Fly Navy Fleet Air Arm Officers Assocation


Fleet Air Arm History

 

The origins of Naval aviation stem from early experiments that took place around 1908, and in 1914 the Royal Naval Air Service was formed. In 1918, when the Great War ended, this service was the largest air force in the world. It was then amalgamated with the Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force. From 1918 to 1937, naval aviation remained the responsibility of the Royal Air Force. The aviators being partly provided by secondment of Naval and Royal Marine officers from general service, and partly those supplied by the Royal Air Force. This was not a very satisfactory arrangement and in 1924 the Admiralty introduced the title of 'Fleet Air Arm'. In 1937, with the prospect of war becoming ever more certain, the Admiralty regained full administrative control of the Fleet Air Arm.

The Fleet Air Arm entered World War 2 with just 340, mainly obsolete, aircraft. In November 1940, 21 Swordfish aircraft, flying from HMS Illustrious, crippled the Italian battle fleet lying at anchor at Taranto. This one action effectively put the Italian Navy out of the war.

In 1945, having fought with distinction throughout the world, the Fleet Air Arm particularly distinguished itself fighting against Japanese kamikaze aircraft in the Pacific. The front line strength had, by then, risen to 1,300 aircraft and 70,000 officers and men.

 

NAVAL AVIATION PRIOR TO WORLD WAR I

1909

May 7 Admiralty tender for its first aircraft signed - HMA 1


1911

1 March.  Lieutenants Samson, Longmore & Gregory,RN, plus Lieutenant Gerrard, RMLI commence flying training course at Royal Aero Club airfield, Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey.   (Lieutenant Wildman-Lushington,RMA had originally been selected, but being medically unfit, was replaced by Gerrard)

25 April.  Royal Aero Club certificates gained at Eastchurch, by Lieutenants Samson, (cert #71) and Longmore, (cert #72), flying Short Biplanes.  At Brooklands Lieutenant Parke gained certificate #73 in a Bristol Biplane

2 May.  At Eastchurch, flying Short Biplanes, Lieutenant Gregory gains certificate #75, and Lieutenant Gerrard, RMLI, certificate #76.

30 June.  Lieutenant Bell Davies, at Hendon, gains certificate #90, flying a Farman Biplane.   He had paid 50 Pounds to the Grahame-White Flying School for his training, plus a 25 Pound deposit against damage.

1912

10 January  First aircraft launch from a British warship - Samson flies from HMS Africa in an S27

13 April  Royal Flying Corps, comprising Naval and Military Wings, constituted by Royal Warrant

2 May  First launch of an aircraft from a ship under way - HMS Hibernia off Weymouth

15 July  Naval Wing of the RFC formed

30 July.  Pte John Edmonds,RMLI, gains certificate #262 at Eastchurch, flying a Short Biplane.

31 July.  Royal Review of the Fleet in Solent - first to include aircraft

3 September.  First RN Rating Pilot awarded certificate when ERA2 Thomas O'Connor gains certificate #286 at CFS Upavon in a Short Biplane.

24 September.  HM Rigid Airship Mayfly wrecked by side wind on being extracted from its shed

November.  Commander O Schwann becomes the first British aviator to take off from water in a biplane.


1913

1 January.  Isle of Grain - first RN Air Station commissioned on Isle of Grain, Medway.  This was to be followed by others at Calshot, Felixstowe, Yarmouth and Cromarty.

7 May.  Hermes (cruiser) commissioned as the first British warship to operate seaplanes


1914

1 January.  All Army airships transferred to Naval Wing of RFC

1 July.  Royal Naval Air Service formed out of the Naval Wing of the RFC

The strength of the RNAS on formation:  52 seaplanes and "shipborne" aircraft; 39 aeroplanes; six airships; 128 officers and men.

28 July.  First aerial torpedo drop.  Sdn/Cdr Longmore in Short 81

4 August.  First World War declared.

27 August.  First RNAS squadron arrived deployed to Ostend

5 September.  Seaplane carrier Ark Royal 2 launched

8 October.  Zeppelin LZ25 destroyed in its shed at Dusseldorf by RNAS Tabloid, first to be destroyed in its base

31 October.  Seaplane carrier (former cruiser) Hermes (8th ship to bear the name) sunk by U27 off the Belgian coast.  She was the depot Ship of the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps.

21 November.  RNAS attacked Zeppelin sheds at Friedrichshaven with 3 Avro 504 aircraft.  First strategic air raid in history

9 December.  Seaplane carrier Ark Royal commissioned - first ship in RN built to operate aircraft

21 December.  Squadron Commander Samson carried out first night bombing raid - Ostend/Maurice Farman biplane

December 25.  First attack on shore target by aircraft from ships at sea - seaplanes from Empress, Riviera and Engadine against Cuxhaven

1915

January 29.  Walney Island airship shed bombarded by U21

March 18.  First flight of an SS non-rigid airship at Kingsnorth

April 25.  Landings at Gallipoli

May 31.  First flight of a coastal, non-rigid airship after only 3 weeks development

June 7.  F/S/Lt Warneford awarded VC for destroying LZ37.  First RNAS VC

July 15.  RNAS aircraft assisted in sinking of Konigsberg in Rufiji RiverAugust 12 First enemy ship sunk by airborne torpedo - Dardanelles

November 19.  Sqn Cdr Bell-Davies awarded VC for landing behind enemy lines at Ferrijik to rescue a colleague who had been shot down

December 12.  Cdr Samson dropped first 500lb bomb - on Turkish positions during Dardanelles Campaign


1916

16 February.  Army takes over the air defence of the UK from the RNAS

20 April.  HMS Furious launched (as a cruiser)

31 May.  Battle of Jutland - first use of an aircraft in a sea battle

27 November.  R9 made the first successful flight by an RN rigid airship

1917

11 Janaury.  Ben-my-Chree sunk by Turkish batteries at Kastelorizo

20 May.  RNAS flying boat 8663 sank UC36 in North Sea.  First U-boat sunk by RNAS

22 June.  Observer's 'wings' introduced on RNAS uniform

2 August.  First deck landing - Squadron Commander Dunning on HMS Furious

21 August Sopwith Pup from HMS Yarmouth shot down L23 - first 'kill' by aircraft from a cruiser

1 October.  First flight from a gun turret platform Squadron Commander Rutland/Sopwith Pup/HMS Repulse


 

1918

January 1.  HMS Hermes (9th to bear the name) laid down at Elswick by Vickers Armstrong

March 15.  Furious commissioned - first carrier with aircraft lifts

April 1.  RNAS and RFC amalgamated to create RAF

July 9.  Camels from HMS Furious destroyed L54 & L60 at Tondern.  First strike by aircraft from a carrier.

September 14.  First true aircraft carrier - Argus - commissioned.  She was begun as the Italian Liner Conte Rosso in 1914, purchased by the Royal Navy in 1916 and finally completed in 1918.

