RNAS Yeovilton enthusiasts group

18/08/2026

Our Junglies certainly get about 😁

15/08/2026

A true FAA legend ❤️

11 Aug 2003 Cdr Stanley Gordon Orr DSC** RN – top RN fighter ace and post-WWII test pilot passed away at home in Fareham.

Stan Orr was born on 28 September 1916, in London. After serving an apprenticeship in the motor industry, in 1936 he began working for Handley Page on Hampden and Halifax bombers. In 1939 he applied to join the RAF, but failed an eyesight test, but later passed the same test in the same room, but with a different doctor to join the RNVR. After flying training he joined 806 NAS flying Skuas and Rocs from Hatston. In May 1940 they moved south to Kent to cover Op. Dynamo, the evacuation of the BEF from Dunkirk. He then converted onto Fairey Fulmars and embarked in HMS Illustrious.

Whilst operating in the Mediterranean in September he gained ace status, claiming seven of the 30 enemy kills claimed by 806 NAS that month, and was subsequently awarded a DSC. In January, after devastating revenge attacks following the Fleet Air Arm's attack on Taranto, the carrier was badly damaged and went into harbour in Malta. With his squadron operating from ashore Stan achieved another five kills and was awarded a bar to his DSC; and 806 moved to HMS Formidable, where it proved fighter cover during the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941.

With HMS Formidable damaged, 806 re-equipped with Sea Hurricanes and operated from Dekheila, and saw action against Vichy French forces in Palestine. In Aug 1941 he returned to RNAS Yeovilton as a flying instructor, then year later converted onto Grumman Wildcats in the states before joining HMS Victorious. He was unable to travel to the Pacific when he contracted Polio, and spent 10 weeks in an iron lung before returning home to the UK.

Some months later he was given command of 804 NAS, based at Eglinton flying Grumman Hellcats, and embarked in the es**rt carrier HMS Emperor, for convoy protection duties; and in Spring 1944 began operations off Norway, including Op. Tungsten. In September 1944 he was appointed CFI at RNAS Henstridge, before he was appointed onto Empire Test Pilot School through until the end of the war. In 1953 he was back in action in Korea onboard HMS Ocean, then took command of Naval Test Squadron; and three years later led the inter-service hovercraft trials unit based at Lee-on-Solent. On living the service he joined Vosper, where he developed fast patrol boats until 1971. Cdr Orr passed away in 2003.

20/07/2026

If you're not a SOFFAAM member, why not? 🤔

Membership of SoFFAAM offers 4 (40-page) journals to your door or mailbox annually and our Summer 2026 edition is due out in August – just in time for holiday reading.
Jabberwock articles range from the Royal Naval Air Service to the Royal Navy squadron deployments of today. Foreign naval air arms are not excluded when spaces allows. Features are provided by the membership and include many personal experiences of Fleet Arm Arm life in the Senior Service.
Interested? Click here for fuller details...
fleetairarmfriends.org.uk/jabberwock
*Overseas membership offers an E-jabberwock 👍

14/07/2026

Well done, Lee...

12/07/2026

Awesome 👍

07/07/2026

RIP....❤️

29/06/2026

Interesting....

03/06/2026

Such, terrible, heartbreaking news.

Our deepest sympathies go out to the family, friends and colleagues of those brave aircrew.

RIP ❤️

It is with deep sadness that we can confirm three members of the Royal Navy have died during a helicopter training exercise on Wednesday 3 June near Sourton, Devon.

29/05/2026

Well done Royal Navy Black Cats 🤟💯🔥

15/05/2026