761 Naval Air Squadron

761 Naval Air Squadron (761 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was formed at RNAS Yeovilton, as a Fleet Fighter School, in 1941. The squadron moved to RNAS Henstridge, in 1943, as part of the No. 2 Naval Air Fighter School. It remained at Henstridge and in this role, until January 1946, when the squadron disbanded.

761 Naval Air Squadron
A Spitfire Ia of 761 NAS at RNAS Yeovilton during 1943.
Active1 August 1941 - 16 January 1946[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
RoleNaval Air Fighter School
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Supermarine Seafire, an example of the type used by 761 NAS

History of 761 NAS

Naval Air Fighter School (1941 - 1946)

761 Naval Air Squadron formed, on the 1 August 1941, at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) near Yeovil, Somerset, as a Fleet Fighter School. It was initially equipped with Fulmar and Sea Hurricane aircraft.[2] During 1942, Roc and Spitfire aircraft were also used.[3]

On the 10 April 1943, 761 NAS relocated to RNAS Henstridge (HMS Dipper), situated near Henstridge, in Somerset, as part of No.2 Naval Air Fighter School. At this point the squadron was equipped with a mix of eighteen Spitfire and Seafire aircraft, along with six Miles Master aircraft.[4]

Utilising 'D' Flight, trainees went about real deck landing training on the Attacker-class escort carrier, HMS Ravager (D70) and the aircraft carrier, (converted from an ocean liner), HMS Argus (I49).[3]

761 NAS disbanded at Henstridge on the 16 January 1946.[4]

Aircraft flown
A prototype Supermarine Seafire Mark XV (Type 377), an example of those used by 761 NAS.

The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:[2][3]

766 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in England:[2]

Commanding Officers

List of commanding officers of 761 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment and end:[2]

  • Lt C. P. Campbell-Horsefall, RN (Aug 1941-Jan 1942)
  • Capt R. C. Hay, DSC, RM (Jan 1942-Jul 1942)
  • Lt R. B. Pearson, RN (Jul 1942-Sep 1942)
  • Lt W. C. Simpson, RNVR (Sep 1942-Oct 1942)
  • Lt A. C. Wallace, RN (Oct 1942-Nov 1942)
  • not identified (Nov 1942-Apr 1943)
  • Lt-Cdr R. J. Cork, DSO, DSC, RN (Apr 1943-Nov 1943)
  • Lt-Cdr R. H. P. Carver, DSC, RN (Nov 1943-Sep 1944)
  • Lt-Cdr S. G. Orr, DSC, RNVR (Sep 1944-Apr 1946)
  • Lt-Cdr P. N. Charlton, DSC, RN (Apr 1946-Jan 1946)

Notes
  1. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 79.
  2. "761 Naval Air Squadron". www.wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  3. Ballance 2016, p. 62.
  4. "RNAS Henstridge". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2023.

References
  • 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.
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