1838 Naval Air Squadron

Inactive flying squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm February 2018 February 2018 1838 Naval Air Squadron 300px Vought Corsair; an example of the type used by 1838 NAS 1943–1944 13 September 1944Sturtivant Ballance 1994 350 United Kingdom Single-seat fighter squadron Carrier-based fighter squadron Ten aircraft Fleet Air Arm See Naval air stations section for full list. Home station World War II Pacific War Operation Crimson Sabang 1944 Unknown Identification Markings Vought Corsair 1838 Naval Air Squadron (1838 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). The squadron was established as a fighter unit in the United States in October 1943, before embarking in the escort carrier HMS Begum in January 1944. In February, the squadron arrived at the airbase HMS Ringtail, RNAS Burscough, passing through the airbase HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihanish. It embarked in the escort carrier HMS Atheling in February for journey to Ceylon, arriving at the RN Air Section at RAF Minneriya in April. The squadron joined the fleet carrier HMS Victorious in July for a mission to Sabang, returning to the airfield HMS Berhunda, RNAS Colombo Racecourse. It re-embarked in HMS Atheling in August, headed to South Africa, and landed at the airbase HMS Malagas, RNAS Wingfield, where it disbanded into 1830 and 1833 Naval Air Squadrons in September. History Single-seat fighter squadron (1943–1944) 1838 Naval Air Squadron was officially established in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick, located at the US Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, on 1 October 1943. This squadron, which operated single-seat fighter aircraft, was commanded by Lieutenant Commander(A) F. B. P. Sanderson of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.Wragg 2019 195 The aircraft it initially operated were ten Vought Corsair carrier-based fighter aircraft, these were the Vought Chance built F4U-1 and known as the Corsair Mk I in the Fleet Air Arm.Thetford 1991 80-81 thumb|left| Royal Navy Vought Corsair Mk I fighters at Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine Following an initial acclimatisation to the aircraft and associated equipment, the squadron commenced rigorous training to ready itself for active deployment. This training encompassed a variety of activities, including navigation drills, low-altitude manoeuvres, formation flying, and the development of air combat manoeuvring.A history of 1838 Naval Air Squadron https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/SQUADRONS/1838_Squadron.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Naval Air Squadrons 1938 - present day 26 February 2025 At the beginning of 1944, the Vought Corsair Mk I aircraft were withdrawn and substituted with Mk II variants, which were the Vought Chance built F4U-1A.Thetford 1991 80-81 Subsequently, the squadron relocated to RN Air Section Norfolk situated at USNAS Norfolk to conduct a day of Deck Landing Training (DLT) with the Charger.Norfolk https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Norfolk.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day 26 February 2025 The Ruler escort carrier, Begum D38 6, departed from Naval Station Norfolk on the afternoon of 14 January, carrying 1838 Naval Air Squadron. Upon reaching New York on 16 January, the vessel continued its journey, leaving the port on 18 January to join convoy UT.7 bound for Liverpool, England. The carrier arrived in Liverpool Docks on 29 January, at which point the squadron disembarked and proceeded to naval air station RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail) in Lancashire,A history of HMS Begum https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/BEGUM.htm Royal Navy Research Archive 26 February 2025Convoy UT.7 https://convoyweb.org.uk/ports/convoy2.php?suffix=UT.7&prefix=U convoyweb.org.uk 29 March 2025 via the airfield RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, Scotland.Wragg 2019 195 Following a short period at RNAS Burscough, 1838 Naval Air Squadron was deployed to Ceylon aboard the escort carrier and HMS Begum'''s sister ship, Atheling D51 6, on 26 February 1944. The squadron arrived at the RN Air Section located at RAF Minneriya, Ceylon, on 13 April.A history of HMS Atheling https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/ATHELING.htm Royal Navy Research Archive 26 February 2025 It was scheduled to continue flying training in Ceylon, with a brief embarkation on the Maintenance Carrier Unicorn I72 6, an aircraft repair ship and light aircraft carrier, on 6 June, during which they would participate in two days of Deck Landing Training (DLT). In late July 1944, 1838 Naval Air Squadron was deployed aboard the Fleet Carrier, Victorious R38 6, an Illustrious aircraft carrier,Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 289 as part of Operation Crimson, which aimed to conduct strikes against targets located in Sabang, Sumatra. This operation entailed a combination of naval bombardment and aerial assaults on Japanese airfields situated in the Indonesian cities of Sabang, Lhoknga, and Kutaraja on the island of Sumatra. Carrier-based aircraft played a crucial role in neutralising the airfields and offering air support for the forces engaged in the bombardment. The carrier returned to Ceylon on the 27, with 1838 Naval Air Squadron disembarking at RNAS Colombo Racecourse (HMS Berhunda). This brief mission constituted the squadron's sole engagement in combat, resulting in the conferment of the Battle Honour ‘Sabang’. On 25 August 1944, the squadron re embarked in HMS Atheling for transit to Cape Town, South Africa.Wragg 2019 195 Upon reaching their destination on 12 September, the squadron disembarked at RNAS Wingfield (HMS Malagas), where it was officially disbanded the next day. The aircraft and personnel of the squadron were integrated into 1830 and 1833 Naval Air Squadrons to strengthen the 15th Naval Fighter Wing.Wingfield https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Wingfield.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day 27 February 2025 The intention was to reform in November 1945, which would have involved the deployment of fifteen Vought Corsair aircraft for a 5th Carrier Air Group within the British Pacific Fleet; however, this initiative was ultimately abandoned following Victory over Japan Day.Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 289 Aircraft flown 1838 Naval Air Squadron flew two variants of only one aircraft type:Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 289 Vought Corsair Mk I fighter aircraft (October 1943 - January 1944) Vought Corsair Mk II fighter aircraft (January - September 1944) Battle honours The following Battle Honours have been awarded to 1838 Naval Air Squadron: Sabang 1945Sabang 1945 http://www.britainsnavy.co.uk/Battle%20Honours/Sabang%201944.htm britainsnavy.co.uk 27 February 2025 Naval air stations 1838 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy in the UK and overseas, a Royal Navy fleet carrier and a number of escort carriers:Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 289 thumb|HMS Atheling RN Air Section Brunswick, Maine, (1 October 1943 – 8 January 1944) RN Air Section Norfolk, Virginia, (Deck Landing Training (DLT) Charger) (8 - 19 January 1944) Begum D38 6 (19 - 31 January 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, (31 January - 1 February 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Burscough (HMS Ringtail), Lancashire, (1 - 26 February 1944) Atheling D51 6 (26 February - 13 April 1944) RN Air Section Minneriya, Ceylon, (13 April - 23 July 1944) Unicorn I72 6 (Deck Landing Training (DLT) 6 - 8 June 1944) Victorious R38 6 (23 - 27 July 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Colombo Racecourse (HMS Berhunda), Ceylon, (27 July - 25 August 1944) HMS Atheling'' (25 August - 12 September 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Wingfield (HMS Malagas), Cape Town, South Africa, (12 - 13 September 1944) disbanded - (13 September 1944) Commanding officers List of commanding officers of 1838 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:Wragg 2019 195 Lieutenant Commander(A) F.B.P. Sanderson, RNVR, from 1 October 1943 Lieutenant Commander(A) M.S. Godson, RN, 28 June 1944 disbanded - 13 September 1944 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 https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/SQUADRONS/1838_Squadron.htm A History of 1838 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 1943 Category:Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War II Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1944