738 Naval Air Squadron

Last updated

738 Naval Air Squadron
738 Naval Air Squadron Badge.gif
738 NAS badge
Active1 February 1943 –31 July 1945
1 May 1950 - 23 March 1954
3 April 1954 - 5 May 1970 [1]
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
Role
  • Pilot Training Squadron
  • Naval Air Fighter School
  • Naval Air Fighter and Strike School
  • Advancd Fighter Training Squadron
Size Squadron
Part of Fleet Air Arm
Motto(s)Parare bellum
(Latin for 'Prepare for war') [2]
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Commander Peter Carmichael, OBE , DSC , RN
Captain Alan Leahy, CBE , DSC , RN [3]
Captain Fred Hefford OBE , DSC , AFC , RN
Insignia
Squadron Badge DescriptionBlue, a foul anchor erect gold in front of a flash of lightning in bend white overall surmounted by a Pegasus courant also white ( 1944) [2]
Identification Markings1BA+ then 1V17 to 20V17(Avenger)
B1W+ (Harvard)
2B-1+ then 2BA+ (Martlet/Wildcat)
3BA+ (Corsair)
161-189 (Seafire)
180-183 (Firebrand)
450-457 (Sea Hornet)
100-149 (Sea Fury FB.11), 200-207 (Sea Fury T.20) (from May 1950)
100-149 (Sea Fury FB.11/Sea Hawk), 200-212 (Sea Fury T.20/Sea Vampire T.22) (from November 1953)
629-656 (all types) (January 1956)
785-795 (Hunter) (July 1956) [4] [2]
Tail CodesCW (Seafire, Firebrand & Sea Hornet)
CW:CU (Sea Fury from May 1950)
LM (Sea Fury, Sea Hawk & Sea Vampire from November 1953)
LM:BY (all types from January 1956)
BY (Hunter from July 1965) [2]
Hawker Hunter GA.11 'WW654' which served with 738 Naval Air Squadron Hawker Hunter GA11, UK - Navy AN1366311.jpg
Hawker Hunter GA.11 'WW654' which served with 738 Naval Air Squadron

738 Naval Air Squadron (738 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA), which last disbanded during May 1970 at HMS Goldcrest, RNAS Brawdy. It initially formed as a Pilot Training Squadron formed at HMS Asbury, RNAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, in February 1943. The squadron moved to RNAS Lewiston, Maine, United States, at the end of July 1943 and also providing advanced carrier training to American-trained Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) pilots and it later provided complete Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance (TBR) aircrew for Grumman Avenger FAA squadrons. The squadron moved to RNAS Brunswick, Maine, in February 1945 and disbanded there in July 1945. 738 Naval Air Squadron was next active as part of the Naval Air Fighter School, between May 1950 and March 1954, providing newly qualified FAA pilots the operational techniques of air-to-air and air-to-ground firing. It had formed at HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall, England, moving to HMS Fulmar, RNAS Lossiemouth in 1953. It reformed in April 1954 at HMS Fulmar and now the squadron’s role was to instruct United States trained pilots on the British method and was also responsible for converting the FAA piston-engined pilots onto jet aircraft. It became an Advanced Flying Training Squadron in June 1962 providing training for low-level navigation, ground attack and air-to-air weapons training.

Contents

History of 738 NAS

Pilot Training Squadron (1943 - 1945)

Six Vought Corsair Mk I and II of 738 Naval Air Squadron airborne over Maine from their US NAS Lewiston base during 1944 6 Vought Corsair of 738 NAS Fleet Air Arm.jpg
Six Vought Corsair Mk I and II of 738 Naval Air Squadron airborne over Maine from their US NAS Lewiston base during 1944

738 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Quonset Point (HMS Asbury), Rhode Island, United States, on 1 February 1943 as a Pilot Training Squadron. [4] Quonset Point was a United States Naval Base loaned to the Admiralty from 1 October 1942 and commissioned as HMS Asbury. It was used by the Royal Navy for forming and working up Fleet Air Arm squadrons, operating with American aircraft supplied under the Lend-Lease agreement, although it later recommissioned as HMS Saker II, on 13 March 1943. [5] It was equipped with a mixture of Vought Corsair, an American carrier-based fighter-bomber aircraft, Grumman Martlet, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft (the Grumman F4F Wildcat was initially known as the Martlet in Royal Navy service) and North American Harvard, an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft. [4]

