| 731 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active | 1943–1945 |
| Disbanded | 1 November 1945[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role | Deck Landing Control Officer training squadron |
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | RNAS East Haven (HMSPeewit) |
| Mottos | Circum Undique (Latin for 'From everywhere around') |
| Aircraft | SeeAircraft flown section for full list. |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | Blue, in base a 19th Century anchor in bend gold with a seagull white alighting thereon (1945)[1] |
| Identification Markings | E3A+[2] E3H1+ (Hurricane)[3] |
731 Naval Air Squadron (731 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It was active between 1943 and 1945 and its sole role throughout its formation was aDeck Landing Control Officer training squadron. Through this role the squadron pilots were nicknamed 'Clockwork Mice'. It was based out of the purpose built airbase, commissioned as HMSPeewit, known as Royal Naval Air Station East Haven, in Scotland, as part of the Deck Landing Training School there.
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On 5 December 1943, 731 Naval Air Squadron was formed atRNAS East Haven (HMSPeewit),[4] located approximately 1.5 miles (2 km) east ofCarnoustie and 5 miles (8 km) south west ofArbroath, inAngus, Scotland, as aDeck Landing Control Officer training squadron for the training of Deck Landing Control Officers (DLCOs). The initial commanding officer was Lieutenant Commander(A) K. Stilliard, RNVR and squadron strength was thirteen pilots. It was equipped with a mix of thebiplanetorpedo bomberFairey Swordfish, marks I & II, andHawker Sea Hurricane Mk IIb, anavalised version of theHawker Hurricanefighter aircraft. The squadron teamed up with two other Naval Air Squadrons,767 Naval Air Squadron, a Deck Landing Training squadron and769 Naval Air Squadron, a Torpedo, bomber and reconnaissance (TBR) Deck Landing Training squadron. Together they formed theDeck Landing Training School at RNAS East Haven (HMSPeewit).[5]
731 Naval Air Squadron pilots, who were already qualified forcarrierdecklanding, operated a number of various Fleet Air Arm aircraft. Initially operating with Hawker Sea Hurricane and Fairey Swordfish, they flew continuouscircuits andapproaches to land on whicheverrunway was in use. This enabled the prospective DLCOs to direct their approach and familiarise themselves with the differing landing characteristics across the aircraft types operated within the Fleet Air Arm.[5]
The runway in use was known as the 'Dummy Deck', the trainee DLCOs were known as 'Batsmen' and the repetitive work earned them the nickname 'Clockwork Mice'.[2] A Dummy Carrier Island was introduced, in an attempt to create authenticity, in the form of a converted 1930sAlbionbus and given the nickname 'HMSSpurious Mark II'.[5]
Trainee DLCOs used high visibility paddles during the day and illuminated paddles at night. The paddles were similar to tennis rackets or 'bats', hence the DLCOs being referred to as 'bats'. The DLCO trainees had to learn the different signals used to communicate with the pilot during an intensive three week training course. Signals were given until the aircraft was committed to land, however, if the approach was deemed unsafe the trainee would 'wave him off', to go around for another approach.[5] Training inaircraft carrier flight deck activities and incidents was provided through theAircraft Handling and Fire Fighting School, located at HMSPeewit.[4] Curriculum included aircraft parking andtaxiing after landing, simulated ready fortakeoff manoeuvring, the spreading and folding of wings andfire fighting.
The training course ended with the trainees operating on an actual aircraft carriers. A number ofescort aircraft carriers were assigned as Deck Landing Training (DLT) Carriers. Carriers on DLT duty included:[5]
Fairey Fulmar, a Britishcarrier-bornereconnaissance andfighter aircraft, arrived in early 1944, with these aircraft followed bySupermarine Seafire, a naval version of theSupermarine Spitfire single seat fighter adapted for operation from aircraft carriers, andVought Corsair, an American fighter aircraft, by mid 1944. Around December 1944 the squadron receivedFairey Firefly, a carrier-borne fighter aircraft andanti-submarine aircraft, withFairey Barracuda, a British carrier-borne torpedo anddive bomber, arriving around the middle of 1945.[3]
731 Naval Air Squadron was disbanded on 1 November 1945 at RNAS East Haven (HMSPeewit), its role absorbed into 767 and768 Deck Landing Training Squadrons.[3]
The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:[6][5]
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731 Naval Air Squadron operated from a singlenaval air station of the Royal Navy in Scotland:[6]
List ofcommanding officers of 731 Naval Air Squadron, with date of appointment:[6][2]