Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (air) branch honoured with flying memorial
Naval historic aircraft preservation charity Navy Wings has restored a de Havilland Chipmunk, registration G-RNVR, as a flying memorial to the RNVR (A) branch.
The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) served with distinction in every theatre of the war throughout the Second World War. Distinguishable from their regular counterparts by the ‘wavy’ gold rank braid worn on the sleeves of their uniforms, the RNVR also became the mainstay of the Fleet Air Arm. By the of the war, the RNVR was 45,000 strong, of whom over 8,000 were aircrew. 6,200 RNVR personnel lost their lives during the war of which 1,544 were naval aviators in the RNVR (Air) branch. Many RNVR Squadrons converted to jets and remained in frontline service until the disbandment of the RNVR in 1957.
Chipmunk T.10 (1965) ‘Spirit of Hill Street’ seen in the impressive Navy Wings hangar at Yeovilton. The Chipmunk was the RN’s primary training aircraft from 1965-93 and flew mainly from Roborough Airfield (the now-closed Plymouth City Airport).
Following the closure of the RNVR Officers’ Association and the sale of their Headquarters and Club House, 38 Hill Street, London, in 2022, Navy Wings was provided with a grant. This was used to refurbish the Chipmunk and a second spare Pegasus engine for the Swordfish as a lasting memorial to the branch.
Former First Sea Lord, Admiral George Zambellas, President of Navy Wings, together with 4 surviving veterans of the RNVR(A).
The Fly Navy Heritage Trust is the charity behind Navy Wings. This excellent organisation is dedicated to remembering all who serve in the Fleet Air Arm through education and the preservation and display of historic aircraft. Whilst the Charity continues to receive a modest annual grant from the RN, it is otherwise entirely funded by public donations and support from corporate partners.
W5856 is the oldest surviving airworthy Fairey Swordfish in the world. She first flew in October 1941. (Note: the RN 847 NAS Wildcat helicopter conducting training serials over the airfield in the background).Despite looking like an ungainly First World War relic, this remarkable aircraft served throughout the Second World War, proving versatile and resilient. Notably, the Swordfish played a key role in sinking the German battleship Bismarck and the attack on the Italian fleet at Taranto.The Westland Wasp HAS Mk 1 (1965) formerly of 829 Naval Air Squadron and HMS Achilles and HMS Endurance flight.The Hawker Sea Fury FB11 VR930, having an engine change from a Bristol Centaurus 18 to a Pratt & Whitney. The decision to change the engine to a Pratt & Whitney was not taken lightly as everyone loves the roar of the Centaurus. However, the Centaurus 18 is a notoriously complex engine and Navy Wings has been very unlucky in the past having experienced engine failure on two occasions in the Charity’s two seater Sea Fury T20 G-RNHF (VX281). On each occasion the skill of the pilot managed to bring the aircraft down safely, but the aircraft was too badly damaged to be restored following the second incident in April 2021, and was scrapped. Navy Wings’ second Sea Fury, Sea Fury FB11 VR930 is in immaculate condition and will fly with a more reliable Pratt & Whitney engine to minimise the risk of engine failure in the future.The Stinson Reliant (1943). Around 500 Stinsons were transferred to the RN under the Lend-Lease agreement with the US between 1943-46 and used for navigation training and as a communications aircraft by second-line units.The Harvard T-6. Dating back to the 1930s the Harvard family of aircraft was used to train US and Commonwealth pilots throughout WWII and beyond. This aircraft was built in 1954 in Canada.de Havilland Tiger Moth DH 82A (Part of the Navy Wings Associate collection). Used to train current and former FAA pilots to fly open cockpit tail dragger aircraft before graduating to the Swordfish. Most pilots who joined the Fleet Air Arm between the 1930s – 60s flew the Tiger Moth during their elementary training.Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church is close to RNAS Yeovilton.
A memorial plaque to the RNVR(A) branch was unveiled at the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church on 31 July 2024. The Church is immaculately maintained by volunteers and houses the Fleet Air Arm Roll of Honour, recording the names of all RNAS and FAA personnel who have died in service. In the gardens are the graves of many naval aviators lost in combat or flying accidents right up to the present day.
Loved it when I had the chance to fly the Chipmunk as a cadet. It was so kind to you that even on my second flight I could fly basic aerobatics in it. It was great fun as my pilot instructor had just come off of a harrier rotation so we probably got to do more interesting things than we really should have. And yes this was nearly thirty years ago but some things are so incredible that they just stay with you.
Was merged with older RN Reserve and now operates under RNR name . But has no special branding of its own now Theres a Flag officer Reserves and they used to have own section of RN website
Theoden
7 months ago
The eqivalents of the RNVR aircrew play a huge role in the USAF, USN and USMC. It’s baffling how tiny a role the reserves play in our armed forces in general and the RAF and FAA in particular.
Loved it when I had the chance to fly the Chipmunk as a cadet. It was so kind to you that even on my second flight I could fly basic aerobatics in it. It was great fun as my pilot instructor had just come off of a harrier rotation so we probably got to do more interesting things than we really should have. And yes this was nearly thirty years ago but some things are so incredible that they just stay with you.
Wonderful memories of flying in the Chipmunk back in 82 as a cadet….
Did not even know the RNVR existed before today….glad I do now. o7
Was merged with older RN Reserve and now operates under RNR name . But has no special branding of its own now
Theres a Flag officer Reserves and they used to have own section of RN website
The eqivalents of the RNVR aircrew play a huge role in the USAF, USN and USMC. It’s baffling how tiny a role the reserves play in our armed forces in general and the RAF and FAA in particular.
Fantastic stuff, thank you.
‘Former reservist takes one step closer to becoming astronaut after graduating space training
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/april/22/240422-rnr-astronaut
in 2022 HMS Pegasus became the new unit for the RNR Air Branch
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/organisation/units-and-squadrons/royal-naval-reserve/hms-pegasus