726 Naval Air Squadron

726 Naval Air Squadron (726 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was formed as a Fleet Requirements Unit from 1943 to 1945, operating out of R.N. Air Section Durban (HMS Kongoni), at S.A.A.F. Station Stamford Hill, Durban, South Africa, during its existence. It operated various aircraft including, Bristol Beaufighter, Boulton Paul Defiant, Fairey Fulmar, North American Harvard, Vought Kingfisher, Miles Martinet and Fairey Swordfish.

726 Naval Air Squadron
Active7 July 1943 - 3 November 1945[1]
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
RoleFleet Requirements Unit
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Garrison/HQRN Air Section Durban
Insignia
Squadron BadgePer fess blue and Barry wavy of six white and blue, two assegais in saltire points in base surmounted by a Zulu shield all proper (1945)[1]

History of 726 NAS

Fleet Requirements Unit (1943 - 1945)

726 Naval Air Squadron formed at R.N. Air Section Durban (HMS Kongoni), located at S.A.A.F. Station, Stamford Hill, Durban, South Africa, on 7 July 1943, as a Fleet Requirements Unit. The squadron was initially equipped with two Vought Kingfisher landplane aircraft.[2] From August 1943 the squadron received Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber and Fairey Fulmar carrier-borne reconnaissance aircraft/fighter aircraft, however, the Fairey Fulmar were gone by October. In December 1943, the squadron received Boulton Paul Defiant, an interceptor aircraft, repurposed as a target tug aircraft, however, six months later these were withdrawn, replaced by Miles Martinet, a target tug aircraft, designed specifically for target towing, in the June of 1944. Additionally, Bristol Beaufighter multi-role aircraft arrived in that month as well, but were gone during the following September. North American Harvard an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft, arrived around May 1945, however, 726 NAS disbanded on the 3 November 1945.[3]

Aircraft flown
Fairey Swordfish II, an example of the type used by 726 NAS)

The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:[3]

726 Naval Air Squadron operated from lodger faculties for one disembarked R.N. Squadron, at S.A.A.F. Station, Stamford Hill, Durban, South Africa:

  • R. N. Air Section DURBAN (7 July 1943 - 3 November 1945)[2]

Commanding Officers

List of commanding officers of 726 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment and end:[3]

  • Lt-Cdr (A) F. G. Hood, SANF (V) (Jul 1943-Jan 1945)
  • Lt (A) W. A. McElroy, RNVR (KIA) (Jan 1945-Feb 1945)
  •  ? (Feb 1945-Jun 1945
  • Lt (A) D. C. Langley, SANF (F) (Jun 1945-Nov 1945)

Notes
  1. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 48.
  2. "RNAS Stamford Hill". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  3. "726 Naval Air Squadron". www.wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 4 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.
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