748 Naval Air Squadron

748 Naval Air Squadron (748 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed, at RNAS St Merryn, as a Fighter Pool Squadron,[3] before becoming No. 10 Naval Operational Training Unit. The squadron moved to RNAS Henstridge in February 1944 and then onto RNAS Yeovilton in the March.[4] In September 1944, 748 NAS moved to RNAS Dale, in Wales, remaining for just under twelve months, before moving back to RNAS St Merryn in August 1945,[5] where it disbanded in February 1946. During its existence, the squadron was equipped with numerous aircraft and various marks, operated by the Fleet Air Arm.

748 Naval Air Squadron
Active12 October 1942 – 11 February 1946[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
Role
  • Fighter Pool Squadron
  • No. 10 Operational Training Unit
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Insignia
Identification MarkingsS7A+ all types
P7A+ (from October 1944)[2]
Supermarine Seafire LF.IIIc, in the markings of 880 NAS, similar (slightly different Merlin variant) to the Mk III used by 748 NAS

History of 748 NAS

Fighter Pool Squadron (1942-1943)

748 Naval Air Squadron was formed at RNAS St Merryn (HMS Vulture), which is located 7.35 miles (11.83 km) northeast of Newquay, Cornwall, as a Fighter Pool Squadron on 12 October 1942.[3] It was initially equipped with four Fulmar, a British carrier-borne reconnaissance aircraft / fighter aircraft, four Martlet, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft, four Spitfire, a British single-seat fighter aircraft and four Hurricane, another British single-seat fighter aircraft.[2]

No.10 Naval Operational Training Unit (1943-1946)

In early 1943, 748 NAS became No. 10 Operational Training Unit, adding Seafire aircraft, a naval version of the Supermarine Spitfire specifically adapted for operation from aircraft carriers, to its inventory.[6] On the 4 February 1944, it left RNAS St Merryn and moved to RNAS Henstridge (HMS Dipper), situated approxiamately 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Sherborne in the South Somerset district, near the border with Dorset, here it also received Spitfire Vb, Martinet, a target tug aircraft and Reliant, an American liaison and training monoplane. However, within five weeks of arriving, the squadron was on the move again, reloacting to RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), sited a few miles north of Yeovil, in Somerset, on 9 March 1944.[4]

Six months later and 748 NAS relocated again. On 1 September 1944 the squadron was transferred to RNAS Dale (HMS Goldcrest), a Fleet Air Arm base located 6.5 miles (10.5 km) west of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales. By this time 748 NAS was equipped with Corsair, an American fighter aircraft, Harvard, an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft, Firefly, a carrier-borne fighter and anti-submarine aircraft, Hellcat, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft, Seafire and Wildcat another American carrier-based fighter aircraft. The squadron remained at Dale for almost one year before returning to RNAS St Merryn on the 14 August 1945.[5] 748 NAS remained there for a further six months, disbanding on the 11 February 1946.[3]

Aircraft flown

The squadron was equipped with numerous types and marks of aircraft operated by the Fleet Air Arm including:[3][4][5][6]

748 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in Wales and England:

Commanding Officers

List of commanding officers of 748 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment and end:[2]

  • Lt Cdr (A) R. G. French, RNVR (Oct 1942-Nov 1943)
  • Lt Cdr B. H. C. Nation, RN (Nov 1943-Jul 1944)
  • Lt Cdr J. G. Smith, RNVR (Jul 1944-Aug 1945)
  • Lt Cdr (A) P. J. E. Nichols, RNVR (Aug 1945-Dec 1945)
  • Lt Cdr (A) P. C. S. Chilton, RN (Dec 1945-Feb 1946)[6]

References

Citations
  1. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 69.
  2. Wragg 2019, p. 123.
  3. "RNAS St Merryn". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  4. "RNAS Henstridge". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  5. "RNAS Dale". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  6. Ballance 2016, p. 52.

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.
  • 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.
  • Wragg, David (2019). The Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939-1945. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK: The History Press. ISBN 978 0 7509 9303 6.


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