November 5.  Campania sunk in collision with Royal Oak and Glorious in Fort

 

1919

September 11.  HMS Hermes (9th), the first ship specially designed as an aircraft carrier is launched at Elswick and then towed to Portsmouth for completion.

1920

1921

1922

1923

May 1.  HMS Hermes commissioned - the first carrier to be designed as such.  First with Island

 

The ninth HMS Hermes.  This ship was later sunk by the Japanese off Ceylon

 

1924

February.  HMS Glorious commences conversion to a carrier.

April 1.  Ship borne element of the RAF given the name Fleet Air Arm


1925

July 1.  First night deck landing.  F/Lt Boyce/Blackburn Dart/Furious

October 2.  RN officers attached to RAF duties to wear foul anchor badge superimposed on the wings of an albatross

1926

1927

1928

February 21.  HMS Courageous commissioned - first RN carrier with transverse arrester wires

1929

1930

March.  HMS Glorious's conversion to a carrier completes


 

1931

April 2.  Rear Admiral R G H Henderson appointed as the first aviation flag officer

 

1932

January 26.  HM Submarine M2 sinks off Portland during aircraft trials

 

1933

 

1934

17 April.   First flight of a Fairey Swordfish

 

1935

September 9.  First rotary wing landing on a carrier - Cierva autogyro on Furious

1936

1937

February 9.  First Flight of the Blackburn Skua, the RN's first monoplane

July 30.  Cabinet approved 'Inskip Award' - return of FAA administration to Admiralty


1938

July 19.  First appointment of 5th Sea Lord - responsible for naval aviation

 

1939

May 24. Full control of FAA restored to Admiralty from Air Ministry after Inskip Award

September 17.  HMS Courageous sunk by U29 in SW Approaches

HMS Courageous sinking - 17 September 1939

September 25.  First operational use of air warning radar by the RN

September 26.  Lt McEwen in a Skua of 803 NAS shot down the first German aircraft of WW2

October 14.  HMS Royal Oak torpedoed in Scapa Flow

 

1940


April 10.  Skuas of 800 & 803 NAS from Hatston in the Orkneys sink the German cruiser Konigsberg in Bergen Fjord.  This is the first major warship to be sunk by dive bombers

April 11.  First operational torpedo attack - 816 & 818 from Furious off Trondheim

June 18.  HMS Glorious sunk by gunfire from Scharnhorst and Gneisenau.  All her aircraft were on deck and no surveillance flights were being flown.  Her escorts fought bravely but just two escorting destroyers were no match for the large German ships.

June 18.  The Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton, Somerset, is commissioned as HMS HERON as a base for naval fighter aircraft.

July to October.  23 Naval Pilots serve with Royal Air Force squadrons flying Spitfires and Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain.

Of the 23 Naval Pilots who flew in the Battle 3 served with Douglas Badar in his squadron, including his "wingman".  In the Battle 7 Naval Pilots were killed and 2 wounded.

In addition to those naval Pilots who served with the RAF, two Fleet Air Arm squadrons, 804 and 808 Naval Air Squadrons (commemorated on the Battle of Britain memorial on the Embankment) also were in the Battle and 22 Naval Pilots in these squadrons flew Fulmars, Sea Gladiators and Martlets in defence of the Dockyards. 

November 11.  Fleet Air Arm attack on Taranto from HMS Illustrious - Operation JUDGEMENT


 

The first major sea/air success of the war - the Battle of Taranto - was also the first successful full-scale attack made by aircraft against a heavily defended battle fleet in harbour.  Eleven torpedoes dropped by Swordfish aircraft, flying from HMS Illustrious, cripple half the Italian fleet.

 

1941

January 11.  First operational launch from a fighter catapult ship, Pegasus

February 2.  Operation 'Picket', aircraft from Ark Royal attacked the Tirso Dam in Sardinia

April 15.  RAF Coastal Command placed under Admiralty operational control

May 27.  Bismarck sunk by Home Fleet.  Nine Swordfish aircraft from HMS Victorious and fifteen Swordfish aircraft from HMS Ark Royal cripple the battleship and bring her into range of the ships and guns of the Home Fleet.  In a letter 20 November 2008) to a national newspaper from Rodney Pattisson, Poole, Dorset it was stated :  It was not Sub Lt Moffat's torpedo that crippled the mighty Bismarck.  He was one of three Swordfish pilots in the first attack on her port side.  Conclusive evidence obtained recently from deep-water exploration using a Russian submersible, showed that the torpedo which crippled her entered the starboard steering compartment, exploded and jammed the starboard rudder against the central propeller.  Only two pilots successfully launched torpedoes on her starboard side: Lt Godfrey-Fausett and my late father, Sub Lt Pattisson.

June 2.  CAM ship Michael E sunk. 

July 21.  First 'kill' by a Sea Hurricane - 880 NAS off Norway

August 3.  First 'kill' by a fighter from a fighter catapult ship - 804 NAS/Maplin

September 21.  Martlet of 802 NAS shot down a FW200 Condor.  First success for a fighter from an escort carrier  The first successful use of the catapult fighter from the decks of merchantmen to counter the German Focke Wulf Condor is achieved.

November 14.  Ark Royal sank off Gibraltar after attempts to salvage her failed

December 10.  Prince of Wales and Repulse sunk by Japanese naval aircraft

December 21.  Swordfish from Gibraltar (ex Ark Royal) sank U451 - first night sinking of a U-boat by aircraft

December 21.  HMS Audacity torpedoed by U751 west of Cape Finisterre


1942

February 12.  Lt Cdr Esmonde awarded the VC for leading the unsuccessful attack by Swordfish aircraft of 825 Naval Air Squadron on the Gneisenau, Scharnhorst and Prinz Eugen during their escape up the Channel

April 9.  HMS Hermes sunk by Japanese naval aircraft at Batticaloa off Trincomalee.  287 lives are lost.

   HMS Hermes sinks 9 April 1942

 

August 11.  HMS Eagle sunk during Operation 'Pedestal' (Heavily defended convoy to the beseiged Malta)

September 9.  Salerno landings supported by carrier-borne aircraft

November 15.  HMS Avenger sunk by U155 west of Gibraltar


1943

January 10.  First Barracuda squadron formed at RNAS Stretton

March 27.  HMS Dasher sunk after accidental petrol explosion in Clyde

April.  First of the MAC ships enter service.  Convoy protection from the air now covers the previ
ous "gap" from land-based air support in the Atlkantic crossings.

 

 

 

836 Naval Air Squadron provided the aircraft for the MAC ships.

The squadron was stationed at RNAS Maydown NI (HMS Shrike).  Two of the tanker MAC ships were serviced by 860 NAS Royal Netherlands Navy (attached to 836 NAS).
 
Aircrews included:  300 Pilots and Observers, 150 Telegraphist Air Gunners and to service aircraft there were 400 maintenance ratings.  All were commanded by a Lieutenant Commander.
 
Between May 1943 until May 1945, the squadron escorted 323 convoys, spent 4,447 days at sea, flew 1,183 days in convoy involving 9,016 flying hours.

