899 Naval Air Squadron
899 Naval Air Squadron | |
---|---|
Active | 15 December 1942 – 27 September 1945 7 November 1955 – 3 January 1957 1 February 1961 – 23 January 1972 31 March 1980 – 23 March 2005 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Navy |
Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
Battle honours | Sicily 1943 Salerno 1943 Aegean 1944 South France 1944[1] Falklands 1982 |
899 Naval Air Squadron (899 NAS) was a squadron of the Fleet Air Arm of the United Kingdom.
It was most recently based at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), in Somerset, as the British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA2 training squadron until it was decommissioned in March 2005 prior to the stand-up of 800 Naval Air Squadron with the British Aerospace Harrier GR7 at RAF Cottesmore, in Rutland.
History
Second World War
899 Naval Air Squadron was first formed on 15 December 1942 at
The squadron remained shore based in Northern Ireland for several months, temporarily receiving Spitfires in December owing to a shortage of Seafires, before re-equipping with Seafire LIIIs in March 1944.[6][7] In April 1944 the squadron embarked on the escort carrier Khedive, and underwent an extensive programme of deck-landing and ground attack training. It disembarked to RAF Peterhead on 31 May, flying fighter patrols while Khedive underwent a period of defect repair, before re-embarking on the carrier on 6 July.[6] On 15 July Khedive left for the Mediterranean to take part in Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of Southern France. The squadron helped to provide fighter cover for the invasion fleet and to carry out ground attack missions in support of the advancing Allied troops when the Dragoon landings started on 15 August. By the time Khedive was released from operations in support of Dragoon, on 23 August, 899 Squadron's Seafires had carried out 201 operation sorties for the loss of four aircraft, dropping 24 500 lb and 44 250 lb bombs.[8][9] In September 1944, Khedive took part in Operation Outing, an offensive by the Royal Navy against German forces in the Aegean, with 899 Squadron flying combat air patrol and attack against surface targets in Crete and Rhodes from 14 to 19 September.[10][11]
The squadron disembarked from Khedive at
Cold War
Sea Hawk (1955–1957)
On 7 November 1955, the squadron was recommissioned at RNAS Brawdy, equipped with 12 Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6 jet fighters. After a five-month work up programme, including carrier landing training aboard Bulwark in January 1956, the squadron (together with 897 NAS, embarked aboard the carrier Eagle on 16 April 1956. The carrier then sailed to join the Mediterranean Fleet.[7][17] The Egyptian nationalisation of the Suez Canal on 26 July 1956 caused the Suez Crisis, resulting in Operation Musketeer, the Anglo-French invasion of the Suez Canal zone.[18] On 1 November, 899 Squadron carried out rocket attacks on Inchas and Cairo West airfields, continuing with ground attack missions until a ceasefire came into action on 7 September.[17][19] The squadron flew 165 sorties without suffering any losses, although several of its aircraft received minor damage.[17] Lieutenant Commander Arthur Bernard Bruce Clark, the commanding officer of 899 Squadron, was mentioned in despatches for his actions during the operation.[20][17] After covering the Anglo-French evacuation from Egypt in December 1956, Eagle returned to Britain, with 899 Squadron disembarking to RNAS Brawdy on 3 January 1957 and disbanding there on 5 January.[7][17]
Sea Vixen (1961–1972)
899 NAS reformed on 1 February 1961 at RNAS Yeovilton with the de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 all weather fighter, as the Vixen Headquarters Squadron, tasked with evaluating equipment and tactics and equipped with five Sea Vixens.[17][21] The unit participated in the 1961 Farnborough Airshow in September that year,[22] and in the following year's show.[17]
In February 1964, the squadron began to convert to the Sea Vixen FAW.2, and after working out tactics and procedures for the new version, changed role to a fully operational squadron, with the squadron's strength increasing to 14 Sea Vixens.[17] It embarked on the newly reconstructed Eagle in December that year,[7][23] as the carrier sailed for the Far East.[24] Eagle returned to Britain in May for a docking and maintenance period, with 899 re-embarking on 25 August 1965, as Eagle again left for the Far East. On 12 November 1965, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) made a Unilateral Declaration of Independence, and Eagle was ordered to stand by off the coast of Zambia in order to defend Zambia if hostilities with Rhodesia broke out. Eagle was relieved from this duty in December. In March 1966, Eagle relieved the carrier Ark Royal in providing air support to the Beira Patrol blockade aimed at enforcing a UN oil embargo against Rhodesia, remaining at sea for a record 72 days.[25][26]
In 1967, with the disintegration of the Protectorate of South Arabia, HMS Eagle deployed to the Gulf of Aden. Throughout November 1967, 899 NAS flew reconnaissance flights over Aden with RAF Hawker Hunters of No. 43 Squadron.[27] The squadron continually maintained a patrol of four Vixens over Aden to cover the withdrawal of British forces.[25] On 29 November, four Sea Vixens of 899 NAS were the last British military aircraft to leave Aden,[27] with one carrying the Union Jack back to HMS Eagle.[28]
899 NAS was decommissioned on 23 January 1972.[16]
Training squadron
Sea Harrier FRS1 (1980–1993)
