1853 Naval Air Squadron
{{Short description|Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 1853 Naval Air Squadron
| image = 300px
| caption = A Fleet Air Arm Goodyear FG-1D Corsair; an example of the type used by 1853 NAS
| dates = 1 April - 15 August 1945{{sfn|Sturtivant|Ballance|1994|p=360}}
| country = {{UK}}
| branch = {{navy|UK}}
| type = Single-seat fighter squadron
| role = Fighter squadron
| size = Eighteen aircraft
| command_structure = Fleet Air Arm
| current_commander =
| garrison = See Naval air stations section for full list.
| garrison_label = Home station
| patron =
| motto =
| colors =
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| battles =
| notable_commanders = Leutnant zur See J.R. Schuiling, RNethN
| identification_symbol = 1V11+
single letters (May 1945)
| identification_symbol_label = Identification Markings
| aircraft_fighter = Vought Corsair
}}
1853 Naval Air Squadron (1853 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). 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
= Single-seat fighter squadron (1945) =
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, under the command of Leutnant zur See J. R. Schuiling, RNethN.{{Cite web |title= Brunswick |url=https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Brunswick.htm |work=Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day |access-date=16 September 2024}}{{sfn|Wragg|2019|p=199}}
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.{{sfn|Thetford|1991|p=80}} 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.{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=300}} 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 {{sclass|Ruler|escort carrier}}, {{HMS|Rajah|D10|6}}, for transport to the United Kingdom, departing on 24 July.{{Cite web |title=Norfolk |url=https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Norfolk.htm |work=Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day |access-date=16 September 2024}}
On 23 July, HMS Rajah arrived in Norfolk, where she took on board the personnel and eighteen Vought Corsair aircraft from 1853 Naval Air Squadron for their journey to the UK. She set sail on July 28th, likely not in convoy due to the conclusion of the war in Europe, and was headed for the Clyde, where she arrived on 5 August.{{cite web |title=A history of HMS Rajah |url= https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/RAJAH.htm |publisher=Royal Navy Research Archive |access-date=29 March 2025}}
The squadron disembarked to RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, Scotland on 6 August.{{sfn|Wragg|2019|p=199}} It was planned to form part of the 4th Carrier Air Group for the lead ship of her class of aircraft carrier, {{HMS|Illustrious|87|6}}, the plans were cancelled due to V-J Day and the squadron disbanded at RNAS Machrihanish on 15 August 1945.{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=300}}
Aircraft flown
1853 Naval Air Squadron flew only one aircraft type:{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=300}}
- Vought Corsair Mk IV fighter bomber (April - August 1945)
Naval air stations
1853 Naval Air Squadron operated from a naval air station of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom, a number overseas, and a Royal Navy escort carrier:{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=300}}
- RN Air Section Brunswick, Maine, (1 April – 14 July 1945)
- RN Air Section Norfolk, Virginia, (Detachment DLT {{USS|Charger}} 6–15 June 1945)
- RN Air Section Norfolk, Virginia, (14–24 July 1945)
- {{HMS|Rajah|D10|6}} (24 July – 6 August 1945)
- Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, (6–15 August 1945)
- disbanded (15 August 1945)
Commanding officers
List of commanding officers of 1853 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:{{sfn|Wragg|2019|p=199}}
- Leutnant zur See J.R. Schuiling, RNethN, from 1 April 1945
- disbanded - 16 August 1945
References
= Citations =
{{Reflist}}
= Bibliography =
{{Refbegin}}
- {{cite book |last1=Ballance |first1=Theo |last2=Howard |first2=Lee |last3=Sturtivant |first3=Ray |title=The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm |date=2016 |publisher=Air Britain Historians Ltd |location=Haywards Heath |isbn=978-0-85130-489-2}}
- {{cite book |last1=Sturtivant |first1=R |last2=Ballance |first2=T |title=The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm |year=1994 |publisher=Air Britain (Historians) Ltd |location=Tonbridge |isbn=0-85130-223-8}}
- {{cite book |last1=Thetford |first1=Owen |title=British Naval Aircraft since 1912 |year=1991 |publisher=Putnam Aeronautical Books (Conway Maritime Press Ltd) |location=London |isbn=0-85177-849-6 }}
- {{cite book |last=Wragg |first=David |title=The Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939–1945 |year=2019 |publisher=The History Press |location=Cheltenham |isbn=978-0-7509-9303-6}}
{{Refend}}
External links
- {{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/SQUADRONS/1853_Squadron.htm |title=A History of 1853 Naval Air Squadron |date=26 September 2021 |website=The Royal Navy Research Archive}}
{{Royal Naval Air Squadrons}}