| Unit Name: | 895 Naval Air Squadron |
| Dates: | 15 November 1942 - 30 June 1943 23 April - 19 December 1956 |
| Type: | Single-seat fighter squadron |
| Role: | Carrier-based fighter squadron |
| Command Structure: | Fleet Air Arm |
| Garrison: | See Naval air stations section for full list. |
| Garrison Label: | Home station |
| Battles: | Operation Musketeer |
| Identification Symbol: | White, upon barry wavy of six blue and white two winged swords gold in saltire surmounted by a peregrine proper belled silver and perched on a cubit arm fesswise sleeved and gauntleted gold (1956) |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Squadron badge |
| Identification Symbol 2: | 190-201 to 455-469 (Sea Hawk October 1956) |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Identification Markings |
| Identification Symbol 3: | J:A:B to B (Sea Hawk October 1956) |
| Identification Symbol 3 Label: | Tail Codes |
| Aircraft Fighter: | Hawker Sea Hurricane Supermarine Seafire Hawker Sea Hawk |
895 Naval Air Squadron (895 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN).[1] It was established at HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton, as a fighter squadron in November 1942. It started with Hawker Sea Hurricane, which were later changed to Supermarine Seafire. The squadron was disbanded at RAF Turnhouse in June 1943, and provided fighter flights for 816 and 842 Naval Air Squadrons.
In April 1956, it reformed at HMS Goldcrest, RNAS Brawdy and in August embarked in HMS Bulwark. In November, it participated in the Suez campaign, primarily carrying out attacks on Egyptian airfields. The squadron disembarked at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in December and was disbanded.
895 Naval Air Squadron was formed at RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap), Cheshire, England, on 15 November 1942 as a single-seat fighter unit, initially equipped with six Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IB fighter aircraft, a navalised version of the Hawker Hurricane. It was intended to be deployed on an escort carrier, however, the squadron transitioned to nine Supermarine Seafire F Mk.IIc fighter aircraft in March 1943, a navalised Supermarine Spitfire. It ultimately disbanded at RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland, on 30 June, serving as the foundation for the fighter flights of 816 and 842 Naval Air Squadrons.
On 23 April 1956, 895 Naval Air Squadron was reformed at RNAS Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest), Pembrokeshire, Wales, equipped with twelve Hawker Sea Hawk FGA 4 Fighter/Ground attack aircraft, which were later designated as FGA 6. The squadron embarked in the light aircraft carrier, in August. In October, 895 Naval Air Squadron exchanged its aircraft with 897 Naval Air Squadron, receiving twelve Hawker Sea Hawk FB 3, a fighter-bomber variant. Subsequently, in November, the squadron participated in the Suez campaign, primarily engaging in strafing and bombing operations against Egyptian airfields. By December, 895 Naval Air Squadron disembarked at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, England and was subsequently disbanded.
The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including:
895 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 Royal Navy fleet carrier:
List of commanding officers of 895 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[2]