758 Naval Air Squadron

Last updated

758 Naval Air Squadron
Active1 July 1939 - February 1941
25 May 1942 - 14 May 1946 [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
  • Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron
  • Naval Advanced Instrument Flying Training Unit
Size Squadron
Part of Fleet Air Arm
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Rear admiral Sir Donald C.E.F. Gibson, KCB , DSC [2]
Insignia
Identification MarkingsX5A+ (1939 - 1941)
U1A+, U3A+, U1AA, U1BB+, U3AA+ & U3BB+ [3]
Stinson Reliant of the type used by 758 NAS Stinson V-77 Reliant (51519699953).jpg
Stinson Reliant of the type used by 758 NAS

758 Naval Air Squadron (758 NAS) 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 (HMS Raven). It moved to RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), in 1940, disbanding there the following year. The squadron reformed at RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), in 1942, as a Beam Approach School. Moving to RNAS Hinstock (HMS Godwit), 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 (HMS Jackdaw), RNAS East Haven (HMS Peewit), RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl) and RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron). '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 (HMS Godwit II), into 780 Naval Air Squadron. [3]

Contents

History of 758 NAS

Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron (1939 - 1941)

Blackburn Shark, an example of the type used by 758 NAS. Blackburn Shark MIKAN 3232302.jpg
Blackburn Shark, an example of the type used by 758 NAS.

758 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Eastleigh (HMS Raven), in Hampshire, on 1 July 1939, as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron, re-numbered from 759 Naval Air Squadron and as part of No.2 Air Gunners School. It operated with Blackburn Shark II, a carrier-borne torpedo bomber, Hawker Osprey III, a navalised carrier-borne version of the Hawker Hart, used in the fighter and reconnaissance roles and Percival Proctor Ia and IIa, a radio trainer and communications aircraft. [4]

The squadron continued Telegraphist Air Gunner training at RNAS Eastleigh throughout the following fifteen months, before moving to RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), East Angus, Scotland, on 14 October 1940. Here, the squadron kept its Percival Proctor and acquired Blackburn Roc, a naval turret fighter aircraft and Blackburn Skua, a British carrier-borne dive bomber and fighter aircraft, leaving the Hawker Osprey and Blackburn Shark behind and continuing the TAG training for a further four months, before disbanding on 1 February 1941. [5]

Naval Advanced Instrument Flying Training Unit (1942 - 1946)

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II, an example of the type used by 758 NAS. RAF Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II Brown.jpg
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II, an example of the type used by 758 NAS.

758 Naval Air Squadron reformed at RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), near Dunfermline, in Fife, on 25 May 1942. [6] Operating Airspeed Oxford, a twin-engine training aircraft, the squadron remained at RNAS Donibristle for around three months, moving to RNAS Hinstock (HMS Godwit), in Shropshire, on 15 August 1942. [7]

It was initially known as the Beam Approach School, then later known as the Blind Approach School. In 1943 it was titled Naval Advanced Instrument Flying School and as well as Airspeed Oxford aircraft, the squadron also operated Avro Anson, a multi-role training aircraft, Stinson Reliant, a liaison and training aircraft, de Havilland Tiger Moth, a trainer aircraft and Vickers Wellington, a twin-engined long-range medium bomber aircraft. Later in the year North American Harvard, an American advanced trainer aircraft replaced the Vickers Wellington aircraft and by 1944, 758 Naval Air Squadron had over one-hundred aircraft. [8]

Detachments went to RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw), RNAS East Haven (HMS Peewit), RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl) and RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), which housed the Specialised Flying Schools, to supply instrument training courses. The detachments work was reinforced by X and Y Rover Flights, while Z Flight, a calibration flight, also worked on enhancing homing and landing assistance. [3]

The relief landing grounds, at RNAS Weston Park (HMS Godwit II), [8] situated in the grounds of Weston Park, a country house in Weston-under-Lizard, Staffordshire, and RAF Bratton, [9] located at Bratton, Shropshire, were used by 758 Naval Air Squadron for Instrument Flying Training, until RNAS Hinstock gained RNAS Peplow as a satellite airfield and from 28 February 1945 the squadron then operated from RNAS Peplow (HMS Godwit II), situated just outside Peplow in Shropshire.

