756 Naval Air Squadron

756 Naval Air Squadron (756 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron, operating from March 1941, out of RNAS Worthy Down (HMS Kestrel), in Hampshire, England. TAG training was provided until the No. 2 School was ready in Canada, opening on the 1 January 1943, and 756 NAS disbanded in December 1942. The squadron reformed at RNAS Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), in Sri Lanka, in October 1943, as a Torpedo, Bomber, Reconnaissance pool. During 1944 and 1945, the squadron undertook a number of detachmemts on different types of Royal Navy aircraft carriers, with it disbanding in December 1945.

756 Naval Air Squadron
Active6 March 1941 - 1 December 1942
1 October 1943 - 24 November 1945[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
Role
  • Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron
  • Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Insignia
Identification MarkingsX3A+ Proctor
single letters Albacore
KA+ Barracuda & Swordfish
K1A+ Avenger[2]
Percival Proctor, of the type used by 756 NAS

History of 756 NAS

Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron (1941 - 1942)

756 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Worthy Down (HMS Kestrel), 3.5 miles (6 km) north of Winchester, Hampshire, England, on 6 Mar 1941, as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron.[3] It operated with Proctor I and II, a British radio trainer and communications aircraft.[4]

The squadron continued Telegraphist Air Gunner training throughout 1942, however, as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, the No. 2 Telegraphist Air Gunner School, at R.N. Air Section Yarmouth , located in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada, opened on 1 January 1943,[3] and therefore 756 NAS was disbanded at Worthy Down on the 1 December 1942.[4]

Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance (1943 - 1945)

756 Naval Air Squadron reformed on the 1 October 1943 as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance pool at RNAS Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), located near the town of Kalutara in Sri Lanka. The squadron initially used Albacore, a single-engine biplane torpedo bomber, and Fulmar, a British carrier-borne reconnaissance aircraft/fighter aircraft, from reformation. These were followed by Barracuda, a British carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber, in the December. In February 1944, Albacore and Fulmar were withdrawn from the squadron's inventory, but Swordfish, a biplane torpedo bomber aircraft, arrived in March 1944 and these were closely followed by Avenger, an American torpedo bomber aircraft, in May.[4]

The squadron participated in four separate aircraft carrier deployments, one during 1944 and a further three in 1945. From the 29 April to the 4 May 1944, a detachment from 756 NAS, was deployed on the aircraft repair ship and light aircraft carrier, HMS Unicorn (I72).

In 1945, a detachment then spent three days, 1, 2 and 3 May, operating from the Attacker-class escort carrier, HMS Attacker (D02) and this was later followed by a two week detachment to the Ruler-class escort carrier, HMS Atheling (D51), between the 15 and the 21 August. 756 NAS sent a detachment to the Illustrious-class aircraft carrier, HMS Victorious (R38) for approximately two weeks, from 29 October to the 12 November.[4]

On the 24 November 1945, 756 NAS disbanded at RNAS Katukurunda.[4]

Aircraft flown

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

756 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, one in England and one overseas in Sri Lanka, and some Royal Navy aircraft carrier deployments[4] (Dt.= Detachment):

Commanding Officers

List of commanding officers of 756 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment and end:[4][2]

1941 - 1942

  • Lt-Cdr(A) R. H. Ovey, RNVR (Mar 1941-Jun 1942)
  • Lt-Cdr(A) W. H. C. Blake, RNVR (Jun 1942-Dec 1942)

1943 - 1945

  • Lt-Cdr A. D. Bourke, RNZNVR (Oct 1943-Feb 1944)
  • Lt(A) W. D. Widdows, RNVR (Feb 1944) (temp)
  • Lt-Cdr(A) S. M. deL. Longsden, RN (Feb 1944-Oct 1944)
  • Lt-Cdr(A) T. T. Miller, RN (Oct 1944-Jul 1945)
  • Lt-Cdr(A) R. E. F. Kerrison, RNVR (Jul 1945-Aug 1945)
  • Lt-Cdr(A) F. W. Barring, RNVR (Aug 1945-Nov 1945)

References

Citations
  1. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 75.
  2. Wragg 2019, p. 125.
  3. "RNAS Worthy Down". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  4. "756 Naval Air Squadron". www.wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 27 January 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.
  • 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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