896 Naval Air Squadron

Following their transatlantic journey aboard HMT Queen Mary,[3] the squadron was officially established on 15 September at RN Air Section Norfolk, Virginia, as a single-seat fighter unit.[4] These were the counterparts to the US Navy's F4F-4B variant were generally comparable to the Mk II, featuring two extra wing-mounted guns and powered by the Wright Cyclone engine.[6] In May 1943, aerial combat missions were conducted over the Coral Sea, subsequently assisting in the provision of air support for the landings executed by the United States Marines in the Solomon Islands in June 1943.[3] This variant of the aircraft was analogous to the FM-1 Wildcat utilised by the United States Navy, which was produced by General Motors and featured the Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engine.[3] On 5 November 1944, personnel designated for the newly established 896 Naval Air Squadron boarded a troopship in Liverpool, reaching Wingfield, Cape Town, South Africa, by 5 January 1945.
Grumman Wildcat Mk V of 881 or 896 Naval Air Squadron taking off from the escort carrier HMS Pursuer
Grumman Hellcats taking off from HMS Ameer
HMS Victorious at Noumea in 1943. during operations with the U.S. Navy Task Force 36 in the Solomons, between May and September 1943
United KingdomRoyal NavyCarrier-basedfighter squadronFleet Air ArmWorld War IIOperation ToenailsOperation CartwheelOperation TungstenOperation NeptuneOperation CollieOperation LiveryOperation ZipperBattle honoursCommanderStanley OrrTwo BarsFighterGrumman MartletGrumman Hellcatnaval air squadronRNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap)CheshireHMT Queen MaryRN Air Section NorfolkVirginiafighter aircraftWright CycloneUSS ChargerIllustrious-class aircraft carrierHMS VictoriousPacificPanama CanalUnited States Pacific FleetUSS HornetUSS EnterpriseBattle of the Santa Cruz IslandsUnited States Navyfleet carrierUSS SaratogaPacific theaterCoral SeaUnited States MarinesSolomon IslandsGrumman WildcatPratt & Whitney Twin Wasp7th Naval Fighter WingRNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet)County DownHMS PursuerGibraltarGerman battleship TirpitzNormandy landings881 Naval Air SquadrontroopshipLiverpoolCape TownCeylonRuler-classescort carrierHMS AmeerPratt & Whitney R-2800 Double WaspNicobar IslandsHMS EmpressPhuket IslandV-J DayMalayan Peninsulabattle honoursNormandy 1944naval air stations of the Royal NavyRoyal Navy fleet carriersescort carriersRN Air Section Quonset PointNaval Air Station Barbers PointNaval Air Station Willow GroveRoyal Naval Air Station Eglinton (HMS Gannet)Royal Naval Air Station Ayr (HMS Wagtail)Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk)Royal Naval Air Station Burscough (HMS Ringtail)Royal Naval Air Station Wingfield (HMS Malagas)Royal Naval Air Station Tambaram (HMS Valluru)Royal Naval Air Station Trincomalee (HMS Bambara)HMS Emperorcommanding officersLieutenantS.G. OrrLieutenant CommanderLondonCheltenhamGloucestershireFleet Air Arm aircraft squadronsBlack CatsRoyal Navy Historic FlightSimon's SircusSharkssubsequently commissionedRoyal Australian Navy Fleet Air ArmNetherlands Naval Aviation Service