| 769 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
.jpg) AFairey Swordfish, an example of the type used by 769 NAS | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 29 October 1945[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 | |
| Identification Markings | T6A+ (all types 1939) individual letters (Swordfish 1941-1943) individual numbers (Albacore 1941-1943) E3A+ andE4A+(all types 1943-1945) I4A+,I5A+ andI6A+ (Barracuda 1945)[2][3] |
769 Naval Air Squadron (769 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It last disbanded and merged with 717 Naval Air Squadron after the Second World War. 769 Naval Air Squadron Formed at HMSMerlin, RNAS Donibristle, during May 1939, by renumbering 801 Naval Air Squadron.Its role was a fighterDeck Landing Training Squadron, using HMSFurious for advanced training, before disbanding in the December. It reformed in November 1941, as a unit within the Deck Landing Training School at HMSCondor, RNAS Arbroath, and in November 1943, it moved to HMSPeewit, RNAS East Haven. Its role changed toTorpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training in 1944, before moving to HMSMerganser, RNAS Rattray, in July 1945.
769 Naval Air Squadron formed atRNAS Donibristle (HMSMerlin),Fife, Scotland, on 24 May 1939 as a fighter Deck Landing Training squadron, by renumbering801 Naval Air Squadron.[2] It was equipped withGloster Sea Gladiator, abiplanefighter aircraft,Blackburn Skua, adive bomber and fighter aircraft andBlackburn Roc, a navalturret fighter aircraft. Advanced deck landing training was done using the modifiedCourageous-classbattlecruiser to anaircraft carrierHMS Furious. On 24 November804 Naval Air Squadron was formed using four of 769’s Gloster Sea Gladiator aircraft and on 1 December 769 Naval Air Squadron disbanded.[3]
On 29 November 1941, 769 Naval Air Squadron reformed as a Deck Landing Training squadron within the Deck Landing Training School atRNAS Arbroath (HMSCondor). It operated withFairey Swordfish andFairey Albacore, both biplanetorpedo bomber aircraft.[2] The squadron receivedFairey Barracuda, a dive and torpedo bomber,[3] when it relocated toRNAS East Haven (HMSPeewit),Angus, Scotland, on 7 November 1943.[4] Here it also ran a deck landing training course for officers until the course moved to731 Naval Air Squadron on 5 December.[3]
769 Naval Air Squadron changed its role to Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance (TBR) training during 1944.[2] It moved toRNAS Rattray (HMSMerganser),Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on 28 July 1945.[4] The intention was to expand the TBR school at HMSMerganser, however, due toV-J Day, it was no longer required and 769 Naval Air Squadron disbanded and was absorbed into717 Naval Air Squadron, on 29 October 1945.[3]
The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:[3]
.jpg)
769 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number ofnaval air station of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom:[3]
1939
1941 - 1945
List ofcommanding officers of 769 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[2][3]
1939
1941 - 1945
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[5]