Blue, a hawk wings elevated and addorsed proper alighting on a lure gold (1949)[2]
Identification Markings
T4A+ & T0A+ (Swordfish, 1939-1940) T4A+ (from July 1940) E1A+ & E2A+ (all types, May 1943)[3] IT1A+ & IT2A+ (all types, July 1946) 100-154 (Seafire), 201-244 (Firefly), (from 1947) 200-206 (Firefly, from September 1949) 160-169 (Sea Fury), 171-173 (Attacker) & 260-263 (Firefly) (from September 1952) 120-128 (Sea Hawk), 161-163 (Sea Fury), 171-176 (Attacker), 260-264 (Firefly) & 361-365 (Avenger) (from 1953) 704-715 (Sea Hawk) (from March 1956) 150-160 (Phantom)[2]
Tail Codes
MV:VL & VL (1947) VL (from September 1949) HR (from January 1952) JA (from September 1952) ST (from 1953) FD (from March 1956) VL (Phantom)[2]
Military unit
Phantom FG.1 of 767 Naval Air Squadron parked
767 Naval Air Squadron (767 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed as a Deck Landing Training Squadron in 1939, when 811 Naval Air Squadron was renumbered 767 Naval Air Squadron, at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle. A detachment went to Hyeres de la Palyvestre in the south of France, enabling training in fairer conditions. While here, the squadron took on an operational mission, with a bombing attack on the Italian port of Genoa. With the fall of France the squadron evacuated to Algeria, where it split. Part went to Malta, forming 830 Naval Air Squadron, the other part to HMS Ark Royal, with personnel returning to the UK via Gibraltar. The squadron regrouped at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, and moved to the Deck Landing School at HMS Peewit at RNAS East Haven in 1943.
The year 1946 saw the squadron move to RNAS Lossiemouth, where it provided its training, operating out of the satellite airfield at HMS Fulmar at RNAS Milltown. It then moved to HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton three years later in 1949, where its role became Deck Landing Control Officer Training Squadron. It continued in this role, moving on to HMS Dipper, RNAS Henstridge in 1952. Later the same year it moved to HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton and a change in technology, the introduction of an optical landing system, meant a change in role to a Landing Signal Officers Training Squadron, eventually disbanding in 1955.
It reformed in 1956 as a Fighter Pilot Pool squadron at HMS Peregrine, RNAS Ford, moving to HMS Goldcrest at RNAS Brawdy later in the year. However, a month later it was back at HMS Peregrine but disbanded in April 1957. 767 Naval Air Squadron was next reformed in 1969, as the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) for the McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom II FG.1, operating from HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton. When this task completed it was then disbanded again, in 1972.
History of 767 NAS
Deck Landing Training Squadron (1939 - 1949)
Fairey Swordfish I 'W5856-4A', an example of the aircraft used by 767 NAS
On the 13 June 1940, the squadron was involved in a bombing raid over the Italian port city of Genoa, just days after Italy entered World War II. This action involved nine aircraft from 767 NAS.[3] Due to poor moonlight on the night, the attempt was abandoned, however, the following night of the 14 June, a successful attack was made.[5]
With the French falling to the German invasion, the squadron needed to be evacuated from France.[3] Eighteen aircraft flew to Bône in Algeria, using Bône Airfield. Here the squadron separated into two parts, with twelve aircraft going to RAF Hal Far, on the island of Malta,[5] which then formed 830 Naval Air Squadron, in July 1940.[6] The other six going on to the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, with the aircraft being absorbed into its squadrons, and 767 Naval Air Squadron personnel going to the UK via Gibraltar.[5]
767 Naval Air Squadron regrouped at RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), located near Arbroath in East Angus, Scotland, on the 8 July 1940, continuing as a Deck Landing Training Squadron, now as part of the Deck Landing Training (DLT) School. It was initially equipped with Fairey Albacore and Fairey Swordfish, both biplanetorpedo bomber aircraft.[7] In September 1940, the squadron received Fairey Fulmar, a carrier-borne, reconnaissance / fighter aircraft, these remained on strength for around one year before being withdrawn in the following October, in 1941. It also operated Percival Proctor, a radio trainer and communications aircraft, between June and August of that year. In the November, it received Grumman Martlet, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft, however, these were withdrawn from use in 1942.[5] The squadron operated out of Arbroath for almost two years, then on the 5 May 1943, it relocated to RNAS East Haven (HMS Peewit),[7] located approximately 1.5 miles (2 km) east of Carnoustie and 5 miles (8 km) south west of Arbroath, in Angus, Scotland.
RNAS East Haven was home to the Deck Landing Training School and Deck Landing Control Officer Training School. 767 Naval Air Squadron was joined by 768 Deck Landing Training Squadron, in October 1943 and 731 Deck Landing Control Officer Training Squadron, in December 1943.[8] Around this time the squadron received a later variant of Fairey Fulmar aircraft and the Fairey Albacore were withdrawn. However, in 1944, the Fulmar were withdrawn from use and these were replaced with Fairey Barracuda a carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber aircraft. The remaining Fairey Swordfish aircraft were also withdrawn during 1944. The next year saw the arrival of Fairey Firefly aircraft to the squadron. Supermarine Seafire aircraft were received in early 1946.[5] On the 15 July 1946, 767 NAS moved to RNAS Milltown (HMS Fulmar II),[8] located south of the Moray Firth and 3.6 miles (5.8 km) north east of Elgin, Scotland.
Deck Landing Control Officer Training Squadron (1949 - 1953)
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, the type used by 767 NAS for DLCO training
The aircraft flew continuous circuits and approaches to land on whichever runway was in use, enabling the prospective DLCOs to direct their approach. The runway in use was known as the 'Dummy Deck', the trainee DLCOs were known as 'Batsmen' and the repetitive work earned them the nickname ‘Clockwork Mice’. The training course ended with the trainees operating on whichever aircraft carrier was assigned as a Deck Landing Training (DLT) Carrier.[9]
Landing Signal Officers Training Squadron (1953 - 1955)
Supermarine Attcker FB.2, WP290, ST812, in 1831 NAS markings landing at RNAS Stretton, the type used by 767 NAS at Stretton
In 1953 the squadron received Supermarine Attacker, a single-seat navaljetfighter aircraft, and in the October of that year, with the introduction of the Mirror Landing Aid, used to give glidepath information to pilots in the terminal phase of landing on an aircraft carrier, 767 NAS became the Landing Signal Officers Training Squadron. In 1954, the squadron disbanded on the 15 May, but it then reformed on the 20 September and was equipped with Grumman Avengertorpedo bomber and Hawker Sea Hawk single-seat jet day fighter, aircraft. 767 NAS remained at RNAS Stretton for a further six months, however, on the 31 March 1955 the squadron disbanded.[5]
Fighter Pilot Pool (1956 - 1957)
767 Naval Air Squadron reformed on the 1 March 1956, as a Fighter Pilot Pool squadron, at RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine), located at Ford, in West Sussex, England. The squadron was equipped with later variants than previously operated at RNAS Stretton, of Hawker Sea Hawk day fighter aircraft. It remained at RNAS Ford for around five months before moving to RNAS Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest), located 6.3 miles (10.1 km) east of St Davids in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the 14 August 1956.[12] Here the squadron provided an armament work-up course.[2] However, the following month, on the 20 September, the squadron returned to Ford.[12] Now the squadron was required to train up replacement pilots, needed for FAA squadrons operating in the Suez. 767 Naval Air Squadron disbanded into 764 Naval Air Squadron on the 1 April 1957.[2]
United Kingdom
Royal Navy
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