Losses were: 6 Pilots, 5 Observers and 8 TAGS.
 
No U-boats were sunk, but by their presence only 2 ships were lost in convoy, an oil tanker and an ammunition ship, both on the same day, 18th April, 1945.
 
In June 1942, 320 U-boats were still 'in action' in the Atlantic and in May 1945, 220 were scuttled in ports and 156 surrendered
.

May 23.  U752 sunk by rocket armed Swordfish from Archer.  First success of the weapon

1944

NORWEGIAN NAVAL OPERATIONS 1944

February

10th - 12th - Operation POSTHORN - HMS FURIOUS with Barracudas and  Seafire escort attacked enemy shipping.  One Me 109 and one Seafire lost. 


April

HOOPS - Cancelled Air attacks by CVE on Norway coast ships 4/44

3 April.  TUNGSTEN - FAA attacks on TIRPITZ 4/44

PLANET (24th) - FAA attacks on TIRPITZ 4/44
(same carriers as TUNGSTEN but STRIKER replaced FENCER)

RIDGE - Attack upon shipping off Norway 4/44
 

May


BRAWN (15th) - FAA attacks on TIRPITZ 5/44 (VICTORIOUS and FURIOUS only)

CROQUET - Attack on shipping off Norway 5/44

HOOPS - Attack on shipping off Norway 5/44

POTLUCK - Attack on shipping off Norway 5/44

TIGER CLAW (28th) - FAA attacks on TIRPITZ 5/44  (VICTORIOUS and FURIOUS but strike abandoned)


June
 

WANDERERS - Anti-submarine operations off Norway 6/44


July


LOMBARD - Home Fleet attacks on Norwegian coast shipping 7/44
 
MASCOT (17th) - FAA attacks on TIRPITZ 7/44
(FORMIDABLE, INDEFATIGABLE and FURIOUS)

 

August


APOSTLE I - Planned allied landings in Norway after NEPTUNE 8/44

EF - FAA minelay and shipping attacks off Norway 8/44

GOODWOOD (22nd) - FAA attacks on TIRPITZ in Altenfjord 8/44
(FORMIDABLE, FURIOUS, INDEFATIGABLE, TRUMPTER and NABOB)

GOODWOOD (24th)
(FORMIDABLE, FURIOUS and INDEFATIGABLE)

OFFSPRING - FAA minelay off Norway 8/44


September


BEGONIA - Home Fleet minelay and shipping attacks off Norway 9/44
 
TENABLE - Planned Home Fleet attack on convoys off Norway 9/44


October


ATHLETIC - FAA attacks on Norwegian coast shipping 10/44

HARDY - Home Fleet air minelay and shipping attacks 10/44
 
LYCIDAS - Home Fleet Norwegian coast attacks and minelay 10/44
 
TITLE - Planned Midget Submarine attack on TIRPITZ 10/44

TRIAL - Passage of JW61 10/44

ACUMEN - Passage of JW62 11/44

COUNTERBLAST - Attack on shipping off Norway 11/44

FREEMAN - Transport of Norwegian troops in North Russia 11/44

FRETSAW - Attack on shipping off Norway 11/44

HARDFAST - FAA minelay off Norway 11/44

PROVIDENT - Attack on shipping off Norway 11/44

STEAK - Attack on shipping off Norway 11/44 


December
 

COUNTERBLAST - Home Fleet attacks on Norwegian coast shipping 12/44

LACERATE - FAA attacks on Norwegian coast shipping 12/44

URBANE - FAA minelay and shipping attacks off Norway 12/44

GREYSTOKE - Passage of JW63


1945

January 2.  First operational use of helicopters, Sikorsky R4s in MV Daghestan

January 4.  Operation 'LENTILl', strike on Pangkalan Brandan by BPF

January 29.  Operation 'MERIDIAN 2', strike on the Soengei Gerong refinery at Palembang by BPF

March 23.  Operation "ICEBERG I" - British Pacific Fleet sails from Ulithi and is designated as TF57.

May1.  British Pacific Fleet (TF 57) sails for "ICEBERG II"  the Okinawa Campaign.

May 4.  Last strike by the Home Fleet - Kilbotn anchorage.

August 3.  Lt Gray RCNVR awarded VC

August 15.  Aircraft from HMS Indefatigable flew the last operational mission of the war and shot down the last enemy aircraft

December 3.  First landing by a jet aircraft on a carrier - Lt Cdr Brown/Sea Vampire/HMS Ocean  Lieutenant Commander Eric (Winkle) Brown becomes the first pilot to land a purely jet propelled aircraft on the deck of an aircraft carrier when he touches down on the light fleet carrier HMS Ocean in a modified 540mph Vampire.



 

 

1946

HMS Victorious carries war brides to Australia and other carriers used for trooping duties

HMS Eagle launched

Fleet Air Arm renamed as Naval Aviation

September.  Lieutenant Alan Bristow carries out the first helicopter landing on a naval escort vessel at sea.

 

1947

HMS Vanguard sais to South Africa for the Royal visit.

HM The King reviews the fleet in the Clyde

Total manpower of Naval Aviation is 182,560 excluding 10,000 WRNS and nurses.

17 April:  Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, HMS Seahawk, commissions at Helston, Cornwall.

May 7.  705 Naval Air Squadron commissioned - first RN helicopter squadron.  Also first outside USA

 

1948

HMS Centaur launched

HMS Vengeance carries out cold weather trials in the Arctic with commercial helicopters embarked.

 

1949

 

HMS Implacable replaces the battleship HMS Howe as the Home Fleet flagship.

HMS Bulwark launched

HMS Campania used as a mobile exhibition during the Festival of Britain sailing under the Red Ensign.

HMS Venerable sold to the Netherlands and renamed Karl Doorman

HMS Terrible joins the Royal Australian Navy as HMAS Sydney

Sea Vampire trials in HMS Implacable

HMS Illustrious liberty boat on passage to Portland sinks in Weymouth Bay with 29 dead or missing.  An Albert medal was awarded to a Boy Seaman for a rescue.

 

1950 

HMS Victorious withdrawn for modernisation.

HMS Ark Royal launched

HMS Indefatigable brought out of reserve

Construction of HMS Majestic to be resumed and the ship transferred to the Australian Navy and named HMAS Melbourne.

Aviation Cadet Scheme introduced

1 April.  The Naval Air Fighter School - 736 Naval Air Squadron moves from RNAS St Merryn to RNAS Culdrose.

19 June.  First landing on a carrier by a turboprop aircraft - a prototype Gannet on HMS Illustrious.

25 June.  The Korean War starts.  The Light Fleet Carriers HMS Triumph, Theseus, Glory and Ocean will fly thousands of arduous operational sorties.

July - September.  HMS Triumph deploys to Korea with 800NAS (Seafires) and 827NAS (Fireflies) embarked.

October - April 1951.  HMS Theseus deploys to Korea with 807NAS (Sea Furies) and 810NAS (Fireflies) embarked.


