945
Identification Symbol:Blue, issuant from water barry engrailed of four white and blue flames proper therein a cat emergent affronty black (1945)
Identification Symbol Label:Squadron badge
Identification Symbol 2:single letters (Sea Hurricane)
7A+ (Sea Hurricane on HMS Victorious)
3A+ (Spitfire June 1944)
06A+ (Seafire on HMS Formidable)
2A+ (Seafire June 1944)
single letters (Hellcat)
K8A+ (Hellcat)
single letters (Corsair)
100+ (Corsair)
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Identification Markings

885 Naval Air Squadron (885 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. First formed on 1 March 1941, the squadron served as a fighter squadron during the Second World War. It operated in the Mediterranean in 1942–43, where it took part in Operation Torch, the Anglo-American invasion of French North Africa, the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Allied invasion of Italy. In 1944 it took part in the Allied invasion of Normandy, spotting for Allied artillery bombardments and in 1945, was deployed as part of the British Pacific Fleet. It was abolished for the last time on 27 September 1945.

Service

885 Naval Air Squadron was first formed on 1 March 1941 at RNAS Dhekeila (HMS Grebe) in Egypt, the pre-war Alexandria airport, as a carrier fighter squadron, equipped with a mix of Brewster Buffalo, an American fighter aircraft and Gloster Gladiator, a British biplane fighter. The squadron briefly served aboard the carrier later that month, but was disbanded on 1 May 1941.

The squadron was reformed at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), Somerset, equipped with Hawker Sea Hurricane fighters, a navalised version of the Hawker Hurricane, on 1 December 1941. In June 1942, 885 NAS embarked on the carrier, strengthening the carrier's air wing before Victorious formed part of the distant escort for the disastrous arctic convoy PQ 17 and the return convoy QP 13.

The squadron re-embarked its six Hawker Sea Hurricane aboard Victorious on 31 July 1942 before the carrier set out to take part in the Malta Convoy,Operation Pedestal. In September 1942, the squadron was ordered to RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, to re-equip with the Supermarine Seafire F Mk.IIc, a navalised Supermarine Spitfire, and then embarked on for Operation Torch, the Anglo-American invasion of French North Africa in November that year. The Squadron remained on Formidable as the carrier covered the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 and Operation Avalanche, the Allied landings near Salerno, Italy in September 1943. The squadron returned to Britain in October 1943 and was disbanded on 15 November 1943.

The squadron reformed again at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, on 15 February 1944, again equipped with Supermarine Seafire. Following the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, the squadron was employed as part of RAF Second Tactical Air Force's air spotting pool, spotting for Allied artillery bombardments as well as escorting shipping in the Channel and carrying out fighter sweeps. In July, 886 and 897 Naval Air Squadrons, both also Seafire-equipped, were merged with 885 Naval Air Squadron. In November 1944, the squadron re-equipped with Grumman Hellcat, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft, in preparation for a transfer to the British Pacific Fleet.

The squadron embarked on the escort carrier in December 1944, with Ruler meeting up with the British Pacific fleet in April 1945. Ruler was tasked with providing fighter and anti submarine protection for the Fleet Train replenishment ships supporting the fleet, with 885 Naval Air Squadron supplementing its eighteen Grumman Hellcats with four Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers for anti-submarine duties. On 14–15 May, the squadron provided air cover while the British Pacific Fleet replenished during the Battle of Okinawa, with the squadron's aircraft also being used as targets to train the fleet's fighter controllers and anti-aircraft gunners.

After the end of Okinawa operations, the squadron disembarked at RNAS Ponum (HMS Nabaron), Ponam Island off New Guinea, providing continuation flying for replacement pilots for the fleet, and temporarily adding some Vought Corsair, an American fighter aircraft, while ashore to improve the training it could offer. From June, 885 Naval Air Squadron operated from Ruler to cover more refuelling operations during operations against Japan. The squadron was disbanded at RAAF Station Schofields, near Sydney Australia on 27 September 1945.

Aircraft operated

The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including:

Battle honours

The battle honours awarded to 885 Naval Air Squadron are:

Naval air stations and aircraft carriers

885 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force stations in the UK and overseas, and also a number of Royal Navy fleet carriers and escort carriers and other airbases overseas:

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 885 Naval Air Squadron:

References

Bibliography

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