| 719 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 5 October 1961[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role |
|
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm
|
| Home station | SeeNaval air stations section for full list. |
| Aircraft | SeeAircraft operated section for full list. |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | White, an archer erect habited in jerkin and feathered hat red hose and shoes green holding an armed bow at full draught and carrying a full quiver proper (1946)[2] |
| Identification Markings | S1A+ (all types 1944-1945)[3] A4A+ (Firefly FR.I) 200+ (Firefly FR.I - October 1946) 300+ (Barracuda) 224-279 (Firefly AS.5/6) 320-341 (Firefly 7) 550-559 (Firefly 7 - January 1956) 456-459 (Gannet) 541-557 (Gannet - January 1956) 625-627 (Whirlwind)[4] |
| Fin Carrier/Shore Codes | A (Firefly FR.I) JR (Barracuda) GN (Firefly AS.5/6, T.7,Gannet)[4] |
719 Naval Air Squadron (719 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It initially formed in 1944 as aFighter Air Firing Training Squadron, at HMSVulture, RNAS St Merryn, within the School of Air Combat, but at the start of 1945 it disbanded into 794 Naval Air Squadron. The squadron reformed in 1946 at HMSOwl, RNAS Fearn, as aStrike Training Squadron, before moving to HMSGannet, RNAS Eglinton, where it became anAnti-submarine Training Squadron, disbanding there in 1949. The squadron reformed the following year at HMSGannet as theNaval Air Anti-submarine School and remained there becoming theNaval Anti-Submarine Operational Flying School, eventually disbanding in 1959. However, in 1960, the squadron reformed, again at HMSGannet, as theJoint Anti-submarine School Flight, this time operating helicopters. 719 Naval Air Squadron was granted first line status on 5 October 1961 and renumbered to 819 Naval Air Squadron.
719 Naval Air Squadron formed atRNAS St Merryn (HMSVulture), located 7.35 miles (11.83 km) northeast ofNewquay,Cornwall, as a Fighter Air Firing Training Squadron, on the 15 June 1944, as part of the School of Naval Air Warfare. It was equipped with a variety of Fleet Air Arm aircraft including,Vought Corsair Mk III, an Americancarrier-basedfighter-bomber,Miles Master II, a British two-seat monoplane advanced trainer,Supermarine Seafire Mk Ib & Mk IIc, anavalised version of theSupermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft, of which the squadron also operated using the Mk Vb variant andGrumman Wildcat Mk IV, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft.[5]
The squadron provided weapon training and air firing exercises as part of a Naval Air Firing course, however, six months after forming, on 2 January 1945, the squadron disbanded into794 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS St Merryn (HMSVulture).[6]
719 Naval Air Squadron reformed atRNAS Fearn (HMSOwl), located 5.4 miles (8.7 km) southeast ofTain,Scottish Highlands, as a Strike Training Squadron on 1 March 1946. It was initially equipped solely withFairey Barracuda, a British carrier-bornetorpedo anddive bomber aircraft. Two months later on 14 May 1946 the squadron relocated toRNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet), located 1.3 miles (2.1 km) north east ofEglinton,County Londonderry,Northern Ireland, here, along with718 Naval Air Squadron, it was part of the51st Training Air Group,[6] which itself was disbanded on 13 November 1946.
The squadron started to be equipped withFairey Firefly FR.1, the "fighter/reconnaissance" variant, of the British carrier-borne fighter andanti-submarine aircraft. However, from 24 to 31 October 1946, the squadron operated from theaircraft carrier andlead ship ofher class,HMS Implacable, operating its Fairey Barracuda Mk III aircraft.[6] ExchangingCommanding Officer and staff with 795 Naval Air Squadron on 13 November,[2] the squadron became an Anti-submarine Training Squadron, where it bought together aircrew, trained them and passed onto744 Naval Air Squadron for more advanced training and it continued in this role until 27 December 1949, when it disbanded at RNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet).[6]
719 Naval Air Squadron reformed at RNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet), on 14 June 1950, as the Naval Air Anti-submarine School foranti-submarine warfare (ASW) training. Along with737 Naval Air Squadron, the squadron formed the53rd Training Air Group. It was initially equipped with Fairey Firefly AS.Mk 5 aircraft, a British anti-submarine aircraft, which carried Americansonobuoys and equipment. The following year it received Fairey Firefly AS.Mk 6 aircraft, which carried British equipment. Whilst the 53rd Training Air Group disbanded on 31 January 1952, the squadrons remained operational at HMSGannet.[2]
In March 1953 Fairey Firefly T.Mk 7, an ASW training aircraft, were received and the AS.Mk 5 and AS.Mk 6 were withdrawn throughout the following three months. During 1955 the squadron started operatingFairey Gannet AS.1, a British anti-submarine warfare aircraft, which were followed later by T.2 type, the dual control trainer version, and these eventually replaced the Fairey Firefly aircraft. In 1957,737 Naval Air Squadron disbanded but was absorbed into 719 Naval Air Squadron and it became titled the Naval Anti-Submarine Operational Flying School. The squadron disbanded at RNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet) on 17 March 1959.[6]
719 Naval Air Squadron reformed on 17 May 1960, at RNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet), as the Joint Anti-submarine School Flight. It was equipped with threeWestland Whirlwind HAS.7, an anti-submarine helicopter. From 4 to 14 October 1960, it operated its Whirlwind helicopters off theCentaur-classaircraft carrier,HMS Hermes during its deployment in theNorth Sea.
719 Naval Air Squadron was granted first line status on the 5 October 1961 and renumbered to819 Naval Air Squadron.[6]
The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:[1][2]
719 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy, in the UK and twoRoyal Navy aircraft carriers[6][2]
.jpg)
1944 - 1945
1946 - 1949
1950 - 1959
1960 - 1961
List ofcommanding officers of 719 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[6][2]
1944 - 1955
1946 - 1949
1950 - 1959
1960 - 1961