1840 Naval Air Squadron

1840 Naval Air Squadron (1840 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). During World War II over 80% of the pilots were from the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service. Formed at HMS Ringtail, RNAS Burscough in March 1944, as a fighter squadron it started with Grumman Hellcat fighter aircraft. The squadron trained at HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton and in a couple of airbases in Northern Ireland, and conducted deck landing training on HMS Trumpeter in June 1944. The squadron joined HMS Indefatigable in June. After disembarking at HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihanish in early July, it moved to HMS Sparrowhawk, RNAS Hatston a few days later, which became its shore base. The squadron operated from HMS Furious on July 9, HMS Formidable on July 31, and HMS Indefatigable again on August 7 and 15.

While on HMS Furious, the squadron participated in an attack on the battleship Tirpitz and repeated this mission while on HMS Indefatigable. In September and October 1944, while at HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, the squadron joined the 3rd Naval Fighter Wing before moving to HMS Speaker in December. It re-equipped with Hellcat IIs at HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr on New Year’s Eve, then re-embarked to support the British Pacific Fleet's auxiliary ships. The squadron was disbanded into 1839 Naval Air Squadron on 27 April 1945.