 

1951 

 

HMS Campania began Festival of Britain cruise.

April.  HMS Theseus relieved on station off Korea by HMS Glory with 804NAS (Sea Furies) and 812NAS (Fireflies) embarked.

May.  First recorded SAR by RNAS Culdrose helicopter, an S51 Dragonfly, flown by Lieutenant  W P Powell RN rescues a boy from the rocks at Kynance Cove. 

September.  HMAS Sydney with 805ANAS (Sea Furies), 808ANAS (Sea Furies) and 817ANAS (Fireflies) embarked relieves HMS Glory on station off Korea .

First Dragonfly squadrons form and within months the aircraft are operating in Korea.

31 July.  HMS Vidal launched.  The first small ship designed to carry a helicopter.

August.  FAAs first operational jet squadron forms, 800 NAS, flying Attackers

 

Supermarine Attacker.  Wing Span 36'11": Length 37'6"; Height 9'6".

                                                                                        



                                                                                                                

26 November.  803 NAS flying the Attacker forms RNAS Ford.

 

1952

January.    HMS Glory with 804NAS (Sea Furies) and 812NAS (Fireflies) embarked relieves HMAS Sydney on station off Korea .

March.  HMS Eagle commissioned

Hawker Sea Hawk enters service with 806 NAS at RNAS Brawdy.

FAA helicopters operate ashore in Malaya, supporting ground troops fighting against terrorists.

May.  HMS Ocean with 802NAS (Sea Furies) and 825NAS (Fireflies) embarked relieves HMS Glory on station off Korea

6 July.  849 NAS forms at RNAS Brawdy under the command of Lieutenant Commander J D Treacher RN as the Royal Navy's first Airborne Early Warning squadron flying the Douglas Skyraider AEW1.

3 August  MIG 15 shot down by Sea Furies over Korea by Lieutenant Carmichael and his flight.

November.  Naval Air Fighter School moves to RNAS Lossiemouth from RNAS Culdrose.  766 and 796 Naval Squadrons move to RNAS Culdrose from RNAS St Merryn for Observer Training tasks.

November.  HMS Glory relieves HMS Ocean with 801NAS (Sea Furies) and 821NAS (Fireflies) embarked. 

 

1953

February.  705 Squadron, the first Dragonfly squadron helps to save more than 600 lives in an international SAR mission when sea defences in Holland give way.

The angled deck invented by Captain DRF Cambell DSC RN (later Rear Admiral Dennis R F Cambell CB DSC) enters service with HMS Centaur.

2 March   806 Naval Air Squadron, the first operational Sea Hawk squadron, is commissioned at RNAS Brawdy

20 March.  First Naval helicopter lift of assault troops by Whirlwind aircraft (Malaya).

May.  HMS Ocean with 807NAS (Sea Furies) and 810NAS (Fireflies) embarked relieves HMS Glory off Korea .

15 June   The Queen's Coronation Naval Review at Spithead.

                                                          

 

                                                                                

July.  HMS Ocean leaves Korean waters with the Armistice signed on 27th July.

Turboprop aircraft enter Fleet Air Arm service, the Wyvern (strike) and the Gannet (Anti/Submarine)

 

                                                                                    

Within a matter of months of this advert appearing so plans were progressed to close down the air stations:

Donibristle, HMS Merlin in October 1959;  Stretton, HMS Blackcap in December 1958, Culham, HMS Hornbill in September 1953; Bramcote, HMS Gamecock in March 1959, Ford, HMS Peregrine in November 1958.

 

1954

The steam catapult, conceived by Commander C C Mitchell OBE RNVR, enters service. 

Mirror Landing Sight developed by Commander (E) H C N Goodhart enters service.

March.  The first anti-submarine helicopter squadron, 845 NAS, commissions.

20 March.  890 Naval Air Squadron, the first jet all-weather squadron with Sea Venom FAW20 aircraft, commissioned at Yeovilton

 

 

1955  

25 February.  HMS Ark Royal IV commissions.  First Royal Naval carrier built with an angled deck.

                                                                                           

 Ark Royal's Flight Deck one year later.  Sea Venom 21s of 891 NAS, plus Gannets of 824 NAS and Skyraiders of 849B Flight await launch.

                        

1956

November.  The Suez Operation.

6 November  The first ever assault landing by helicopter 10 Whirlwinds from 845 NAS from HMS Theseus and Sycamores from HMS Ocean ferry 500 Royal Marines of 42 Commando ashore  at Port Said.  The success of this operation leads to the conversion of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark as commando carriers.
  
Six squadrons of Sea Hawks see action during the Suez Crisis operating from HMS Eagle, Bulwark and Albion.

 

1957

First flight of the Westland Wasp helicopter.

New era in Naval Aviation opens with the formation of  the  development squadron for the Supermarine Scimitar

Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association formed.

10 March  Air Branch of the RNVR disbanded after ten years post war existence.

 

1958

January.  HMS Victorious re-commissions

28 October  First flight of the Westland Wasp - the world's first small ship helicopter

 

1959

July.  892 NAS forms.  The first front line Sea Vixen squadron

17 August:  700G squadron forms at RNAS Culdrose (Gannet AEW3 - IFTU)

October.  The Sea Vixen enters service with 766 NAS
 

1960

January.  First Buccaneer lands onboard HMS Victorious

19 January  HMS Bulwark commissioned as the first Commando Carrier

February.  890 NAS forms.  The second front line Sea Vixen squadron.

 




1 April:  700H squadron forms at RNAS Culdrose (Wessex HAS1 - IFTU)

September.  893 NAS forms.  The third front line Sea Vixen squadron

 

1961

Construction of Empress State Building began to replace Queen Anne's Mansions.

HMS Ashanti commissioned as the first frigate designed to operate an helicopter

HMS Victorious spends 222 days at sea out of 333 on return to the UK having steamed 63,000 miles

Torpedo range at Stokes Bay closed

February.  899 NAS forms.  The fourth front line Sea Vixen squadron

March.  700Z the Buccaneer SMK1 IFTU forms at RNAS Lossiemouth.

Iraq threatens invasion of Kuwait.  42 Commando land from HMS Bulwark, 45 Commando fly in from Aden.

815 NAS commissions at RNAS Culdrose with Westland Wessex anti-submarine aircraft.

Naval Air Stations close: Ford, Bramcote, Eglinton, Worthy Down go into the history books.

 

1962

June:  700W squadron forms at RNAS Culdrose (Wasp HAS1 - IFTU).

WASP helicopters go to sea for the first time in RN Frigates.  HMS Nubian is the first to embark the aircraft.

The CO of the Tribal Class Frigate, HMS Ashanti embarks onboard his ship.

 

HMS Albion commissioned as a Commando Carrier

HMS Harrier, the Air Direction and Meteorology School at Kete, Pembroke, closed

HMS Ark Royal ran aground whilst entering Plymouth

17th July.  First front line Buccaneer S Mk 1 squadron, 801 NAS Commissions at RNAS Lossiemouth.

