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1853 Naval Air Squadron

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1853 Naval Air Squadron
Active1 April - 15 August 1945[1]
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeSingle-seat fighter squadron
RoleFighter squadron
SizeEighteen aircraft
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Home stationSee Naval air stations section for full list.
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Leutnant zur See J.R. Schuiling, RNethN
Insignia
Identification Markings1V11+
single letters (May 1945)
Aircraft flown
FighterVought Corsair
A Fleet Air Arm Goodyear FG-1D Corsair

1853 Naval Air Squadron (1853 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It formed at RN Air Section Brunswick, in the United States on 1 April 1945 as a fighter squadron, with eighteen Vought Corsair Mk IV fighter aircraft. Following deck landing training aboard USS Charger, it embarked in HMS Rajah for the United Kingdom on 24 July. It disembarked to HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihanish, on 6 August, but due to V-J Day it disbanded there on 15 August.

History

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Single-seat fighter squadron (1945)

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1853 Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 April 1945 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,[2] under the command of Leutnant zur See J.R. Schuiling, RNethN.[3]

It was equipped with eighteen Vought Corsair aircraft, an American carrier-borne fighter-bomber. These were the Goodyear built FG-1D, called Corsair Mk IV by the Fleet Air Arm.[4] The squadron moved to RN Air Section Norfolk situated USNAS Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia to enable it to undertake deck landing training with the United States Navy's escort carrier, the USS Charger, before returning to RN Air Section Brunswick.[5] It then returned to RN Air Section Norfolk via RN Air Section Floyd Bennett Field, located at USNAS Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, New York City, arriving on 14 July for embarkation in the Ruler-class escort carrierHMS Rajah, for transportation to the United Kingdom, departing on 24 July.[6]

The squadron disembarked to RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, Scotland on 6 August.[3] It was planned to form part of the 4th Carrier Air Group for the lead ship of her class of aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious, however, these plans were cancelled due to V-J Day and the squadron disbanded at RNAS Machrihanish on 15 August 1945.[5]

Aircraft flown

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1853 Naval Air Squadron flew only one aircraft type:[5]

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1853 Naval Air Squadron operated from a naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom, a number overseas, and a Royal Navy escort carrier:[5]

HMS Rajah

Commanding officers

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List of commanding officers of 1853 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[3]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 360.
  2. ^ "Brunswick". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Wragg 2019, p. 199.
  4. ^ Thetford 1991, p. 80.
  5. ^ a b c d Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 300.
  6. ^ "Norfolk". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 16 September 2024.

Bibliography

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