893 Naval Air Squadron (893 NAS), otherwise referred to as 893 Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It most recently operated de Havilland Sea Vixen carrier-based fleet air-defence fighter aircraft, between August 1960 and July 1970.
The squadron was established as a fighter unit in June 1942. By October it was operating on the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable. The squadron provided air support for Operation Torch. It participated in the invasion of Sicily in July 1943 and the landings at Salerno in September 1943, but was disbanded in November.
The squadron was reformed in February 1956. Due to the Suez crisis, it expanded by absorbing 890 Naval Air Squadron. In December, it expanded further by taking in some aircraft from 892 Naval Air Squadron. It became the first squadron to equip de Havilland Sea Venom aircraft with Firestreak missiles, but disbanded in February 1960.
In August 1960, 893 Naval Air Squadron was reformed for HMS Hermes. During the Kuwait crisis in June 1961 it was on HMS Centaur and in August 1963 it moved to HMS Victorious for a long deployment in the Far East. During rising tensions with Indonesia, the squadron was at RAF Tengah from June to August 1964, however, the squadron disbanded in July 1965. It was reformed in November and six months later boarded HMS Victorious, serving in the Far East from July 1966 to March 1967. It moved to Cyprus in April 1968 and in May joined HMS Hermes for the Far East. The squadron was later in the Mediterranean, but disbanded in July 1970.
Throughout its history 893 NAS has operated Fulmars, Martlets, Sea Venoms and Sea Vixens.
History
Single-seat fighter squadron (1942-1943)
893 Naval Air Squadron was first stood up at RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), Fife, Scotland, on 15 June 1942 equipped with Grumman Martlet fighter aircraft and supplemented by a number of Fairey Fulmar fighter aircraft. The original plan was for deployment on the , ; however, it ultimately served on the , , where it was equipped with ten Grumman Martlet Mk IV in October. This arrangement facilitated fighter patrols during Operation Torch, the North African landings. Throughout the subsequent months, patrols continued in the Mediterranean region. In July 1943, fighter cover focused on the Allied landings in Sicily, Operation Husky, while a comparable operation was conducted for the Salerno Landings, Operation Avalanche, in September. On 18 October, the squadron returned to RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, Scotland and subsequently re-embarked to provide support for an Arctic convoy. The squadron was disbanded on 18 November, shortly following its return.
All-weather fighter squadron (1956-1960)
893 Naval Air Squadron was re established as an all-weather fighter unit at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), Somerset, England, in February 1956, initially equipped with six de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.21 jet fighter aircraft, designated for . However, the onset of the Suez Crisis necessitated a revision of these plans, leading to an expansion in June when the squadron grew to nine aircraft through the incorporation of 890 Naval Air Squadron. Subsequently, in December, 893 Naval Air Squadron further augmented its strength by integrating several aircraft from 892 Naval Air Squadron, thereby enhancing its operational capabilities from the , . In February 1957, the unit was assigned to HMS Ark Royal while operating in the Mediterranean, with additional deployments in Home waters and the Atlantic. Subsequently, in September 1958, the squadron transferred to , , also stationed in the Mediterranean. The squadron distinguished itself as the first to operate de Havilland Sea Venom aircraft armed with Firestreak infrared homing (heat seeking) air-to-air missile, undergoing re-equipment with FAW.22 Sea Vixen variant in January 1959. The squadron was officially disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) on 29 February 1960.
Sea Vixen (1960-1970)
In August 1960, 893 Naval Air Squadron was reformed at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), equipped with six de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 jet fighter aircraft. The squadron's first detachment was to the , prior to its commissioning on 1 September. Subsequently, the squadron flew to join HMS Ark Royal near Malta in November. By the time of the Kuwait crisis in June 1961, the squadron was aboard the lead ship of her class, , and it later operated in both the Far East and the Mediterranean regions before transferring to HMS Victorious in August 1963. This vessel then embarked on an extended deployment to the Far East, which included stops in Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia. During a period of heightened tensions with Indonesia, the squadron was placed on alert and disembarked at RAF Tengah, Singapore, from June to August 1964 while the ship underwent refitting in HMNB Singapore. Upon returning to the United Kingdom, the squadron was disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton in July 1965.
The squadron, equipped with eleven de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 aircraft, was re established at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) in November 1965 and subsequently embarked on HMS Victorious six months later. Following a deployment to the Far East from July 1966 to March 1967, the squadron returned to the United Kingdom before detaching to Cyprus in April 1968. In May, 893 Naval Air Squadron joined HMS Hermes for another expedition to the Far East. The squadron also spent time operating in the Mediterranean; however, it was disbanded on 14 July 1970.