 

View of the commissioning ceremony of 801 Naval Air Squadron as published in "The Sphere"

                                                                   

 

Members of the first front-line Buccaneer squadron, 801 NAS


 

October:  700V squadron forms at RNAS Culdrose Wessex HU5 - IFTU)

14 December.  HMS ALBION arrives off Borneo for operations in that area which would continue until 1966. 

845 NAS (12 x Wessex) and 846 NAS (8 x Whirlwind) helicopters are embarked in ALBION.  HMS BULWARK later relieves HMS ALBION on station.

                                                                                               

845 NAS Wessex aircraft, Borneo.

1963

Build of a replacement carrier CVA01 announced

Phantom aircraft to be purchased in preference to P1154

RNAS Abbotsinch to close as a repair facility

HMS Centaur diverted whilst on passage to the Far east to rescue survivors from the Greek cruise liner Lanconis which sank after catching fire near Madeira

8 February  First experimental touch and goes by VTOL P1127 on HMS Ark Royal

 

1964

HMS Blake to be converted to carry helicopters

HMS Lofoten commissioned for anti-submarine helicopter training use.

50th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Navy Air Service celebrations attended by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

HMS Ausonia and HMS Surprise withdrawn from malta

January.  HMS Centaur sails from Aden for Dar-es-Salaam to quell the East African rioting.  Carrying her normal air group of Gannets, Sea Vixen and Wessex aircraft she also had embarked two RAF Belvedere helicopters plus 45 RM Commando, the 16/5 Lancers and all associated equipment including vehicles.

During the Indonesia Confrontation  HMS Albions squadrons of Wessex and Whirlwind helicopters fly over 10,000 operational sorties.


1965

Joint anti-submarine school at Londonderry closed.

10% of RN aircrew resigned because of uncertainity about the future of Naval Aviation.

HMS Triumph commissioned for use as a Maintenance Ship.

9 April:  700B Flight forms at RNAS Lossiemouth - Buccaneer S Mk 2 IFTU.


4th October 1965.  Buccaneer Mk. 2 XN 974 (Commander G. R. Higgs and Lieutenant Commander J. A. Taylor) flies non-stop from Goose Bay to Lossiemouth in four hours and twenty minutes.   This 2,000 mile flight was the first Atlantic crossing in one hop by a Fleet Air Arm aircraft without flight refuelling.

 

31st August.  RNAS Hal Far - HMS Falcon, Malta GC, handed over to the RAF

Beira patrol instituted off the East African coast after Rhodesian Unilateral Declaration of Independence.

HMS Eagle completes a 71 day patrol off Beira.

 

14 October:  801 NAS re-forms at RNAS Lossiemouth - with Buccaneer S Mk 2 aircraft.

1966

End of the Indonesian Confrontation.  For three and a half years FAA helicopters supported British troops in the jungles of Borneo.

27 January:  809 NAS forms at RNAS Lossiemouth with Buccaneer S Mk 2 aircraft.
  
1966.  Defence Review of 14 February cancels the replacement for the fixed-wing carriers, plans for CVA-01 scrapped.


The ship (expected to be called HMS Furious) would have carried 18 Phantom  and 18 Buccaneer aircraft and would have entered service @ 1970-1972.  Thus it would have been able to be employed in the Falklands War of 1982.  As a result of the cancellation the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir David Luce and the Navy Minister of the Day resigned.  Sir David Luce was replaced as First Sea Lord by a specialist in gunnery!

Crashed Buccaneer aircraft from HMS Victorious recovered from Channel at depth of 360 feet.

Pilot of Sea Vixen, Lieutenant Alan Tarver awarded the George medal for his attempts to release his Observer from their Sea Vixen before aircraft crashed into the sea.

RNAS facility at Nega Ket given the name of RNAS Tauari (a local bird)

 

1967

January:  700H squadron forms at RNAS Culdrose (Wessex HAS3 - IFTU)

13 March  FAA aircraft, Sea Vixens and Buccaneers bomb the wreck of the tanker, the Torrey Canyon, ashore on the Longstones.
3 July: Final Buccaneer S Mk 2 squadron, 803 NAS commissions at RNAS Lossiemouth.

11 November Fire onboard HMS Victorious but no extensive damage caused

24 November  Political decision to pay-off HMS Victorious having been taken the re-commissioning ceremony becomes a wake for the ship.

First VTOL landing by an Harrier aircraft onboard HMS Bulwark

 

1968

Buccaneer aircraft flies direct to the Far east with "in-flight" refuelling.

Royal Navy Fleet Club in Malta closes after 61 years.

12 August  3 Commando Brigade RM Air Squadron formed.

1 September  FOAC re-named as FOCAS

 

1969

RNAS Arbroath nominated as a Commando Training Base.

14 January.  767 NAS commissions at Yeovilton with the F4K Phantom.  The Squadron was tasked to train Royal Navy and Royal Air Force aircrew to fly and fight the aircraft.

March.  892 Naval Air Squadron commissions at RNAS Yeovilton as the first and only Naval front line squadron to fly the F4K Phantom.

HMS Victorious towed from Portsmouth Harbour to Faslane to be broken up.

April  HMS St Vincent closed.

4 -11 May Daily Trans Atlantic Air Race West to East was won by a Phantom from RNAS Yeovilton, the winning aircraft was piloted by Lieutenant Commander Brian Davies AFC RN  The winner of the race was the Observer, Lieutenant Commander Peter M Goddard RN whose time was 5 hours 11 minutes and 57 seconds.



The full team for the Daily Mail Trans Atlantic Air Race was, from the left:

Lieutenant Commander Douglas Borrowman RN: Lieutenant Alan Hickling RN: Lieutenant Commander Brian Davies AFC RN: Lieutenant Paul Waterhouse RN; Lieutenant Hugh Drake RN: Lieutenant Commander Peter Goddard RN.

19 August: 700S squadron commissions at RNAS Culdrose (Sea King HAS1 - IFTU)

 

1970

15 February  First RN Hovercraft (BHN7) on trials at Lee on Solent.

24 February  824 NAS forms at RNAS Culdrose, the first operational deployment of the Westland Sea King.

11 July  HMS Invincible commissioned - first Royal Naval carrier built with a ski-jump.

31 July  Rum Ration abolished.  Sailors "Tot Fund" set up.

12 November  FONAC moved from RNAS Lee-on-Solent to RNAS Yeovilton.

 

1971

1972

September.

Sea Princes of 750 NAS return to RNAS Culdrose from RNAS Lossiemeouth as Observer training recommences at the Air Station.


1973

 

1974

HMS Hermes evacuates British subjects from Cyprus during the Turkish invasion.

 

1975

May.  Thirty four Harrier FSR1 aircraft are ordered.


1976

1977

HMS Invincible, the first of the new carriers is launched.

 

1978

26 October:  First BAe Jetstream arrives at RNAS Culdrose as replacement for the Sea Princes of 750 NAS for Observer Training.