On 31 July 1943 the squadron moved to RNAS Lewiston, Maine, United States, a U.S. Naval Auxiliary Air Facility (NAAF) loaned to the Admiralty from 1 August 1943, to teach advanced aircraft carrier landing techniques to United States Navy flight school trained, Fleet Air Arm pilots. [6] Here the squadron received Grumman Avenger, an American torpedo bomber, and Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance aircrews were then also trained up enabling complete crews for FAA Grumman Avenger equipped squadrons. [4] On 14 February 1945, 738 Naval Air Squadron moved to RNAS Brunswick, Maine, another U.S. Naval Air Station loaned for use to the Admiralty, from August 1943. The squadron remained for a further five months before disbanding on 31 July 1945. [7]

Naval Air Fighter School (1950 - 1962)

On 1 May 1950, 738 Naval Air Squadron reformed at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), Cornwall, England, from 736 Naval Air Squadron, and became a part of the Naval Air Fighter School, controlled by the 52nd Training Air Group. It was equipped with Supermarine Seafire F Mk XVII and F Mk 46, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft and Hawker Sea Fury F.10, FB.11 and T.20, fighter, fighter-bomber and trainer aircraft respectively. [2] Its role was to take newly qualified FAA pilots and instruct them in the techniques of air-to-air combat and air-to-ground firing. [8] In August 1951, part of the squadron became 759 Naval Air Squadron and an ‘A’ Flight was formed out of Hawker Sea Fury aircraft from 736 Naval Air Squadron. This flight provided air-to-air instruction and ‘B’ Flight ground attack training. [2]

738 Naval Air Squadron moved to RNAS Lossiemouth (HMS Fulmar), Moray, Scotland on 9 November 1953, but disbanded on 24 March 1954 only to reform again nine days later, still at RNAS Lossiemouth, on 3 April. The following month saw the squadron receive both Hawker Sea Hawk F1 a British single-seat jet day fighter and de Havilland Sea Vampire T.22, a two-seat trainer variant of the jet fighter aircraft, with the squadron’s role to instruct United States trained pilots on the British method and was responsible for converting the FAA piston-engined pilots onto jet powered aircraft. [2]

April 1954, until it moved to RNAS Yeovilton in 1956, saw the Command Instrument Grading and Examination Flight attached to 738 Naval Air Squadron. The de Havilland Sea Vampire aircraft were withdrawn from squadron use in March 1955 and it received more Hawker Sea Hawk aircraft, transferred over from 736 Naval Air Squadron. [2] In 1957 the then squadron commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Alan J. Leahy, DSC , RN, formed an aerobatic demonstration team, to display at that years Society of British Aircraft Constructors Farnborough Airshow. The team used the name ‘The Red Devils’ and consisted five Hawker Sea Hawk FB.3 (Fighter-bomber variant) aircraft, each painted red with Royal Navy in large, white letters under the wings. The squadron’s engineers made alterations which enabled the aircraft to produce coloured smoke. [9]

During the rest of the decade, the squadron lost (December 1958), and then later regained (June 1960, again from 736 Naval Air Squadron), Hawker Sea Hawk aircraft, but it took the de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.21, a carrier-capable jet fighter-bomber aircraft, used as an all-weather interceptor aircraft by the FAA, for all weather fighter training from October 1957 until September 1960, and later provided the Sea Venom Operational Flying School Parts I and II. The Squadron became the Naval Air Fighter School in 1958 when the parent formation was renamed the Naval Air Fighter and Strike School and it kept this role until 1962 when it retired its Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6 aircraft and then became known as the Advanced Training Squadron. [2]

Advanced Training Squadron ( 1962 - 1970)

From conversion to a GA.11, XE668 served with 738 NAS at Lossiemouth and Brawdy before moving to Hurn and the FRU in 1969 15 Hawker Hunter GA.11 XE668 (15650913087).jpg
From conversion to a GA.11, XE668 served with 738 NAS at Lossiemouth and Brawdy before moving to Hurn and the FRU in 1969

