740 Naval Air Squadron
Active1943–45[1]
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
Role
  • Observer Training Squadron
  • Communications Squadron
SizeSquadron
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Garrison/HQRNAS Arbroath
RNAS Machrihanish

740 Naval Air Squadron (740 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was formed in 1943 as an Observer Training Squadron at RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), disbanding the same year. From 1943 to 1945 it was a Communications Squadron based at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail).

History of 740 NAS

Observer Training School (1943)

740 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor) as an Observer Training Squadron, part of No.2 Observer Training School, on 4 May 1943, equipped with Supermarine Walrus, Vought OS2U Kingfisher and Fairey Swordfish aircraft. It lasted approximately three months, with the squadron disbanding, at RNAS Arbroath, on 5 August 1943.[2]

Communications Squadron (1943 - 1945)

740 NAS reformed as a Communications Squadron operating out of RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), the squadron being one of its permanent residents between the 30 December 1943 and the 1 September 1945.[3]

Aircraft flown

The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:[2]

Fleet Air Arm Bases

740 NAS operated from a number of air bases:

References

Citations

  1. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 63.
  2. ^ a b c "RNAS Arbroath". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Machrihanish (Campbeltown) (Strabane)". www.abct.org.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  4. ^ Thetford 1991, p. 421.
  5. ^ Thetford 1991, p. 397.
  6. ^ Thetford 1991, p. 402.
  7. ^ Thetford 1991, p. 404.
  8. ^ Thetford 1991, p. 163.

Bibliography


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