Post War History 1957-60:
894 Squadron reformed at Merryfield* as an all weather fighter Squadron in January 1957 equipped with Sea Venom FAW.22. From July 1957 to April 1959 the Squadron operated from HMS Eagle in home waters and Eastern Atlantic and spending much of 1958 in the Mediterranean; a large detachment deployed to the USA aboard HMS Victorious June to August 1959. The Squadron transferred to HMS Albion for a Far East deployment in 1960, disbanding on return to the UK in December. * Merryfield was chosen, as the runways at Yeovilton were being rebuilt at that time.
1956
15 Dec
First aircraft arrived from RNAS Stretton and taken on charge by Squadron advance party.
First aircraft arrived from RNAS Stretton and taken on charge by Squadron advance party.1957
14 Jan Squadron formed at RNAS Merryfield, Somerset; equipped with 12 de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.22, complement of CO and 27 Officers, 27 Senior Rates and 89 Junior Rates; the last front line Squadron to form with Sea Venoms.
Squadron formed at RNAS Merryfield, Somerset; equipped with 12 de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.22, complement of CO and 27 Officers, 27 Senior Rates and 89 Junior Rates; the last front line Squadron to form with Sea Venoms.Feb-Jul Squadron workup - day and night flying including Navex, intercepts, RP firing, banner attacks, straffing and MADDLS.
Squadron workup - day and night flying including Navex, intercepts, RP firing, banner attacks, straffing and MADDLS.21-22 Mar Aircrew escape and evasion exercise.
16-30 Apr Squadron leave period.
25 May Exercise Vigilant - UK air defense.
Exercise Vigilant - UK air defense.28 May Move to RNAS Brawdy, Pembrokeshire Wales for armament training.
Move to RNAS Brawdy, Pembrokeshire Wales for armament training.20 Jun Return to Merryfield.
Return to Merryfield.04-21 JulSquadron leave period.
Squadron leave period.30 Jul Operational Readiness Inspection by Flag Officer Flying Training (Rear Admiral CLG Evans CBE DSO DSC)
Operational Readiness Inspection by Flag Officer Flying Training (Rear Admiral CLG Evans CBE DSO DSC)05 Aug Embarked HMS Eagle (Captain M Le Fanu DSC RN), with 803 (Sea Hawk), 806 (Sea Hawk), 813 (Wyvern), 814 (Gannet) and 849A (Skyraider) Squadrons.
Embarked HMS Eagle (Captain M Le Fanu DSC RN), with 803 (Sea Hawk), 806 (Sea Hawk), 813 (Wyvern), 814 (Gannet) and 849A (Skyraider) Squadrons.Aug-SepWorkup in Moray Firth.
Workup in Moray Firth.08-21 Aug Embarked flying.
22-24 Aug HMS Eagle at Rosyth
25-31 Aug Embarked flying.
30 Aug-10 Sep Detachment ashore at RNAS Lossiemouth, Morayshire.
01-10 Sep HMS Eagle at Rosyth.
10-12 Sep Embarked flying
13-17 Sep HMS Eagle anchored at Greenock.
18-28 Sep Exercise Strikeback, Norwegian Sea with HM Ships Ark Royal and Bulwark (Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers Vice Admiral ML Power CB CBE DSO).
30 Sep Disembarked to Merryfield.
Disembarked to Merryfield.13 Oct Embarked HMS Eagle.
Embarked HMS Eagle.19-26 Oct Port visit to Vigo, Spain.
03 Nov Disembarked to Merryfield.
Disembarked to Merryfield.14 Nov Embarked HMS Eagle.
Embarked HMS Eagle.16-18 Nov HMS Eagle at Rosyth.
18-22 Nov Exercise Phoenix H with HM Ships Ark Royal and Bulwark.
23-27 Nov HMS Eagle at Rosyth.
27 Nov Disembarked to Merryfield.
Disembarked to Merryfield.18 Dec Christmas leave
Christmas leave1958
04 Jan Return from leave.
Return from leave.17 Jan Strikes against deploying Home Fleet in Channel.