In line with its new role, Hawker Hunter T.8, a two-seat jet trainer for the RN, fitted with an arrestor hook for use on RN airfields, and Hawker Hunter GA.11, a single-seat weapons training version for the RN (converted F.4 fitted with an arrester hook), began to arrive at RNAS Lossiemouth during June 1962. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander F. Hefford, DSC, RN, 738 Naval Air Squadron’s tasks included low-level navigation, ground attack and air-to-air weapons training. On 6 January 1964, 738 Naval Air Squadron relocated to RNAS Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) in Pembrokeshire, Wales, [10] where it operated as phase 2 of the Advanced Flying Training course, giving tuition on fighter tactics and weapons release to students graduating out of 759 Naval Air Squadron, which was also based at RNAS Brawdy. [2]

Using three Hawker Hunter GA.11 aircraft and a single Hawker Hunter T.8 two-seat trainer aircraft, a Fleet Air Arm aerobatic team was formed from 738 Naval Air Squadron, led by Lieutenant Commander Chris Comins, RN, whilst at RNAS Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest). [11] The team was known as the 'Rough Diamonds' and were operational from 1965, disbanding in 1969. The aircraft were painted in the standard Fleet Air Arm colour scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey on top, over a White underside, however, the lead aircraft also had a dayglo red nose cone-band, fuselage spine and wing tips. All aircraft carried 'BY' for Brawdy on both sides of the tail and a 'Pegasus' on both sides of the nose, for 738 Naval Air Squadron. [12]

738 Naval Air Squadron was disbanded on 5 May 1970 [2] and the Hawker Hunter aircraft were absorbed into the fleets of the other Squadrons. [8]

Aircraft flown

The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including: [13] [14]

Vought Corsair The Royal Navy during the Second World War A21398.jpg
Vought Corsair
Supermarine Seafire F Mk XVII Seafire - Duxford Spring Airshow 2011 (5787347115).jpg
Supermarine Seafire F Mk XVII
Hawker Sea Hawk FGA 6 HAWKER SEA HAWK FGA.6 WV908.jpg
Hawker Sea Hawk FGA 6

738 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, a number of Royal Navy aircraft carriers and airbases overseas: [13]

NAS Quonset Point (RNAS Quonset Point HMS Asbury / Saker II NAS Quonset Point NAN10-74.jpg
NAS Quonset Point (RNAS Quonset Point HMS Asbury / Saker II
HMS Triumph R16 HMS Triumph FL22768.jpg
HMS Triumph R16

1943 - 1945

1950 - 1954

1954 - 1970

Commanding Officers

List of Commanding Officers of 738 Naval Air Squadron with date, month and year of appointment: [4] [13]

1943 - 1945

1950 - 1954

1954 - 1970

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">778 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

778 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. During the Second World War the squadron was a Service Trials Unit (STU) initially based at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, England before moving to HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, Angus, Scotland on 6 July 1940. The squadron tested all types of aircraft that could be used by the Royal Navy. Key to this was testing new types for deck landing on aircraft carriers. Such aircraft included various types of Supermarine Seafires, Grumman Hellcats, Grumman Martlets, Grumman Avengers, and Vought Corsairs. The squadron was reformed on 5 November 1951 with Douglas Skyraider AEW.1 but was disbanded on 7 July 1952 to form the basis of 849 Naval Air Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">739 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Squadron

739 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, which disbanded during 1950. It was formed as the Blind Approach Development Unit for the Fleet Air Arm, operating with Fairey Fulmar and Fairey Swordfish aircraft, at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in 1942. Just under one year later the squadron moved to RNAS Worthy Down, in late 1943 and continued in the role. Roughly one year later the squadron moved again, relocating to RNAS Donibristle in late 1944, disbanding in 1945. It reformed in 1947 and was based at RNAS Culham, with a new role, as the Fleet Air Arm Photographic Trials and Development Unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">748 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

748 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed, at HMS Vulture, RNAS St Merryn, as a Fighter Pool Squadron, before becoming No. 10 Naval Operational Training Unit. The squadron moved to HMS Dipper, RNAS Henstridge, in February 1944 and then onto HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton in the March. In September 1944, 748 Naval Air Squadron moved to HMS Goldcrest, RNAS Dale, in Wales, remaining for just under twelve months, before moving back to HMS Vulture, RNAS St Merryn in August 1945, where it disbanded in February 1946. During its existence, the squadron was equipped with numerous aircraft and various marks, operated by the Fleet Air Arm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">751 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

751 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially active as an Observer Training Squadron from 1939 to 1944 as part of No.1 Observer School. 751 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Ford in May 1939. Ford was attacked and bombed, in August 1940, and the following day the squadron relocated to RNAS Arbroath. Twelve months later it moved to RNAS Dundee, remaining there until disbanding at Dundee in May 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">757 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

