Grumman Hellcats of 896 Naval Air Squadron
896 NAS reformed at Wingfield, Cape Town on 9. January 1945 equipped with 24 Hellcat Mk.II fighters. The squadron embarked on HMS Ameer in April 1945. In July fighter cover and bombing were undertaken during operations in the Car Nicobar area, then 896 NAS transferred to HMS Empress to provide fighter patrols during minesweeping operations off Pluket Island Thailand later in the same month. Following VJ-Day, support was provided in early September during occupation of the Malayan Peninsula, then the ship retuned home and the squadron disbanded on arrival on 19. December 1945.
