10th Naval Fighter Wing

10th Naval Fighter Wing
White Ensign
Active14 October 1944 – February 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeNaval fighter Wing
RoleFleet fighter operations
SizeTwo squadrons
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Home stationRNAS Eglinton
AircraftVought Corsair
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Wing LeaderMajor P.P. Nelson-Gracie, RM
Insignia
Wing CodeO

10th Naval Fighter Wing ("10 Wing") was a Fleet Air Arm formation of the Royal Navy formed at RNAS Eglinton on 14 October 1944. It comprised 1843 and 1845 Naval Air Squadrons, both equipped with Vought Corsair fighter bomber aircraft and earmarked for service with the British Pacific Fleet. The wing's headquarters was formed at RNAS Eglinton, while 1843 Squadron was allocated to the escort carriers HMS Arbiter and 1845 Squadron to HMS Slinger.

History

Formation

The 10th Naval Fighter Wing was formed at RNAS Eglinton, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on 14 October 1944 with 1843 and 1845 Naval Air Squadrons. Each squadron was earmarked to join an escort carrier for service with the British Pacific Fleet, with 1843 Squadron allocated to Ruler-class escort carrier HMS Arbiter and 1845 squadron to sister ship HMS Slinger.

Historic England identifies the 10th Naval Fighter Wing among the Naval Wings formed during the Second World War. It records that the wing comprised two Vought Corsair squadrons attached to HMS Arbiter and HMS Slinger, with its headquarters formed at RNAS Eglinton in October 1944. The Fleet Air Arm chronology records the 10th Naval Fighter Wing as operating from October 1944 to February 1945 and identifies Major P.P. Nelson-Gracie, RM, as its Wing Leader.

Deployment

Both squadrons moved to RNAS Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland, on 23 October 1944 for bombardment-spotting training. 1845 Squadron returned to RNAS Eglinton on 6 November, while 1843 Squadron remained at RNAS Ayr until returning to RNAS Eglinton on 15 December.

1845 Squadron embarked its new Vought Corsair Mk IV aircraft in HMS Slinger on 19 December 1944 and began deck-landing practice and exercises on the escort carrier in preparation for deployment to the British Pacific Fleet. 1843 Squadron completed its preparations for HMS Arbiter and flew from RNAS Belfast, County Antrim, Norther Ireland, to embark in the carrier on 14 February 1945.

End of the wing

Corsair Mk IV; of the type used by 1843 and 1845 Squadrons

The Fleet Air Arm chronology records the 10th Naval Fighter Wing as existing from October 1944 until February 1945. Historic England records the two squadrons as being attached separately to HMS Arbiter and HMS Slinger.

1843 Squadron embarked in HMS Arbiter on 14 February 1945. Major Nelson-Gracie's command of 1843 Squadron ended on 11 February 1945, when Lieutenant Commander P.C.S. Chilton, RN, succeeded him as commanding officer.

1845 Squadron continued its separate service aboard HMS Slinger after February 1945. On 25 February its serviceable aircraft were flown off to RNAS Schofields (HMS Nabthorpe), New South Wales, Australia, while three unserviceable airframes were taken by road to RNAS Bankstown (HMS Nabberley), Sydney. The squadron was disbanded on 5 April 1945, with its aircraft and aircrew dispersed to the Illustrious-class aircraft carriers HMS Formidable and HMS Victorious.

1843 and 1845 Naval Air Squadrons subsequently became components of the 3rd Carrier Air Group, which formed at RNAS Nowra (HMS Nabbington), New South Wales, on 2 August 1945 with 854 Naval Air Squadron.

Squadrons

10th Naval Fighter Wing consited of two Fleet Air Arm squadrons:

HMS Slinger
HMS Arbiter

Aircraft

Naval Air Squadrons assigned to 10 Wing flew different variants of one aircraft types:

Wing leader

The wing was commanded by Major P.P. Nelson-Gracie, RM, from its formation in October 1944 until its disbandment.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 304.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "1843 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy Research Archive. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "UK Military Command and Control Organisation: Volume 1 – Navy". Historic England. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "1845 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy Research Archive. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 302.
  6. ↑ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 305.
  7. ↑ Wragg 2019, p. 203.
  8. ↑ "A History of HMS Slinger". Royal Navy Research Archive. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  9. ↑ "A History of HMS Arbiter". Royal Navy Research Archive. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  10. ↑ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, pp. 294&296.
  11. ↑ Wragg 2019, p. 201.

Bibliography