13 November.  First deck landing by a Sea Harrier on HMS Hermes.

HMS Illustrious second of the Invincible class carriers is launched.

27 November.  Phantom XT870/120 is catapulted from HMS Ark Royal the end of conventional fixed wing flying in the RN

15 December  892 Naval Air Squadron de-commissioned at RAF Leuchars.

 

1979

June.  First Sea Harrier squadron, 700A Naval Air Squadron commissions at RNAS Yeovilton. (Sea Harrier FRS1 - IFTU).

HMS Ark Royal IV the last RN carrier to operate steam catapults and arrester gear pays off.

                                                                 

                                         HMS ARK ROYAL during her later life.

                                                                                          
 1980

31 March  800 Naval Air Squadron, the first front line Sea Harrier Squadron, commissions.

RNR (Air Branch) forms.

 

1981

HMS Hermes undergoes trials with the Ski Jump modification.

HMS Ark Royal launched


 

1982

1st April to 14 June.  The Falklands War.  The FAA squadrons provide strike, fighter, anti submarine, anti surface units, general support, and rescue facilities.

5 April  HMS Hermes (Flagship) and HMS Invincible sail to spearhead the Task Force

THE FALKLAND ISLANDS 1982


MARITIME AND NAVAL AIR ORDER OF BATTLE


Ships

H.M.S. ACTIVE:  H.M.S. ALACRITY:  H.M.S. AMBUSCADE:  H.M.S. ANDROMEDA:  H.M.S. ANTELOPE:  H.M.S. ANTRIM:  H.M.S. ARDENT:  H.M.S. ARGONAUT:  H.M.S. ARROW:  H.M.S. AVENGER:  H.M.S. BRILLIANT:  H.M.S. BRISTOL:  H.M.S. BROADSWORD:  H.M.S. CARDIFF:  H.M.S. COVENTRY:  H.M.S. DUMBARTON CASTLE: H.M.S. ENDURANCE:  H.M.S. EXETER:  H.M.S. FEARLESS:  H.M.S. GLAMORGAN:  H.M.S. GLASGOW:  H.M.S. HECLA:  H.M.S. HERALD:  H.M.S. HERMES:  H.M.S. HYDRA:  H.M.S. INTREPID:  H.M.S. INVINCIBLE:  H.M.S. LEEDS CASTLE:
H.M.S. MINERVA:  H.M.S. PENELOPE:  H.M.S. PLYMOUTH:  H.M.S. SHEFFIELD:  H.M.S. YARMOUTH:

H.M. Submarines

H.M.S. CONQUEROR:  H.M.S. COURAGEOUS:  H.M.S. ONYX:  H.M.S. SPARTAN:  H.M.S. SPLENDID:  H.M.S. VALIANT.

Minesweeping Trawlers (taken up from Trade)

H.M.S. CORDELLA:  H.M.S. FARNELLA:  H.M.S. JUNELLA:  H.M.S. NORTHELLA:  H.M.S. PICT.

Royal Fleet Auxiliaries

R.F.A. APPLELEAF:  R.F.A. BA YLEAF:  R.F.A. BLUE ROVER:  R.F.A. BRAMBLELEAF: 
R.F.A. ENGADINE:  R.F.A. FORT AUSTIN:  R.F.A. FORT GRANGE:  R.F.A. RESOURCE:
R.F.A. OLMEDA:  R.F.A.OLNA:  R.F.A. PEARLEAF:  R.F.A. PLUMLEAF:  R.F.A. REGENT:
R.F.A. STROMNESS:  R.F.A. TIDEPOOL:  R.F.A. TIDESPRING:  SIR BEDIVERE:  SIR GALAHAD:
SIR GERAINT:  SIR LANCELOT:  SIR PERCIVALE:  SIR TRISTRAM.

Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service Ships

R.M.A.S. GOOSANDER:  R.M.A.S. TYPHOON.

Ships Taken up from Trade

M.V. ALVEGA:  M.V. ANCO CHARGER:  M.V. ASTRONOMER:  S.S. ATLANTIC CAUSEWAY: 
S.S. ATLANTIC CONVEYOR:  M.V. AVELONA STAR:  M.V. BALDER LONDON:   M.V. BALTIC FERRY:  M.V. BRITISH ENTERPRISE III:  M.V. BRITISH AVON:  M.V. BRITISH DART:  M.V. BRITISH ESK:  M.V. BRITISH TAMAR:  M.V. BRITISH TAY:  M.V. BRITISH TEST:  M.V. BRITISH TRENT: 
M.V. BRITISH WYE:  S.S. CANBERRA:  M.V. CONTENDER BEZANT:  M.V. ELK:
M.V. EUROPIC FERRY:  M.V. FORT TORONTO:  M.V. G. A. WALKER:  M.V. GEESTPORT:  C.S. IRIS:
M.T. IRISHMAN:  M.V. LAERTES:  M.V. LYCAON:  M.V. NOR LAND:  M.V. NORDIC FERRY: 
R.M.S. QUEEN ELIZABETH II:  T.E.V. RANGATIRA:  M.V. SAINT EDMUND:  R.M.S. SAINT HELENA:  M.T. SALVAGEMAN:  M.V. SAXONIA:  M.V. SCOTTISH EAGLE:  M.V. SHELL EBURNA:  M.V. STENA INSPECTOR:  M.V. STENA SEASPREAD:  M.V. STRATHEWE:  M.V. TOR CALEDONIA: 
S.S. UGANDA:  M.V. WIMPEY SEAHORSE:  M.T. YORKSHIREMAN.

Fleet Air Arm.

The number of aircraft indicated is the total number that served with each unit during the conflict and deployed to either the South Atlantic or Ascension Island.

Royal Navy


737 Squadron

HMS Antrim:  HMS Glamorgan:

2 x Wessex HAS3


800 Squadron

HMS Hermes

16 x Sea Harrier FRS I

801 Squadron

HMS Invincible

12 x Sea Harrier FRS 1

809 Squadron

HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible

8 x Sea Harrier FRS I
The squadron was integrated with 800 Squadron and 801 Squadron.

815 Squadron

HMS Alacrity:  HMS Ambuscade:  HMS Andromeda:  HMS Antelope:  HMS Ardent: 
HMS Argonaut:  HMS Arrow:  HMS Avenger:  HMS Brilliant:  HMS Broadsword:  HMS Cardiff:
HMS Coventry:  HMS Exeter:  HMS Glasgow:  HMS Minerva:  HMS Penelope:  HMS Sheffield.

24 x Lynx HAS2

820 Squadron

HMS Invincible

11 x Sea King HAS5

824 Squadron

RFA Fort Grange:  RFA Olmeda.

5 x Sea King HAS2A

825 Squadron

SS Atlantic Causeway:  RMS Queen Elizabeth II:  and Falklands FOBs

10 x Sea King HAS2A

826 Squadron

HMS Hermes

11 x Sea King HAS5

829 Squadron

HMS Active:  HMS Endurance:  HMS Hecla:  HMS Herald:  HMS Hydra:  HMS Plymouth: 
HMS Yarmouth.

