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This is a List of Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadrons. Established on 1 April 1924, the Fleet Air Arm included all Royal Air Force aircraft that were deployed from aircraft carriers and other naval vessels. On 24 May 1939, the administrative management of the Fleet Air Arm, which serves as the naval aviation branch of the Royal Navy, was transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Admiralty as a result of the "Inskip Award". At the beginning of the Second World War, the Fleet Air Arm comprised merely twenty squadrons. [1]
Squadrons presented in bold typeface are presently operational within the Royal Navy's naval aviation component, the Fleet Air Arm. Squadrons in underline subsequently commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm. Squadrons in italics subsequently commissioned into the Netherlands Naval Aviation Service. Squadrons subsequently transferred to or formed within the Royal Canadian Navy are denoted with the suffix RCN in their title.
With the formation of the Fleet Air Arm in 1924, as a part of the Royal Air Force, blocks of squadron numbers were used. Numbers 401-439 were Fleet Fighter / Spotter Flights, assigned to Royal Navy battleships and cruisers. [2] Numbers 440-459 were Fleet Reconnaissance Flights, many later becoming Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance Flights, and Number 460 onwards, as Fleet Torpedo Flights, later becoming Torpedo Bomber Flights. [3]
In 1936 some of these were renumbered in the 700 series and this was retained when the Admiralty regained full control of the Fleet Air Arm in 1939.
Numbers 700-749 were for catapult flights and squadrons, but eventually these all merged into 700 Naval Air Squadron, leaving Numbers 701-710 for amphibian and floatplane squadrons from 1943 onwards. Numbers 750-799, were assigned for training and ancillary squadrons (in contrast to the RAF practice at the time of not assigning squadron numbers to training units). [2]
Front line combat squadrons were Numbers 800-899 and broken down into categories: [3] Numbers 800-809 were allocated for fighter squadrons, numbers 810-819 were for torpedo bomber squadrons, then later torpedo spotter reconnaissance (TSR) squadrons and torpedo bomber reconnaissance (TBR) squadrons, Numbers. 820-859 were initially spotter reconnaissance squadrons, then later becoming TSR squadrons and finally, TBR squadrons. Originally, TBR squadrons included numbers 860-869, but these were assigned to Dutch-crewed and then Royal Netherlands Navy squadrons. Numbers 870-899 were initially for single-seat fighter squadrons, but numbers 870-879 were later assigned to the Royal Canadian Navy squadrons. As these numbers ran out, new series prefixed by '1' were allocated. Leaving aside unused blocks, Numbers 1700-1749 became torpedo bomber reconnaissance squadrons and two-seat fighter squadrons were numbers 1770-1799. Dive bomber squadrons were numbers 1810-1829 and numbers 1830-1899 were for single-seat fighter squadrons. [1]
Squadrons presented in bold typeface are presently operational within the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Those indicated with an underline have been subsequently commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm. Squadrons italicized have been later commissioned into the Netherlands Naval Aviation Service. Additionally, squadrons that have been transferred to or established within the Royal Canadian Navy are identified by the suffix RCN in their designation.
Single-seat fighter squadrons for aircraft carriers.
Torpedo Bomber squadrons for aircraft carriers, then later Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance and Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons.
Spotter Reconnaissance Squadrons, later Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance and Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons.
Note: 839, 843, 844, 858 and 859 Naval Air Squadrons did not form. [13]
Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons; Later reserved for Dutch-crewed and then Royal Netherlands Navy squadrons.
Note: 862-869 Naval Air Squadrons did not form. [15]
Single-seat fighter squadrons. Nos. 870-879 were reserved for use by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1951. [15]
Note: Nos. 872-876 Naval Air Squadrons did not form. [16]
Single-seat fighter squadrons for aircraft carriers. Nos. 880, 881 and 883 were subsequently used by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). [17]
Squadrons presented in bold typeface are presently operational within the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.
Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons, reallocated to Amphibian Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons.
Single-seat fighter squadrons (not adopted).
Two-seat fighter squadrons.
Note: Nos. 1773-1789 and 1793-1799 were never formed. Nos. 1773 to 1775 Squadrons were planned to form in 1945 for the British Pacific Fleet, but this never transpired. [26]
Squadrons presented in bold typeface are presently operational within the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.
Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance units (not adopted).
Dive-bomber squadrons.
Note: Nos. 1810-1819 and 1821-1829 were never formed.
Single-seat fighter squadrons.
Note: Nos. 1854-1899 were never formed. The Reserve Squadrons later used Nos. 1830-1836 and 1840-1844 for Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch squadrons and Nos. 1831 and 1832 were Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch squadrons.
