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Grumman Hellcats of Dutch Manned 1840 Sqn 23 June 1944

Grumman Hellcats of 1840 Naval Air Squadron

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Grumman Hellcats of 1840 Naval Air Squadron

No. 1840 NAS formed on March 1st 1944 at RNAS Burscough as a single seater fighter squadron equipped with 10 Hellcat Is. A large proportion of the squadron pilots were Dutch, mainly from the Royal Netherlands Navy Air Service.

1840 NAS operated from HMS Furious for Operation Mascot, a strike on the German battleship Tirpitz on July 17 1944.

After training on HMS Formidable, the squadron then moved to HMS Indefatigable. During August 1944, raids were conducted along the Norwegian coast, followed by additional strikes on Tirpitz. One of 1840s Hellcats scored a hit on “Bruno” turret, which destroyed the 20mm anti-aircraft gun sited there, but no damage to the turret.

In December 1944, 1840 NAS relocated to HMS Speaker for transport to the Pacific, arriving in Sydney on23 February 1945. HMS Speaker provided CAP fighters for the fleet train supply the British Pacific fleet until May 1945. At this point HMS Speaker was used as a replenishment ship and 1840 NAS was disbanded, with aircraft and pilots reallocated to 1839 NAS on HMS Indomitable and to HMS Ruler.

Sub Lieut Poublon, of 1840 Sqn RNN, climbs into the cockpit of his Hellcat during training at a Royal Naval Air Station.
Sub Lieut Poublon, of 1840 NAS RNN, climbs into the cockpit of his Hellcat during training at a Royal Naval Air Station.
Grumman Hellcats of Dutch Manned 1840 Sqn 23 June 1944
Grumman Hellcats of Dutch Manned 1840 NAS 23 June 1944
Grumman Hellcat of Dutch Manned 1840 Sqn 23 June 1944
Grumman Hellcat of Dutch Manned 1840 NAS 23 June 1944
Dutch pilots of 1840 Sqn Fleet Air Arm being briefed by their Commanding Officer, Lieut Cdr Richardson, of New Zealand
Dutch pilots of 1840 NAS Fleet Air Arm being briefed by their Commanding Officer, Lieut Cdr Richardson, of New Zealand
HMS Speaker at Aden, Hellcats of 1840 parked on her deck.
HMS Speaker at Aden, Hellcats of 1840 parked on her deck.
Grumman Hellcat of 1840 landing on HMS Speaker
Grumman Hellcat of 1840 landing on HMS Speaker
Grumman Hellcat Mk.I landing accident aboard HMS Trumpeter
Grumman Hellcat Mk.I of 1840 Sqn landing accident aboard HMS Trumpeter during landing training