739 Naval Air Squadron

739 Naval Air Squadron (739 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was formed as the Blind Approach Development Unit for the Fleet Air Arm, operating with Fulmar and Swordfish aircraft, at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), in 1942. Just under one year later the squadron moved to RNAS Worthy Down (HMS Kestrel), in late 1943 and continued in the role. Roughly one year later the squadron moved again, relocating to RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin) in late 1944, disbanding in 1945. From 1947 it was based at RNAS Culham, with a new role, as a Fleet Air Arm Photographic Trials and Development Unit.

739 Naval Air Squadron
Active1942–45
1947-50[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
Role
  • Blind Approach Development Unit
  • Photographic Trials and Development Unit
Part ofFleet Air Arm

History of 739 NAS

Blind Approach Development Unit (1942 - 1947)

739 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), situated near Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire, approximately four miles west of Portsmouth, on the 15 December 1942, as the Blind Approach Development Unit. It was initially equipped with Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Fulmar aircraft. Nine months later the squadron moved to RNAS Worthy Down (HMS Kestrel), 3.5 miles (6 km) north of Winchester, Hampshire, England, on 14 September 1943, gaining Avro Anson and Airspeed Oxford aircraft. It remained at Worthy Down for around one year before moving again. On 5 October 1944 the squadron relocated to RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), located 2.7 miles (4.3 km) east of Rosyth, Fife.[2] 739 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 7 March 1945.

Photographic Trials and Development Unit (1947 - 1950)

On 1 May 1947 739 Naval Air Squadron reformed to become the RN Photographic Trials and Development Unit, based at RNAS Culham (HMS Hornbill), located near Culham, Oxfordshire, (it had originally been intended to share the RAF's PR resources at RAF Benson, which became overcrowded). The squadron operated Sea Mosquito & Sea Hornet aircraft in this role, until finally disbanding on 12 July 1950[3]

Aircraft flown

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

Fleet Air Arm Bases

739 NAS operated from a number of air bases:[2]

References

Citations
  1. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 63.
  2. "RNAS Worthy Down". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  3. "Military airfields in Oxfordshire" (PDF). static1.squarespace.com/. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  4. Thetford 1991, p. 397.
  5. Thetford 1991, p. 402.
  6. Thetford 1991, p. 404.
  7. Thetford 1991, p. 139.
  8. Thetford 1991, p. 100.
  9. Thetford 1991, p. 103.
  10. Thetford 1991, p. 107.

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.
  • Thetford, Owen (1991). British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, an imprint of Conway Maritime Press Ltd. ISBN 0-85177-849-6.


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