747 Naval Air Squadron

Last updated

747 Naval Air Squadron
Active22 March 1943 – 20 December 1945 [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
  • Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Pool
  • Operational Training Unit
Size Squadron
Part of Fleet Air Arm
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Rear Admiral John Augustine Ievers CB , OBE [2]
Insignia
Identification MarkingsK2A+ (Barracuda December 1943)
F2A+ (Barracuda January 1944)
R2A+ to R7A+ (Barracuda July 1944) [3] [4]
Avro Anson I, an example of the type used by 747 NAS CF15 Avro Anson ZK-RRA 040415 08.jpg
Avro Anson I, an example of the type used by 747 NAS

747 Naval Air Squadron (747 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded in December 1945. 747 Naval Air Squadron was part of the Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Pool and formed at HMS Owl, RNAS Fearn, in March 1943, evolving into an Operational Training Unit. July saw the squadron move to HMS Nightjar, RNAS Inskip and became part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit. It returned to HMS Owl in January 1944 and then to HMS Urley, RNAS Ronaldsway, in July. In November 1945 the squadron headquarters moved to HMS Jackdaw, RNAS Crail, leaving a Flight at HMS Urley.

Contents

History of 747 NAS

Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Pool (1943)

747 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl), in Scottish Highlands, on 22 March 1943 as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Pool squadron. It was initially equipped with three Fairey Swordfish, a biplane torpedo bomber, three Fairey Barracuda, a torpedo and dive bomber and a few Avro Anson multi-role training aircraft, fitted out as radar flying classrooms. [3]

Operational Training Unit (1943 - 1945)

The squadron evolved into an Operational Training Unit and on 9 July, it moved to RNAS Inskip (HMS Nightjar), in Lancashire and became part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit. Here it added Fairey Albacore, a biplane torpedo bomber, to its strength. [4] It returned to RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl) with No. 1 OTU when the OTU moved there on 26 January 1944. The unit remained until the summer when it then relocated to RNAS Ronaldsway (HMS Urley) on the Isle of Man during July 1944. [3]

When the squadron headquarters moved to RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw), in Fife, Scotland, in November 1945, the Avro Anson equipped ’B’ Flight remained at RNAS Ronaldsway. 747 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 20 December 1945. [4]

Aircraft operated

The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions: [4]

Fairey Barracuda Mk II Fairey Barracuda.jpg
Fairey Barracuda Mk II

747 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in Scotland, England and on the Isle of Man: [4]

Commanding Officers

List of Commanding Officers of 747 Naval Air Squadron with date, month and year of appointment: [3] [5]

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">710 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

710 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">711 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

711 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which disbanded in December 1945. It was first formed from 447 (Catapult) Flight in 1936 and operated out of the Island of Malta, providing flights for the Royal Navy’s 1st Cruiser Squadron. By the beginning of World War II it had become a Squadron and was based in Egypt, but disbanded in 1940 when the Fleet Air Arm centralised the operations of the 700 series "Catapult" flights attached to catapult units. It reformed in September 1944 to provide torpedo bomber reconnaissance (TBR) training. Based at HMS Jackdaw in Fife, Scotland, it was operational for just over one year before it was absorbed by 785 Naval Air Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">717 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

717 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded in March 1946. It formed as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, at HMS Owl, RNAS Fearn, in July 1944, operating with Fairey Barracuda torpedo bomber aircraft. The squadron then moved to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray, in the October, continuing in Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance training. In early 1946 the squadron received Blackburn Firebrand aircraft, with the objective of forming a Firebrand Conversion Unit, but this was never realised.

735 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was active between 1943 and 1946 as an ASV radar Training Unit. Forming at RNAS Inskip in 1943, roughly one year later the squadron moved to RNAS Burscough. Various flights from the squadron moved on to form other Naval Air Squadrons, with 735 NAS eventually disbanding in 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">756 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

756 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron, operating from May to August 1939, out of RNAS Worthy Down, in Hampshire, England. It was later reformed again as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron, operating from March 1941, out of RNAS Worthy Down. TAG training was provided until the No. 2 School was ready in Canada, opening on 1 January 1943, and 756 Naval Air Squadron disbanded in December 1942. The squadron reformed at RNAS Katukurunda, in Sri Lanka, in October 1943, as a Torpedo, Bomber, Reconnaissance pool. During 1944 and 1945, the squadron undertook a number of detachmemts on different types of Royal Navy aircraft carriers, then disbanding in December 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">758 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

758 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron, from 1939 and 1941, renumbered from 759 Naval Air Squadron, operating out of RNAS Eastleigh. It moved to RNAS Arbroath, in 1940, disbanding there the following year. The squadron reformed at RNAS Donibristle, in 1942, as a Beam Approach School. Moving to RNAS Hinstock, it was known as the Naval Advanced Instrument Flying School. It provided instrument courses, utilising a large number of Oxford aircraft, with detachments sent to the specialised flying schools at RNAS Crail, RNAS East Haven, RNAS Fearn and RNAS Yeovilton. 'X' and 'Y' Rover Flights supplemented the detachments, 'Z' Flight was on calibration work and evolving homing and landing capabilities, with the squadron disbanding in 1946, at RNAS Peplow, into 780 Naval Air Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">763 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