11 x Wasp HASI

845 Squadron

RFA Fort Austin:  RFA Resource:  RFA Tidepool:  RFA Tidespring:  and Falklands FOBs

18 x Wessex HU5

846 Squadron

HMS Fearless:  HMS Intrepid:  SS Canberra:  MV Elk:  MV Norland:  and Falklands FOBs

14 x Sea King HC4

847 Squadron

RFA Engadine:  SS Atlantic Causeway:  and Falklands FOBs

27 x Wessex HU5

848 Squadron

RFA Olna:  RFA Regent:  SS Atlantic Conveyor.

11 x Wessex HU5

899 Squadron

HMS Hermes:  HMS Invincible.

12 x Sea Harrier FRS 1

Royal Marines

3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron

HMS Fearless:  RFA Sir Galahad:  RFA Sir Geraint:  RFA Sir Lancelot:  RFA Sir Percivale: 
RFA Sir Tristram:  MV Baltic Ferry:  MV Europic Ferry:  MV Nordic Ferry:  and Falklands FOBs

10 x Gazelle AHI, 9 x Scout AHI 


1985 

1st November - HMS ARK ROYAL Commissioned (shown below arriving at Portsmouth July 1985 prior to the Commissioning).

HMS ARK ROYAL would celebrate her Silver Jubilee November 2010 (Picture Crown Copyright/MOD 2010)

1990

The management of Naval Aviation comes under one authority the Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FONA).

 

March:  Sea King HAS5 of 826 NAS deploys operationally for the first time to a frigate, HMS BRAVE

                                                                              



1990.

2 August.  Iraq invades Kuwait

1991

The First Gulf War - OPERATION GRANBY. 



17 January.  Air war starts in the Gulf

24 February.  Land war starts.

27 February.  President of the United States declares victory and all operations cease at 0500 GMT local time.

During the war much of the Iraqi Navy destroyed by the Sea Skua missile launched from Lynx helicopters.

KUWAIT BATTLE HONOURS

The Battle Honour KUWAIT 1991 was awarded for the period:  17th January to 28th February 1991 to:

HMS Atherstone; HMS Brave; HMS Brazon; HMS Brilliant; HMS Cardiff; HMS Cattistock; HMS Dulverton; HMS Exeter; HMS Gloucester; HMS Hecla; HMS Herald; HMS Hurworth; HMS Ledbury; HMS London; HMS Manchester.

815 NAS; 826 NAS; 829 NAS; 845 NAS; 846 NAS; 848 NAS.

RFA Olna; RFA Orangeleaf; RFA Bayleaf; RFA Resource; RFA Fort Grange; RFA Sir Galahad; RFA Sir Tristram; RFA Sir Percivale; RFA Sir Bedivere; RFA Diligence; RFA Argus.


Naval Forces - Operation GRANBY

SENIOR NAVAL OFFICER MIDDLE EAST

Commodore P K HADDACKS RN (to 3 December 1990)

Commodore C J S CRAIG DSC RN (from 3 December 1990)

FRIGATES/DESTROYERS

HMS BATTLEAXE Commander A C GORDON-LENNOX RN

HMS BRAVE Captain R M WILLIAMS RN

HMS BRAZEN Commander J C RAPP RN

HMS BRILLIANT Captain T D ELLIOTT RN

HMS CARDIFF Commander A R NANCE RN

HMS EXETER Captain N R ESSENHIGH RN

HMS GLOUCESTER Commander P L WILCOCKS RN

HMS LONDON Captain I R HENDERSON RN

HMS JUPITER Commander J W T WRIGHT RN

HMS MANCHESTER Commander A W FORSYTH RN

HMS YORK Captain A G McEwEN RN

SUBMARINES

HMS OPPOSSUM Lieutenant Commander S W UPRIGHT RN

HMS OTUS Lieutenant Commander P B MATHIAS RN

COMMANDER MINE COUNTER MEASURES TASK GROUP

Commander J C SCOLES RN (to March 1991)

Commander M C NIXON RN (from March 1991)

HMS ATHERSTONE Lieutenant Commander P N M DAVIES RN

HMS BICESTER Lieutenant Commander T A CURD RN

HMS BRECON Lieutenant Commander J R STAVELEY RN

HMS BROCKLESBY Lieutenant Commander N M C CHAMBERS RN

HMS CATTISTOCK Lieutenant Commander M P SHRIVES RN

HMS DULVERTON Lieutenant Commander C G WELBORN RN

HMS HURWORTH Commander R J IBBOTSON RN

HMS LEDBURY Lieutenant Commander F L SMYTH RN

HMS HECLA Commander H P MAY RN

HMS HERALD Commander P H JONES RN

PATROL CRAFT

HMS ATTACKER Lieutenant A N WORMAN RN

HMS HUNTER Lieutenant S J TURNER RN

HMS STRIKER Lieutenant P W HARPER-HILL RN

SUPPORT HELICOPTER FORCE

Commando Helicopter Operational Support Cell, Commander T J ELTRINGHAM RN

845 Naval Air Squadron, Lieutenant Commander M D SALTER RN

848 Naval Air Squadron, Lieutenant Commander N J NORTH DSC RN

846 Naval Air Squadron (embarked in RFA ARGUS), Lieutenant Commander L A PORT RN

ROYAL MARINES

Detachment Commander.

Captain S A PRITCHARD RM (to January 1991).

Captain M.V WILLS RM (from January 1991)

ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARIES.

RFA ARGUS, Captain DEW LENCH RFA

RFA BAYLEAF, Captain R W M WALLACE RFA

RFA DILIGENCE, Captain J R KEMPTON RFA

RFA FORT GRANGE, Captain J B DICKINSON OBE RFA

RFA OLNA, Captain S G PEARCE RFA

RFA ORANGELEAF, Captain M S J FARLEY RFA

RFA RESOURCE, Captain J E H ORCHARD RFA

RFA SIR BEDIVERE, Captain W J WALKER RFA

RFA SIR GALAHAD, Captain B P TARR RFA

RFA SIR PERCIVALE, Captain J M SUMMERS RFA

RFA SIR TRISTAM, Captain B J WATERS RFA



1992

Lynx, Sea Kings and Harriers are deplyed to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

1993

1 November:  Womens Royal Naval Service formally integrated into the Royal Navy.

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Merlin enters service with the formation of 700M squadron at RNAS Culdrose.

1999

4 March.  NATO launches operations in Kosovo

2001

11 September.  Afghanistan operations commence and the start date for the award of the campaign medal.

2002

2003

20 January.  Start of IRAQ operations for the award of the campaign medal.

19 March.  Second Gulf (Iraq) War starts OPERATION TELIC.  To the American forces it was Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

20 March.  Allied ground forces cross the Kuwait border to invade Iraq.

Operation TELIC was the name for the British operations and combat operations were deemed to have officially ended on 1st May 2009.

