1846 Naval Air Squadron

Inactive flying squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm May 2017 May 2017 1846 Naval Air Squadron 1846 Naval Air Squadron Badge.png 200px Squadron badge 1944–1946 23 July 1946Sturtivant Ballance 1994 357 UK Single-seat fighter squadron Fighter squadron Twenty four aircraft Fleet Air Arm See Naval air stations section for full list. Home station To the swift the race Blue, in base barry wavy of four white and blue a scimitar in pale winged white hilted gold (1946)Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 296 Squadron Badge Description 1+V4 U5+, U6+ & U7+ (February 1945) 111-131 (July 1945) Identification Markings D:C (July 1945) Fin Carrier Codes Vought Corsair 1846 Naval Air Squadron (1846 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). It formed at RN Air Section Brunswick in July 1944 as a fighter squadron, with eighteen Vought Corsair Mk III fighter aircraft. It embarked in HMS Ranee in October, disembarking to HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton at the beginning of November, where it expanded to twenty-four aircraft by absorbing part of the disbanded 1848 Naval Air Squadron. In February 1945, it re-equipped with Vought Corsair Mk IV, having joined HMS Colossus at the start of the year. The aircraft carrier departed for the Far East in February, and its aircraft formed part of the 14th Carrier Air Group when this formed in June at HMS Valluru, Royal Naval Aircraft Maintenance Yard Tambaram. The squadron was too late for World War II, and eventually disbanded at HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, in July 1946. History Single-seat fighter squadron (1944 - 1946) thumb|left|A Fleet Air Arm Goodyear FG-1D Corsair 1846 Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 July 1944 in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick, which was located at United States Naval Air Station (USNAS) Brunswick, Maine, as a Single Seat Fighter Squadron, Brunswick https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Brunswick.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day 22 September 2024 under the command of Lieutenant Commander(A) D.G. Brooker, RNVR.Wragg 2019 198 It was equipped with eighteen Vought Corsair aircraft, an American carrier-borne fighter-bomber. These were the Brewster built F3A-1 and F3A-1D variant, designated Corsair Mk III by the Fleet Air Arm.Thetford 1991 81&83 Training consisted air combat, low altitude and formation flying and navigation. On 9 August the squadron began Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landings (ADDLs) utilising the nearby US Naval Auxiliary Airfield at Bar Harbor, Maine. The squadron briefly flew to RN Air Section Norfolk, located at USNAS Norfolk, Virginia, on 23 August to carry out actual Deck Landing Training (DLT) on the United States Navy's escort carrier the Charger, which was operating in Chesapeake Bay.A history of 1846 Naval Air Squadron https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/SQUADRONS/1846_Squadron.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Naval Air Squadrons 1938 - present day 22 September 2024 On completion of working up the squadron returned to RN Air Section Norfolk, on 15 October, and then on 18 it embarked in the Ruler escort carrier, Ranee D03 6, for passage to the United Kingdom.Norfolk https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Norfolk.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day 22 September 2024 The carrier sailed for New York City on 22 October and then joined with the Liverpool bound Convoy CU.44 for the Atlantic crossing, but broke off for Belfast, Northern Ireland, with the squadron disembarking to Royal Naval Air Maintenance Yard Belfast (HMS Gadwall).Convoy CU.44 https://convoyweb.org.uk/ports/convoy2.php?suffix=CU.44&prefix=CU convoyweb.org.uk 29 March 2025 1846 Naval Air Squadron flew to RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), Derry, on 2 November where it increased its strength to twenty-four aircraft from the disbandment 1848 Naval Air Squadron. Training and work up continued and the squadron flew to Scotland on 11 December, to RNAS Ayr (HMS Wagtail), Ayr, for a week of training, returning to RNAS Eglinton on 18.Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 296 It moved again in the New Year although remaining in Northern Ireland, flying to RNAS Ballyhalbert (HMS Corncrake), County Down on 13 January. A detachment of twelve aircraft carried out DLT in the name ship of her class of aircraft carrier, Colossus R15 6, between 22 and 27 January. The following month the squadron swapped its Vought Corsair Mk III aircraft for Mk IV,Ballyhalbert https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Ballyhalbert.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day 22 September 2024 this later mark being the Goodyear built FG-1D variant.Thetford 1991 80&83 The squadron flew out to fully embark in HMS Colossus later in February and the aircraft carrier sailed for the Far East,Wragg 2019 198 calling at Alexandria, Egypt, where on 22 of the month the squadron disembarked to RNAS Dekheila (HMS Grebe). The squadron re-embarked in HMS Colossus on 4 May and on reaching Southern India it disembarked to Royal Naval Aircraft Maintenance Yard Tambaram (HMS Valluru), Madras, on 10 June,Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 296 where along with 827 Naval Air Squadron it formed the 14th Carrier Air Group (14th CAG) on 30 May, for service in HMS Colossus.Wragg 2019 203 1846 Naval air Squadron re-embarked on 5 July when the aircraft carrier sailed for Australia arriving around three weeks later.Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 297 It disembarked from HMS Colossus on 21 July to RNAS Nowra (HMS Nabbington), New South Wales. It remained ashore until 13 August, re-embarking in HMS Colossus when she prepared to sail.Nowra https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Nowra.