757 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was first formed as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron in 1939, operating out of RNAS Worthy Down, but after three months it went into abeyance, only to reform again in the same role, at the same location, in 1941 and operating until 1942. It then reformed as a Fighter Pool Squadron & Operational Training Unit at RNAS Puttalam, in Sri Lanka, in 1943. After a brief spell at RNAMY Tambaram, in India, the squadron finally disbanded at RNAS Katukurunda, in Sri Lanka, at the beginning of 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">759 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

759 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was created on November 1, 1939, and was disbanded on December 24, 1969. It was initially intended as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron but became a Fighter School and Pool Squadron in 1939, at RNAS Eastleigh. It operated out of RNAS Yeovilton from 1940 to 1946, as part of the Naval Air Fighter School. In 1943 a detachment operated out of RNAS Angle, working with 794 NAS and known as the Naval Air Firing Unit. It was again the Naval Air Fighter School upon reformation in 1951 and disbandment in 1954, firstly at RNAS Culdrose and then moving to RNAS Lossiemouth, in 1953. The squadron reformed again, this time at RNAS Brawdy in 1963, as the Naval Advanced Flying Training School, before finally disbanding in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">760 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

760 Naval Air Squadron is a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. The squadron first formed in April 1940 as No.1 Fleet Fighter Pool with a variety of aircraft types before standardising in 1941 on the Hawker Sea Hurricane. In this role it disbanded in December 1942. In May 1944 760 NAS briefly reformed as an Anti-Submarine Operational Training Squadron before disbanding into 766 Naval Air Squadron in November. Reformed again as part of No.1 Naval Air Fighter School in April 1945 it converted fighter pilots to the Vought Corsair and then the Supermarine Seafire until 23 January 1946 when it disbanded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">762 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

762 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA). It formed at HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, in March 1942 as an Advanced Flying Training School. Almost immediately the squadron relocated to HMS Vulture, RNAS St Merryn, but before the end of the year, it was back at HMS Heron. The squadron disbanded nine months later. It reformed in 1944 at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as a Twin Engine Conversion Unit, but immediately moved to HMS Goldcrest, RNAS Dale, where it operated a variety of multi engined aircraft. At the end of 1945 the squadron moved to HMS Sparrowhawk, RNAS Halesworth and HMS Peregrine, RNAS Ford in quick succession. Now known as the Heavy Twin Conversion Unit it spent nearly two and a half years at HMS Peregrine, before relocating to HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose, where it eventually disbanded at the end of 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">764 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

764 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It initially formed in April 1940, at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as an Advance Seaplane Training Squadron. The Squadron moved to RAF Pembroke Dock in July 1940, and later to HMS Daedalus II, RNAS Lawrenny Ferry in October 1941 and remaining there until the Squadron disbanded in November 1943. It reformed at HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, in February 1944, as the User Trials Unit, however, the squadron was decommissioned for the second time in September 1945. 764 Naval Air Squadron reformed again, at HMS Fulmar, RNAS Lossiemouth, in May 1953, where it became an Advanced Training Unit. It moved to HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, in September 1953, where it received its first jet aircraft. In November 1954 the Squadron disbanded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">766 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

766 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was to have initially formed in 1939 at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as a Seaplane School, however, it formed at HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihannish, as a Night ALT Course, in 1942. It moved to HMS Nightjar, RNAS Inskip, in 1943, to become part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit. By 1944, it was operating over 30 Swordfish aircraft, but, during the year, also acquired Firefly aircraft from 1772 NAS, and Sea Hurricane aircraft from 760 NAS. It moved to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray, early in 1946, but later that year, moved to HMS Fulmar, RNAS Lossiemouth, where it received Seafire aircraft, along with being Part 1 of the Operational Flying School. By late 1951, Sea Fury trainer aircraft were also added to its varied list of types operated. In 1953, the squadron moved to HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose, where it disbanded in 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">767 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