On the 18 March 1946 the squadron absorbed part of 798 Naval Air Squadron, [8] however, 758 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 14 May 1946 at RNAS Peplow, becoming 'B' Flight of 780 Naval Air Squadron. [10]

Aircraft operated

The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including: [4] [11]

758 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in Scotland and England: [11]

1939 - 1941

1942 - 1946

Commanding Officers

List of Commanding officers of 758 Naval Air Squadron with date, month and year of appointment and end: [11]


1939 - 1941

1942 - 1946

758A Flight

758B Flight

758C Flight

758D Flight

758 Rover Flight

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">701 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

701 Naval Air Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron, which last disbanded during September 1958 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent where it was a Helicopter Trials, Communications and Fleet Requirements Unit. It initially formed during July 1936 as a Catapult Flight operating out of Malta and routinely embarking in RN ships such as, HMS Barham, HMS Malaya, HMS Valiant and HMS Warspite. By autumn 1939 it was known as 701 Naval Air Squadron but disbanded in January 1940. It was active twice more during the Second World War, between May 1940 and June 1941 on special duties and then between October 1942 and August 1943 performing anti-submarine patrols. Reforming in April 1945 it was designated a Communications Unit, operating out of Heston until disbanding in 1947. It last reformed as a Fleet Requirements Unit at HMS Daedalus, Lee-on-Solent, during October 1957.

734 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was active between 1944 and 1946, formed as a naval Engine Handling Unit. Initially operating out of RNAS Worthy Down, it subsequently relocated to RNAS Peplow, where it eventually disbanded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">753 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

753 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was active as an Observer Training Squadron from 1939 to 1946 as part of No. 2 Observer School, forming out of the School of Naval Co-operation RAF, in May 1939. Initially at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, the squadron moved to RNAS Arbroath just over one year later in August 1940, following a German bombing attack on the air station. It spent four years operating out of Arbroath, before relocating again, this time to RNAS Rattray, where the squadron disbanded in August 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">754 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

754 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was active as an Observer Training Squadron from 1939 to 1944 as part of No. 2 Observer School, forming out of the School of Naval Co-operation RAF, in May 1939. It initially operated out of HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, however, after the Naval Air Station was attacked and bombed, it then moved to north to HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, Angus, Scotland, in September 1940. Here, it provided training for Observers and also Air Gunners and where four years later, in March 1944, it disbanded. The squadron then briefly reformed as a Air Gunner Training Squadron, as part of No. 1 Naval Air Gunners School, when 744 Naval Air Squadron was re-designated 754 Naval Air Squadron, in June 1944, at RN Air Section Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, until disbanding again, in March 1945.

<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">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">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">765 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

765 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It formed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in May 1939, as a Seaplane School and Pool squadron. The squadron moved to RNAS Sandbanks, in August 1940, where it undertook the Seaplane Flying Training Course Part I. Lieutenant Commander J.B. Wilson was appointed as dual officer in charge of the air base, and Commanding officer of 765 NAS. By the middle of 1943, dedicated Seaplane Training schools ended and the squadron disbanded in the October. 765 NAS reformed at RNAS Charlton Horethorne, in early February 1944, as a Travelling Recording Unit. The squadron moved to RNAS Lee-on-Solent in March, before moving to RNAS Worthy Down on one month later during April, then in May it moved to RNAS Stretton, were it remained during June.

<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">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">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">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">782 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

782 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It initially formed in October 1939 as an Armament Training Squadron but disbanded in November to provide personnel for 774 Naval Air Squadron. In December 1940 it reformed at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, as the Northern Communications Squadron, providing links between the Naval Air Stations in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Shetland and Orkney islands. It finally disbanded in October 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">791 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

791 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded at Sembawang in June 1947. It formed as an Air Target Towing Unit, at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, in Scotland, in October 1940. It operated various types of aircraft for target towing duties, used to support air gunnery training and practice. The squadron disbanded in December 1944, at Arbroath. It reformed at RNAS Trincomalee, in British Ceylon,, in November 1945, as a Fleet Requirements Unit. The squadron moved to RNAS Sembawang, in Singapore, in December 1945, ferried via the escort carrier, HMS Smiter. It also operated a Communications Flight and an Air-Sea Rescue Flight, as well as undertaking anti Mosquito spraying duties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">793 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

793 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which disbanded during October 1945. It was formed in October 1939 at RNAS Ford, as an Air Towed Target Unit, as part of No.1 Observer School. From 1940 to disbandment it operated at RNAS Piarco , Trinidad.

<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.

RNAS Hinstock (HMS <i>Godwit</i>) Former Royal Naval Air Station in Shropshire, England

Royal Naval Air Station Hinstock is a former Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm station, located 4 miles (6 km) South West of Market Drayton in Shropshire, England. It was operational between 1941 and 1947, being used by both the Royal Air Force (1941-1942) and the Royal Navy (1942–1947).

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 76.
  2. ↑ "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 - G". unithistories.com World War II unit histories and officers. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Wragg 2019, p. 126.
  4. 1 2 "RNAS Eastleigh". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "RNAS Arbroath". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "758 Naval Air Squadron". www.wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "RNAS Hinstock". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 "RNAS Weston Park". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "RNAS Bratton". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  10. ↑ "RNAS Peplow". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 Ballance 2016, p. 59.
  12. ↑ "Bratton". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 15 March 2024.

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.