763 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA). It formed in 1939 as the Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Pool No. 1, at HMS Kestrel, RNAS Worthy Down. Three months later, it moved to the short-lived RNAS Jersey, in the Channel Islands, before moving back to Worthy Down via HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on Solent and disbanded in 1940. The squadron reformed, on the seaplane carrier HMS Pegasus, as a Seaplane Training Squadron, in 1942. This role lasted around two years and the squadron continually operated and provided training from HMS Pegasus, until disbanding in 1944. Roughly two months later, the squadron reformed again, this time at HMS Nightjar, RNAS Inskip, as an Anti-submarine Operational Training Squadron and remained in this role for just over one year, disbanding in July 1945.

<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">770 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

770 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It last disbanded at HMS Nighthawk, RNAS Drem in October 1945. 770 Naval Air Squadron initially formed as a Deck Landing Training Squadron at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in November 1939. Embarked in HMS Argus, and operated from the aircraft carrier and Hyeres la Palyvestre in the south of France, until it disbanded in May 1940. It reformed at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, on New Year’s Day 1941, as a Fleet Requirements Unit out of 771 Naval Air Squadron’s 'X' Flight. It moved to HMS Jackdaw, RNAS Crail, in June 1941, then two and half years later it moved to HMS Jackdaw II, RNAS Dunino in January 1944, before finally moving to HMS Nighthawk in July.

<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">774 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

774 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded in August 1945. 774 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMS Kestrel, RNAS Worthy Down, in November 1939 as an Armament Training Squadron for Observers and TAGs. Aircraft were assigned from storage and a couple of other naval air squadrons. It moved a week later to RAF Aldergrove, and was attached to No.3 Bombing and Gunnery School. In July 1940 it moved to HMS Fieldfare, RNAS Evanton, and then in September to HMS Vulture, RNAS St Merryn, Throughout the next few years, the older aircraft were withdrawn and replaced with newer types and variants. 774 NAS moved to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray in October 1944, where it became a target-towing unit.

<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">780 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

780 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded at HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose in November 1949. 780 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMS Raven, RNAS Eastleigh as a Conversion Course Unit, in October 1939, to train experienced civilian pilots in naval flying. It moved to HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in October 1940, and later, its role had changed to converting pilots to Fairey Barracuda aircraft. It spent a year at RNAS Charlton Horethorne, before returning to HMS Daedalus and disbanded, early 1945. In March 1946, the squadron reformed at HMS Godwit, RNAS Hinstock, as the Naval Advanced Flying School, to give flying instructors' courses, and later provided Instrument Flying Training. In December, the squadron moved to HMS Jackdaw, RNAS Crail, then in March 1947 moved to HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, and in May to HMS Seahawk as the first resident unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">783 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

783 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded in November 1949. 783 Naval Air Squadron was formed as an ASV Training Squadron at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, Scotland, in January 1941. It operated a number of ‘flying classroom’ aircraft alongside other types. It operated in conjunction with the Naval Air Signals School (NASS) from March 1943. The squadron moved to HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, England, when the NASS moved south, also supporting the Flag Officer, Air, Home Communications Officer and from July 1948,it was part of the 51st Miscellaneous Air Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">785 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

785 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which disbanded in early 1946. 785 NAS formed as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, at HMS Jackdaw, RNAS Crail, in November 1940. Throughout its existence it operated a number of various types of torpedo bomber aircraft. The squadron became part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit in late 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">786 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

786 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded in late 1945, absorbed by 785 Naval Air Squadron. 786 NAS formed at HMS Jackdaw, RNAS Crail, in November 1940, as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron. It operated a few different types of torpedo bomber aircraft, initially equipped with Fairey Albacore and shortly afterwards joined by Fairey Swordfish, these aircraft were replaced by Fairey Barracuda at the of 1942.

<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">798 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

798 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which disbanded in March 1946. It formed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in October 1943, to provide advanced conversion courses, it initially operated with various single and twin-engined aircraft. Twin-engined aircraft broke away to become 762 Naval Air Squadron during March 1944. It had a detachment at RNAS Stretton for operational training for new Fairey Barracuda squadrons, but returned to HMS Daedalus at the beginning of August. The unit’s role changed slightly during 1945, providing refresher training, including Fleet Air Arm ex-Prisoners of War at RNAS Halesworth. The squadron moved to RNAS Hinstock, although operated out of its satellite RNAS Peplow, during November 1945.

References

Citations

  1. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 68.
  2. "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 - I". unithistories.com World War II unit histories & officers. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Wragg 2019, p. 123.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 51.
  5. Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 21.

Bibliography