703 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy was formed as a long-range catapult squadron on 3 March 1942 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent. During the Cold War, it was reformed as an experimental trials unit, and then as a helicopter training squadron. Since 2003, the squadron has formed the Royal Naval wing of the Defence Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Barkston Heath.

History of 703 NAS

World War II

On 3 June 1942, 703 Naval Air Squadron was formed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, England, to operate floatplanes off catapult-equipped Armed Merchant Cruisers (AMC). It was initially equipped with Vought Kingfisher, an American observation floatplanes, supplementing these with Fairey Seafox, a British reconnaissance floatplane and Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber floatplanes. The squadron also operated three Supermarine Walrus, an amphibious maritime patrol aircraft, from Walvis Bay in southern Africa. On 1 May 1944, the squadron was disbanded.

Ships' Flights

The Ships’ Flights formed and then converted to Vought Kingfisher aircraft. Advanced training took place at RNAS Dundee (HMS Condor II), Scotland. Standard for each AMC was two aircraft, HMS Fidelity also had two, although the light Cruisers had only one. HMS Pretoria Castle’s Fairey Seafox Flight was taken over from 702 Naval Air Squadron, but didn’t convert to Vought Kingfisher. List of ships and dates for flights:

Air Sea Warfare Development Unit (1945 - 1950)

In April 1945, the squadron was reformed as the naval Flight of the Royal Air Force's Air Sea Warfare Development Unit (ASWDU) at RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex, to conduct experimental trials on a large variety of aircraft including Grumman Avenger, an American torpedo bomber, Fairey Barracuda, a British torpedo bomber, Fairey Firefly, a carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft and de Havilland Sea Mosquito, a navalised version of the British twin-engined, multirole combat aircraft. The squadron moved to RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) in May 1948, absorbing 778 Naval Air Squadron and adding 778's Service Trials Unit role to its existing duties. In 1948–49, the squadron tested plans to land jet aircraft on to a flexible deck, without the use of an undercarriage; trials were conducted by the squadron using a de Havilland Sea Vampire.

Service Trials Unit (1950 - 1955)

On 19 April 1950, the squadron moved to RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine), Sussex, (now the site of HM Prison Ford), concentrating on the Service Trials Unit role and became known as the STU. It was further strengthened on 12 July 1950, when 739 Naval Air Squadron, a unit specialising in development of photographic reconnaissance was merged with 703 Naval Air Squadron. At RNAS Ford it experimented with British innovations in aircraft carrier operations, including the mirror landing aid and the steam catapult. Independent flights were set up for a number of specialist trials. From February to June 1954, 703A Flight was based at RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), Angus, Scotland, for tests of a new controlled approach system for aircraft carriers, while 703X Flight carried out trials on the Fairey Gannet AS.1 anti-submarine warfare aircraft, from March to December 1954 and 703W Flight tested the Westland Wyvern, a British single-seat carrier-based multi-role strike aircraft. In August 1955, 703 Naval Air Squadron and 771 Naval Air Squadron amalgamated to form 700 Naval Air Squadron.

Carrier Ships' trials

As well as the carrier flexible deck trials, deck landing aids, and also steam catapult trials, its aircraft became the first to operate from the new HMS Eagle. Its later duties included the testing of catapult and arrester gear after aircraft carrier refits:

Wasp Training Unit (1972 - 1981)

On 22 January 1972, 703 NAS was re-formed at RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey), Dorset, England, to conduct training on the Westland Wasp HAS.1, an anti-submarine warfare helicopter, taking over the duty from 829 Naval Air Squadrons training section and it became the Wasp Training Unit. From February 1975 it added advanced training, a role it took over from 706 Naval Air Squadron. It became the sole unit for Westland Wasp training, including conversion and Advanced and Operational Flying Training, providing aircrew and ground crew training. On 1 January 1981, after 9 years of training aircrew on the Wasp, the squadron was disbanded.

Elementary Flying Training (2003 - present)

From April 2003, 703 Naval Air Squadron was allocated to the Royal Navy section of No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Barkston Heath, Lincolnshire, England. The Royal Navy Elementary Flying Training School (RNEFTS) formed within No. 2 Flying Training School RAF at RAF Church Fenton, North Yorkshire, England, in January 1970, which operated with the Scottish Aviation Bulldog, a basic trainer aircraft, before moving to RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, in November 1974. It remained there for ten years before the RNEFTS moved to RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, in April 1984 and then onto RAF Topcliffe, North Yorkshire, in April 1993. In the July the RNEFTS combined with the Army Air Corps (AAC) training and became Joint Elementary Flying Training School (JEFTS), moving to RAF Barkston Heath in May 1995. In 1996 the Royal Air Force (RAF) joined JEFTS and at this point the school operated the Slingsby Firefly training aircraft, however, in 2003 the RAF withdrew from the school, opting for Elementary Flying Training (EFT) as part of its University Air Squadrons. JEFTS was absorbed into Defence Elementary Flying Training School (No.1 EFTS) in July 2003. 703 Naval Air Squadron trains about sixty Royal Navy pilots every year. The Squadron previously used the Grob Tutor basic trainer aircraft from 2009 up until 2018, before transitioning to the Grob Prefect, a Turboprop trainer provided under the new UKMFTS contract.

Aircraft flown

Largely because of its role as a trials unit in the 1950s, 703 Naval Air Squadron has flown a large number of aircraft types, including:

Naval air stations and other airbases

703 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force stations and other airbases in the United Kingdom and overseas: 1942 - 1944 1948-1955 1972-1980 2003-present

703A Flight

(Six Fairey Firefly)

703W Flight

703X Flight

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 703 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:

703A Flight

703W Flight

703X Flight

Citations