| 712 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
_AN1533734.jpg) Stinson Reliant of the type used by 712 NAS | |
| Active | Royal Air Force 1936–1939 Royal Navy
|
| Disbanded | 23 August 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 flown section for full list. |
| Insignia | |
| Identification Markings |
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712 Naval Air Squadron (712 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It was initially established as a(Catapult) Flight in 1936, before being upgraded to squadron status in 1938. It was charged with operating Supermarine Walrus seaplanes for the cruisers HMSGlasgow, HMSNewcastle, HMSSheffield and HMSSouthampton, which all commissioned during 1937.[2] Assigned to the Humber Force and the 18th Cruiser Squadron at the start of the Second World War, the group totalled nine vessels with eighteen Supermarine Walrus aircraft. However, in January 1940, it combined with 700 Naval Air Squadron. It was reformed at HMSSparrowhawk, RNAS Hatston, in August 1944, as aCommunications Squadron, taking 'B' flight from 771 Naval Air Squadron. The aircraft used were Stinson Reliant, Supermarine Sea Otter, and Beech Traveller. The squadron was disbanded in August 1945.
712 Naval Air Squadron can trace its roots back to 1927 when 407 (Fleet Fighter) Flight, FAA, of theRoyal Air Force was formed on 1 September 1927 atRoyal Air Force Donibristle,Fife, Scotland.[3] 712 (Catapult) Flight, FAA, formed on 15 July 1936 atRoyal Air Force Mount Batten, a Seaplane Station andflying boat base inPlymouth Sound, Devon, England. It operatedHawker Osprey III, a two-seat fleet spotter and reconnaissancebiplane andSupermarine Walrus, an amphibiousmaritime patrol aircraft, by redesignating 407 (Fleet Fighter) Flight, FAA.[4]
The unit was established to serve aboard vessels of the Royal Navy's2nd Cruiser Squadron within theHome Fleet. The Hawker Osprey aircraft were deployed thelead shipHMS Leander along withsister shipsHMS Neptune andHMS Orion all between 1936 and 1937. Later the responsibility for the aircraft on these ships was assigned to718 Flight, while 712 Flight assumed responsibility for the aircraft for theTown-class cruisers:HMS Glasgow,HMS Newcastle andHMS Sheffield all between 1937 and 1940, all of which werecommissioned in 1937, then later briefly theCounty-class cruiser,HMS Cornwall between 1938 and 1939 and the Town-class cruiser,HMS Southampton between 1938 and 1940. In January 1938, the shore base was relocated toRoyal Air Force Lee-on-Solent,Hampshire.[5] The Flight disbanded at Lee-on-Solent on 24 May 1939 to become 712 Squadron, FAA.[4]
712 Naval Air Squadron was allocated to the Humber Force and the18th Cruiser Squadron at the onset of theSecond World War. This assignment included notable vessels such asHMS Belfast,HMS Edinburgh,HMS Norfolk, andHMS Suffolk, contributing to a total of nine ships. The squadron operated eighteen Supermarine Walrus aircraft before it was disbanded and subsequently merged into700 Naval Air Squadron in January 1940.[6]
On 2 August 1944, the 712 Naval Air Squadron was reestablished atRNAS Hatston (HMSSparrowhawk) located on theMainland, Orkney, functioning as a Communications Squadron. This formation was derived from 'B' Flight of771 Naval Air Squadron[6] and was equipped with aircraft including theSupermarine Sea Otter, an amphibious air-sea rescue aircraft,Beech Traveller, a utility aircraft andStinson Reliant, a liaison and training. The squadron ultimately disbanded at RNAS Hatston in August 1945.[5]
712 Naval Air Squadron operated a number of different aircraft types:[5]
712 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple ofnaval air station of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force stations, in the United Kingdom:[5]
1936 - 1940
1944 - 1945
List of Royal Navy ships where responsibility for the aircraft belonged to 712 Flight, between 1936 and 1940:[5]
List ofcommanding officers of 712 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:
1936 - 1940
1944 -1945
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[7]