892 Sqn to HMS Hermes 1966 to 1968

After 2 years in refit at Devonport Dockyard ship commissions under the command of Captain T.T. Lewin MVO. DSC. ADC. RN.
16^th May 1966 Initial sea trials in English Channel and to Devonport 16^th May to 26^th June 1966
25^th June measured mile off Isle of Arran and to Portland Areas for flying trials. 892 Sqn DLP for first time with their mother ship. Lyme Bay 1^st to 4^th July 1966
Devonport Dockyard 13^th to 27^th July 1966
892 squadron take part in the Freedom of Gosport mass flypast and the Biggin Hill Air Fair.
Portsmouth 28^th July to 25^th August 1966 and to Gibraltar 21st August to 2^nd September 966
Portsmouth 9^th to 21^st September 1966. 892 Sqn take part in the Farnborough Air Shows.
21^st September sail and embark Squadrons 22^nd September off SW Wales (RNAS Brawdy).
892 Sqn embarks 10 aircraft under command of Lt. Cdr. J.N.S. Anderdon RN. (CO since November 1965)
24^th September to 4^th October 1966 1^st Workup in Moray Firth Areas
6^th to 10^th October 1966 visit Hamburg
11^th to 20^th October 1966 second workup Moray Firth
21^st October to 7^th November Rosyth Dockyard for SMP
7^th to 18^th November 1966, Ex Roedean in NW approaches and workup continued off SW Wales then Lyme Bay.
18^th November 1966 to 16^th January 1967 Portsmouth
16^th January 1967 embark Squadrons. 892 Sqn embarks. Flyex in Lyme bay and proceed to Gibraltar for flyex.
23rd January 1967. Sea Vixen Lost. Pilot Killed.
Accident ID 22.
Helicopter crew also lost effecting rescue. (Hit by Ship)
Flyex off Malta 26^th to 30^th January 1967.
3rd February 1967.Sea Vixen Lost. Observer killed. Accident ID 23.
6^th to 20^th February 1967 Gibraltar SMP
23^rd February 1967 flyex off Malta and visit Naples 24^th to 28^th February 1967
Sail for Ex Poker Hand IV in Tyrrhenian Sea with USN including USS (CVA) America off Tobruk 1^st to 9^th March 1967. 892 Sqn achieve non diversion flying 2 over 2 airborne 24 hours and 7 night sorties.
10^th March 1967 off Sigonella Sicily and to Malta for flyex
16^th to 31^st March 1967 Malta and sail for Ex Dawn Clear 31^st March to 7^th April.
7^th to 8^th April at Malta, passage to Athens 12^th to 18^th April and flyex to 1^st May 1967 flyex off Cyprus
2^nd and 3^rd May 1967 transit Suez Canal to Aden
892 Squadron change of command to Lt. Cdr. Simon Idiens. RN.
Flyex off Aden 6^th to 19^th May 1967 and flyex off Gan 23^rd to 27^th May 1967. Return to Aden 31^st May to 10^th June 1967. (Not as planned to Singapore). 892 sqn fly border patrols, Photographic missions and conduct mass fly past with aircraft of HMS Victorious and the RAF.
15^th to 16^th June flyex off Gan and to Penang for 20^th June 1967
Enter Singapore after 66 days at sea 22^nd June to 17^th July for SMP
17^th to 31^st July flyex off Singapore and Subic Bay then to Hong Kong 31^st July to 7th August
7^th to 12th August flyex off Subic Bay and to Subic Bay 12^th to 14^th August
17^th to 19^th August flyex off Singapore then to flyex off Cocos Islands 22^nd to 25^th August 1967 then to Fremantle, Western Australia 28^th August to 4^th September 1967.
4^th September passage to UK via Cape of Good Hope. All aircraft on deck were taped up and covered with anti corrosion fluids.
On return to RNAS Yeovilton the aircraft were found to be suffering from salt water corrosion. 893 Sqn, 890 Sqn and 766 Sqn lent their aircraft to 892 Sqn for temporary flying duties.
Portsmouth 2^nd to 31^st October 1967. Change of ships command to Captain D.G. Parker DSO. DSC. AFC. RN.
Sail 31^st October 1967 to Middle East Station via Ascension Island (flyex), Cape of Good Hope, Durban (flyex), Mombasa 1^st to 10^th December 1967 and to Aden. New senior Pilot of 892 Sqn, Lt. Cdr. T.J. Bolt RN.
Ex Liver Paste with HMS Eagle, 892 Sqn achieved 22 sorties per day.
Flyex off Salala 14^th December 1967
Flyex off Masira 16^th to 22^nd December 1967
Christmas 1967 at Aden. Khor El Quwai.

Hermes 1966/1968 Track Chart

HMS Hermes at Plymouth 1966.

HMS Hermes anchored off Gan

892 Sqn nose wheel collapse on a night deck landing