 HMP Ford Gatelodge | |
 | |
| Location | Ford, West Sussex |
|---|---|
| Security class | Adult Male/Category D |
| Capacity | 521 |
| Opened | 1960 |
| Managed by | HM Prison Services |
| Governor | Mark Drury |
| Website | Ford at justice.gov.uk |
HM Prison Ford (informally known as Ford Open Prison) is a Category D men's prison, located at Ford, in West Sussex, England, near Arundel and Littlehampton. The prison is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service.
An 85 acres (34 ha) site next to Yapton village opened as an airfield for use by the Royal Flying Corp (RFC) and later the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Army Air Service (USAAS) training squadrons in March 1918 and known as Ford Junction military aerodrome. In 1920 it closed and it wasn’t until 1933 that it reopened for civil flying. In 1936 the Air Ministry acquired it and in 1937 RAF Ford was reactivated.
On 24 May 1939, as part of the Fleet Air Arm moving to the Royal Navy, four airfields were transferred from the Air Ministry to the Admiralty: Donibristle, Lee-on-Solent, Ford, and Worthy Down, the airbase became known as Royal Naval Air Station Ford, (RNAS Ford) and commissioned as HMS Peregrine, with Captain (A) R. de H. Burton as the initial Royal Navy commanding officer of the airbase. The RN Observer School was formed out of the disbanded School of Naval Cooperation RAF at HMS Peregrine and its aircraft were allocated across three new Fleet Air Arm Squadrons which were also formed on that day. [1]
The three squadrons were: 750 Naval Air Squadron designated an Observer Training squadron, which was allocated with Hawker Osprey, the navalised carrier-borne version of the Hawker Hart, and Blackburn Shark, a carrier-borne torpedo bomber, [2] 751 Naval Air Squadron, also designated an Observer Training squadron which received some Supermarine Walrus, a single-engine amphibious biplane, [3] and a third Observer Training squadron, 752 Naval Air Squadron, which was provided with Percival Proctor, a radio trainer and communications aircraft, and Fairey Albacore a single-engine biplane torpedo bomber. [3] In July the Fairey Swordfish equipped 820 Naval Air Squadron arrived from RAF Gosport. Two days after arriving, it embarked its biplane torpedo bombers in HMS Ark Royal and it was the single first-line squadron of the Fleet Air Arm that passed through HMS Peregrine in 1939. [4] In the following October, the Observer School had two more squadrons stand-up with 782 Naval Air Squadron, tasked as an Armament Training Squadron, [5] and 793 Naval Air Squadron, whose role was an Air Towed Target Unit, and was equipped with Blackburn Roc, a naval turret fighter aircraft, [6] but 782 NAS disbanded after just three weeks and having received no aircraft. [5]
January 1940 saw the formation of 819 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Ford, which was a Torpedo, Spotter, and Reconnaissance Squadron, equipped with Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber aircraft. [7] The Fairey Swordfish equipped 821 Naval Air Squadron arrived from RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) in March, then almost immediately embarked in HMS Ark Royal. [8] 819 NAS left HMS Peregrine and had a brief spell at RAF West Freugh, located in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, before returning during March, then moving onto RNAS Roborough (HMS Drake II), near Plymouth, Devon, at the end of May. [9] Around the same time 816 Naval Air Squadron arrived with Fairey Swordfish. It moved briefly to RNAS Jersey on 4 June but returned on the 11, although the airbase had already been evacuated and had closed down on 31 May, (the Island fell to the Germans on 1 July). The squadron embarked in HMS Furious on 14 June. [10]
During the 18 August 1940 the airbase was attacked by the Luftwaffe . [1] It was on this day the Germans attempted to destroy a number of airfields with three air raids taking place during the afternoon comprised 850 sorties and involving 2,200 aircrew. [11] Sturzkampfgeschwader 77, a Luftwaffe dive bomber wing, supplied a total force of 109 Junkers Ju 87 or “Stuka” dive bombers. It was the largest concentration of Ju 87 to operate over Britain to date and of those twenty-eight aircraft were assigned to attack Ford. [12] The casualties at the airbase included naval, army and civilian personnel with 28 dead [13] and 75 wounded. 17 aircraft were written off and a further 26 were damaged. Two hangars and about a third of the men’s accommodation huts were destroyed. Many buildings were damaged including the ratings' and Petty Officers' canteens. [1]
