1944 Dated Fleet Air Arm Corsair Pilots Uniform Items

An excellent example of a 1944 dated Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Volunteer Reserve Officer’s No5 Dress Reefer Jacket, Trousers, Shirt and Tie to RNVR Lt. Commander M.B. (Michel Bertie) Gerrish, a Corsair Fighter Pilot with 1851 Naval Air Squadron.

Jacket and Trousers are tailored in a high quality smooth Melton wool by Austin Reed in March 1944 and are in excellent condition, free from any signs of moth or other damage.

The Jacket carries the sleeve braid appropriate to a Lt. Commander in the Air Arm of the (Wavy Navy) RNVR, the left sleeve with the wings of a Pilot, hand embroidered in a gold bullion wire. Double breasted closure is by two rows of four gilded buttons.

There are three medal ribbons above the breast pocket, the Pacific Star at centre.  

Trousers are of course a perfect match and are with all buttons in place.

Again, by Austin Reed, the white shirt has some machine repaired holes but displays well and is complete with the  detachable  13 1/2” collar and collar stud. The tie is in very good condition with its patten number and “Shrink resilient” marked label.

A rare uniform collection to a RNVR Fighter Pilot.

The personnel for 1851 Squadron assembled at Townhill Camp in July 1944, and sailed for the USA to form and train. The squadron officially formed on September 1st.1944 at USNAS Brunswick as a single seat fighter squadron under the command of Lt. Cdr (A) D.J. McDonald RN. The squadron was issued with 18 Corsair IVs.

On completion of working up at USNAS Brunswick 1851 flew to USNAS Floyd Bennett Field on December 23rd.1944, before continuing on to USNAS Norfolk on the 28th where the squadron personnel assembled and embarked in the escort carrier HMS THANE sailing to the UK.

The squadron was allocated to the new Light Fleet Carrier HMS VENERABLE, which was nearing completion at her builders Cammell Laird in Birkenhead; while waiting for her to enter service the squadron moved to RNAS Eglinton on January 17th 1945 to continue training. On January 15th VENERABLE was allocated to the British Pacific Fleet as the 11th Aircraft Carrier Squadron (AC.11). VENERABLE (Flagship Rear Admiral Cecil Harcourt RN OBE, CB) sailed from the Clyde on March 12th for Malta. While ashore at RNAS Hal Far the squadron continued training including interception exercises and deck landings.

VENERABLE and VENGEANCE, escorted by the destroyers TUSCAN and TYRIAN departed from Malta on the 23rd for passage to Ceylon on the first leg of their journey to join the British Pacific Fleet in Sydney. Flying was conducted on passage to Sydney. On the 14th Sub-Lt M.B. Gerrish drifted to starboard landing on in KD633 managed to catch the last wire but hit the ship’s crane.

VENERABLE sailed on the 15th, she was at sea when the Japanese surrender was announced. On September 3rd the Barracudas of 814 and 8 Corsairs from 1851 were flown ashore to operate from RNAS Kai Tak.

The last images show HMS Venerable with the Corsairs of 1851 Squadron on board and during shore attachment. The final image demonstartes the wear of the No.5 dress by FAA pilots whilst flying. These are not included but can be found on the internet.