728 Naval Air Squadron

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728 Naval Air Squadron
728 Naval Air Squadron Badge.gif
728 NAS badge
Active1 May 1943 - 4 July 1943
14 August 1943 - 31 May 1967 [1]
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
RoleFleet Requirements Unit
Size Squadron
Part of Fleet Air Arm
Motto(s)Docendo discimus
(Latin for 'We learn by teaching')
Insignia
Squadron Badge DescriptionBlue, upon a base wavy white two bars wavy blue chief a Maltese Cross per pale red and white there on a hurt surmounted by a plate surmounted by a torteau pierced by an arrow point downward in bend sinister feathered black (1953) [2]
Identification Markingssingle letters (all types)
M8A+ (1944)
500-599, 801-812 & 901-903 (1946)
570-599, 621-624, 655-659 & 956-961 (January 1956)
860-866 (July 1965) [3]
Tail CodesHF (1946 – 1967) [4]
de Havilland Sea Hornet F Mk 20s of No 728 Fleet Requirements Unit, Hal Far, Malta Sea Hornet F Mk 30 - 001.jpg
de Havilland Sea Hornet F Mk 20s of No 728 Fleet Requirements Unit, Hal Far, Malta

728 Naval Air Squadron (728 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA). It was formed at the beginning of May in 1943, as a Fleet Requirements Unit, at RN Air Section Gibraltar. It provided detachments at RN Air Section Tafaraoui, in Algeria and later at RAF Oujda in Morocco. Moving to HMS Grebe, RNAS Dekheila, in Egypt, during June, it then merged into 775 Naval Air Squadron during July. It reformed in August, again as a Fleet Requirements Unit, at HMS Grebe, moving immediately to RN Air Section Takali, Malta. It provided target towing both for the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet and the British Army, before later providing a detachment to tow targets for the United States Navy at Naples, Italy. [5] The squadron remained on Malta, alternating between the airbases at Ta Kali, Luqa and Hal Far, until disbanding at the latter, in May 1967. [1]

Contents

History of 728 NAS

Fleet Requirements Unit (1943)

728 Naval Air Squadron was formed on 1 May 1943 at RN Air Section Gibraltar, the Admiralty having lodger facilities at RAF North Front, Gibraltar, as a Fleet Requirements Unit. The squadron was equipped with Boulton Paul Defiant TT.1, an interceptor aircraft converted for target tug operations and Fairey Swordfish I, a biplane torpedo bomber. [6] Whilst at Gibraltar it operated detachments at RN Air Section Tafaraoui, (lodger facilities at RAF Tafaraoui) in Algeria, from 11 May 1943 to 15 June 1943, with Fairey Swordfish aircraft, [7] and also at RAF Oujda, in Morocco, with Boulton Paul Defiant to provide target towing for an American Anti-Aircraft battery firing range. [5] before moving to RNAS Dekheila (HMS Grebe), Alexandria in Egypt, on 15 June 1943, [6] where it later disbanded, being absorbed by 775 Naval Air Squadron on 4 July 1943. [5]

Fleet Requirements Unit (1943 - 1967)

However, just over one month later, on the 14 August, 728 Naval Air Squadron reformed at RNAS Dekheila. [8] The squadron soon moved to Malta and settled at RNAS Hal Far (HMS Falcon), from 5 May 1946, after brief stints at RN Air Section Takali (HMS Goldfinch) and RAF Luqa and just after taking up radar calibration duties from No. 255 Squadron RAF. [4] It was again equipped with Boulton Paul Defiant target tug aircraft, and provided target towing both for the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet and the British Army, before later providing a detachment to tow targets for the United States Navy at Naples, Italy. [5]

1944 saw the squadron received new aircraft types with Miles Martinet, a target tug aircraft, Bristol Beaufighter, a multirole combat aircraft and Hawker Hurricane single-seat fighter aircraft added to the inventory as the British Pacific Fleet worked up in the Mediterranean. [1] The Boulton Paul Defiant aircraft were withdrawn and replaced by with Bristol Beaufort, a British torpedo bomber, Martin Baltimore, an American light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, Supermarine Seafire, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft and de Havilland Mosquito, a twin-engine multirole combat aircraft, during the winter of 1944-45. [5]

With the post Second World War reduction of the Mediterranean Fleet, aircraft numbers were also reduced and changes in type took place. In 1949 de Havilland Mosquito TT Mk.39, a RN target towing variant, replaced the Miles Martinet target tug aircraft, later marks of Supermarine Seafire were used for fighter exercises, and Beech Expeditor, an American trainer, transport and utility aircraft, operated passenger and cargo flights. In 1951, de Havilland Sea Vampire jet fighter replaced the Supermarine Seafire and in 1952 the squadron received de Havilland Sea Hornet fighter aircraft and Short Sturgeon target tug aircraft replaced the de Havilland Mosquito TT Mk.39. [1]

Helicopters were added to supplement the squadron's inventory when it started operating the Westland Dragonfly HR.3, air-sea search and rescue helicopter, at the end of 1952. 728B Flight was the identity given to the new RNAS Hal Far SAR (Search and Rescue) flight, this operated utilising the Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, air-sea search and rescue variant, which arrived in 1957. In March 1963, Westland Whirlwind HAS.22, an anti-submarine helicopter, became available for the SAR flight, which was then amalgamated into 728 Naval Air Squadron. [4]

On 31 May 1967 728 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at RNAS Hal Far (HMS Falcon). [8]

Aircraft flown

The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions: [9] [3]

Fairey Swordfish II Fairey Swordfish II LS326 L2 (G-AJVH) (7297367482).jpg
Fairey Swordfish II
Supermarine Seafire F Mk XVII Seafire - Duxford 2011 (8564499017).jpg
Supermarine Seafire F Mk XVII
Westland Dragonfly HR.3 Westland Dragonfly HR.3 WG723 706 Sq BAG 20.08.55 edited-2.jpg
Westland Dragonfly HR.3
Gloster Meteor T.7 Gloster Meteor T7 AN1131264.jpg
Gloster Meteor T.7

728 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of overseas naval air stations of the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force stations, and a number of other air bases: [3]

1943

1943 - 1967

Commanding Officers

List of commanding officers of 728 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment: [5] [3]

1943

1943 - 1967

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">779 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

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<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">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">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">799 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

799 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded during August 1952. It initially formed as a Pool Squadron in South Africa during September 1943, sharing Fairey Albacore aircraft with 798 Naval Air Squadron and providing flying time for aircrew prior to front line squadron assignment, disbanding in June 1944. It reformed in July 1945 as a Flying Check and Conversion Refresher Squadron at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent. Made up of three distinct flights, two of those operated away from Lee-on-Solent with a flight at HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, giving junior officers air experience, and another flight at HMS Dipper providing Supermarine Sea Otter conversion training. By May 1948 the whole unit had moved to HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton. In 1951, 799 Naval Air Squadron relocated to RNAS Machrihanish.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 34-35.
  2. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 50.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 35.
  4. 1 2 3 "728 NAS Helis". www.Helis.com. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wragg 2019, p. 119.
  6. 1 2 "North Front". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  7. "Tafarouri". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  8. 1 2 "728 Naval Air Squadron". www.wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  9. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 51.

Bibliography