| 770 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Miles Martinet TT Mk.1, an example of the type used by 770 NAS | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 1 October 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. |
| 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 cock proper. Wartime unofficial, badge and motto transferred to790 Naval Air Squadron[2] |
| Identification Markings | individual letters (all types 1941-1942) C8A+ (all types 1943-1944) B8A+ thenD8A+ (all types from 1944-1945)[2][3] |
770 Naval Air Squadron (770 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It last disbanded at HMSNighthawk, RNAS Drem in October 1945. 770 Naval Air Squadron initially formed as aDeck Landing Training Squadron at HMSDaedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in November 1939. Embarked in HMSArgus, and operated from the aircraft carrier and Hyeres la Palyvestre in the south of France, until it disbanded in May 1940. It reformed at HMSMerlin, RNAS Donibristle, on New Year’s Day 1941, as aFleet Requirements Unit out of 771 Naval Air Squadron’s 'X' Flight. It moved to HMSJackdaw, RNAS Crail, in June 1941, then two and half years later it moved to HMSJackdaw II, RNAS Dunino in January 1944, before finally moving to HMSNighthawk in July.
770 Naval Air Squadron formed atRNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus),Hampshire, on 7 November 1939 as a Deck Landing Training squadron. It was initially equipped with twoBlackburn Skua, a British two-seatcarrier-baseddive bomber andfighter aircraft, twoGloster Sea Gladiator, a Britishbiplane fighter aircraft, ade Havilland Moth, a two-seat biplanetrainer aircraft and later on twoFairey Swordfish, a British biplanetorpedo bomber.[3] The squadron embarked in the convertedocean liner toaircraft carrierHMS Argus, and operated from this ship andHyeres la Palyvestre, nearToulon, France,[2] where the Royal Navy had a Lodger facility with theFrench Navy,[4] until it disbanded on 1 May 1940.[2]
770 Naval Air Squadron reformed as a Fleet Requirements Unit atRNAS Donibristle (HMSMerlin),Fife, Scotland, on 1 January 1941, out of771 Naval Air Squadron’s 'X' Flight. It was equipped with fourBlackburn Roc, a navalturret fighter aircraft, with two aircraft used for target towing and two used for marking the fall of shot. The squadron relocated toRNAS Crail (HMSJackdaw), Fife, on 1 June 1941, where it acquired Blackburn Skua aircraft.[3] In 1942 it received thetarget tug variant of theBoulton Paul Defiant turret fighter andVought Chesapeake, an American carrier-based dive bomber but the following year the dedicated target tug aircraft,Miles Martinet TT.Mk I, replaced the Boulton Paul Defiant.[2]
On 29 January 1944 the squadron moved toRNAS Dunino (HMSJackdaw II), in Fife. During the springBristol Blenheim Mk.IV, a Britishlight bomber arrived and in the middle of the year the Vought Chesapeake were withdrawn and replaced withHawker Hurricane Mk IIC, a single-seat fighter aircraft.[3] On 27 July it relocated toRNAS Drem (HMSNighthawk),East Lothian, Scotland.[5] During 1945, a variety of aircraft was operated. It receivedSupermarine Seafire Mk IIc, anavalisedSupermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft. It also usedde Havilland Mosquito B Mk.25 and PR Mk.XVI, the former an improved Canadian version of the Mosquito B Mk.IV bomber aircraft and the latter a photo-reconnaissance variant, and operating out ofRAF Charterhall,Scottish Borders. 770 Naval Air Squadron was disbanded into772 Naval Air Squadron,[2] at RNAS Drem, on 1 October 1945.[5]
The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:[2]
770 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number ofnaval air station of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom, a Royal Navy aircraft carrier and a number of Royal Air Force stations:[2]
1939 - 1940
1941 - 1945
List ofcommanding officers of 770 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[3][2]
1939 - 1940
1941 - 1945
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[6]