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714 Naval Air Squadron
714 Naval Air Squadron (714 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). The unit was initially established as 714 (Catapult) Flight in July 1936. By 1939, it had evolved from a flight into a squadron and was actively operating from the cruisers HMS Gloucester, HMS Liverpool, and HMS Manchester at the onset of the Second World War, utilising Supermarine Walrus aircraft, with RAF Seletar and RAF China Bay serving as its shore bases. In 1940, it was incorporated into 700 Naval Air Squadron. Subsequently, in August 1944, it was reestablished at HMS Owl, RNAS Fearn, as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, equipped with Fairey Barracuda aircraft. The squadron relocated to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray, in October and was disbanded nearly one year later, almost to the exact day. HistoryCatapult flight / squadron (1936-1940)It was first formed as 714 (Catapult) Flight on 15 July 1936, by renumbering 406 (Catapult) Flight, and operated Fairey IIIF floatplanes from cruisers in the East Indies (probably principally 4th Cruiser Squadron). The Fairey IIFs were quickly replaced by Hawker Osprey floatplanes and Supermarine Walrus flying boats, and in 1937 these were supplemented by Fairey Seafox floatplanes. By July 1938 it had consolidated on the Walrus as equipment, and in early 1939 it was upgraded to full squadron status.[1] It was disbanded on 21 January 1940, when all the Fleet Air Arm's catapult units were merged to form 700 Naval Air Squadron.[2] Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training squadron (1944-1945)The squadron was reformed on 1 August 1944 at RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl) near Tain, Scotland, as an operational training squadron equipped with the Fairey Barracuda. It moved to RNAS Rattray (HMS Merganser) near Crimond, Aberdeenshire in October 1944. Its commanding officers included Lieutenant Commander J R Godley, who transferred from the disbanded 835 Naval Air Squadron, taking over in May 1945. The squadron disbanded on 29 October 1945.[1] Aircraft flown714 Naval Air Squadron operated a number of different aircraft types:[3]
Naval air stations714 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple of naval air station of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom and a couple Royal Air Force stations overseas:[3] 1936 - 1940
1944 - 1945
Ships' FlightsList of Royal Navy ships where responsibility for the aircraft belonged to 714 Flight, between 1936 and 1940:[3]
Commanding officersList of commanding officers of 714 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[3][4] 1936 - 1940
1944 - 1945
ReferencesCitations
Bibliography
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