Strikes against deploying Home Fleet in Channel.20-22 Jan MADDLS.
28 Jan Embarked HMS Eagle for Mediterranean deployment, flying Flag of FOAC
Embarked HMS Eagle for Mediterranean deployment, flying Flag of FOAC (Vice Admiral ANC Bingley CB OBE).
31 Jan-3 Feb At Gibraltar.
05-06 Feb Combined Home Fleet (Mediterranean Fleet exercise in Western Med)
13-25 Feb Detachment ashore RNAS Hal Far, Malta.
15 Feb Captain JB Frewen in Command HMS Eagle.
Captain JB Frewen in Command HMS Eagle.03-06 Mar Exercise Marjex, with units of Home Fleet, Mediterranean Fleet and US 6th Fleet.
08-13 Mar Detachment ashore at Hyeres, France.
14-20 Mar Port visit to Toulon, France.
25-28 Mar Exercise Dawn Breeze, Eastern Atlantic.
31 Mar Disembarked to RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset.
Disembarked to RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset.02-16 Apr Squadron leave period.
20 May Embarked HMS Eagle with 806 (Sea Hawk), 814 (Gannet), 831 B (Sea Venom) and 898 (Sea Hawk) Sqdns for Mediterranean deployment.
Embarked HMS Eagle with 806 (Sea Hawk), 814 (Gannet), 831 B (Sea Venom) and 898 (Sea Hawk) Sqdns for Mediterranean deployment.24-26 May HMS Eagle anchored at Gibraltar.
30 May-5 JunPort visit to Barcelona, Spain, at anchor.
Port visit to Barcelona, Spain, at anchor.10-12 Jun 4 aircraft detachment ashore at RAF Akrotri, Cyprus; ship anchored Akrotri Bay.
14-18 Jun Anchored Akroti Bay.
24-27 Jun 7 aircraft grounded with wing fold cracking.
27-30 Jun Anchored Akrotri Bay.
04 Jul Squadron disembarked to Hal-Far; HMS Eagle at Malta.
Squadron disembarked to Hal-Far; HMS Eagle at Malta.16 Jul Embarked HMS Eagle.
Embarked HMS Eagle.18 Jul-21 Aug Operating off Cyprus, providing top cover for airlift Cyprus to Jordan during period of Middle East tension.
Operating off Cyprus, providing top cover for airlift Cyprus to Jordan during period of Middle East tension.16-18 JulAnchored off Famagusta, Cyprus.
Anchored off Famagusta, Cyprus.24-30 JulAnchored off Famagusta.
Anchored off Famagusta.01 Aug 6 aircraft night Glowworm and 2'RP attack on wake of USS McGowan, misidentified as HMS Bermuda splash target
6 aircraft night Glowworm and 2'RP attack on wake of USS McGowan, misidentified as HMS Bermuda splash target06-11 Aug Anchored off Famagusta.
20 Aug Cross operations with USS Saratoga.
Cross operations with USS Saratoga.23 Aug-9 Sep6 aircraft detachment disembarked to Hal-Far; ship at Malta.
6 aircraft detachment disembarked to Hal-Far; ship at Malta.11 -30 Sep Operating off Cyprus.
14-16 Sep Anchored off Famagusta.
20-24 Sep Anchored off Famagusta.
02-14 Oct 4 aircraft detachment ashore at Hal-Far.
03-14 Oct HMS Eagle at Malta.
16 Oct Pass through Dardanelles.
Pass through Dardanelles.17-23 Oct Port visit to Istanbul, Turkey.
31 Oct Squadron disembarked to Hal-Far.
Squadron disembarked to Hal-Far.03-14 Nov HMS Eagle in dry dock, Gibraltar Dockyard.
20 Nov Embarked HMS Eagle
Embarked HMS Eagle29 Nov Anchored at Gibraltar.
Anchored at Gibraltar.02 Dec Disembarked, aircraft diverted to Culdrose by weather.