With the German invasion of France during May and June 1940, the increase in the risk of an attack on HMS Peregrine due to its proximity was soon acknowledged [1] and therefore 750, [14] 751, [15] and 752 Naval Air Squadrons [16] were despersed at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) in May. The attack on the airbase caused more extreme action. 751 NAS departed for RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor) the following day, [15] 750 Naval Air Squadron stood down and the unit prepared to sail overseas for the island of Trinidad. [14] 752 and 793 Naval Air Squadrons moved to RNAS Lee-on-Solent and also prepared for a move to Trinidad. [17] All three units were to relocate to RNAS Piarco, where the RN No. 1 Observer School reformed. [18] The Admiralty then determined it was to leave Ford and hand the airbase back to the Air Ministry. HMS Peregrine was ‘paid off’ on 30 September 1940, and the next day Ford was under the control of No. 11 Group, Fighter Command, with the RN retaining rights for a lodger unit. [1] The RN school of Photography formed from an unnumbered Flight of Blackburn Shark torpedo-spotter-reconnaissance biplane and Fairey Seal spotter-reconnaissance biplane, at RAF Ford in December 1940. [19]
The Air Ministry oversaw the development of the station during the war. In 1941, two tarmac runways were constructed, measuring 6,000 feet (1,800 m) in the southwest/northeast direction and 4,800 feet (1,500 m) in the northwest/southeast direction. Additionally, extensive new taxiways were established to the west of the original airfield. The construction included blast pens and several Blister hangars strategically placed around the perimeter track to complement the existing Bellman hangars. [1]
Naval aviation made a resurgence at Ford at the close of 1942, marked by the transfer of the 746 Naval Air Squadron, a Night Fighter Interception Unit, from RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), on 1 December. This unit collaborated with the RAF Fighter Interception Unit at Ford until its subsequent relocation to RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, on 3 April 1944. The squadron made its return on 1 October, as a component of the newly established Night Fighter Development Wing, which was formed on 16 of that month. [20]
By early 1945, this unit had become the primary operational force at RAF Ford, continuing its activities until the gradual decommissioning that followed the end of World War II in Europe. On 31 July RAF Ford was no longer classified as a No. 11 Group station and was subsequently reassigned to the Admiralty. [1]
RNAS Ford was re-commissioned as HMS Peregrine in August 1945. [21] At that point, 746 Naval Air Squadron, the Night Fighter Interception Unit, was still stationed here, however, it relocated to RAF West Raynham on the 23 of the same month. [20] Additionally, on 1 August, the long-established RN Photographic Flight was elevated to squadron status, resulting in the formation of the 720 RN Photographic Squadron at this location. [22]
On 1 September 813 Naval Air Squadron was reestablished as a Torpedo Strike Squadron, utilising Blackburn Firebrand TF.IV aircraft. [23] Shortly thereafter, on 6 September, 708 Naval Air Squadron, designated as the Firebrand Tactical Trials Unit, arrived at the station from RNAS Gosport (HMS Siskin), equipped with Blackburn Firebrand TF.III. The commanding officer and several pilots from this unit became the core of 813 Naval Air Squadron, as they possessed the most extensive experience with the Firebrand, having previously addressed numerous issues associated with this aircraft model. [24]
On 15 September, 811 Naval Air Squadron was reformed at RNAS Ford as a two-seat fighter squadron, utilising de Havilland Mosquito FB.VI fighter-bomber aircraft. [25] A detachment from 771 Naval Air Squadron, a Fleet Requirements Unit, arrived at RNAS Ford on 20 September, having traveled from RNAS Gosport equipped with several de Havilland Mosquito B.23 bomber aircraft. [26] Additionally, 708 Naval Air Squadron made its departure in December, transferring to RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl) on the 5th. [24]
The beginning of 1946 saw the arrival of another second line squadron at RNAS Ford, specifically 778 Naval Air Squadron, which functioned as a Service Trials Unit. This unit arrived on 3 January from RNAS Gosport and was equipped with Fairey Barracuda torpedo and dive bomber Mk II, Mk III, and TR V variants, as well as Supermarine Seafire fighter aircraft variants including the F Mk.XV, F Mk.17, F Mk.46, and F Mk.47 types. [27]
Serviceability issues with its Blackburn Firebrand, prevented 813 Naval Air Squadron from achieving operational status and it was subsequently disbanded at RNAS Ford on 30 September 1946, pending the introduction of the improved TF.5 variant. [23] Following a period of acclimatisation with their new aircraft, 811 Naval Air Squadron relocated to RNAS Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) on 6 December 1946. [25]
The subsequent arrival at the station was 795 Naval Air Squadron, a Refresher Training Squadron, which disembarked its Fairey Firefly FR.I aircraft from the lead ship of her class, HMS Implacable, on 24 March 1947. The squadron was disbanded on the same day. [28] 813 Naval Air Squadron was reestablished at RNAS Ford on 1 May 1947 with TF.5 variant of the Blackburn Firebrand and following a period of preparation was deployed aboard HMS Implacable. [23] Additionally, the Service Trials Unit, 778 Naval Air Squadron, relocated to RAF Tangmere on 18 July 1947. [27]
