753 Naval Air Squadron

753 Naval Air Squadron (753 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was active as an Observer Training Squadron from 1939 to 1946 as part of No.2 Observer School, forming out of the School of Naval Co-operation, in May 1939. Initially at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), the squadron moved to RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor) just over one year later, in August 1940,[3] following a German bombing attack on the air station.[2] It spent four years operating out of Arbroath, before relocating again, this time to RNAS Rattray (HMS Merganser), where the squadron disbanded in August 1946.[3]

753 Naval Air Squadron
Active24 May 1939 - 9 August 1946[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
RoleObserver Training Squadron
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Insignia
Identification MarkingsW4A+
A4A+ to A7A+ (Feb 1943)[2]
Fairey Swordfish I 'W5856 - 4A', an example of the type used by 753 NAS

History of 753 NAS

Observer Training Squadron (1939 - 1946)

753 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 24 May 1939 as an Observer Training Squadron and being part of No.2 Observer School. It was initially equipped with Blackburn Shark Mk II and Fairey Seal aircraft. In the following December the squadron then acquired Fairey Swordfish I.[4]

753 NAS moved to RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), located near Arbroath in East Angus, Scotland, on the 19 August 1940.[5] Discarding the Seal, but keeping the Shark Mk II and Swordfish I during the move, the squadron then also operated Fairey Albacore Mk I from August 1941, which was soon followed by de Havilland Tiger Moth in the December. In November 1943 Stinson Reliant I was received and was used by the squadron for almost one year, up until September 1944. Lastly, from December 1944, the squadron operated Fairey Barracuda Mk II up until disbandment.[4]

On the 1 November 1945, 753 NAS left Arbroath and moved to RNAS Rattray (HMS Merganser), near Crimond, Aberdeenshire.[5] The squadron remained at the base, operating Fairey Barracuda, until disbanding on the 9 August 1946.[4]

Aircraft flown

753 Naval Air Squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:[4]

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

Commanding Officers

List of commanding officers of 753 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment and end:[4]

  • Lt-Cdr G. N. P. Stringer, DFC, RN (May 1939-Oct 1940)
  • Capt A. C. Newson, RM (Oct 1940-May 1941)
  • Lt-Cdr L.A. Cubitt, RN (May 1941-Sep 1941)
  • Lt-Cdr A. C. Mills, RNVR (Sep 1941-Jul 1942)
  • Lt-Cdr F. R. Steggall, RNVR (Jul 1942-Mar 1944)
  • Lt-Cdr R. E. Stewart, RNVR (Mar 1944-Aug 1945)
  • Lt-Cdr A. J. Phillips, RN (Aug 1945-Aug 1946)

References

Citations
  1. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 73.
  2. Ballance 2016, p. 56.
  3. Wragg 2019, p. 124.
  4. "753 Naval Air Squadron". www.wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  5. "RNAS Arbroath". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2023.

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