| 761 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 ASupermarine Spitfire Mk Ia of 761 NAS at RNAS Yeovilton during 1943 | |
| Active | 1941–1946 |
| Disbanded | 16 January 1946[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role | Naval Air Fighter School |
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Garrison/HQ | RNAS Yeovilton (HMSHeron) RNAS Henstridge (HMSDipper) |
| Aircraft | SeeAircraft operated section for full list. |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lieutenant CommanderRichard John Cork,DSO, DSC CommanderStanley Gordon Orr,DSC &Two Bars, AFC |
| Insignia | |
| Identification Markings | unknown (All types 1941 - 1942) G1A+ toG6A+ (All types 1943)[2] |
761 Naval Air Squadron (761 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It was formed at HMSHeron, RNAS Yeovilton, as theAdvanced Training Squadron of the Fleet Fighter School, in 1941. The squadron moved to HMSDipper, RNAS Henstridge, in 1943, as part of the No. 2 Naval Air Fighter School. It remained at HMSDipper and in this role, until January 1946, when the squadron disbanded.
761 Naval Air Squadron formed, on 1 August 1941, atRNAS Yeovilton (HMSHeron) nearYeovil,Somerset.[3] It was formed out of760 Naval Air Squadron'sFairey Fulmar, acarrier-basedreconnaissance/fighter aircraft and tasked as the Advanced Training Squadron of the Fleet Fighter School, and it usedRNAS Haldon (HMSHeron II) for air firing practice.[4] During 1942,Blackburn Roc, a carrier-based turret fighter aircraft andSupermarine Spitfire I, a single-seat fighter aircraft, were received by the squadron.[2]
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On 10 April 1943, 761 Naval Air Squadron relocated toRNAS Henstridge (HMSDipper), situated nearHenstridge, inSomerset, as part of No.2 Naval Air Fighter School. At this point, the squadron was equipped with a mix of eighteen Supermarine Spitfire andSupermarine Seafire, the latter anavalised Spitfire fighter aircraft, along with sixMiles Master, an advanced trainer aircraft.[5]
Utilising 'D' Flight, trainees went about real deck landing training on theAttacker-classescort carrier,HMS Ravager, and theaircraft carrier, (converted from anocean liner),HMS Argus.[2] Supermarine Seafire was the main aircraft operated by the squadron and by June 1944, sixty-eight Supermarine Seafire fighter aircraft were being used, consisting various marks.[4]
761 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at RNAS Henstridge (HMSDipper) on 16 January 1946.[5]
The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[3][2]
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761 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy, in England:[3][2]
List ofcommanding officers of 761 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[3][2]
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[6]