896 Naval Air Squadron

896 Naval Air Squadron (896 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). Established as a fighter squadron in September 1942, at Norfolk, Virginia, the squadron joined HMS Victorious in February 1943, heading to the Pacific. In May 1943, it conducted fighter operations over the Coral Sea and later supported United States Marines landings in the Solomons in June 1943, using Tontouta as a shore station. The squadron returned to the UK, in September, having re-equipped with Grumman Wildcat aircraft and joined the 7th Naval Fighter Wing in November. It embarked in HMS Pursuer in November and provided air cover for a convoy to Gibraltar in February 1944. In April, it offered air support for an attack on the battleship Tirpitz before being disbanded into 881 Naval Air Squadron in June.

It reformed in September 1945, at HMS Malagas, RNAS Wingfield, South Africa, as a fighter squadron, with Grumman Hellcat fighter aircraft. It joined HMS Ameer in April for passage to Ceylon. In July 1945, the squadron conducted operations over the Nicobar Islands before moving to HMS Empress in July to support minesweeping operations near Phuket. The squadron returned home and was disbanded in December.