| 718 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 AFairey III similar to ones used by the 718 NAS in 1936. | |
| Active | Royal Air Force 1936–1939 Royal Navy
|
| Disbanded | 31 December 1955 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role |
|
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm
|
| Home station | Royal Naval Air Station Bermuda (1936-1940) RNAS Henstridge (1944-1945) RNAS Eglington (1946-1947) RNAS Stretton (1955) |
| Aircraft | SeeAircraft operated section for full list. |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lieutenant(A) R.M. Crosley, DSC & Bar, RN |
| Insignia | |
| Identification Markings |
|
| Fin Shore Code | ST (Attacker &Sea Vampire) |
718 Naval Air Squadron (718 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN) created on 15 July 1936 to serve as a Catapult Flight of theFleet Air Arm. It was elevated tosquadron status at the end of 1937, before being disbanded on 21 January 1940. It was re-formed on 5 June 1944 to operate as the Army Co-operation Naval Operational Training Unit before being disbanded again on 1 November 1945. On 23 August 1946 it was reformed for the third time to operate as aSeafire Conversion Squadron but was disbanded less than one year later, on 17 March 1947. On 25 April 1955, after almost a decade, the squadron was reformed once more to trainRNVR on jet aircraft. Once this work was complete, it was disbanded for the final time on 31 December 1955.[1]
718 NAS originally came into being as aflight-sized unit following a renumbering ofNo. 443 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight RAF and operated in the8th Cruiser Squadron in the America and West Indies Station.
The unit was initially equipped withFairey IIIFs andHawker Ospreys, and was stationed aboard theLeander-class cruisersHMS Apollo andHMS Ajax, and theYork-class cruisersHMS Exeter andHMS York. The unit began to requip with sixFairey Seafox and sixSupermarine Walrus aircraft, with the final Hawker Osprey being replaced in 1937. At the end of the year the unit was grantedSquadron-status whilst stationed atRoyal Naval Air Station Bermuda.[1][2]
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At the onset of the Second World War, the squadron was deploying fiveSupermarine Walrus and fiveFairey Seafox aircraft across sixcruisers. The departure ofHMSApollo from the station was offset by the arrival ofHMS Berwick,HMS Orion, andHMAS Perth. During theBattle of the River Plate on 13 December 1939, HMS Ajax Flight observed the impact of enemy fire, which resulted in the squadron receiving its soleBattle Honour.[3]
Not long after the war began, on 21 January 1940, the squadron was merged into700 Naval Air Squadron.[4]
Four years later, on 5 June 1944, the squadron was reformed to operate as an Army Co-operation Training Unit, with its base atRNAS Henstridge (HMSDipper), Somerset.[5]
It was equipped with sixSupermarine Spitfire PR Mk XII, a photo-reconnaissance variant of the fighter aircraft along with nineSupermarine Seafire F Mk III, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire. In its role as an Army Co-operation Training Unit the unit trained new pilots in a variety oftactical reconnaissance techniques so they could replace experienced pilots on already on deployment. They also operated an Air Combat course.[3]
The following year the unit was operating in a new role as the School of Naval Air Reconnaissance, but was rebased, on 17 August 1945, toRNAS Ballyhalbert (HMSCorncrake), County Down, Northern Ireland[6] and had its role change again, this time to the No.4 Naval Air Fighting School.[1]
In this context,Vought Corsair, an American carrier-borne fighter-bomber, took the place of the Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk XIII aircraft, with additionalNorth American Harvard training aircraft andMiles Martinet aircraft incorporated to provide target facilities. The squadron was disbanded in November, with the Vought Corsair aircraft being abandoned at sea from HMSRanger, while the remaining aircraft were transferred to794 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Eglinton.[3]
On 23 August 1946, the squadron was reformed for the third time atRNAS Eglington (HMSGannet),County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, to operate as a Seafire conversion squadron within the51st Training Air Group, but was transferred to the52nd Training Group in November of that year. In its role as a conversion squadron the unit worked withSupermarine Seafire L Mk.III fighter aircraft, alongside two types of advanced trainer aircraft:North American Harvard andMiles Master.[1]
In November, the squadron underwent a transfer of its Commanding Officer and staff with794 Naval Air Squadron, allowing them to gain embarked experience with the new squadron. On 17 March 1947, the squadron was disbanded for the penultimate time.[3]
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Nearly ten years later, on 26 April 1955, the squadron was re-established atRNAS Stretton (HMSBlackcap),Cheshire. Its primary function was to trainRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve pilots from1831 Naval Air Squadron in operating theSupermarine Attacker, a naval jet fighter aircraft and thede Havilland Sea Vampire jet fighter aircraft.
Later in the year, the unit relocated toRAF Honiley,Warwickshire, to collaborate with1833 Naval Air Squadron in fulfilling the same training responsibilities.
The unit was ultimately disbanded for the last time on 31 December 1955, having successfully completed its assigned tasks.[1]
The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:[1][7]
718 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom, one overseas and a Royal Air Force station:[3]
1936 - 1940
1944 - 1945
1946 - 1947
1955
List ofRoyal Navy cruisers where responsibility for the aircraft belonged to 714 Flight, between 1936 and 1940:[3]
List ofcommanding officers of 718 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[8]
1936 - 1940
1944 - 1945
1946 - 1947
1955