767 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed as a Deck Landing Training Squadron in 1939, when 811 Naval Air Squadron was renumbered 767 Naval Air Squadron, at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle. A detachment went to Hyeres de la Palyvestre in the south of France, enabling training in fairer conditions. While here, the squadron took on an operational mission, with a bombing attack on the Italian port of Genoa. With the fall of France the squadron evacuated to Algeria, where it split. Part went to Malta, forming 830 Naval Air Squadron, the other part to HMS Ark Royal, with personnel returning to the UK via Gibraltar. The squadron regrouped at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, and moved to the Deck Landing School at HMS Peewit at RNAS East Haven in 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">768 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

768 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA). It last disbanded at HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, Northern Ireland, in March 1949, having been formed as a Deck Landing Control Officer Training Squadron, in December 1948, to ensure one American-style signal trained DLCO could be located at every FAA station. It first formed as part of the Deck Landing Training School at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, in January 1941, as a Deck Landing Training Squadron. Advanced training was in HMS Argus, for which a detachment was maintained at HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihanish, where it wholly moved to in March 1943. September saw a move to RAF Heathfield, Ayr, followed by a further move to HMS Sanderling, RNAS Abbotsinch in January 1944. Training used escort carriers on the Firth of Clyde and a detachment was maintained at (Heathfield)Ayr throughout this period, with the squadron returning there in July 1945, at this time HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr. In August the squadron moved to HMS Corncrake, RNAS Ballyhalbert in Northern Ireland but then in October it joined up with the Deck Landing School at HMS Peewit, RNAS East Haven, Scotland, where it disbanded in April 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">769 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

769 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It last disbanded and merged with 717 Naval Air Squadron after the Second World War. 769 Naval Air Squadron Formed at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, during May 1939, by renumbering 801 Naval Air Squadron. Its role was a fighter Deck Landing Training Squadron, using HMS Furious for advanced training, before disbanding in the December. It reformed in November 1941, as a unit within the Deck Landing Training School at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, and in November 1943, it moved to HMS Peewit, RNAS East Haven. Its role changed to Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training in 1944, before moving to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray, in July 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">772 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

772 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded during September 1995. 772 Naval Air Squadron formed as a Fleet Requirements Unit out of ‘Y’ Flight from 771 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Lee-on-Solent in September 1939. While the headquarters remained there, floatplanes were operated out of RNAS Portland, however, mid 1940 saw the whole squadron move north to RNAS Campbeltown and roughly twelve months afterwards the short distance to RNAS Machrihanish. The unit moved to RNAS Ayr in July 1944 and became the Fleet Requirements Unit School. In January 1946 the squadron moved to RNAS Burscough in Lancashire, before moving to RNAS Anthorn in Cumberland, in May. It became the Northern Fleet Requirements Unit upon moving to RNAS Arbroath, in June 1947, but disbanded into 771 Naval Air Squadron in October. 772 Naval Air Squadron reformed as a Helicopter Support Squadron at RNAS Portland in September 1974. In September 1977 the squadron took over responsibility for a number of Ships' Flights of Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. The squadron was used to reform 848 Naval Air Squadron for the Falklands Task Force in 1982, with the Ships' Flights absorbed into 847 Naval Air Squadron. In August 1982 it took on the Anti-Submarine Warfare Flight from 737 Naval Air Squadron and between 1983 - 1985 a Search and Rescue Flight operated out of RNAS Lee-on-Solent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">773 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

773 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which was last active between September 1950 and March 1951. 773 Naval Air Squadron initially formed during June 1940, as a Fleet Requirements Unit in Bermuda, in support of ships on the North America and West Indies Station. It performed this role four almost four years and eventually disbanded, at Bermuda, in April 1944. The squadron reformed during June 1945 as a Service Trials Unit, at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent. Tasked with investigating pilotless aircraft as targets, it was known as the Pilotless Aircraft Unit (PAU). It moved to HMS Goldcrest II, RNAS Brawdy where it disbanded in September 1946. The squadron reformed at the start of 1949 as a Fleet Requirements Unit, out of 771 Naval Air Squadron, lasting around three months and repeated this at the start of 1950 and again at the end of 1950, into 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">776 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

776 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded at the end of October 1945. 776 Naval Air Squadron formed as a Fleet Requirements Unit at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, at the start of 1941. It operated a detachment at RN Air Section Speke in 1941 and one at RAF Woodvale in 1942, with the squadron wholly moving to Speke in the October. 1943 saw further detachments and these were deployed at RAF Llanbedr, RAF Millom, RAF Usworth and RAF Waltham. In April 1945, the Woodvale detachment was reabsorbed into the squadron when it relocated there, the airbase now operated by the Admiralty and known as HMS Ringtail II. It moved to HMS Ringtail, RNAS, Burscough, at the start of October 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">784 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