Disembarked, aircraft diverted to Culdrose by weather.03 Dec Aircraft to Yeovilton.
Aircraft to Yeovilton.19 Dec Christmas leave.
Christmas leave.1959
05 Jan Return from leave.
Return from leave.14 Jan Embarked HMS Eagle for Mediterranean deployment, flying Flag of FOAC (Rear Admiral CLG Evans CB CBE DSO DSC); with 802 (Sea Hawk), 806 (Sea Hawk) and 814 (Avenger) Squadrons.
Embarked HMS Eagle for Mediterranean deployment, flying Flag of FOAC (Rear Admiral CLG Evans CB CBE DSO DSC); with 802 (Sea Hawk), 806 (Sea Hawk) and 814 (Avenger) Squadrons.18-1 9 Jan Anchored Gibraltar Bay.
24-26 Jan Anchored Marsaxlokk Bay, Malta.
29 Jan-3 FebPort visit to Naples, Italy.
Port visit to Naples, Italy.06-20 Feb 6 aircraft detachment ashore at Hal-Far.
02-15 Mar At Gibraltar.
13-16 Mar 10 aircraft detachment to HMS Victorious, transferred by lighter.
17-21 Mar Exercise Dawn Breeze IV, Eastern Atlantic with HM Ships Centaur and Victorious.
23 Mar-13 AprHMS Eagle at Plymouth, catapults unserviceable.
HMS Eagle at Plymouth, catapults unserviceable.26 Mar-6 Apr Squadron leave period.
Squadron leave period.15-21 Apr Port visit to Brest, France.
23 Mar Reduce to 10 aircraft.
Reduce to 10 aircraft.29 Apr Royal Visit to HMS Eagle - HM Queen Elizabeth II; Squadron later disembarked to Yeovilton.
Royal Visit to HMS Eagle - HM Queen Elizabeth II; Squadron later disembarked to Yeovilton.03-13 May Squadron leave period.
06 Jun 6 aircraft detach to Lossiemouth for day.
6 aircraft detach to Lossiemouth for day.09 Jun Detachment embarked in HMS Victorious (Captain CP Coke DSO RN), with 803 (Scimitar), 849B (Skyraider) and 893 (Sea Venom) Squadrons.
Detachment embarked in HMS Victorious (Captain CP Coke DSO RN), with 803 (Scimitar), 849B (Skyraider) and 893 (Sea Venom) Squadrons.10-12 Jun. Exercise FairMind, North Sea and Moray Firth.
11 Jun Cross ops with HrMs Karel Doorman.
Cross ops with HrMs Karel Doorman.13-15 Jun HMS Victorious port visit to Aarhus, Denmark.
17-20 Jun HMS Victorious port visit to Oslo, Norway.
22 Jun Detachment from HMS Victorious.
Detachment from HMS Victorious.30 Jun 6 aircraft detachment embarks HMS Victorious for Western Atlantic deployment.
6 aircraft detachment embarks HMS Victorious for Western Atlantic deployment.07 Jul ADEX with US NAS Oceana, VA.
ADEX with US NAS Oceana, VA.10-14 JulPort visit to Norfolk, VA (first return since Squadron departed 8 Dec 1942).
Port visit to Norfolk, VA (first return since Squadron departed 8 Dec 1942).15 Jul Cross operations with US Ships Essex and Saratoga.
Cross operations with US Ships Essex and Saratoga.16-20 JulExercise Riptide with US Ships Essex, Saratoga and Wasp,
Exercise Riptide with US Ships Essex, Saratoga and Wasp,21-22 JulAnchored Hampton Roads, VA.
Anchored Hampton Roads, VA.22 Jul 3 aircraft detached to Oceana for the day.
3 aircraft detached to Oceana for the day.24-29 JulPort visit to Boston, MS.
Port visit to Boston, MS.30 Jul-3 Aug Port visit to New York, NY.
Port visit to New York, NY.31 Jul-1 7 Aug Yeovilton party leave period.
