| 792 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
  Squadron badge (top from 1949, bottom to 1945) | |
| Active | 15 August 1940 – 2 January 1945[1] 15 January 1948 - 16 August 1950[1] 1 November 2001 – 4 June 2009[2] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role |
|
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | RNAS St Merryn RNAS Culdrose |
| Motto(s) | Patimur ut discant alii (Latin for 'We suffer that others may learn') Sapientia vincit tenebras (Latin for 'Wisdom conquers darkness')[3] |
| Aircraft | SeeAircraft flown section for full list. |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | White, a lion rampant armed and langued red holding in his fore paws a target in military colours (Wartime unofficial, transferred to 794 NAS on disbandment January 1945) Gold, a panther's head caboshed black (1949)[3] |
| Identification Markings |
|
| Fin Shore Code | CW (Firefly,Sea Hornet,Anson &Oxford)[3] |
792 Naval Air Squadron (792 NAS) was aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN) and was originally formed atRNAS St Merryn (HMSVulture) in August 1940 as anAir Target Unit, equipped with sixBlackburn Skuas. The squadron disbanded in 1945 and merged with794 Naval Air Squadron. 792 Squadron reformed at RNAS Culdrose (HMSSeahawk) in 1948 as aNight Fighter Training Unit. It was initially equipped withFairey Firefly NF.1s andAvro Ansons. They were later replaced withSea Hornets shortly before the squadron disbanded again in August 1950.
The squadron was reformed at RNAS Culdrose (HMSSeahawk) in November 2001 from the Fleet Target Group, fromRNAS Portland (HMSOsprey), which closed in 1998. It operated theMirach 100/5 unmanned subsonic drones which were used to test theSea Dart Missile System onType 42 destroyers andSidewinder missiles onHarrier andTornadofighters. It is not listed on the current Royal Navy website and is believed to have been replaced by QinetiQ's Combined Aerial Target Service contract.
792 Naval Air Squadron formed as an Air Target Towing Unit, at RNAS St Merryn (HMSVulture), inCornwall, on 15 August 1940.[4] Equipped initially with sixBlackburn Roc and Blackburn Skua aircraft. The Blackburn Roc was acarrier-based turretfighter aircraft adapted as atarget tug and the Blackburn Skua was a carrier-baseddive bomber / fighter, similarly adapted for target towing work. These aircraft were eventually withdrawn and replaced with a dedicated target tug variant of theBoulton Paul Defiant, andMiles Martinet, an aircraft designed specifically for target towing.[2] 792 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 2 January 1945 on being absorbed into794 Naval Air Squadron.[4]
792 Naval Air Squadron reformed atRNAS Culdrose (HMSSeahawk) on 15 January 1948, as the Night Fighter Training School.It was initially equipped withFairey Firefly NF.Mk l, a "night fighter" variant of the carrier-borne fighter andanti-submarine aircraft and the unit also had threeAvro Anson, a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. These were fitted foraircraft interception (AI) radar training. In May 1950 the squadron receivedde Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 the “night fighter” variant of the twin-engined fighter aircraft. 792 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 16 August 1950, with809 Naval Air Squadron acquiring its aircraft and role.[3]
792 Naval Air Squadron reformed at HMSSeahawk, RNAS Culdrose, on 1 November2001 from the Fleet Target Group, (it originally formed in 1959 as the RN Pilotless Target Aircraft Squadron, and became the Fleet Target Group in January 1974),[3] which relocated fromRNAS Portland (HMSOsprey), upon the airbases closure in 1998.[5]
The squadron, known as the Fleet Target Unit[6] was equipped with unmanned radio-controlled target aircraft, used for missile training, including theMirach 100/5 Aerial Target Drone, which has similar characteristics to anUnmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The unit was tasked to provide target opportunities for ships' missile systems and for fighter aircraft during weapon systems testing and training.[7] TheSea Dartsurface-to-air missile system fitted toType 42, orSheffield class ofGuided-missile destroyer was tested. As was theAIM-9 Sidewinder short-rangeair-to-air missile, used by the Royal Navy'sBritish Aerospace Sea Harrier strike fighter and theRoyal Air ForcesPanavia Tornado multi role aircraft was also tested.[5]
792 Naval Air Squadron operated its target drone aircraft on temporary detachments from shore bases, Royal Navy warships andRoyal Fleet Auxiliary ships in support of gun and missile trials and training, however, the squadrons role was replaced by a commercial contract in June 2009.[3] 792 NAS disbanded in June 2009, with the responsibility of target provision passing toQinetiQ.[8]
The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:[4][9]
792 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy, in England:[4][3]
1940 - 1945
1948 - 1950
2001 - 2009
List ofcommanding officers of 792 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[4][2]
1940 - 1945
1948 - 1950
2001 - 2009