1943
- 1945
1844 NAS formed at
RNAS Eglington
on 15. December 1943 as a single seater fighter squadron with 10
Hellcat Is, as part of the 5th Naval Fighter Wing. In February 1944
it took passage in HMS Begum for the Far East, and after work-up in
southern India embarked in HMS Indomitable in JuIy to provide
fighter cover and photographic reconnaissance duing attacks the
following month on Indaroeng and Emma Haven in Sumatra. Similar work
was carried out in September during bombing attacks on Sigli, and in
October fighter cover was given during attacks on Car Nicobar.
After a period ashore the squadron re-embarked for opentions in
December on oil installations at Belawan Deli in Sumatra. In
Jranuary 1945 airfields and shore targets were attacked at Pangkalan
Brandan, and later in the nonth oil refineries were attacked at
Palembang. Sailing to Australia, where 1844 NAS received 18 Hellcat
IIs, the ship then retuned north for attrcks on the Sakishima Gunto
group of islands in the East China Seas, and also on Formosa,
Further planned operations in August 1945 were cancelled folloving
the Japanese surrender, and after discading its aircnft in Australia
the squadron sailed for the UK, where it disbanded on arrival on 30.
November 1945.
1954 - 1957
On 15. February 1954, 1844 NAS reformed at RNAS Bramcote as an
anti-submarine squadron in the Midland Air Division of the RN
Volunteer Reserve. Equipped initially with 6 Firefly AS.5s, it
exchanged these for 6 Firefly AS.6s in December 1955, but the latter
soon gave way to Avenger AS.S from March 1956. On 10. March 1957
1844 NAS disbanded under that year's defence cuts.
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