703 Naval Air Squadron
Encyclopedia
703 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm
of the Royal Navy
was formed as a long-range catapult squadron on 3 June 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.
amphibian aircraft from an airfield in South Africa. The squadron was disbanded on 1 May 1944.
, Fairey Firefly
and de Havilland Sea Mosquito
.
aircraft. New aircraft types were also evaluated, and 703 NAS conducted trials on the Fairey Gannet AS1
and Westland Wyvern
. In August 1955 703 and 771 amalgamated to form 700 Naval Air Squadron.
, including advanced training from February 1975, a role it took over from 706 Naval Air Squadron. After 9 years of training aircrew on the Wasp, the squadron was disbanded on 1 January 1981.
In 1993 the RAF and RN Elementary Flying Training was merged to form a single school at RAF Topcliffe
, and from 1995, at RAF Barkston Heath
. After taking on Army Air Corps training in 1996 the unit was re-named the "Joint Elementary Flying Training School". In 2003 the RAF withdrew from the organisation, and the unit went through another re-naming, becoming the "Defence Elementary Flying Training School". At this point the Royal Naval element was organised as 703 Naval Air Squadron, with the Army element becoming 674 Squadron Army Air Corps
. 703 NAS trains about 60 Royal Navy pilots every year, until 2009 in the Slingsby Firefly and since then in the Grob Tutor.
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
was formed as a long-range catapult squadron on 3 June 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.
World War II
703 Naval Air Squadron was formed on 3 June 1942 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent as a long-range catapult squadron flying the American-built Vought Kingfisher float plane. Flights were deployed in Armed Merchant Cruisers for patrolling duties. The squadron also operated three Supermarine WalrusSupermarine Walrus
The Supermarine Walrus was a British single-engine amphibious biplane reconnaissance aircraft designed by R. J. Mitchell and operated by the Fleet Air Arm . It also served with the Royal Air Force , Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Canadian Air Force , Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New...
amphibian aircraft from an airfield in South Africa. The squadron was disbanded on 1 May 1944.
Air Sea Warfare Development Unit (1945 - 1950)
In April 1945 the squadron was reformed as the "Air Sea Warfare Development Unit" at RAF Thorney Island to conduct experimental trials on a large variety of aircraft including the Grumman Avenger, Fairey BarracudaFairey Barracuda
The Fairey Barracuda was a British carrier-borne torpedo- and dive bomber used during the Second World War, the first of its type used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm to be fabricated entirely from metal. It was introduced as a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Albacore biplanes...
, Fairey Firefly
Fairey Firefly
The Fairey Firefly was a British Second World War-era carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm ....
and de Havilland Sea Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
.
Service Trials Unit (1950 - 1955)
In April 1950 the squadron moved to RAF Ford (now the site of HM Prison Ford) and was renamed the "Service Trials Unit". Here it experimented with the British innovations in aircraft carrier operations, the mirror landing aid and the steam catapult. Another esoteric idea, which was not put into operation, was the plan to land jet aircraft on to a flexible deck, without the use of undercarriage; trials were conducted by the squadron using a de Havilland Sea VampireDe Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
aircraft. New aircraft types were also evaluated, and 703 NAS conducted trials on the Fairey Gannet AS1
Fairey Gannet
The Fairey Gannet was a British carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning aircraft of the post-Second World War era developed for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm by the Fairey Aviation Company...
and Westland Wyvern
Westland Wyvern
The Westland Wyvern was a British single-seat carrier-based multi-role strike aircraft built by Westland Aircraft that served in the 1950s, seeing active service in the 1956 Suez Crisis...
. In August 1955 703 and 771 amalgamated to form 700 Naval Air Squadron.
Wasp training squadron (1972 - 1981)
On 22 January 1972 703 NAS was re-formed at RNAS Portland to conduct training on the Westland WaspWestland Wasp
The Westland Wasp was a British small first-generation, gas-turbine powered, shipboard anti-submarine helicopter. Produced by Westland Helicopters, it came from the same P.531 programme as the British Army Westland Scout, and was based on the earlier piston-engined Saunders-Roe Skeeter...
, including advanced training from February 1975, a role it took over from 706 Naval Air Squadron. After 9 years of training aircrew on the Wasp, the squadron was disbanded on 1 January 1981.
Elementary Flying Training (2003 - present)
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Topcliffe is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire. It is a satellite station of RAF Linton-on-Ouse.Topcliffe opened in September 1940 as a bomber station in RAF Bomber Command and was home to 77 and 102 Squadrons flying the Whitley heavy bomber. There was a decoy site at Raskelf...
, and from 1995, at RAF Barkston Heath
RAF Barkston Heath
RAF Barkston Heath is a Royal Air Force station near Grantham, Lincolnshire.RAF Barkston Heath is the home of the Defence Elementary Flying Training School which, for a period between approximately 1995-2010 operated the Slingsby T67M260 Firefly two seat trainer. The school now operates the Grob...
. After taking on Army Air Corps training in 1996 the unit was re-named the "Joint Elementary Flying Training School". In 2003 the RAF withdrew from the organisation, and the unit went through another re-naming, becoming the "Defence Elementary Flying Training School". At this point the Royal Naval element was organised as 703 Naval Air Squadron, with the Army element becoming 674 Squadron Army Air Corps
No. 674 Squadron AAC
674 Squadron is a unit of the British Army Air Corps. It conducts elementary flying training for British Army pilots and occasionally for overseas military pilots.-Formation:...
. 703 NAS trains about 60 Royal Navy pilots every year, until 2009 in the Slingsby Firefly and since then in the Grob Tutor.
Aircraft flown
Largely because of their role as a trials unit in the 1950s, 703 Naval Air Squadron has flown a large number of aircraft types, including:- Vought Kingfisher
- Grumman Avenger
- Fairey BarracudaFairey BarracudaThe Fairey Barracuda was a British carrier-borne torpedo- and dive bomber used during the Second World War, the first of its type used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm to be fabricated entirely from metal. It was introduced as a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Albacore biplanes...
- Fairey FireflyFairey FireflyThe Fairey Firefly was a British Second World War-era carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm ....
- de Havilland Sea MosquitoDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- de Havilland Sea VampireDe Havilland VampireThe de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
- Fairey Gannet AS1Fairey GannetThe Fairey Gannet was a British carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning aircraft of the post-Second World War era developed for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm by the Fairey Aviation Company...
- Westland WyvernWestland WyvernThe Westland Wyvern was a British single-seat carrier-based multi-role strike aircraft built by Westland Aircraft that served in the 1950s, seeing active service in the 1956 Suez Crisis...
- Westland WaspWestland WaspThe Westland Wasp was a British small first-generation, gas-turbine powered, shipboard anti-submarine helicopter. Produced by Westland Helicopters, it came from the same P.531 programme as the British Army Westland Scout, and was based on the earlier piston-engined Saunders-Roe Skeeter...
- Slingsby T-67 FireflySlingsby T-67 FireflyThe Slingsby T67 Firefly, originally produced as the Fournier RF-6, is a two-seat aerobatic training aircraft, built by Slingsby Aviation in Kirkbymoorside, Yorkshire, England...
- Grob Tutor