Squadrons presented in bold typeface are presently operational within the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Squadrons in underline subsequently commissioned into Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm. Squadrons that have been transferred to or established within the Royal Canadian Navy are identified by the suffix RCN in their designation.
Initially designated for Catapult flights, the area later evolved into catapult squadrons. Following the dissolution of these squadrons, the range was repurposed for training and support squadrons. Numbers 700 to 710 were designated for the utilisation of amphibian and floatplane squadrons in 1943; however, this designation was subsequently discontinued. When these ceased to exist the range became available for training and ancillary squadrons.
Numbers 750 to 799 were allocated for training and support squadrons.
Nos. 1830 to 1836 and 1840 to 1844 were designated for the squadrons of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch during the period from 1947 to 1957 and subsequently formed into five divisions from 1952. [51]
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch squadrons
Nos. 1831 and 1832 were repurposed for the Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch squadrons between 1980 and 1982.
Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch squadrons
Aircraft collection and delivery
Fleet Air Arm
Royal Australian Navy
Royal Air Force
Others
Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent,, is a former Royal Naval Air Station located near Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire, approximately 4 miles (6.44 km) west of Portsmouth, on the coast of the Solent.
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HMS Nabbington, was a Royal Navy (RN), Mobile Operational Naval Air Base (MONAB), that was established at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Nowra at Nowra, New South Wales, in Australia during the final stages of the Second World War. HMS Nabbington was also known as MONAB I and Royal Naval Air Station Nowra.
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Royal Naval Air Station Burscough, was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air station which was 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of Burscough, Lancashire. The Admiralty acquired 650 acres (2.6 km2) of land in December 1942 and the airfield was built with four narrow runways and several hangars, being commissioned on 1 September 1943.
711 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) 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.
713 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which was disbanded in late 1945. It was first formed from 445 Flight in 1936 and operated with Fairey Seafox floatplanes from RAF Kalafrana at the onset of the Second World War and subsequently integrated into 700 Naval Air Squadron in January 1940. The squadron was re-established at HMS Urley, RNAS Ronaldsway, Isle of Man, in December 1944, functioning as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, where it operated with Fairey Barracuda aircraft.
731 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was active between 1943 and 1945 and its sole role throughout its formation was a Deck Landing Control Officer training squadron. Through this role the squadron pilots were nicknamed 'Clockwork Mice'. It was based out of the purpose built airbase, commissioned as HMS Peewit, known as Royal Naval Air Station East Haven, in Scotland, as part of the Deck Landing Training School there.
739 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN), 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.
756 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). 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.
769 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). 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.
774 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) 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.
775 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded in March 1946. 775 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMS Grebe, RNAS Dekheila, during November 1940, as a Fleet Requirements Unit in support of the Mediterranean Fleet, based at Alexandria, Egypt. Between October 1941 and March 1942 the squadron also included the RN Fighter Flight. It absorbed 728 Naval Air Squadron in July 1943 and moved to RN Air Section Gibraltar at the start of February 1944. The squadron returned to HMS Grebe, RNAS Dekheila during August 1945.
777 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN), which formed as a Fleet Requirements Unit in West Africa during the Second World War. Throughout most of 1943, the squadron was responsible for the air defence of Sierra Leone. It disbanded at HMS Spurwing, RNAS Hastings, Sierra Leone, during December 1944. The squadron reformed in May 1945, from 'B' Flight of 778 Naval Air Squadron, as a Carrier Trials Unit operating aboard HMS Pretoria Castle, and using shore bases at HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, and HMS Peregrine, RNAS Ford in England, and HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr, in Scotland. 777 Naval Air Squadron number was assigned to the aircraft collection at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in April 2006.
780 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) 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.
785 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) 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.
788 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded during June 1945. The squadron formed at RN Air Section China Bay in Ceylon, in January 1942, as the British Eastern Fleet's Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Pool, however it lost half its strength during the heavy raids by Japanese carrier-borne aircraft in the April. The squadron regrouped at RNAS Tanga in Tanganyika, East Africa to become a Fleet Requirements Unit and relocating almost immediately to RN Air Section Port Reitz, in Mombasa, where it remained operational for the next three years.
789 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which disbanded in November 1945. 789 Naval Air Squadron formed as a Fleet Requirements Unit at RNARY Wingfield in South Africa, at the beginning of July 1942. It initially only had a single Supermarine Walrus, needing to borrow other aircraft types. 1943 saw the squadron sharing and holding aircraft for other Fleet Air Arm units and it wasn’t until 1944 it started to receive a notable number of its own aircraft.
881 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN), formed in June 1941. It served as a fighter squadron in the Second World War, taking part in the British invasion of Madagascar in 1942, in the Allied invasions of Northern France and Southern France in 1944, also taking part in operations in the Aegean Sea and off Norway before disbanding in October 1945.