09 Aug Detachment returns from HMS Victorious.
Detachment returns from HMS Victorious.11-28 Aug HMS Victorious party leave period.
18 Sep Squadron move to RNAS Brawdy for weapon training.
Squadron move to RNAS Brawdy for weapon training.02 Oct Return to Yeovilton.
Return to Yeovilton.07 & 8 Oct 8 aircraft detached to Culdrose to exercise with 849D Flight.
13-16 Oct Exercise Red Banner, Army co-operation exercise Salisbury Plain.
19-23 Oct Deck Landing Practice, HMS Victorious.
26 Nov-10 Dec Aircraft grounded: Wing-fold hinge-pins cracking.
18 Dec Christmas leave
Christmas leave1960
04 Jan Return from leave.
Return from leave.14 Jan Operational Readiness Inspection postponed (airfield Black - ice).
Operational Readiness Inspection postponed (airfield Black - ice).19-20 Jan Deck Landing Practice, HMS Victorious.
21-22 Jan ORI postponed (airfield Red-fog).
26-27 Jan ORI by Flag Officer Flying Training (Rear Admiral DRF Campbell DSC).
03 Feb Embarkation postponed (rough weather in Channel).
Embarkation postponed (rough weather in Channel).05 Feb Embarked HMS Albion ', Captain FMA Torrens Spence DSO DSC AFC RN), with 815 (Whirlwnd), 806 (Sea Hawk) and 849D (Skyraider) Squadrons, for Far East deployment.
10 Feb Gibraltar.
Gibraltar.Feb-Mar Workup off Malta.
10 Feb Reduce to 10 aircraft.
Reduce to 10 aircraft.13-15 Feb Anchor Marsaxlokk Bay, Malta
16-18 Feb 4 aircraft detachment ashore at Hal-Far.
19-23 Feb Port visit to Messina, Sicily.
04-07 Mar Grand Harbour, Malta.
07-09 Mar Exercise Marjex.
11 Mar Squadron disembark to Hal-Far.
Squadron disembark to Hal-Far.27-29 Feb Anchor Marsaxlokk Bay.
21 Mar Embark HMS Albion.
Embark HMS Albion.23-24 Mar Exercise Starlight, Army support, Tunisia.
25 Mar HMS Albion Operational Readiness Inspection by FOAC (Rear Admiral CLG Evans CB CBE DSO DSC).
HMS Albion Operational Readiness Inspection by FOAC (Rear Admiral CLG Evans CB CBE DSO DSC).26-29 Mar Port visit Pireaus, Athens, Greece.
26 Mar Royal Visit to HMS Albion - HM King Paul of the Hellenes.
Royal Visit to HMS Albion - HM King Paul of the Hellenes.31 Mar Arrive Port Said, Egypt.
Arrive Port Said, Egypt.01 Apr Passage through Suez Canal to Red Sea, to relieve HMS Centaur as Far East Station Carrier; ship ran aground in canal and damaged hull.
Passage through Suez Canal to Red Sea, to relieve HMS Centaur as Far East Station Carrier; ship ran aground in canal and damaged hull.04 Apr At Aden.
At Aden.12 Apr Disembarked to RAF Seletar, Singapore.
Disembarked to RAF Seletar, Singapore.13-26 Apr HMS Albion into dry dock Singapore dockyard.
29 Apr Embarked H.MS Albion.
Embarked H.MS Albion.04-06 May Operational visit to Manilla, Philippines.
07-11 May SEATO Exercise Sealion, with USS Yorktown, HMAS Melbourne and US forces off Philippines.
13-17 May At Singapore.
21-26 May At Hong Kong.
27 May Pass through Formosa Strait.
Pass through Formosa Strait.30 May-3 JunOperational visit to Inchon, South Korea.
Operational visit to Inchon, South Korea.06 Jun Shimonoseki Strait to Inland Sea.
Shimonoseki Strait to Inland Sea.09-13 Jun Port visit to Yokohama, Japan.
