717 Naval Air Squadron

717 Naval Air Squadron (717 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It formed as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, at RNAS Fearn, in July 1944, operating with Barracuda aircraft. The squadron then moved to RNAS Rattray, in the October, continuing in Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance training. In early 1946 the squadron received Firebrand aircraft, with the objective of forming a Firebrand Conversion Unit, however the squadron disbanded in March 1946.

717 Naval Air Squadron
Active1 July 1944 - 22 March 1946[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
RoleTorpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Garrison/HQRNAS Fearn
RNAS Rattray
Insignia
Identification MarkingsF1A+ & F2A+ (Barracuda)
AT3A+ & AT4A+ (October 1944)
I1A+ & I2A (from 1945)[2]
A Fleet Air Arm Fairey Barracuda II of 814 Squadron, flying over HMS Venerable, an example of the type operated by 717 NAS.

History of 717 NAS

Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron (1944 - 1946)

717 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl), located 5.4 miles (8.7 km) southeast of Tain, Scottish Highlands, Scotland, as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, on the 1 July 1944. It was equipped with Barracuda Mk II aircraft, a British carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber. The squadron provided specialist training and put together the trainees into accomplished aircrew.

On the 31 October 1944, the squadron relocated to RNAS Rattray (HMS Merganser), situated near Crimond, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Here it provided training for Part I of the Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissaince course. Twelve months later, in October 1945, it assisted in disbanding both 714 NAS and 769 NAS.[3]

In February 1946, the squadron received Firebrand II, III and IV aircraft, a British single-engine strike fighter, with the intention of forming a Flight as the Firebrand Conversion Unit, however the aircraft were moved on.[2] 717 NAS disbanded on the 22 March 1946.[3]

Aircraft flown

The squadron operated a number of different aircraft types:

717 Naval Air Squadron operated from two naval air stations of the Royal Navy, both in Scotland:[3]

Commanding Officers

List of commanding officers of 717 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment and end:[3]

  • Lt-Cdr D. Norcock, RN (Jul 1944-Sep 1944)
  • Lt-Cdr (A) A. Brunt, DSC, RNZNVR (Sep 1944-Jan 1945)
  • Lt-Cdr (A) J. L. Fisher, RNVR (Jan 1945-Dec 1945)
  • Lt (A) H. H. T. Harding, RNVR (Dec 1945-Mar 1946)

References

Citations
  1. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 38.
  2. Ballance 2016, p. 22.
  3. "717 Naval Air Squadron". www.wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 15 February 2023.

Bibliography
  • Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
  • Ballance, Theo (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air-Britain. ISBN 978 0 85130 489 2.


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