| 790 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 15 November 1949[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. |
| Mottos | In alto societas (Latin for 'There's company aloft') |
| Aircraft | SeeAircraft operated section for full list. |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | Blue, upon clouds melting white a cockerel crowing proper (1943)[2] |
| Identification Markings |
|
| Fin Shore Codes | DL (from 1946) CW (from 1947)[2] |
790 Naval Air Squadron (790 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN) which disbanded in November 1949 at RNAS Culdrose (HMSSeahawk). It initially formed during 1941 as anAir Target Towing Unit, at HMSLandrail, RNAS Macrihanish, in Scotland, from elements of two other Fleet Air Arm squadrons, however, this only lasted for three months and the unit was disbanded, absorbed into 772 Naval Air Squadron. It reformed the following year, in July 1942, tasked as aFighter Direction Training Unit, at RNAS Charlton Horethorne (HMSHeron II). It provided support for the Fighter Direction School and had short spells at RAF Culmhead and RNAS Zeals (HMSHummingbird), before reloacting to RNAS Dale (HMSGoldcrest) in Pembrokeshire, next to the new purpose built Air Direction School, HMSHarrier or RNADC Kete, in 1945. The squadron moved to HMSSeahawk in Cornwall during December 1947.
790 Naval Air Squadron formed on the 15 June 1941, as an Air Target Towing Unit, atRNAS Machrihanish (HMSLandrail),[3] situated near toCampbeltown inArgyll and Bute,Scotland. It was made up from parts of both768 Naval Air Squadron and772 Naval Air Squadron, equipped withFairey Swordfish, a biplane torpedo bomber, andBlackburn Roc, a naval turret fighter aircraft.[3] Three months later the squadron disbanded into 772 Naval Air Squadron, on the 30 September.[2]
790 Naval Air Squadron reformed on the 27 July 1942, atRNAS Charlton Horethorne (HMSHeron II), situated in the hamlet ofSigwells inSomerset,England, attached to the Fighter Direction School. The squadron was equipped withAirspeed Oxford, a twin-engine trainer aircraft, andFairey Fulmar, acarrier-bornereconnaissance andfighter aircraft. It used these to support the training of Fighter Direction Officers. The Airspeed Oxford aircraft would act as the 'enemy bombers' and the Fairey Fulmar aircraft would be the 'fighter aircraft' that the trainees would direct tointercept.[3]
In June 1944 the Fairey Fulmar aircraft were withdrawn and were replaced withFairey Firefly, acarrier-bornefighter andanti-submarine aircraft. The squadron briefly operated fromRAF Culmhead, situated atChurchstanton on theBlackdown Hills inSomerset, during August and September of that year, but later moved toRNAS Zeals (HMSHummingbird), sited to the north of the village ofZeals inWiltshire, on the 1 April 1945.[2]
On the 30 August 1945, the squadron relocated toRNAS Dale (HMSGoldcrest), located just outside the village ofDale, Pembrokeshire.[4] The squadron continued to provide live interception flights but now for the new purpose built Air Direction School, which was located 1 mile South of RNAS Dale, atHMSHarrier, also known as R.N. Aircraft Direction Centre Kete.[5] Here the squadron operated the twin-enginedAvro Anson multi-role aircraft, thebiplanede Havilland Dominie short-haul transport/airliner,Fairey Firefly I, a fighter and anti-submarine aircraft,de Havilland Mosquito FB.6 & B.25, andde Havilland Sea Mosquito TR.33 variants of the twin engine multi-role aircraft, the twin-enginedAirspeed Oxford training aircraft, various marks ofSupermarine Seafire, anavalised version of theSupermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft, and theGrumman Wildcat an American carrier-based fighter aircraft. 790 Naval Air Squadron moved toRNAS Culdrose (HMSSeahawk), situated nearHelston, on theLizard Peninsula ofCornwall, on the 13 December 1947,[4] it operated out of here for the next couple of years before disbanding on the 15 November 1949.[2]
The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[3][2]
790 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy, in Scotland, Wales and England:[3][2][4]
1941
1942 - 1949
List ofcommanding officers of 790 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment:[3][2]
1941
1942 - 1949
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[6]