784 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded in the autumn of 1946. 784 NAS was a Night Fighter Training Squadron which formed at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, in June 1942, moving to HMS Nighthawk, RNAS Drem, East Lothian, in October 1942. Squadron Personnel were also detached to the Naval Air Radio Installation Unit at RAF Christchurch, in 1943 and in the same year, a number of crews were attached to RAF night fighter squadrons, with two officers gained Distinguished Flying Crosses. In 1944, three squadron Flights were attached for service to each of 813, 825 and 835 Naval Air Squadrons, embarked in the escort carriers HMS Campania, HMS Vindex, and HMS Nairana respectively, on convoy protection duties. At the beginning of 1946 the squadron moved to Wales, operating out of HMS Goldcrest II, RNAS Brawdy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">787 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

787 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which disbanded in January 1956. It formed in March 1941, at HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, out of 804 Naval Air Squadron as a Fleet Fighter Development Unit. Almost every type of fighter was received by the squadron for testing and evaluation for naval use. A move to RAF Duxford in June 1941 saw it become the Naval Air Fighting Development Unit, attached to the Royal Air Force's Air Fighting Development Unit. The squadron undertook rocket projectile test, continuous development of fighter tactics and even helping Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons in evading fighter attack. Post Second World War it continued its trials task and also undertook Rebecca radar trials and ASH, US-built air-to-surface vessel radar trials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">794 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

794 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which disbanded in March 1947. The squadron formed as an Air Target Towing Squadron, at HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, during August 1940, although operated target tug aircraft out of the satellite, RNAS Haldon. In April 1943 it provided a detachment at RAF Warmwell as an air firing unit and three months later the squadron relocated to RNAS Angle and became the Naval Air Firing Unit. Further moves followed in quick succession, to HMS Goldcrest, RNAS Dale, in September, HMS Dipper, RNAS Henstridge, in November and HMS Heron II, RNAS Charlton Horethorne in December and by which time the squadron was designated No. 1 Naval Air Firing Unit, but disbanded in June 1944. The squadron reformed at HMS Vulture, RNAS St Merryn, in January 1945, as the School of Air Firing and later in the year was tasked to support the newly-formed Ground Attack School. It moved to HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, during August, and at this point had three flights providing courses for aerial warfare, airstrike and aerial reconnaissance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">795 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

795 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded at RNAS Ford, in Sussex, during March 1947. Originally formed as the Eastern Fleet Fighter Pool at RNAS Tanga, in Tanganyika, in June 1942, it’s 'A' Flight's supported the invasion of Madagascar, from HMS Illustrious, before being detached at Majunga on anti-submarine patrols as part of the Royal Air Force’s No. 207 Group. The squadron later moved to RNAS Mackinnon Road, in Kenya, before disbanding during August 1943. It reformed as a Refresher Training Squadron at RNAS Eglinton, in Northern Ireland, in August 1946 as part of the Fleet Air Arm’s 52nd Training Air Group and later included a couple of deployments in HMS Implacable.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 61.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 44.
  3. ↑ "CAPTAIN ALAN JOHN LEAHY, CBE, DSC ROYAL NAVY" (PDF). Fleet Air Arm Buccaneer Association. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Wragg 2019, p. 121.
  5. 1 2 "Quonset Point". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Lewiston". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Brunswick". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  8. 1 2 Russell, Mark (23 January 2021). "No. 738 Naval Air Squadron (738 NAS)". The FRADU Hunters Website. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  9. ↑ "Captain 'Spiv' Leahy obituary". www.navy-net.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  10. ↑ "The_Fulmar_Story1st_ed" (PDF). www.faaba.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  11. ↑ Thetford 1991, p. 250.
  12. ↑ Derry & Robinson 2018, p. 65.
  13. 1 2 3 Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 45.
  14. ↑ "738 Naval Air Squadron". www.wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  15. ↑ Note; Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm fighters were named after sea birds. Later the "Wildcat" name would be adopted by the RN to simplify supply and prevent possible confusion over delivery orders.
  16. ↑ Note; Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm fighters were named after sea birds. Later the "Avenger" name would be adopted by the RN to simplify supply and prevent possible confusion over delivery orders.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.