899 NAS was recommissioned on 31 March 1980 with the British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.1, taking over from 700A Flight, the Sea Harrier Intensive Training Unit.[3] It was the Sea Harrier Headquarters Squadron, converting pilots onto the Sea Harrier (they would first receive instruction on how to fly STOVL aircraft with the RAF's 233 Operational Conversion Unit where they would fly two seat Harrier T4 trainers), as well as carrying out continuing trials of the Sea Harrier.[29] From August 1981, the squadron also received Hawker Hunter T.8M, fitted with the Sea Harrier's Ferranti Blue Fox radar.[30][31]
In April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, resulting in the Falklands War. While 899 Squadron did not take part directly in the war, most of its personnel and aircraft joined 800 NAS (HMS Hermes) and 801 NAS (HMS Invincible) for service in the South Atlantic. From May 1982, the squadron recommenced training activities, using Sea Harriers borrowed from the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment to train pilots for 809 Naval Air Squadron, specially formed for the Falklands War. In early July, the squadron received 8 RAF Harrier GR.3s on loan to help train the air wing for the new carrier Illustrious, until the return of Hermes on 21 July provided sufficient Sea Harriers for the squadron to return to normal.[3][32] In September 1983, it received its own two-seaters, three Harrier T4Ns, which were supplemented in 1987 by ex-RAF T4As, with the squadron taking full responsibility for the entire training task for Sea Harrier pilots in 1989.[30][33]
Sea Harrier FA2 (1993–2005)
In June 1993 an
On 23 March 2005, 899 NAS was disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton, seeing two flypasts – one of the squadron's remaining aircraft (two FA2s and two T8s) and the other composed of former 899 aircraft (Sea Hawk, Sea Vixen and Hunter).[38]
Aircraft flown
List of aircraft operated by 809 NAS:[39][16]
- Supermarine Seafire L.IIc (Dec 1942–Jan 1994)
- Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb (Dec 1943–Mar 1944)
- Supermarine Seafire L.III (Feb 1944–Sep 1945)
- Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6 (Nov 1955–Jan 1957)
- de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 (Feb 1961–1964)
- de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 (Feb 1964–Jan 1972)
- British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.1 (Mar 1980–June 1993)
- Hawker Siddeley Harrier T.4N (Mar 1980–1995)
- Hawker Hunter T.8M (Mar 1980–199?)
- British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA2 (June 1993–Mar 2005)
- Hawker Siddeley Harrier T.8 (May 1995–Mar 2005)
References
- ^ "Fleet Air Arm Archive — Battle Honours of the Fleet Air Arm". Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b Brown 1972, p. 72
- ^ a b c d Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 333
- ^ Brown 1972, pp. 72–73
- ^ Brown 1972, pp. 73–74
- ^ a b Brown 1972, p. 74
- ^ a b c d e Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, pp. 333–334
- ^ Brown 1972, pp. 74–75
- ^ Hobbs 2013, p. 160
- ^ Hobbs 2013, pp. 145, 160
- ^ Brown 1972, pp. 75–76
- ^ Brown 1972, p. 76
- ^ Brown 1972, pp. 76–77
- ^ Hobbs 2017, pp. 220–221
- ^ a b Brown 1972, p. 77
- ^ a b c "History - 899 Squadron". Sea Harrier Association. Archived from the original on 9 September 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Brown 1972, p. 78
- ^ Jackson 1980, pp. 12–19
- ^ Jackson 1980, pp. 100–101
- ^ "No. 41092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1957. p. 3418.
- ^ Birtles 1986, p. 102
- ^ "Farnborough 1961". scramble.nl. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ Birtles 1986, p. 106
- ^ Hobbs 2013, p. 285
- ^ a b Hobbs 2013, p. 286
- ^ Brown 1972, p. 25
- ^ a b "Fleet Air Arm". radfanhunters.co.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ a b "899 Naval Air Squadron". royal-navy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 2000. Archived from the original on 21 November 2000.
- ^ Lake 2000, pp. 65, 100
- ^ a b Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 334
- ^ Lake 2000, pp. 64, 100
- ^ Burden et al. 1986, pp. 228–229
- ^ Lake 2000, pp. 92–93, 98, 100
- ^ Lake 2000, pp. 82–83, 100
- ^ "899 Naval Air Squadron". royal-navy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 2005. Archived from the original on 17 May 2005.
- ^ Lake 2000, pp. 84, 100
- ^ Lake 2000, p. 93
- ^ "899 NAS Disbandment Feature Report". UK Airshow Review. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ "899 Naval Air Squadron". www.wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- Birtles, Philip (1986). De Havilland Vampire, Venom and Sea Vixen. Postwar Military Aircraft. Vol. 5. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1566-X.
- Brown, David (1972). Carrier Air Groups, Volume 1: HMS Eagle. Windsor, UK: Hylton Lacy Ltd. ISBN 0-85064-103-9.
- Burden, Rodney A.; Draper, Michael A.; Rough, Douglas A.; Smith, Colin A.; Wilton, David (1986). Falklands: The Air War. Twickenham, UK: British Air Review Group. ISBN 0-906339-05-7.
- Hobbs, David (2013). British Aircraft Carriers: Design, Development and Service Histories. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-138-0.
- Hobbs, David (2017). The British Pacific Fleet: The Royal Navy's Most Powerful Strike Force. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5267-0283-8.
- Jackson, Robert (1980). Suez 1956: Operation Musketeer. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0944-9.
- Lake, Jon (Summer 2000). "BAE Systems Sea Harrier and other first-generation Harriers". World Air Power Journal. Vol. 41. pp. 60–101. ISSN 0959-7050.
- Sturtivant, Ray; Ballance, Theo (1994). The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.