750 Naval Air Squadron
| 750 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
750 NAS Badge
|
|
| Active | 24 May 1939 – 10 October 1945 17 April 1952 – present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch | Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy |
| Type | Training Air Squadron |
| Role | Flight Observer Officer Training |
| Garrison/HQ |
RNAS St Merryn 1937-1956 RNAS Culdrose |
| Motto(s) | "Teach and Strike" |
| Equipment | Beechcraft Avenger T.1 |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lt Cdr C Newby RN |
| Ceremonial chief | HRH Queen Elizabeth II |
RNAS St Merryn 1937-1956
The Royal Navy Observer School grew out of HM Naval Seaplane Training School at RNAS Lee-on-Solent as a result of a series of changes of identity and parent unit. From 1918 until 1939 the Royal Air Force was responsible for naval aviation, including training and provision of aircrew to the Royal Navy. With the return of naval aviation to the Royal Navy on 24 May 1939, the Observer School was established as 750 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm. During World War II the squadron moved to Trinidad to continue training aircrew. It was temporarily disbanded in October 1945. The squadron reformed in 1952 and is currently based at RNAS Culdrose, where it trains approximately 30 Royal Navy observers every year.
The Royal Navy established HM Naval Seaplane Training School on 30 July 1917 at Lee-on-Solent; the unit was responsible for the training of seaplane pilots and observers. When the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps merged on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force, the school was renamed No. 209 Training Depot.
Throughout the early 1920s pilots and observers of seaplanes were trained at Lee-on-Solent under a variety of names; from 1921 the base was renamed the RAF Seaplane Training School, and from 1923, the RAF School of Naval Co-operation. Although the school now concentrated on observer training, from 1925 all naval aircrew were provided by the RAF, and training of naval officers as observers ceased. During this period the primary training aircraft was the Fairey IIID.
From 1932 Lee-on-Solent was provided with a full airfield and became the headquarters of the RAF's Coastal Command. Observer training continued apace and the airfield was home to a wide range of naval aircraft including Fairey Seals, Hawker Ospreys, Blackburn Sharks, Supermarine Walruses, and Fairey Swordfishes. Telegraphist air gunners were also trained at Lee-on-Solent in the years leading up to the Second World War.
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Wikipedia