| 735 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Fairey Barracuda Mk II, of the type used by 735 NAS | |
| Active | 1943–1946 |
| Disbanded | 30 April 1946[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role | ASV Training Unit |
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | RNAS Inskip RNAS Burscough |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | CaptainFred Stovin-BradfordCBE, DSC &Bar |
| Insignia | |
| Identification Markings |
|
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | |
| Bomber | Vickers Wellington |
| Fighter | Grumman Hellcat |
| Trainer | Avro Anson |
735 Naval Air Squadron (735 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It was active from 1943 as anASV Radar Training Unit. Forming at HMSNightjar, at RNAS Inskip, Lancashire, in 1944 the squadron moved to HMSRingtail, RNAS Burscough, also in Lancashire. Various flights from the squadron moved on to form other Naval Air Squadrons, with the squadron eventually disbanding in 1946.
735 Naval Air Squadron was formed atRNAS Inskip (HMSNightjar), located near the village ofInskip, Lancashire, England, on the 1 August 1943, as anair-to-surface-vessel (ASV) radar training unit and remained there until the 18 March 1944. The squadron flewFairey Swordfish I & II, abiplanetorpedo bomber, andAvro Anson Mk.I, a multi-roletraining aircraft.[1] The Avro Ansons were used for both ASH (Airborne to Surface Homing) and ASV radar training. 735 Naval Air Squadron originally comprised twoFlights, ‘A’ Flight being concerned with radar training and ‘B’ Flight engaged in radar trials.[4]
The squadron moved toRNAS Burscough (HMSRingtail), located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest ofBurscough,Lancashire, losing the Fairey Swordfish but gainingFairey Barracuda Mk II & Mk III, a carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber aircraft. 735 Naval Air Squadron also operated a detachment out ofRNAS Arbroath (HMSCondor), located nearArbroath in EastAngus, Scotland, between the 28 August 1944 and the 15 April 1945, when it also flewGrumman Hellcat F. Mk. I, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft, in the last year of World War Two, before returning to RNAS Burscough.
‘C’ Flight was added, which acted as a mobile unit givingRebecca short-rangeradio navigation system training to fighter pilots. This was equipped with three Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. I and a single Avro Anson Mk I aircraft.[4]
In February 1945 ‘B’ Flight broke away and became707 Naval Air Squadron. The following month ‘C’ flight became787X Flight atRAF Odiham, Hampshire, England.[4]
735 Naval Air Squadron remained at RNAS Burscough after World War Two, continuing to operate Avro Anson and Fairey Barracuda aircraft. In November 1945,737 Naval Air Squadron was absorbed into the squadron,[4] however, on the 30 April 1946, 735 Naval Air Squadron disbanded.[3]
The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:[5][3]
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735 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom:[3][5]
List ofcommanding officers of 735 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[5][3]