| 784 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Avro Anson Mk I; an example of the type used by 784 NAS | |
| Active | 1942–1946 |
| Disbanded | 10 September 1946[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role | Night Fighter Training Squadron |
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | SeeNaval air stations section for full list. |
| Mottos | Illumina tenebras (Latin for 'Lighten our darkness')[2] |
| Aircraft | SeeAircraft operated section for full list. |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | Black, base wavy of eight white and blue a bat gold breathing flames of fire proper issuant a torch gold inflamed proper (1943)[2] |
| Identification Markings | A0A+ (October 1942) B0AA+ (1943 - 1945) D1A+ toD3A+ &D5A+ (1945) P8A+ (1946)[3][2] |
784 Naval Air Squadron (784 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN) which last disbanded in the autumn of 1946. 784 NAS was aNight Fighter Training Squadron which formed at HMSDaedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, in June 1942, moving to HMSNighthawk, RNAS Drem, East Lothian, in October 1942. Squadron Personnel were also detached to the Naval Air Radio Installation Unit at RAF Christchurch, in 1943 and in the same year, a number of crews were attached to RAF night fighter squadrons, with two officers gained Distinguished Flying Crosses. In 1944, three squadron Flights were attached for service to each of 813, 825 and 835 Naval Air Squadrons, embarked in the escort carriers HMSCampania, HMSVindex, and HMSNairana respectively, on convoy protection duties. At the beginning of 1946 the squadron moved to Wales, operating out of HMSGoldcrest II, RNAS Brawdy.
784 Naval Air Squadron formed atRNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus), inHampshire, on 1 June 1942, as a Night Fighter Training squadron. It was initially equipped with sixFairey Fulmar, a Britishcarrier-bornereconnaissance andfighter aircraft and twoVought Chesapeake, an Americandive bomber. More Fairey Fulmar arrived later,[3] along withAvro Anson, the latter from August 1942, a multirole aircraft but primarily used as atrainer, and these particular aircraft were equipped asaircraft interception (AI) radar classrooms.[2]
On 18 October 1942 the squadron relocated toRNAS Drem (HMSNighthawk), inEast Lothian, Scotland, and the following year saw some squadron personnel detached toRAF Christchurch, inDorset, England, to support theNaval Air Radio Installation Unit. Later in 1943 some of the squadron’spilots saw service withNo. 29 Squadron RAF, undertaking night fighting operations,[3] with in particular,Lieutenant D.R.O. Price,RNVR, andSub-lieutenant R.E. Armitage, RNVR, awardedDFCs for their actions.[2]
In 1944, 784 NAS provided threeFlights, each consisting three Fairey Fulmar aircraft, to support withfighter cover on convoy protection duties. One Flight was attached to813 Naval Air Squadron for service embarked in theNairana-classescort carrierHMS Campania, the second Flight was attached to825 Naval Air Squadron embarked in anotherNairana-class escort carrierHMS Vindex, and the third Flight was attached to835 Naval Air Squadron embarked in the lead ship of her classHMS Nairana. During September 1944 the squadron receivedFairey Firefly NF.Mk I, thenight fighter variant of the carrier-borne fighter andanti-submarine aircraft,[3] these aircraft were used in the Air Intercept role and were equipped with the American ASH radar.
November 1945 saw the formation of a ‘B’ Flight, out of the disbanded732 Naval Air Squadron, and this operated withGrumman Hellcat N.F. Mk II, the night fighter variant of the American fighter aircraft andNorth American Harvard, an American advanced trainer aircraft. 784 NAS moved again on 15 January 1946, relocating toRNAS Dale (HMSGoldcrest), inPembrokeshire, Wales,[4] however, the squadron primarily operated out of RNAS Dale’s satellite,RNAS Brawdy (HMSGoldcrest II)[5] where the squadron eventually disbanded,[3] becoming 'B' Flight of790 Naval Air Squadron on 10 September 1946.[2]
The squadron operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[2]
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784 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy, both in the UK and overseas and a number ofRoyal Navy escort aircraft carriers:[3][2]
List ofcommanding officers of 784 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[3][2]
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[6]