| 704 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
.jpg) de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito T Mk.III, an example of the type used by 704 NAS | |
| Active | 11 April 1945 - 2 December 1945[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role | Naval Operational Training Unit |
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | RNAS Zeals (HMSHummingbird) RAF Thorney Island |
| Insignia | |
| Identification Markings | FD3A+[2] |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | de Havilland Mosquito |
| Transport | Airspeed Oxford |
704 Naval Air Squadron (704 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It formed as aOperational Training Unit, at RNAS Zeals (HMSHummingbird) in Wiltshire, in April 1945, operating with de Havilland Mosquito aircraft. The squadron later moved to RAF Thorney Island in West Sussex, in the September, and continued with de Havilland Mosquito conversion courses, however the squadron disbanded in December 1945.
On 11 April 1945, 704 Naval Air Squadron was formed atRNAS Zeals (HMSHummingbird), located near the village ofZeals inWiltshire, as a Naval Operational Training Unit, for the conversion of de Havilland Mosquitoaircrew.[2] The squadron was equipped withde Havilland Mosquito, a British twin-engined,multirole combat aircraft. It mainly operated with the FB.VI strike ("fighter-bomber") variant and also had a smaller number of T.III two-seattrainer versions.[3]
On 20 June four of the aircraft were detached to703 Naval Air Squadron which was operating atRAF Thorney Island, which was located onThorney Island,West Sussex. The aircraft were utilised for development work in conjunction with theRoyal Air Force’sAir-Sea Warfare Development Unit (ASWDU).[2] The rest of 704 NAS relocated to RAF Thorney Island on 4 September and the detachment was incorporated back into the squadron. Three months later the squadron disbanded on 2 December 1945 when it was absorbed into762 Naval Air Squadron, a Twin Engine Conversion Unit.[3]
The squadron operated a couple of different aircraft types:[3]
704 Naval Air Squadron operated from onenaval air stations of the Royal Navy and oneRoyal Air Force station, both in England:[3]
List ofcommanding officers of 704 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[2][3]
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[4]