| 780 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
.jpg) North American Harvard, an example of the type used by 780 NAS | |
| Active |
|
| Disbanded | 16 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. |
| Aircraft | SeeAircraft operated section for full list. |
| Insignia | |
| Identification Markings | individual numbers L1A+ (1943) BY1A+ (October 1943) L1A+ (November 1944) U1A+ toU3A+ (March 1946) 201-206 (Harvard 1947) 601-614 (Oxford 1947)[2][3] |
| Fin Shore Codes | CW (1947)[4] |
780 Naval Air Squadron (780 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN) which last disbanded at HMSSeahawk, RNAS Culdrose in November 1949. 780 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMSRaven, RNAS Eastleigh as aConversion Course Unit, in October 1939, to train experienced civilian pilots in naval flying. It moved to HMSDaedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in October 1940, and later, its role had changed to converting pilots to Fairey Barracuda aircraft. It spent a year at RNAS Charlton Horethorne, before returning to HMSDaedalus and disbanded, early 1945. In March 1946, the squadron reformed at HMSGodwit, RNAS Hinstock, as theNaval Advanced Flying School, to give flying instructors' courses, and later provided Instrument Flying Training. In December, the squadron moved to HMSJackdaw, RNAS Crail, then in March 1947 moved to HMSMerlin, RNAS Donibristle, and in May to HMSSeahawk as the first resident unit.
780 Naval Air Squadron formed atRNAS Eastleigh (HMSRaven),Hampshire, on 2 October 1939, as a Conversion Course Unit.[5] The squadron was tasked with training experienced civilian pilots in naval flying and it operated a variety of aircraft, includingHawker Hart Trainer, a two-seat dual-controltrainer aircraft,Hawker Nimrod, a Britishbiplanefighter aircraft,Blackburn Shark, a biplanetorpedo bomber,de Havilland Gipsy Moth, a biplane trainer aircraft,de Havilland Tiger Moth, a biplane trainer aircraft,Percival Proctor, a radio trainer and communications aircraft,Fairey Swordfish, a biplane torpedo bomber andPercival Vega Gull, a military trainer and communications aircraft.[2] Essentially this was a mixture of obsolete and civil aircraft and the expectation was this task would be completed within a few months, however, other types of conversion was required.[6]
The squadron relocated toRNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus), in Hampshire, on 7 October 1940.[5] It usedHamble[7] as a relief landing ground[6] and by August 1943, its role had changed to converting pilots of Fairey Swordfish and another biplane torpedo bomber,Fairey Albacore, to the monoplaneFairey Barracuda torpedo anddive bomber, although this task soon passed to798 Naval Air Squadron.[2] On 9 October 1943, 780 Naval Air Squadron moved toRNAS Charlton Horethorne (HMSHeron II).[8] With the upcominginvasion of occupied France there was a need to clear RNAS Lee-on-Solent and the area of training aircraft.[6] It moved back to RNAS Lee-on-Solent on 28 November 1944,[8] where it disbanded into794 Naval Air Squadron,[6] on 2 January 1945.[2]
780 Naval Air Squadron reformed atRNAS Hinstock (HMSGodwit), inShropshire, England, on 28 March 1946, as the Naval Advanced Flying School,[9] but operated out of its satellite stationRNAS Peplow (HMSGodwit II), Shropshire.[10] It was equipped with a variety of aircraft and was set up to give flying instructors' courses.[6]It also received a number ofAvro Lancaster, a four-engineheavy bomber, which were initially destined for734 Naval Air Squadron at HMSGodwit,[11] used for multi-engine experience.758 Naval Air Squadron disbanded and was absorbed in May as 'B' Flight, of 780 NAS, and Instrument Flying Training at this point had become the squadron’s focus. In December the squadron moved to Scotland, relocating toRNAS Crail (HMSJackdaw),Fife, for a short stay before moving toRNAS Donibristle (HMSMerlin) in March 1947 and then in May toRNAS Culdrose (HMSSeahawk),Cornwall, as the initial unit there. On 16 November 1949, 780 Naval Air Squadron disbanded.[6]
The squadron operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[4]
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780 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom:[4]
1939 - 1945
1946 - 1949
List ofcommanding officers of 780 Naval Air Squadron, with date of appointment:[2][4]
1939 - 1945
1946 - 1949
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[12]