On 20 December 1947, the 14th Carrier Air Group (CAG), consisting of 804 and 812 Naval Air Squadrons, disembarked from the Colossus-class aircraft carrier, HMS Theseus, upon her return from a deployment in the Far East. The Supermarine Seafire FR Mk.47 fighter aircraft of 804 Naval Air Squadron proceeded to RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), Northern Ireland, on the same day, while the Fairey Firefly FR.I of 812 Naval Air Squadron remained stationed. 804 Naval Air Squadron returned from RNAS Eglinton on 11 January 1948, prior to the CAG's transfer to RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin) on 6 April. [29]
812 Naval Air Squadron returned to RNAS Ford on 13 April, followed by 804 Naval Air Squadron on 18 April. Subsequently, the CAG departed for RNAS Eglinton on 26 May. [29] The following day, 720 Naval Air Squadron moved to RNAS Gosport, [22] and RNAS Ford ceased flying operations as the station was set to undergo a significant refurbishment program aimed at expediting completion. [1]
HMS Peregrine was decommissioned on 30 June 1948, at which point its accounts were transferred to the records of HMS Daedalus, while a major refurbishment took place with operations under the supervision of Commander J.F.R. Crewes, GM , RN. The undertaken projects encompassed the resurfacing of runways and taxiways, the installation of a substantial concrete hard-standing, and the construction of three new hangars. Additionally, the technical and domestic areas underwent a thorough cleanup and partial reconstruction. [1]
The Westland Wyvern went into service first here in the early 1950s with 813 Naval Air Squadron.
List of past flying units and major non-flying units permanently based at Ford
The following units were here at some point: [30]
The prison has been criticised for its lax security – especially after 70 people, including three murderers serving the last three years of their sentences, absconded in 2006 alone. [31]
In March 2009, the prison's own Independent Monitoring Board issued a report stating that an outdated CCTV security system and a staffing shortage were contributing to burglars breaking into the jail to steal equipment from workshops. The report also found that drugs, alcohol and mobile phones were being smuggled into the prison for inmates. [32] Two months later, an inspection report from His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons found that inmates were leaving the prison complex at night to acquire alcohol. The report also stated that the prison was underperforming in preparing inmates for resettlement on release. [33] In October 2009, an investigation was launched after it emerged that a prisoner at Ford had been able to remove documents from a disused office in the prison complex. [34]
In July 2010, managers of Ford Prison had to apologise after Muslim prisoners at the jail were served burgers containing pork. 20 Muslim inmates were served the non-halal food before they noticed that the packaging for the burgers listed pork as an ingredient. [35]
Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent,, is a former Royal Naval Air Station located near Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire, approximately 4 miles (6.44 km) west of Portsmouth, on the coast of the Solent.
703 Naval Air Squadron is a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). Since 2003, the squadron has formed the Royal Naval wing of the Defence Elementary Flying Training School / No. 3 Flying Training School, at RAF Barkston Heath.
778 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). During the Second World War the squadron was a Service Trials Unit (STU) initially based at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, England before moving to HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, Angus, Scotland on 6 July 1940. The squadron tested all types of aircraft that could be used by the Royal Navy. Key to this was testing new types for deck landing on aircraft carriers. Such aircraft included various types of Supermarine Seafires, Grumman Hellcats, Grumman Martlets, Grumman Avengers, and Vought Corsairs. The squadron was reformed on 5 November 1951 with Douglas Skyraider AEW.1 but was disbanded on 7 July 1952 to form the basis of 849 Naval Air Squadron.
708 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which disbanded during February 1946. It formed during October 1944 at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as the Firebrand Tactical Trials Unit, before moving to nearby RAF Gosport the following January. Tasked with looking into issues distinct to the Blackburn Firebrand the unit also performed deck landing training and torpedo exercises with the aircraft. The squadron moved to RNAS Ford where a number of personnel including the CO provided the core for the formation of 813 Naval Air Squadron, the Fleet Air Arm’s initial operational Blackburn Firebrand unit. The squadron relocated to RNAS Fearn at the beginning of December and then in January 1946 it moved to RNAS Rattray.
