1843 Naval Air Squadron

Inactive Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and Reserve Air Squadron May 2017 May 2017 1843 Naval Air Squadron 300px Goodyear FG-1D Corsair Mk IV; an example of the type used by 1843 NAS 1944–1945 1953–1957 10 March 1957Sturtivant Ballance 1994 355 United Kingdom *Single-seat fighter squadron Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Squadron *Fighter squadron Anti-submarine squadron *Twenty four aircraft (1944-45) Shared aircraft pool (RNVR) Fleet Air Arm See Naval air stations section for full list. Home station 1+V11 Single letters Identification Markings Vought Corsair 1843 Naval Air Squadron (1843 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) between 1943 and 1945 and then a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Squadron from 1953 to 1957. It formed in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick, in May 1944, as a fighter squadron. It arrived in the UK aboard HMS Trouncer in August. Based at HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, Northern Ireland and training at HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr, Scotland, the squadron had deck landing training aboard HMS Patroller in December, before joining HMS Arbiter in February 1945, as part of the 10th Naval Fighter Wing. Sailing to Australia, the squadron became part of the 3rd Carrier Air Group, but saw no action before the war ended and disbanded in October 1945. It reformed as a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch anti-submarine squadron, in the Scottish Air Division, from 1953 and disbanded in 1957. History Single-seat fighter squadron (1944 - 1945) 1843 Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 June 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 19 September 2024 under the command of Lieutenant Commander(A) D.K. Evans, RNZNVR.Wragg 2019 197 It was equipped with eighteen Vought Corsair aircraft, an American carrier-borne fighter-bomber. These were the Brewster built F4U-1 variant the F3A-1 and F3A-1D, 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 3 July the squadron began Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landings (ADDLs) utilising the nearby US Naval Auxiliary Airfield at Bar Harbor, Maine.A history of 1843 Naval Air Squadron https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/SQUADRONS/1843_Squadron.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Naval Air Squadrons 1938 - present day 29 September 2024 On completion of working up in late July the Mk III Vought Corsair were replaced with the Mk II variant . This version was the Vought built F4U-1A,Thetford 1991 81&83 before embarking in Trouncer D85 6 for the UK in August 1944. The Ruler escort carrier sailed from New York City on 11 August, to cross the Atlantic as part of convoy CU.35. The squadron disembarked to RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), near Derry, Northern Ireland, on 24 August. On 20 September Lieutenant Commander(A) D.F.V. Davis, RCNVR, was given temporary command of the squadron. On 14 October a new commanding officer, Major P.P. Nelson-Gracie, RM, took command Wragg 2019 197 Along with 1845 Naval Air Squadron, they formed the 10th Naval Fighter Wing.Wragg 2019 201 The squadron flew to Scotland on 23 October to RNAS Ayr (HMS Wagtail), Ayr, and remained there until returning to RNAS Eglinton on 15 December.Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 294 At the end of November the squadron strength was increased to twenty-four aircraft when it absorbed part of 1848 Naval Air Squadron which was disbanded on 21 November. A detachment of eight aircraft undertook Deck Landing Training (DLT) on the Ruler-class escort carrier, Patroller D07 6 between 21 and 23 December.Wragg 2019 197 At the start of February 1945 the squadron received new equipment again, these were the Goodyear built FG-1D variant of the Corsair, designated as the Mk IV by the Fleet Air Arm.Thetford 1991 80&83 The squadron flew out to embark in another Ruler-class escort carrier, Arbiter D31 6, on Valentine’s Day 1945. It sailed to Australia via a brief stop at Ceylon. On 2 May it disembarked to RNAS Schofields (HMS Nabthorpe), (Mobile Naval Air Base No. 3), which was situated at RAAF Station Schofields, New South Wales.Schofields https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Schofields.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day 29 September 2024 The squadron re-embarked into HMS Arbiter and sailed for the Admiralty Islands where it disembarked all twenty-four aircraft to RNAS Ponum (HMS Nabaron), (Mobile Naval Air Base No. 4) which was situated on a former US Navy airstrip on Ponam Island, Papua New Guinea, on the last day of May. It remained for almost a month, re-embarked on 25 June.Ponam https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Ponam.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day 29 September 2024 The carrier returned to Australia and the squadron disembarked on 4 July to RNAS Maryborough (HMS Nabstock), (Mobile Naval Air Base No. 6), which was located at RAAF Station Maryborough, Queensland. However, the stay was limited and the squadron flew to RNAS Jervis Bay (HMS Nabswick), (Mobile Naval Air Base No. 5), situated at Jervis Bay Airfield, New South Wales, on 14 of the month.Maryborough https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Maryborough.