767 Naval Air Squadron

Fairey Swordfish I 'W5856-4A', an example of the aircraft used by 767 NAS

767 Naval Air Squadron formed as a Deck Landing Training Squadron, by redesignating 811 Naval Air Squadron, at RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), located 2.7 miles (4.3 km) east of Rosyth in Fife, Scotland, on the 24 May 1939.[4] It was initially equipped with DH.60 Moth, Swordfish and Shark aircraft.[5] Basic training was carried out at Donibristle, however, advanced training was carried out on the aircraft carrier, the modified Courageous-class battlecruiser, HMS Furious.

The squadron sent a detachment to Hyeres de la Palyvestre,[3] a French Naval air station located near Toulon, in Provence, France, in November 1939, to enable shore based training in the more favourable Mediterranean weather conditions. Here, the unique HMS Argus, the Royal Navy aircraft carrier, that was converted from an ocean liner, served as a training ship for carrier deck-landing training.[5]

On the 13 June 1940, the squadron was involved in a bombing raid over the Italian port city of Genoa, just days after Italy entered World War II. This action involved nine aircraft from 767 NAS.[3] Due to poor moonlight on the night, the attempt was abandoned, however, the following night of the 14 June, a successful attack was made.[5]

With the French falling to the German invasion, the squadron needed to be evacuated from France.[3] Eighteen aircraft flew to Bône in Algeria, using Bône Airfield. Here the squadron separated into two parts, with twelve aircraft going to Hal Far, on the island of Malta,[5] which then formed 830 Naval Air Squadron, in July 1940.[6] The other six going on to the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, with the aircraft being absorbed into it’s squadrons, and 767 NAS personnel going to the UK via Gibraltar.[5]

767 Naval Air Squadron regrouped at RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), located near Arbroath in East Angus, Scotland, on the 8 July 1940, continuing as a Deck Landing Training Squadron, now as part of the Deck Landing Training (DLT) School. It was initially equipped with Albacore and Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber aircraft.[7] In September 1940, the squadron received Fulmar, carrier-borne, reconnaissance / fighter aircraft, these remained around one year before being withdrawn in the following October, in 1941. It also operated Proctor radio trainer and communications aircraft, between June and August of that year, then in the November, it received Martlet, a United States carrier-based fighter aircraft, however, these were withdrawn from use in 1942.[5] The squadron operated out of Arbroath for almost two years, then on the 5 May 1943, it relocated to RNAS East Haven (HMS Peewit),[7] located approximately 1.5 miles (2 km) east of Carnoustie and 5 miles (8 km) south west of Arbroath, in Angus, Scotland.

East Haven was home to the Deck Landing Training School and Deck Landing Control Officer Training School. 767 NAS was joined by 768 Deck Landing Training Squadron, in October 1943 and 731 Deck Landing Control Officer Training Squadron, in December 1943.[8] Around this time the squadron received a later variant of Fulmar aircraft and the Albacore were withdrawn. However, in 1944, the Fulmar were withdrawn from use and these were replaced with Barracuda carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber aircraft. The remaining Swordfish aircraft were also withdrawn during 1944. The next year saw the arrival of Firefly aircraft to the squadron. Seafire aircraft were received in early 1946.[5] On the 15 July 1946, 767 NAS moved to RNAS Milltown (HMS Fulmar II),[8] located south of the Moray Firth and 3.6 miles (5.8 km) north east of Elgin, Scotland.

Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, the type used by 767 NAS for DLCO training

The squadron moved to RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), situated 4.2 miles (7 kilometres) north of the town of Yeovil, in Somerset, England, on the 8 September 1949. Here it provided Deck Landing Control Officer training and being administered as part of the 50th Training Air Group.[5]

The aircraft flew continuous circuits and approaches to land on whichever runway was in use, enabling the prospective DLCOs to direct their approach. The runway in use was known as the 'Dummy Deck', the trainee DLCOs were known as 'Batsmen' and the repetitive work earned them the nickname ‘Clockwork Mice’. The training course ended with the trainees operating on whichever aircraft carrier was assigned as a Deck Landing Training (DLT) Carrier.[9]

On the 4 January 1952 the squadron moved to RNAS Henstridge (HMS Dipper),[10] situated 12.4 miles (20 km) east of Yeovil in Somerset, England, where the DLCO training continued. Here the Sea Fury fighter aircraft and Firefly carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft, were the main aircraft used. 767 NAS only remained at Henstridge for a further eight months, before moving, on the 20 September 1952, to RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap),[5] an airfield at Appleton Thorn in Cheshire, situated 3 miles (5 kilometres) South East of Warrington.[11]

Supermarine Attcker FB.2, WP290, ST812, in 1831 NAS markings landing at RNAS Stretton, the type used by 767 NAS at Stretton

In 1953 the squadron received Attacker, a single-seat naval jet fighter aircraft, and in the October of that year, with the introduction of the Mirror Landing Aid, used to give glidepath information to pilots in the terminal phase of landing on an aircraft carrier, 767 NAS became the Landing Signal Officers Training Squadron. In 1954, the squadron disbanded on the 15 May, but it then reformed on the 20 September and was equipped with Avenger torpedo bomber and Sea Hawk single-seat jet day fighter, aircraft. 767 NAS remained at Stretton for a further six months, however, on the 31 March 1955 the squadron disbanded.[5]

767 Naval Air Squadron reformed on the 1 March 1956, as a Fighter Pilot Pool squadron, at RNAS Ford (HMS Perigrine), located at Ford, in West Sussex, England. The squadron was equipped with later variants than previously operated at Stretton, of Sea Hawk day fighter aircraft. It remained at Ford for around five months before moving to RNAS Brawdy, located 6.3 miles (10.1 km) east of St Davids in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the 14 August 1956.[12] Here the squadron provided an armament work-up course.[2] However, the following month, on the 20 September, the squadron returned to Ford.[12] Now the squadron was required to train up replacement pilots, needed for FAA squadrons operating in the Suez. 767 Naval Air Squadron disbanded into 764 Naval Air Squadron on the 1 April 1957.[2]

767 Naval Air Squadron reformed on the 14 January 1969, at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron),[4] sited a few miles north of Yeovil, in Somerset, England, as an Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), from the core of 700P Naval Air Squadron. It's role was to convert Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm aircrew and Royal Air Force aircrew, to the Phantom FG.1, an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber aircraft,[2] purchased for the Royal Navy, as a carrier-borne fighter for Fleet defence, to replace the Sea Vixen aircraft.[13] 767 Naval Air Squadron disbanded as an OCU at Yeovilton, once it's task was completed, on the 1 August 1972.[4]

• 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.
• 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.