706 Naval Air Squadron
706 NAS badge
Active10 April 1945 - 31 May 1946
7 September 1953 - 15 March 1954
4 January 1962 - 27 February 1998[1]
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
RoleFighter/torpedo-bomber and helicopter training squadron
SizeSquadron
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Motto(s)Montez
(French for 'Go upwards')
Aircraft flown
Insignia
Squadron BadgeBlue, over water barry wavy of four white and blue a winged horse volant langued red wings addorsed and supporting between the forelegs a dagger point downward and piercing the water all gold (1979)[2]
Identification Markings780-787 (Whirlwind)
501-512 (Wessex / Wasp to July 1965)
566-599 (Wessex / Wasp / Sea King)[2]
A Westland Sea King HAS.2 of 706 NAS at RNAS Culdrose

706 Naval Air Squadron (706 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Established as a fighter and torpedo-bomber training unit in Australia at the end of World War Two, it was briefly reformed as a helicopter squadron in the early 1950s, before becoming a helicopter training unit in 1962, and operating until 1998.

History of 706 NAS

Crew Pool & Refresher Flying Training School (1945 - 1946)

The squadron was formed in the United Kingdom in January 1945 and sailed for Australia in February, arriving in March, where it was officially commissioned on 10 April 1945 at RNAS Schofields, MONAB III (HMS Nabthorpe), near Schofields, New South Wales. It operated as a refresher training and conversion unit for the British Pacific Fleet, flying the Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber, the Fairey Barracuda torpedo and dive bomber, the Vought Corsair fighter aircraft, the Fairey Firefly fighter and anti-submarine aircraft, the Grumman Hellcat fighter aircraft and the Supermarine Seafire fighter aircraft.[3] The squadron was equipped with thirty-six total aircraft, six of each of the operational types then in use with the British Pacific Fleet.[2]

In late August, following the surrender of Japan, the unit was transferred to MONAB VI HMS Nabstock at Maryborough, Queensland, and in October moved again to MONAB I HMS Nabbington at Nowra, New South Wales. In January 1946 the unit returned to Schofields, and was disbanded on 31 May 1946.[3]

Anti-submarine helicopter squadron (1953 - 1954)

The squadron was reformed at RNAS Gosport (HMS Siskin) on 7 September 1953, as an anti-submarine helicopter squadron,[2] flying the Westland Whirlwind HAS.22 ASW helicopter and the Hiller HT.1. In October 1953 it moved to Northern Ireland, firstly to RNAS Belfast (HMS Gannet III) located near the capital, Belfast, then in February 1954 it relocated to RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), in County Londonderry, and being occasionally based aboard the Colossus-class light fleet aircraft carrier HMS Perseus (R51). The squadron was disbanded on 1 March 1954, and its aircraft were transferred to 845 Naval Air Squadron.[4]

Advanced Flying Training (1962 - 1998)

In January 1962 the squadron was reformed for a second time as a helicopter training unit at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) flying the Westland Wessex HAS.1, providing conversion courses to the new type and giving advanced training to specialist pilots.[2] 706 Squadron's 'B' Flight was formed at RNAS Culdrose on 7 January 1964 and equipped with Westland Wessex and Hiller HT.2, to operate in the Commando Assault role, but was incorporated into 845 Naval Air Squadron when it arrived in Borneo to take part in the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. In November 1964 the squadron received Westland Wasp HAS.1 for advanced training,[4] and the following month 706 NAS took over type conversion from 829 Naval Air Squadron.[2]

Westland Sea King HAS2, of 706 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Culdrose

In January 1970 it converted to the Westland Sea King HAS.1, and in February 1975 Wasp training was transferred to 703 Naval Air Squadron.[4] Between February and December 1978 the squadron operated a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Trials Flight in conjunction with RFA Fort Grange, this then moved to 824 Naval Air Squadron on completion.[2] From February 1978 until April 1993 it was administrative host for the Royal Air Force's Sea King Training Unit. The squadron was a Westland Sea King conversion and advanced training squadron for pilots and maintainers, from 1976.[2] The squadron continued with Sea King flying training with 13 airframes and sea training was conducted aboard RFA Engadine (K08).[4] In May 1982 it was the foundation of the formation of 825 Naval Air Squadron for deployment in the Falklands War. From October 1985 through to May 1996 it added Observer and Aircrewmen Advanced Flying Training. 706 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 27 February 1998, with the remaining training being taken on by 810 Naval Air Squadron.[2]

Aircraft flown

The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:[1][5]

706B Flight

Naval Air Stations and other airbases

706 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force stations, in the United Kingdom and overseas:[2]

706B Flight

Commanding Officers

List of commanding officers of 706 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment:[6][5]

706B Flight

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 29.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 14.
  3. ^ a b "706 Naval Air Squadron". royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d "706 Squadron Fleet Air Arm". Helicopter Database. 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  5. ^ a b Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 15.
  6. ^ Wragg 2019, p. 114.

Bibliography



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