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day 22 September 2024 HMS Colossus arrived at Hong Kong on 12 October and 1846 disembarked a detachment of aircraft to operate from RNAS Kai Tak (HMS Nabcatcher), re-embarking them on the 18, when the aircraft carrier sailed to Ceylon.Kai Tak https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Kai_Tak.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day 22 September 2024 HMS Colossus arrived at Ceylon on 26 October and disembarked the 14th Carrier Air Group to RNAS Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa). 1846 Naval Air Squadron remained in Ceylon for a couple of months until 30 December,Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 297 before it re-embarked and the carrier sailed for South Africa. On arrival her squadrons were disembarked to RNAS Wingfield (HMS Malagas), Cape Town, on 17 January 1946.Wingfield https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Wingfield.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day 22 September 2024 The squadrons re-embarked on 8 April and the carrier prepared to return to Ceylon. It departed on 13 April and arrived or Ceylon on the 27. The 14th CAG disembarked to RNAS Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa) and remained for around one month before re-embarked in HMS Colossus on 17 May for passage home.Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 297 On arrival to the UK her squadrons flew ashore, 1846 Naval Air Squadron to RNAS Gosport (HMS Siskin), Hampshire, on 23 July, where it disbanded.Wragg 2019 198 Aircraft flown 1846 Naval Air Squadron flew two variants of only one aircraft type:Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 297 Vought Corsair Mk III fighter bomber (July - February 1945) Vought Corsair Mk IV fighter bomber (February 1945 - July 1946) Assignments 1846 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units: 14th Carrier Air Group (30 June 1945 - 23 July 1946)Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 306 Naval air stations 1846 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom, and overseas, a Royal Navy escort carrier and a fleet carrier:Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 296-297 thumb|Aerial view of Naval Air Station Brunswick in 1944 thumb|HMS Colossus in 1945 RN Air Section Brunswick, Maine, (1 July - 15 October 1944) RN Air Section Norfolk, Virginia, (Detachment Deck Landing Training (DLT) Charger 23 - 25 August 1944) RN Air Section Norfolk, Virginia, (15 - 18 October 1944) Ranee D03 6 (18 October - 2 November 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Eglinton (HMS Gannet), County Londonderry, (2 November - 11 December 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Ауr (HMS Wagtail), South Ayrshire, (11 - 18 December 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Eglinton (HMS Gannet), County Londonderry, (18 December 1944 - 13 January 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Ballyhalbert (HMS Corncrake), County Down, (13 January - 20 February 1945) Colossus R15 6 (Detachment twelve aircraft 22 - 27 January 1945) HMS Colossus (20 February - 22 March 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Dekhaila (HMS Grebe), Alexandria, Egypt, (22 March - 4 May 1945) HMS Colossus (4 May - 10 June 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Tambaram (HMS Valluru), India, (10 June - 5 July 1945) HMS Colossus (5 - 21 July 1945 Royal Naval Air Station Nowra (HMS Nabbington), New South Wales, (21 July - 13 August 1945) HMS Colossus (13 August - 26 October 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Kai Tak (HMS Nabcatcher), Hong Kong, (Detachment 12 - 18 October 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), Ceylon, (26 October - 30 December 1945) HMS Colossus (30 December 1945 - 17 January 1946) Royal Naval Air Station Wingfield (HMS Malagas), Cape Town, South Africa, (17 January - 8 April 1946) HMS Colossus (8 - 27 April 1946 Royal Naval Air Station Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), Ceylon, (27 April - 17 May 1946) HMS Colossus (17 May - 23 July 1946) Royal Naval Air Station Gosport (HMS Siskin), Hampshire, disbanded - (23 July 1946) Commanding officers List of commanding officers of 1846 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:Wragg 2019 198Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 297 Lieutenant Commander(A) D.G. Brooker, RNVR, from 1 July 1944 (KIFA 20 March 1945Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR)Officers 1939-1945 -- B https://www.unithistories.com/officers/RNVR_officersB3.html unithistories.com 17 April 2025Lieut-Commander (A) Dudley George Brooker https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2973920/dudley-george-brooker/ cwgc.org 17 April 2025) Lieutenant Commander(A) S.L. Devonald, GBR 100% , DFC, RN, from 4 April 1945 Lieutenant Commander(A) D.A. Dick, GBR 100% , DSC, RNVR, from 26 February 1946 disbanded - 23 July 1946 Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.Wragg 2019 257 References Citations Bibliography Ballance Theo Howard Lee Sturtivant Ray The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm 2016 Air Britain Historians Limited 978-0-85130-489-2 en Sturtivant R Ballance T The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm 1994 Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd Tonbridge, Kent, UK 0-85130-223-8 Thetford Owen British Naval Aircraft since 1912 1991 Putnam Aeronautical Books, an imprint of Conway Maritime Press Ltd London, UK 0-85177-849-6 Wragg David The Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939-1945 2019 The History Press Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK 978-0-7509-9303-6 en External links http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/SQUADRONS/1846_Squadron.htm A History of 1846 Naval Air Squadron 26 September 2021 The Royal Navy Research Archive Category:1800 series Fleet Air Arm squadrons Category:Military units and formations established in 1944 Category:Air squadrons of the Royal Navy in World War II Category:Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War II Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1946