720 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). The squadron originated as the Catapult Fight for the New Zealand Division and it achieved squadron status and a shore base at Auckland, New Zealand, before the start of the Second World War. However it was absorbed into 700 Naval Air Squadron in January 1940. The squadron reformed at the beginning of August 1945, from an unnumbered photographic flight originally formed in December 1940, at HMS Peregrine, RNAS Ford, in Sussex, as the RN Photographic Squadron. It moved to HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, in Hampshire, during May 1948, but 720 Naval Air Squadron disbanded in January 1950, with 771 Naval Air Squadron taking on the aircraft and duties.
745 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was initially active from 1943 to 1945 as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training squadron, part of No.2 Telegraphist Air Gunner School based at RN Air Section Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. It reformed in April 1956 at HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, Northern Ireland, as a Radar Jamming Trials Unit. It operated with four modified Grumman Avenger aircraft, undertaking a trials evaluation of the 'Orange Harvest' radar warning receiver equipment, disbanding in November 1957.
754 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was active as an Observer Training Squadron from 1939 to 1944 as part of No. 2 Observer School, forming out of the School of Naval Co-operation RAF, in May 1939. It initially operated out of HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, however, after the Naval Air Station was attacked and bombed, it then moved to north to HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, Angus, Scotland, in September 1940. Here, it provided training for Observers and also Air Gunners and where four years later, in March 1944, it disbanded. The squadron then briefly reformed as an Air Gunner Training Squadron, as part of No. 1 Naval Air Gunners School, when 744 Naval Air Squadron was re-designated 754 Naval Air Squadron, in June 1944, at RN Air Section Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, until disbanding again, in March 1945.
764 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It initially formed in April 1940, at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as an Advance Seaplane Training Squadron. The Squadron moved to RAF Pembroke Dock in July 1940, and later to HMS Daedalus II, RNAS Lawrenny Ferry in October 1941 and remaining there until the Squadron disbanded in November 1943. It reformed at HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, in February 1944, as the User Trials Unit, however, the squadron was decommissioned for the second time in September 1945. 764 Naval Air Squadron reformed again, at HMS Fulmar, RNAS Lossiemouth, in May 1953, where it became an Advanced Training Unit. It moved to HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, in September 1953, where it received its first jet aircraft. In November 1954 the Squadron disbanded.
769 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It last disbanded and merged with 717 Naval Air Squadron after the Second World War. 769 Naval Air Squadron Formed at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, during May 1939, by renumbering 801 Naval Air Squadron. Its role was a fighter Deck Landing Training Squadron, using HMS Furious for advanced training, before disbanding in the December. It reformed in November 1941, as a unit within the Deck Landing Training School at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, and in November 1943, it moved to HMS Peewit, RNAS East Haven. Its role changed to Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training in 1944, before moving to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray, in July 1945.
774 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded in August 1945. 774 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMS Kestrel, RNAS Worthy Down, in November 1939 as an Armament Training Squadron for Observers and TAGs. Aircraft were assigned from storage and a couple of other naval air squadrons. It moved a week later to RAF Aldergrove, and was attached to No.3 Bombing and Gunnery School. In July 1940 it moved to HMS Fieldfare, RNAS Evanton, and then in September to HMS Vulture, RNAS St Merryn, Throughout the next few years, the older aircraft were withdrawn and replaced with newer types and variants. 774 NAS moved to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray in October 1944, where it became a target-towing unit.
775 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded in March 1946. 775 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMS Grebe, RNAS Dekheila, during November 1940, as a Fleet Requirements Unit in support of the Mediterranean Fleet, based at Alexandria, Egypt. Between October 1941 and March 1942 the squadron also included the RN Fighter Flight. It absorbed 728 Naval Air Squadron in July 1943 and moved to RN Air Section Gibraltar at the start of February 1944. The squadron returned to HMS Grebe, RNAS Dekheila during August 1945.
