Fleet Air Arm History

FLEET AIR ARM NOTABLE DATES

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)

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

1911

May.  Lieutenant C R Samson RN; Lieutenant A N Longmore RN; Lieutenant R Gregory RN and Lieutenant E L Gerrard RMLI become the first qualified naval pilots 

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

December.  Lieutenant C R Samson flies a Short biplane off a platform erected on the bows of the Battleship Africa.

1912

May.  The first coastal air station is commissioned at the Isle of Grain.  This was to be followed by others at Calshot, Felixstowe, Yarmouth and Cromarty.

1914

July.  The Royal Naval Air Service is formed.

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

NAVAL AVIATION WORLD WAR 1

September.  The first British raid on Germany carried out by the Eastchurch squadron, based at Dunkirk and led by Commander Samson.

November.  Avro 504 aircraft of the RNAS fly 250 miles to bomb the Zeppelin sheds at Friedrichafen.

1915

July.  Flight Sub Lieutenant Reginald Warneford wins the Victoria Cross for shooting down a Zeppelin.

1917

August.  Squadron Commander E H Dunning becomes the first to land an aircraft on a ship underway.  Flying a Sopwith Pup alongside HMS Furious he side-slips the aircraft on to the landing deck.

Another Sopwith Pup flown from the turret of the cruiser HMS Yarmouth shoots down Zeppelin L23 off the Danish coast.

1918

1 April.  The RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps are amalgamated to form the Royal Air Force.

NAVAL AVIATION IN THE INER-WAR YEARS

1924

April.  The Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force is formed.

THE FLEET AIR ARM IN WORLD WAR ii

1939

May 24th.  The Admiralty assumes full control of the Fleet Air Arm

1940

April.  Skua aircraft of 800 Naval Air Squadron, stationed in the Orkneys, dive bomb and sink the German cruiser Konisberg in Bergen Fjord.  This was the first warship to be sunk by dive bombers.

November 11th.  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.

May 27th.  German battleship Bismarck sunk.  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.

August.  The first successful use of the catapult fighter from the decks of merchantmen to counter the German Focke Wulf Condor is achieved.

1942

Channel dash by the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prince Eugen. 

12 February.  Gallant action by Swordfish of 825 Naval Air Squadron, led by the CO, Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde RN to whom a posthumous Victoria Cross is awarded.

1943

April.  The first of the Merchant Aircraft Carriers enters service.  Convoy protection from the air now covers the previous "gap" from land-based air support in the Atlkantic crossings.

THE FLEET AIR ARM AFTER THE END OF WORLD WAR II

Many of the events of Fleet Air Arm operations since the end of the Second World War are deserving of a book in themselves, thus the following list is by no means fully representative.

Whilst not complete additional thoughts and contributions of events which might appear here are welcomed.  Please use the "contact us" button to give us the details. 

1945

3 December.  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

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

1947

7 May.  The Royal Navy first dedicated helicopter squadron, 705 NAS, forms.
 

1950 

HMS Victorious withdrawn for modernisation.

The Korean War.  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 

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

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.

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 Campbell DSO RN enters service with HMS Centaur.

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 is developed by Commander (E) H C N Goodhart enters service.

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

1955  

February.  HMS Ark Royal commissions.

 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.
 
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.

1958

January.  HMS Victorious re-commissions

1959

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

October.  The Sea Vixen enters service with 766 NAS
 

1960

January.  First Buccaneer lands onboard HMS Victorious

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

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

1961

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

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

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.

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

 

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

                                                                   

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

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

1964

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

HMS Eagle completes a 71 day patrol off Beira.

1966

End of the Indonesian Confrontation.  For three and a half years FAA helicopters supported British troops in the jungles of Borneo.
  
1966 Defence Review The First Sea Lord and the Navy Minister of the Day resign as CVA01 is cancelled.

1967

FAA aircraft, Sea Vixens and Buccaneers bomb the wreck of the tanker, the Torrey Canyon, ashore on the Longstones.

1968

1969

14 January.  767 NAS commissions at Yeovilton with the F4K Phantom.  The Squadron is 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 front line squadron to fly the F4K Phantom.

Sea Harrier landing trials onboard the cruiser HMS Blake.

1970

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

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

1974

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

1975

May.  Thirty four Harrier FSR1 aircraft are ordered.

1977

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

1978

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

HMS Illustrious second of the Invincible class carriers is launched.

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

1979

June.  First Sea Harrier squadron, 700A NAS, commissions.

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

HMS ARK ROYAL during her later life.

1980

800 NAS, 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.

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

 

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

1991

The First Gulf War. 

Much of the Iraqi Navy destroyed by the Sea Skua missile launched from Lynx helicopters.

1999

44 March.  NATO launches operations in Kosovo

2003

19 March.  Second Iraq War starts.

2005

June.  The Battle Honour "AL FAW 2003" award to 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

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)