| 744 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active | 1 March 1943 - 1 June 1944 6 March 1944 - 1 December 1947 20 July 1951 - 1 March 1954 1 March 1954 - 31 October 1956 14 November 2018 - present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role |
|
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm andAir and Space Warfare Centre |
| Home station |
|
| Motto(s) | Nemo solus satis sapit (Latin for 'No one or man knows enough') |
| Aircraft |
|
| Website | Official website |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Commander Tony Sherwin, RN |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | Barry wavy of ten white and blue, a sun in splendor gold charged with an eagle's head affronty proper (1956) |
| Identification Markings | letter/number combinations (Seamew/Swordfish) N7A+ (Swordfish) N6A+ (Avenger) N4A+ andN6A+ (Barracuda) 300-311 (Barracuda) 400-410 (Sea Prince/Anson) 236-239 (Firefly) 394-399 (Avenger) 401-403 (Gannet) 657-661 (Gannet from January 1956) |
| Fin Shore Codes | JR (Barracuda) GN (Sea Prince/Anson) CU (Firefly,Avenger &Gannet) |
744 Naval Air Squadron (744 NAS) is aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It was originally established in 1943 in Nova Scotia and has undergone various re-designations and reformations throughout its history. The squadron has transitioned from early air gunner training to anti-submarine warfare and trials, and in 2018, it reformed at MoD Boscombe Down as the Mission Systems and Armament Test and Evaluation Squadron. Now, in 2024, 744 Naval Air Squadron is taking on the new role of Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron (JUAS TES), leading the Ministry of Defence's efforts in UAS testing and evaluation.
The squadron formed atRNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), situated nearLee-on-the-Solent inHampshire, approximately four miles west ofPortsmouth, on 10 February 1943 (1943-02-10).[1] However, as part of theBritish Commonwealth Air Training Plan, the squadron moved toRN Air Section Yarmouth, located inYarmouth County,Nova Scotia, Canada, almost straight away. It was equipped withCurtiss SO3C Seamew aircraft.[2] Fifteen months later, in June 1944, the squadron was re-designated as754 Naval Air Squadron.
The squadron re-formed atRNAS Maydown (HMS Shrike), located 4.3 miles (6.9 km) northeast ofDerry,County Londonderry,Northern Ireland, as a Merchant Aircraft Carrier training unit, on 6 March 1944, operatingSwordfish aircraft. A detachment, working out ofRNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), close toCampbeltown inArgyll and Bute,Scotland, trained crews for836 NAS,[3] including providingAnti-submarine warfare (ASW) training.[4] 744 Naval Air Squadron swapped its Swordfish forBarracuda and briefly,Firefly aircraft. The squadron moved toRNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), located 1.3 miles (2.1 km) northeast ofEglinton, County Londonderry, in October 1945 and continued in the ASW training role usingAnson aircraft for this purpose,[3] until 1 December 1947 when it was renamed815 Squadron.[4]
It reformed on 20 July 1951, from737 Squadron X Flight, as an anti-submarine trials and development unit at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet)[4] and continued in this role until 31 October 1956 when it was disbanded.[5] The squadron was engaged with trials to support the development of search receivers, which were designed to detect submarine radar. A Fairey Barracuda ASV Mk.XI underwent a conversion for trial purposes, this was known as ‘Investigation Pointer’. It was also involved withOrange Harvest, which was subsequently fitted to the RAF's maritime patrolAvro Shackletons. A detachment went toRNAS Hal Far,Malta, in October 1951 following two Fairey Fireflies being fitted with a homing device that could detect sonobuoys, therefore removing the need for smoke markers, for subsequent trials with submarines and ships, from successive initial trials at Farnborough.[3]
Additionally the squadron took onSearch and Rescue duties from December 1952, usingDragonfly HR.3 helicopters, although this role ended on disbandment at Eglinton.[4] By 1953, 744 Naval Air Squadron also operated as the Station Flight, but again this ended on disbandment, which took place on 1 March 1954.[3] However, on the same day, the squadron reformed atRNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), located nearHelston,Cornwall, as a Naval fixed wing anti-submarine warfare development unit (ASWDU), remaining there until the October where it relocated toRAF St Mawgan, nearSt Mawgan andNewquay, in Cornwall.[4] Here, the squadron was initially equipped with Firefly AS.6 aircraft on reformation and these were later followed byFairey Gannet, which arrived in May 1955. Two months later, the squadron receivedGrumman Avengers and the Firefly were withdrawn later in the year.[3] Two years on from arriving in St Mawgan, the squadron disbanded on 31 October 1956.[4]
On 14 November 2018, the squadron was reformed, atMoD Boscombe Down. It was initially tasked with introducing theCrowsnest Airborne Early WarningMerlin Mk2 aircraft and supporting the RAF'sChinook Mk5 and Mk6 helicopters. It operated as a joint unit under theAir Warfare Centre, evaluating and testing new helicopter and fixed-wing platforms, including their avionics and weapons.[6][7] The squadron also provided support for the Merlin HC4/4A, Wildcat HMA2, and Wildcat AH1 helicopters, focusing on weapons integration programmes, including the Martlet and Sea Venom missiles
On 26 September 2024, 744 Naval Air Squadron transitioned into the Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron (JUAS TES). This marked a significant evolution, as the squadron became theMinistry of Defence's lead unit for testing and evaluating uncrewed air systems (UAS). This transition positions 744 Naval Air Squadron at the forefront of UAS development, supporting future UK air systems.
744 Naval Air Squadron is based at MoD Boscombe Down as part of the Air and Space Warfare Centre. The principal objective of this unit is to conduct testing and evaluation of both novel and established uncrewed air systems (UAS). This encompasses the assessment of platform performance, the integration of payloads and weapons, as well as the advancement of sophisticated networks. Serving as the Ministry of Defence's primary entity for UAS, JUAS TES is instrumental in influencing the future trajectory of air systems and their operational capabilities in the United Kingdom.
The squadron continues to support the Crowsnest Programme, an airborne early warning and control system for the Royal Navy's Merlin HM2 helicopters. This programme is key to enhancing the Royal Navy's ability to detect and respond to airborne and surface threats, maintaining the strategic capability of the fleet. The squadron also supports the integration of new weapons systems such as theMartlet missile andSea VenomAnti-ship missile for theWildcat helicopter.
In a large change, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for DefenceLuke Pollard answered a written parliamentary question stating that216 Squadron will transition from its current role as the swarming drone trials unit "to become the operational delivery squadron for an Autonomous Collaborative Platforms [ACP] capability in 2025." The role of the drone trials unit will pass to 744 Naval Air Squadron as the Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron.[8]
The squadron has flown and worked with a number of different aircraft types, including:[3][9]
744 Naval Air Squadron previously operated from a number ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy, a number of Royal Navy aircraft carrier and an airbase overseas and is currently based atQinetiQ'smilitary aircraft testing facility, MOD Boscombe Down:[17]
1943 - 1944
1944 - 1947
1951 - 1954
1954 - 1956
2018 - present
List ofcommanding officers of 744 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[9]
1943 - 1944
1944 - 1947
1951 - 1954
1954 - 1956
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[18]