776 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded at the end of October 1945. 776 Naval Air Squadron formed as a Fleet Requirements Unit at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, at the start of 1941. It operated a detachment at RN Air Section Speke in 1941 and one at RAF Woodvale in 1942, with the squadron wholly moving to Speke in the October. 1943 saw further detachments and these were deployed at RAF Llanbedr, RAF Millom, RAF Usworth and RAF Waltham. In April 1945, the Woodvale detachment was reabsorbed into the squadron when it relocated there, the airbase now operated by the Admiralty and known as HMS Ringtail II. It moved to HMS Ringtail, RNAS, Burscough, at the start of October 1945.
777 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN), which formed as a Fleet Requirements Unit in West Africa during the Second World War. Throughout most of 1943, the squadron was responsible for the air defence of Sierra Leone. It disbanded at HMS Spurwing, RNAS Hastings, Sierra Leone, during December 1944. The squadron reformed in May 1945, from 'B' Flight of 778 Naval Air Squadron, as a Carrier Trials Unit operating aboard HMS Pretoria Castle, and using shore bases at HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, and HMS Peregrine, RNAS Ford in England, and HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr, in Scotland. 777 Naval Air Squadron number was assigned to the aircraft collection at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in April 2006.
780 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded at HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose in November 1949. 780 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMS Raven, RNAS Eastleigh as a Conversion Course Unit, in October 1939, to train experienced civilian pilots in naval flying. It moved to HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in October 1940, and later, its role had changed to converting pilots to Fairey Barracuda aircraft. It spent a year at RNAS Charlton Horethorne, before returning to HMS Daedalus and disbanded, early 1945. In March 1946, the squadron reformed at HMS Godwit, RNAS Hinstock, as the Naval Advanced Flying School, to give flying instructors' courses, and later provided Instrument Flying Training. In December, the squadron moved to HMS Jackdaw, RNAS Crail, then in March 1947 moved to HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, and in May to HMS Seahawk as the first resident unit.
785 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which disbanded in early 1946. 785 NAS formed as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, at HMS Jackdaw, RNAS Crail, in November 1940. Throughout its existence it operated a number of various types of torpedo bomber aircraft. The squadron became part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit in late 1944.
787 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which disbanded in January 1956. It formed in March 1941, at HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, out of 804 Naval Air Squadron as a Fleet Fighter Development Unit. Almost every type of fighter was received by the squadron for testing and evaluation for naval use. A move to RAF Duxford in June 1941 saw it become the Naval Air Fighting Development Unit, attached to the Royal Air Force's Air Fighting Development Unit. The squadron undertook rocket projectile test, continuous development of fighter tactics and even helping Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons in evading fighter attack. Post Second World War it continued its trials task and also undertook Rebecca radar trials and ASH, US-built air-to-surface-vessel radar trials.
788 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded during June 1945. The squadron formed at RN Air Section China Bay in Ceylon, in January 1942, as the British Eastern Fleet's Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Pool, however it lost half its strength during the heavy raids by Japanese carrier-borne aircraft in the April. The squadron regrouped at RNAS Tanga in Tanganyika, East Africa to become a Fleet Requirements Unit and relocating almost immediately to RN Air Section Port Reitz, in Mombasa, where it remained operational for the next three years.
793 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which disbanded during October 1945. It was formed in October 1939 at RNAS Ford, as an Air Towed Target Unit, as part of No.1 Observer School. From 1940 to disbandment it operated at RNAS Piarco , Trinidad.
795 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded at RNAS Ford, in Sussex, during March 1947. Originally formed as the Eastern Fleet Fighter Pool at RNAS Tanga, in Tanganyika, in June 1942, it’s 'A' Flight's supported the invasion of Madagascar, from HMS Illustrious, before being detached at Majunga on anti-submarine patrols as part of the Royal Air Force’s No. 207 Group. The squadron later moved to RNAS Mackinnon Road, in Kenya, before disbanding during August 1943. It reformed as a Refresher Training Squadron at RNAS Eglinton, in Northern Ireland, in August 1946 as part of the Fleet Air Arm’s 52nd Training Air Group and later included a couple of deployments in HMS Implacable.
797 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded in October 1945 in Ceylon. Its role was a Fleet Requirements Unit which formed at HMS Ukussa, Royal Naval Air Station Katukurunda, in Ceylon, in July 1942. The squadron moved to RNAS Colombo Racecourse in October 1943. It had a Communications Flight which became 742 Naval Air Squadron in December 1943 and the following summer it had an ‘X’ Flight deployed for target towing for a couple of gunnery schools in Bombay, India and which eventually moved to 722 Naval Air Squadron.
50°48′57″N0°34′39″W / 50.8159°N 0.5776°W
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