Aircraft flown Types of aircraft flown by 893 Naval Air Squadron include:
Fairey Fulmar Mk.I reconnaissance/fighter aircraft (June - September 1942) Grumman Martlet Mk I fighter aircraft (June - October 1942) Grumman Martlet Mk II fighter aircraft (September - October 1942) Grumman Martlet Mk IV fighter aircraft (October 1942 - November 1943) de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.21 jet fighter-bomber (February 1956 - January 1959) de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.22 jet fighter-bomber (January 1959 - February 1960) de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 jet fighter aircraft (September 1960 - July 1965) de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 jet fighter aircraft (November 1965 - July 1970)
Battle honours
The battle honours awarded to 893 Naval Air Squadron are:
Arctic 1941-1945 North Africa 1942-43 Sicily 1943 Salerno 1943
Naval air stations and aircraft carriers
893 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, also a number of Royal Navy fleet carriers and escort carriers and other airbases overseas:
1942 - 1943 Royal Naval Air Station Donibristle (HMS Merlin) (15 June - 23 August 1942) (Detachment two aircraft 1 - 13 July 1942) Royal Naval Air Station St Merryn (HMS Vulture) (23 August - 9 September 1942) Royal Naval Air Station Charlton Horethorne (HMS Heron II) (9 September - 6 October 1942) Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) (6 - 21 October 1942)
(21 October 1942 - 23 August 1943) RN Air Section Gibraltar (Detachment five aircraft 5 - 12 January 1943) La Senia Airfield (Detachment three aircraft 14 - 21 January 1943/3 - 7 February 1943) RN Air Section Gibraltar (Detachment three aircraft 8 February - 12 March 1943/15 - 19 April 1943) RN Air Section Tafaraoui (Detachment 6 - 14 June 1943) Royal Naval Air Station Dekheila (HMS Grebe) (23 - 28 August 1943) HMS Formidable (28 August - 18 October 1943) (Detachment 11 - 12 September 1943) Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) (18 - 29 October 1943) HMS Formidable (29 October - 13 November 1943) Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMS Landrail)Royal Naval Air Station Stretton (HMS Blackcap)Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (13 - 16 November 1943) disbanded - (16 November 1943)
1956 - 1960 Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (6 February - 8 June 1956) (8 - 20 June 1956) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (20 June - 10 August 1956) Ciampino Airfield (transit 10 - 11 August 1956) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (11 - 17 August 1956) (17 - 24 August 1956) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (24 August - 11 September 1956) HMS Eagle (11 - 14 September 1956) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (14 - 25 September 1956) HMS Eagle (25 September - 13 October 1956) RN Air Section Gibraltar (13 - 20 October 1956) HMS Eagle (20 October - 30 November 1956) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (30 November - 2 December 1956) HMS Eagle (2 - 24 December 1956) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (24 December 1956 - 5 February 1957) (5 - 25 February 1957) Royal Naval Air Station Merryfield (25 February - 28 August 1957) HMS Ark Royal (28 August - 26 October 1957) Royal Naval Air Station Merryfield (26 October 1957 - 27 January 1958) HMS Ark Royal (27 January - 24 June 1958) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (24 June - 25 September 1958)
(25 September - 28 November 1958) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (28 November - 9 December 1958) HMS Victorious (9 December 1958 - 13 January 1959) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (13 January - 21 February 1959) HMS Victorious (21 February - 23 March 1959) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (23 March - 5 May 1959) HMS Victorious (5 May - 9 August 1959) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (9 August - 15 September 1959) HMS Victorious (15 September - 1 October 1959) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (1 - 6 October 1959) Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) (6 - 24 October 1959) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (24 - 30 October 1959) HMS Victorious (30 October - 14 December 1959) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (14 December 1959 - 7 January 1960) HMS Victorious (7 January - 25 February 1960) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (25 - 29 February 1960) disbanded - (29 February 1960)
1960 - 1965 Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (15 August - 24 November 1960) (Detachment two aircraft 27 August - 5 October 1960) HMS Victorious (Detachment three aircraft 27 - 30 September 1960) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (24 - 25 November 1960) HMS Ark Royal (25 November 1960 - 28 February 1961) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (Detachment three aircraft 18 December 1960 - 6 January 1961) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (28 February - 1 April 1961)
(1 April - 29 August 1961) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (Detachment six aircraft 29 April - 8 May 1961) RN Air Section Gibraltar Detachment three aircraft (14 - 30 June 1961) Royal Air Force Khormaksar Detachment three aircraft (12 - 21 July 1961) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (Detachment five aircraft 27 August 1961, to Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) 29 August 1961) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (1 September - 20 October 1961) HMS Centaur (20 October 1961) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (Detachment six aircraft 14 - 27 November 1961) Royal Air Force Tengah (Detachment three aircraft 1 - 18 February 1962) Royal Air Force Khormaksar (Detachment four aircraft 23 - 31 March 1962) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (Detachment seven aircraft 17 April - 3 May 1962) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (14 May - 22 June 1962) HMS Centaur (22 June - 5 July 1962) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (5 - 12 July 1962) HMS Centaur (12 July - 27 August 1962) RN Air Section Gibraltar (Detachment four aircraft 29 July - 9 August 1962) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (27 August - 20 September 1962) Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (20 - 22 September 1962) HMS Centaur (22 September - 25 October 1962) Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (25 October - 10 November 1962) HMS Centaur (10 - 20 November 1962)