729 Naval Air Squadron
Active1 January 1945 - 24 July 1946[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
RoleInstrument Flying Training squadron
SizeSquadron
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Insignia
Identification MarkingsK7A+[2]
Aircraft flown
PatrolSupermarine Sea Otter
Trainerde Havilland Tiger Moth
North American Harvard
Airspeed Oxford

729 Naval Air Squadron (729 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was active between 1945 and 1946 as an Instrument Flying Training Squadron, for service in the far east.[3]

History of 729 NAS

Instrument Flying Training (1945 - 1946)

729 Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 January 1945 at RNAS Hinstock (HMS Godwit), in Shropshire, as an Instrument Flying Training squadron and as an offshoot of 758 Naval Air Squadron, the Royal Naval Advanced Instrument Flying Training Unit, for service in the Far East. It made use of 758 NAS's North American Harvard single-engine advanced trainer aircraft and Airspeed Oxford a twin-engine monoplane trainer aircraft, enabling working up while based on the United Kingdom. The squadron personnel took passage for India on 16 April 1945, without aircraft.[3]

On 15 May 1945, personnel from 729 Naval Air Squadron arrived at Royal Navy Aircraft Repair Yard Coimbatore (HMS Garuda) in Southern India. They spent three weeks working up, ready to continue Instrument Flying training, utilising four Airspeed Oxford and a single North American Harvard which was issued on arrival.

On 7 June 1945, the squadron relocated approximately 275 miles (443 km) north-east to Royal Navy Aircraft Maintenance Yard Tambaram (HMS Valluru), however, the squadron very shortly later, moved again and on 10 July 1945 it relocated to RNAS Puttalam (HMS Rajaliya), in Ceylon (Sri Lanka).[3]

Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945 and due to the end of the Second World War, the need for pilots was reduced and the squadron's role was reassessed. On 30 August 1945 729 Naval Air Squadron relocated to RNAS Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), remaining in Ceylon. In the new year of 1946 two Supermarine Sea Otter, an amphibious aircraft type, were added to the squadron. These were from ‘B’ Flight of 1700 Naval Air Squadron, which undertook Air-sea rescue sorties, however, this was withdrawn in April 1946.

On 24 July 1946, at RNAS Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), 729 Naval Air Squadron disbanded.[3]

Aircraft flown

Supermarine Sea Otter ASR Mk.II RD892

Between 1945 and 1946, 729 NAS flew a number of different aircraft types, including:[4]

Naval Air Stations

729 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in England and overseas in India and Sri Lanka:[4]

Commanding Officers

List of commanding officers of 729 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment and end:[4]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 53.
  2. ^ a b Ballance 2016, p. 37.
  3. ^ a b c d "729 Squadron". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "729 Naval Air Squadron". www.wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 27 December 2022.

Bibliography


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