Fighter All Weather (FAW) of the Fleet Air Arm.

Correlation 890 Squadron to HMS Ark Royal. 5th Commission. November 1964 to June 1966.

  • After several months of refit HMS Ark Royal is commissioned 12th November 1964, at Devonport.
  • 24th November sailed for sea and flying trials under Command of Captain A.T.F. Griffin. RN.
  • 25th November 1964. Sea Vixen Lost. Both Crew Members killed. ID 11. (890 Sqn disembarked at RNAS Yeovilton)
  • To Scottish waters off Fife. 890 Sqn conducted 10 days weaponry and Dusk DLP.
  • 4th December. Arrive Portsmouth
  • 8th December Depart Portsmouth. Gunnery trials
  • Arrive Plymouth. Christmas leave
  • 14th January 1965 Depart Devonport for 1st Work Up.
  • Embark 890 Squadron from RNAS Yeovilton, just over a year since completing the 4th Commission of HMS Ark Royal. Commanding Officer. Lt. Cdr. “Jock” Monsell RN.
  • 17th to 25th January1965 work up Moray Firth Scotland.
  • 28th January arrive Brest depart 2nd February 65. Continue work up.
  • 5th to 7th February Rosyth.
  • 10th February 1965, during Ships ORI. Sea Vixen Lost. Observer killed, Pilot safe. ID 13.
  • 13th February Rosyth SMP
  • 15th February 5 aircraft of 890 Sqn disembarked to RNAS Lossiemouth.
  • 25th February depart Rosyth
  • 2nd March 1965 ORI by F.O.A.C. Arrive Rosyth 3rd March.
  • 5th March depart Rosyth for exercise Pilot Light.
  • 10th March 1965 arrive Bergen
  • 15th March 1965 depart Bergen for Portsmouth
  • 16th March disembark 890 Squadron to RNAS Yeovilton, and airgroup to homebases..
  • 18th March arrive Portsmouth
  • 22nd March depart Portsmouth for Sea Vixen Mk2 MLS trials, and Buccaneer Mk2 trials. Aircraft from RAE Boscombe Down. First ever catapult launch of 50,000 lbs auw. 1000th arrested landing.
  • 2nd April, Devonport for Easter Leave.
  • 17th May 1965 Sail Devonport for exercises. Embark 890 Squadron and Air Group. Change of CO to Lt. Cdr. Tony Pearson RN. and SP Lt. Cdr. “Nobby” Hall. RN.
  • 25th May 1965 disembark Squadrons
  • 26th May. Arrive Devonport
  • 16th June depart Devonport for Far East Station. Embark 890 Squadron and Airgroup (803, 815 ,849C Squadrons)
  • 22nd to 25th June 1965 at Gibraltar. HMS Centaur in harbour.
  • 26th June 1965 flyex off Malta
  • 28th June 1965 arrive Port Said
  • 29th June transit Suez Canal
  • 2nd to 4th July at Aden.
  • 8th July relieve HMS Victorious as Strike Carrier East of Suez.
  • 19th July 1965 arrive Singapore SMP. 890 Sqn disembarks to RAF Changi. Long Range strikes to North Borneo against the Indonesian Confrontation of Malaysia.
  • 4th August 1965 depart Singapore for flyex. Singapore Independence day.
  • 12th August 1965 enter Singapore. Depart 17th August 1965 for exercise Guardrail. 2000th Arrested landing
  • 23rd to 25th August 1965, Subic Bay Philippines. Live Missile firing exercises.
  • 4th September 1965 arrive Singapore SMP. Catapult repairs caused delay. 890 Sqn ferried 4 aircraft to RNAHU Kai Tak, Hong Kong for refurbishment.
  • 18th September 1965 depart Singapore for Hong Kong
  • 27th September 1965 arrive Hong Kong (Delayed by tropical storm Agnes). Ceremonial duties. Divisions.
  • 12th October depart Hong Kong for Singapore.
  • 20th September arrive Singapore for SMP
  • 29th October 1965 change of Command from Captain A.T.F. Griffin RN. to Captain M.F. Fell. DSO. DSC+. RN.
  • 31st October 1965 fire in Boiler Room B. Operational Plans changed due delay.
  • 890 Sqn disembark to RAAF Butterworth, Malaysia to make way for the Eagle airgroup at RAF Changi. HMS Eagle arrives Singapore and is unable to berth. HMS Eagle sails for the Beira Oil Patrol off Mozambique. (Post 11th November). One third 890 Squadron changeover of personnel.
  • 11th November Rhodesia declares independence.
  • 890 Sqn return to RAF Changi, Singapore. 7th December depart Singapore for flyex. Return 13th December
  • 17th December depart Singapore for Fremantle Australia.
  • Ship was in flying range of Christmas Island. A Sea Vixen of 890 Sqn flown by Lt. Ron Badenhorst RN dropped a Christmas card from the aircraft turbine bay over the airstrip.
  • 28th December depart Fremantle for Singapore
  • 31st December flyex off the Cocos Islands.
  • 8th January 1966 arrive Singapore SMP
  • 27th January 1966 depart Singapore for flyex
  • 1st February 1966 set course Mombasa
  • 10th to 12th February 1966 flyex off Gan
  • 18th February 1966 enter Mombasa for SMP
  • 3rd March 1966 leave Mombasa for Mozambique Channel
  • Beira Patrol 5th to 14th March 1966.
  • 15th March 1966 relieved by HMS Eagle, sail for Singapore.
  • 19th March 1966, 4000th arrested landing
  • 23rd March 1966. Sea Vixen Lost. Both crew members killed. ID 19.
  • 25th March 1966 arrive Singapore SMP
  • 26th April 1966 depart Singapore and return to UK.
  • 2nd to 4th May 1966 flyex off Gan
  • 8th to 25th May 1966 Beira Patrol
  • 10th May 1966. Sea Vixen Lost. Observer killed, Pilot safe. ID 20.
  • 25th May 1966 passage to Devonport
  • 31st May anchor off Aden
  • 4th June 1966 Transit Suez Canal
  • 13th June 1966 arrived Plymouth Sound.
  • Summary for 5th Commission. Four Sea Vixens Lost. Six Sea Vixen Aircrew Killed.

Lone Mk1 Sea Vixen on the Bow
890 Sqn Sea Vixen on the Waist Catapult
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