701 Naval Air Squadron (701 NAS) was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron, which last disbanded during September 1958 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent where it was a Helicopter Trials, Communications and Fleet Requirements Unit. It initially formed during July 1936 as a Catapult Flight operating out of Malta and routinely embarking in RN ships such as, HMS Barham, HMS Malaya, HMS Valiant and HMS Warspite. By autumn 1939 it was known as 701 Naval Air Squadron but disbanded in January 1940. It was active twice more during the Second World War, between May 1940 and June 1941 on special duties and then between October 1942 and August 1943 performing anti-submarine patrols. Reforming in April 1945 it was designated a Communications Unit, operating out of Heston until disbanding in 1947. It last reformed as a Fleet Requirements Unit at HMS Daedalus, Lee-on-Solent, during October 1957.

History of 701 NAS

Catapult Flights (1936–1940)

Formed on 15 July 1936 as No. 701 (Catapult) Flight FAA at RAF Kalafrana, Malta by re-designating No. 444 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight FAA; Acquiring some of the latter Flight's aircraft along with other additions 701 (Catapult) Flight operated with Hawker Osprey, the navalised carrier-borne version of the Hawker Hart biplane light bomber, Fairey IIIF reconnaissance biplane, Blackburn Shark, a carrier-borne torpedo bomber, Fairey Seal, a carrier-borne spotter-reconnaissance aircraft and Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber, operating from warships of the 1st Battle Squadron, serving with both the Home and Mediterranean Fleets. It was based at the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea, operating out of the seaplane operations centre at RAF Kalafrana, with its aircraft routinely embarking in a number of Royal Navy capital ships. By September 1939, it was known as 701 Naval Air Squadron, and operated with five Fairey Swordfish floatplanes. It disbanded into 700 Naval Air Squadron during January 1940.

Ships' Flights

701 (Catapult) Flight operated a number of ships’ flights between 1936 and 1940 whilst based out of Malta, including the Queen Elizabeth-class battleship HMS Barham (04) between 1936-40, the Admiral-class battlecruiser HMS Hood (51) during 1938, the Queen-Elizabeth-class battleship HMS Malaya between 1937-40, the Revenge-class battleship HMS Royal Oak (08) during 1937, the Queen-Elizabeth-class battleship HMS Valiant (1914) during 1936 and between 1939-40, and the Queen-Elizabeth-class battleship HMS Warspite (03) between 1938 and 1940.

Special Duties (1940 - 1941)

701 Naval Air Squadron reformed 7 May 1940, at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, located in Fife, Scotland, tasked to provide for temporary units formed ashore. 701 Squadron saw action in the Norwegian campaign in mid-1940, and in May six Supermarine Walrus amphibious maritime patrol aircraft of the squadron were flown off the converted to aircraft carrier Courageous-class battlecruiser, HMS Glorious, to support operations off Harstad, in Norway, performing anti-submarine patrols, and undertaking liaison and communications flights plus a small number bombing sorties. In June 1940 the squadron briefly appeared on the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (91), and the squadron was at Reykjavík in Iceland in October 1940, when they were taken on board the converted from an ocean liner to an aircraft carrier, HMS Argus (I49). It returned to the United Kingdom, once again in Argus, and was back at RNAS Donibristle from the end of October. In November a detachment started to operate out of Stornoway harbour, Stornoway, the main town of the Western Isles, on the island of Lewis and Harris, in Scotland, although this was very soon taken over by 700 Naval Air Squadron. In March 1941 three aircraft were detached to RAF Sullom Voe in Shetland, to augment the existing 700 Naval Air Squadron Flight. 701 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at RNAS Donibristle during June 1941.

Anti-Submarine warfare (1942–1943)

On 1 October 1942, 701 Naval Air Squadron was reformed by redesignating 700 Naval Air Squadron, (Levant) Sqn at Beirut, within the French Mandate. It was equipped with six Supermarine Walrus amphibious biplane. Operating within the control of No. 201 Group RAF, it undertook anti-submarine duties. Reports of U-boat activity in the area between Turkey and Cyprus saw a detachment from 701 NAS join No. 235 Wing RAF and was based at Latakia in French mandate territory. On 15 August 1943, 701 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at Beirut. By July 1943, the squadron was attached to No. 201 Group RAF for the invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky).

Communications Unit (1945–1947)

701 Naval Air Squadron reformed at Heston Aerodrome, just outside London, on 18 April 1945, taking over 'B' Flight of 781 Naval Air Squadron. Tasked with communication duties, it was equipped with various aircraft, operating with de Havilland Dominie, a 6–8 passenger short-haul biplane airliner, Airspeed Oxford, a twin-engine monoplane training aircraft and Beech Traveller, an American utility aircraft. It had been operating out of Heathrow Aerodrome, which was owned by the Fairey Aviation Company, but was controlled by RNAS Lee-on-Solent and mainly ferried passengers in and out of London. Aside from transport duty, the squadron also had Supermarine Seafire, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft, enabling flying practice for desk bound pilots. In January 1947, 701 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at Heston.

Fleet Requirements Unit (1957 - 1958)

701 Naval Air Squadron reformed in October 1957, at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as a Helicopter Fleet Requirements Unit. It was equipped with Westland Whirlwind utility helicopter and Westland Dragonfly rescue or communications helicopter. The unit was tasked with operating detached Flights from fleet aircraft carriers on search and rescue duties, and later 701 NAS operated the Ships' Flights of the ocean survey ship HMS Vidal and the ice patrol ship HMS Protector (A173). The squadron acquired the helicopter trials role from 705 Naval Air Squadron and its role became the Helicopter Trials, Communications and FRU. 701 Naval Air Squadron disbanded during September 1958. The Helicopter Trials being picked up by 700 Naval Air Squadron, the training element moved to 705 Naval Air Squadron, the Fleet Requirements Unit tasks to Airwork Services, at Hurn, and the Flights became the ‘Ship's Flights’ of their respective ships.

Aircraft operated

The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions: 1936 - 1940 1940 - 1941, 1942 - 1943 1945 - 1947 1957 - 1958

Battle honours

The battle honours awarded to 701 Naval Air Squadron are:

Naval air stations and aircraft carriers

701 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, both in the UK and overseas, a number of Royal Navy aircraft carriers and other air bases: 1936 - 1940 1940 - 1941 1942 - 1943 1945 - 1947 1957 - 1958

701A Flight

701B Flight

701C Flight

701D Flight

701P Flight

701V Flight

Commanding Officers

List of commanding officers of 701 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment: 1936 - 1940 1940 - 1941 1942 - 1943 1945 - 1947 1957 - 1958

Citations