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day 29 September 2024 A week later it wagon the move again, flying to RNAS Nowra (HMS Nabbington) (Mobile Naval Air base No. 1), established at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Nowra at Nowra, New South Wales,Nowra https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Nowra.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day 29 September 2024 where it joined the 3rd Carrier Air Group (3rd CAG) which formed at HMS Nabbington on 2 August as a spare Group for an Illustrious aircraft carrier 0 fleet carrier.Wragg 2019 203 The squadron saw no action before the war ended and the Air Group was disbanded on 20 October. The aircraft were withdrawn in September, and the squadron personnel sailed home in Stratheden, to disband on arrival on 10 December 1945.Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 294 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Squadron Anti-submarine squadron On 20 April 1953 1843 Sqn reformed at RNAS Abbotsinch (HMS Sanderling), Paisley, Scotland, as a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch anti-submarine squadron in the Scottish Air Division, under the command of Lieutenant Commander(A) M. Ross, RNVR. It was essentially a renaming of 1830A Naval Air Squadron. The squadron shared a pool of aircraft with 1830 Naval Air Squadron. The RNVR squadron disbanded on 10 March 1957 under the White Paper defence cuts of that year.A history of 1843 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Squadron https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/SQUADRONS/1843R_Squadron.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Naval Air Squadrons 1938 - present day 30 September 2024 Aircraft flown 1843 Naval Air Squadron flew three variants of only one aircraft type:Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 294 Vought Corsair Mk III fighter-bomber (May - August 1944) Vought Corsair Mk II fighter-bomber (July 1944 - February 1945) Vought Corsair Mk IV fighter-bomber (February - September 1945) Assignments 1843 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:Wragg 2019 201-203 10th Naval Fighter Wing (14 October 1944 - February 1945Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 302-303) 3rd Carrier Air Group (2 August - 31 October 1945) Naval air stations 1843 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom, and overseas, and a number of Royal Navy escort carriers:Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 294 thumb|HMS Arbiter RN Air Section Brunswick, Maine, (1 May - 2 August 1944) Trouncer D85 6 (2 - 24 August 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Eglinton (HMS Gannet), County Londonderry, (24 August 1944 - 14 February 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Ayr (HMS Wagtail), South Ayrshire, (Detachments 23 October - 15 December 1944) Royal Air Force Acklington, Northumberland, (Detachment 11 - 17 December 1944) Patroller D07 6 (Detachment eight aircraft Deck Landing Training (DLT) 21 - 23 December 1944) Arbiter D31 6 (14 February - 4 April 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Colombo Racecourse (HMS Bherunda), Ceylon, (4 - 13 April 1945) HMS Arbiter (13 April - 1 May 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Schofields (HMS Nabthorpe), New South Wales, (1 May - 4 June 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Maryborough (HMS Nabstock), Queensland, (4 June - 14 July 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Jervis Bay (HMS Nabswick), Jervis Bay Territory, (14 - 22 July 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Nowra (HMS Nabbington), New South Wales, (22 July - 24 October 1945) Stratheden - transit - (24 October - 10 December 1945) disbanded - UK (10 December 1945) Commanding officers List of commanding officers of 1843 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:Wragg 2019 197Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 294 1944 - 1945 Lieutenant Commander(A) D.K. Evans, RNZNVR, from 1 May 1944 Lieutenant Commander(A) D.F.V. Davis, RCNVR, (temp), from 20 September 1944 Major P.P. Nelson-Gracie, RM, from 14 October 1944 Lieutenant Commander(A) P.C.S. Chilton, RN, from 11 February 1945 disbanded - 10 December 1945 1953 - 1957 Lieutenant Commander(A) M. Ross, RNVR, from 20 April 1953 disbanded - 10 March 1957 Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.Wragg 2019 257 See also List of Fleet Air Arm groups 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 http://www.wings-aviation.ch/31-FAA/4-Sqn/1843-NAS.htm 1843 Naval Air Squadron Michael E. Fader 19 September 2016 Wings Aviation dead https://web.archive.org/web/20161010212327/http://www.wings-aviation.ch/31-FAA/4-Sqn/1843-NAS.htm 2016-10-10 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/1843_Squadron.htm A History of 1843 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 1945 Category:Military units and formations established in 1953 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1957