2005

June. 

The Battle Honour "AL FAW 2003" for the period 19 March 2003 - 30 April 2003 awarded to:

HM Ships: Ark Royal; Bangor; Blyth; Brocklesby; Ledbury; Roebuck; Ocean; Sandown

Fleet Air Arm: 845 and 847 Naval Air Squadrons.

847 NAS Lynx in the Gulf - Operation Telic

 

2005

April.  899 NAS decommissions.  Future Harrier Pilots now to train under Joint Force Harrier flying not the FA2 but the GR7 and GR9 variants.

April.  Aerospatiale Gazelle goes out of service.  Last Squadron to operate the aircraft is 847 NAS at Yeovilton. 

 

 

Sea Harrier F/A2 of 801 Naval Air Squadron appears in September 2005 at RNAS Yeovilton for its last public appearance

 

2006

28 March.  801 NAS de-Commissions and the Royal Navy's Sea Harriers perform their last flight at RNAS Yeovilton.

 

The last Sea Harrier take-off from HMS Illustrious by an aircraft of 801 Naval Air Squadron

 

31 March.  800 NAS re-Commissions with the Harrier GR7 and very shortly afterwards embarks onboard HMS Illustrious.

2007


January

RN/RM personnel constitute more than 50% of UK forces in southern Afghanistan

857 Naval Air Squadron (Sea King Mk 7) deploys to the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Aden and around the Horn of Africa operating from the RFA Fort Austin.


March

HMS Ark Royal rededicated following a two year refit


April.

2 April.  25th Anniversary of the invasion of the Falkland Islands marked in the United Kingdom and in Argentina.

15 Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel from HMS Cornwall, detained by Iranian authorities, released and returned to the UK.  Two subsequently sell stories to national newspapers.


June

17th June.  The 25th Anniversary of the end of the Falklands Conflict (14th June 1982) commemorated across 8000 miles and five time zones, in London and the Falkland islands.

HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose celebrates the 60th anniversary of the air station.


July

MOD announces intention to procure two aircraft carriers.


October

National Memorial unveiled in Staffordshire dedicated to UK service personnel who have lost their lives since the Second World War.



Naval Strike Wing (GR9 Harriers) deploys in support of operations in southern Afghanistan. (Operation Herrick)

 


November

845 Naval Air Squadron (Sea King Mk 4), the longest serving helicopter squadron on Operation Telic, returns to RNAS Yeovilton after 3 1/2 years of intense sustained operations.

 

 


2008

23 November.  This day the war in Iraq has lasted as long as the Second World War in Europe 1939 - 1945.


2009

30th April.   Last British combat troops in Iraq (Operation Telic) leave the country.  British involvement in the second Iraq War ends with a small RN detachment left in post to train the Iraq Navy.

Fleet Air Arm Memorial Dedicated at the National Arboretum

2010

18 August.  Last American combat troops leave Iraq as American 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division cross into Kuwait.  An independent monitoring group estimates the number of civilian deaths since the 2003 invasion as between 97,196 and 106,071. 

31 August.  Formal end to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM the invasion and occupation of Iraq.  (50000 American troops remain in the country for training Iraq forces).

2011

11 March.  Following a Strategic Defence and Security Review, which turned out to be nothing more than a cost saving exercise, as part of the wholescale reduction in maritime capability the carrier HMS Ark Royal was taken out of service

HMS ARK ROYAL de-commissioned at Portsmouth.

20 March. UN Resolution 1973 declares a no-fly zone over Libya.

24 March.  HMS INVINCIBLE leaves Portsmouth under tow for scrapping in Turkey.  En-route she would be passing the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle operating French Navy jets in defence of the no-fly zone over Libya. 

23 May.  The Naval Training Mission to the Iraqui compltes its work.

To be continued:  do contribute to the record.

 

FOR YOUR CALENDAR SOME FLEET AIR ARM NOTABLE DATES - but see further below for a full history of the Fleet Air Arm - full as far as possible but it is being added to piece by piece.  If you wish to contribute please email the Association using the Contact Us facility and indicating on the email that it is a contribution to the historical record.

 

JANUARY 
 
2nd   1st Operational use of helicopters (1944, Sikorsky R4)
10th  1st Aircraft launch from a warship (1912, Samson, HMS AFRICA)
 
FEBRUARY 
 
8th   1st VTOL Landing on a Carrier (1963, P1127, HMS ARK ROYAL)
12     Channel Dash by German major surface units and award of Victoria Cross to Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde, CO of 825 Naval Air Squadron (1942)
24th  824 NAS Commissioned, 1st Sea King Squadron (1970)
 
MARCH 
 
20th  1st Naval Helicopter Lift of Assault Troops (1953, Malaya)
31st  800 NAS Commissioned, 1st Sea Harrier Squadron (1980)
 
APRIL 
 
1st   RNAS and RFC amalgamated to form RAF (1918)
1st   Ship borne element of the RAF given the title Fleet Air Arm (1924)
13th  Royal Flying Corps formed (1912)
17th  1st Flight of Fairey Swordfish (1934)
25th  1st 4 RN fixed wing pilots completed training (1911)
 
MAY 

7th   1st Aircraft signed to the Admiralty (1909)
7th   705 NAS Commissioned, 1st Helicopter Squadron (1947)
24th  Full control of FAA restored to the Admiralty (1939)
27th  Bismark sunk (1941)
31st  1st Use of aircraft in a sea battle (1916, Battle of Jutland)
 
JUNE 
 
7th   1st RNAS VC (1915, F/S/Lt Warneford)
22nd Observers Wings introduced (1917)

JULY 
 
1st    RNAS formed out of RFC Naval Wing (1914)
15th  Naval Wing of RFC formed (1912)
 
AUGUST 
 
2nd   1st Deck Landing (1917, Sqn Cdr Dunning, HMS FURIOUS)
15th  Last mission of WW2, last enemy aircraft shot down (1945, HMS INDEFATIGABLEs aircraft)
 
SEPTEMBER 
 
9th    1st Rotary Wing Landing on a Carrier (1935, HMS FURIOUS)
14th  1st True Aircraft Carrier commissioned (1918, HMS ARGUS)
25th  1st Use of Air Warning Radar by RN (1939)
26th  1st German Aircraft of WW2 shot down (1939, Lt McEwen, Skua, 803 Sqn)
 
OCTOBER 
 
28th  1st Flight of Westland Wasp, worlds 1st small ship helicopter (1958)
 
NOVEMBER 
 
11th  FAA Attack on Taranto (1940)
13th  1st Sea Harrier Landing on a Carrier (1978, HMS HERMES)
27th  Last Catapult Launch from an RN Carrier (1978, Phantom, 892 Sqn, HMS ARK ROYAL)
 
DECEMBER 
 
3rd  1st Jet Landing on a Carrier (1945, Lt Cdr Brown RN, Sea Vampire, HMS OCEAN)
9th  1st RN ship designed to carry aircraft commissioned (1914, HMS ARK ROYAL)