| Unit Name: | 897 Naval Air Squadron |
| Dates: | 1 August - 3 September 1942 1 December 1942 - 15 July 1944 7 November 1955 - 5 January 1957 |
| 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 |
| Equipment: | See Aircraft operated section for full list. |
| Equipment Label: | Aircraft |
| Battles: | |
| Battle Honours: |
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| Identification Symbol: | Blue, a roseate tern [Sterna Dougalli] proper diving from dexter chief (1944) |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Squadron badge |
| Identification Symbol 2: | 4A+ (Seafire by June 1944) 455-466 to 190-201 (Sea Hawk October 1956) |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Identification Markings |
| Identification Symbol 3: | J:B to J (Sea Hawk October 1956) |
| Identification Symbol 3 Label: | Tail Codes |
897 Naval Air Squadron (897 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN).[1] Established as a fighter squadron at HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton, on 1 August 1942, the squadron was disbanded into 801 and 880 Naval Air Squadrons on 3 September. It reformed at HMS Blackcap as a fighter unit on 1 December 1942. On August 4, the squadron joined HMS Unicorn and provided air support for Operation Avalanche, part of the Allied invasion of Italy, in September 1943. The squadron became part of the 3rd Naval Fighter Wing, focusing on tactical reconnaissance and bombardment spotting. It provided cover during the Operation Neptune, the Normandy landings, where it claimed a Messerschmidt Bf 109 and inflicted damage on a midget submarine. The squadron disbanded into 885 Naval Air Squadron on 15 July 1944.
It re-established at HMS Goldcrest, RNAS Brawdy, on 7 November 1955 as a fighter unit, deploying five months later aboard HMS Eagle to the Mediterranean. On 12 October 1956, the squadron participated in the Suez Crisis, completing well over one hundred sorties. It subsequently returned home and was disbanded on 5 January 1957.
897 Naval Air Squadron was established at RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap), Cheshire, England,[2] on 1 August 1942, as a single-seat fighter unit, initially equipped with three Supermarine Seafire F Mk IIc aircraft, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire and three Fairey Fulmar Mk II carrier-borne fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. However, it was disbanded on 3 September, subsequently merging into 801 and 880 Naval Air Squadrons.
The squadron was re-established at RNAS Stretton on 1 December 1942, once more functioning as a single-seat fighter unit, initially equipped with six Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IB fighter aircraft, a navalised version of the Hawker Hurricane. In March 1943, these were substituted with ten Supermarine Seafire F Mk Ib fighter aircraft, which were subsequently replaced in August by ten Mk IIc variants. With these aircraft, 897 Naval Air Squadron joined the aircraft repair ship and light aircraft carrier,, to offer air support for the Salerno landings the following month. During this operation, a section commanded by the squadron leader successfully executed one of the rare interceptions of enemy aircraft.
Upon relocating to RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail), Lancashire, England, in October 1943,[3] the squadron integrated into the 3rd Naval Fighter Wing, focusing on tactical reconnaissance and bombardment spotting training. In March 1944, it transitioned to Supermarine Spitfire L.Mk Vb fighter aircraft, playing a crucial role in providing air support for the Normandy landings, during which it claimed the destruction of a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft and inflicted damage on a midget submarine. This operation encompassed 374 sorties conducted between 6 June and 12 July and upon its completion, the squadron was officially disbanded on 15 July 1944, merging into 885 Naval Air Squadron while stationed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, England.[4]
897 Naval Air Squadron reestablished at RNAS Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest), Pembrokeshire, Wales,[5] on 7 November 1955 as a fighter unit equipped with twelve Hawker Sea Hawk FB.3 jet fighter-bomber aircraft, the squadron deployed aboard the, to the Mediterranean five months later. On 12 October 1956, the unit's aircraft were swapped for the FGA.6 Fighter/Ground attack variant from 895 Naval Air Squadron, to participate in operations during the Suez Crisis, completing 169 sorties from 1 to 6 November, targeting shipping, military facilities, and airfields. Subsequently, the squadron returned to the United Kingdom and was disbanded on 5 January 1957.
The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including:
The battle honours awarded to 897 Naval Air Squadron are:
897 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy in the UK and overseas, and also a number of Royal Navy fleet carriers and escort carriers and other airbases overseas:
List of commanding officers of 897 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[8]