13-25 Jun HMS Albion ship self maintenance period at US base, Yokosuka, Japan.
27 Jun Exercise with USS Yorktown.
Exercise with USS Yorktown.28-29 Jun Air defence exercise with USMC Okinawa.
01-8 Jul 4 aircraft detachment ashore at RAF Kai Tak, Hong Kong.
4 aircraft detachment ashore at RAF Kai Tak, Hong Kong.02-08 JulShip at Hong Kong.
Ship at Hong Kong.08 Jul Exercise Blue Lamp FAC and Army co-operation Hong Kong.
Exercise Blue Lamp FAC and Army co-operation Hong Kong.12 Jul Squadron disembark to Seletar.
Squadron disembark to Seletar.27 Jul ADEX with RAAF Butterworth, Malaya.
ADEX with RAAF Butterworth, Malaya.13-29 JulHMS Albion dockyard assisted maintenance period at Singapore.
HMS Albion dockyard assisted maintenance period at Singapore.29 Jul Embark HMS Albion.
Embark HMS Albion.02-12 Aug Fleet Operational Training Exercise (FOTX).
05-9 AugAnchored off Pulan Tioman, Malaya.
Anchored off Pulan Tioman, Malaya.08-12 Aug HMS Eagle flying Flag of F02 Far East Fleet (Rear Admiral M LeFanu CB DSC).
12-16 Aug At Singapore.
23 Aug Shadowing exercise off Hong Kong.
Shadowing exercise off Hong Kong.23 Aug-2 SepShip at Hong Kong. 8 aircraft detachment ashore at Kai Tak.
Ship at Hong Kong. 8 aircraft detachment ashore at Kai Tak.07-12 SepPort visit to Subic Say, Philippines.
Port visit to Subic Say, Philippines.13 Sep Exercise with USS Hancock.
Exercise with USS Hancock.16 Sep Disembarked to RAAF Butterworth.
Disembarked to RAAF Butterworth.16 Sep-3 Oct HMS Albion self maintenance period at Singapore.
30 Sep Squadron move to Seletar Singapore.
Squadron move to Seletar Singapore.03 Oct Embarked HMS Albion; 11 aircraft, including FIR.
Embarked HMS Albion; 11 aircraft, including FIR.09-18 Oct Port visit to Trincomolee, Ceylon.
22 Oct Exercise with Indian Air Force.
Exercise with Indian Air Force.24-28 Oct At Karachi, West Pakistan.
28 Oct Cross deck operations with USS Essex.
Cross deck operations with USS Essex.29 Oct ADEX with Pakistani Air Force.
ADEX with Pakistani Air Force.02-07 Nov, CENTO Exercise Midlink III including USS Essex and Pakistani Air Force.
07-10 Nov Port visit to Karachi.
16-26 Nov HMS Albion port visit and self maintenance period, Mombasa, Kenya.
17-19 Nov Squadron expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro.
30 Nov-2 Dec At Aden.
06 Dec Arrive Port Tewfik, Suez; relieved by HMS Hermes as Far East Station Carrier
Arrive Port Tewfik, Suez; relieved by HMS Hermes as Far East Station Carrier07 Dec Passage through Suez Canal to Mediterranean.
Passage through Suez Canal to Mediterranean.08-10 Dec Exercise Decex in Central Mediterranean with HM Ships Ark Royal and Victorious.
13 Dec Pass through Straits of Gibraltar
Pass through Straits of Gibraltar14 Dec Squadron officially disbanded, the last operational Sea Venom Squadron to operate from an Aircraft Carrier.
Squadron officially disbanded, the last operational Sea Venom Squadron to operate from an Aircraft Carrier.15 Dec End of HMS Albion's last commission as a fixed wing Carrier; aircraft disembarked to Yeovilton, Squadron personnel dispersed to leave and draft to new units.
End of HMS Albion's last commission as a fixed wing Carrier; aircraft disembarked to Yeovilton, Squadron personnel dispersed to leave and draft to new units.
