702 Naval Air Squadron


702 Naval Air Squadron, also referred to as 702 Squadron, was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. It most recently operated the Westland Lynx, as the Lynx Headquarters and Training Squadron, between January 1978 and August 2014.
It was last based at HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset and earlier at HMS Osprey, RNAS Portland, Dorset. As a training squadron it trained all ground and air crew for the sister front-line maritime Lynx unit, 815 Naval Air Squadron. It initially formed during July 1936 as a Catapult Flight for the 2nd Battle Squadron based at RAF Mount Batten and routinely embarking in RN ships such as, HMS Nelson, HMS Rodney and HMS Resolution. By 1939 it was known as 702 Naval Air Squadron but disbanded in January 1940.
It was active twice more during the Second World War, between December 1940 and July 1943 as a Long Range Catapult Squadron and then between June 1945 and September 1946 as an Instrument Flying Training and Checking Unit. A Naval Jet Evaluation Training Unit was the squadron’s next role between April 1949 and August 1952, followed by a Junior Officers Air Course between September 1957 and August 1958. It last reformed as the Lynx Headquarters and Training Squadron at HMS Heron, during January 1978.
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History

Formation and Second World War (1936–1945)

702 Naval Air Squadron was founded on 15 July 1936 to operate aircraft from the ships of the 2nd Battle Squadron. Operating Supermarine Walrus, an amphibious maritime patrol aircraft, and Fairey Seal, a carrier-borne spotter-reconnaissance biplane, from its base at the Royal Air Force station and flying boat base RAF Mount Batten, located in Plymouth Sound, Devon, initially, later these were replaced by the biplane torpedo bomber Fairey Swordfish float-plane variant. Aircraft were attached to the name ship of her class, sister ship and the . Granted Squadron status in 1939, and briefly disbanded in 1940.

Ships' Flights

702 Flight operated a number of ships’ flights between 1936 and 1940 whilst based out of RAF Mount Batten, including the name ship of her class HMS Nelson between 1936–39, the Revenge-class battleship during 1937, the Revenge-class battleship HMS Resolution between 1939–40, the Nelson-class battleship HMS Rodney between 1939–40, and the Revenge-class battleship between 1937–38.
702 Naval Air Squadron reformed as a Long Range Catapult squadron equipped with the biplane Fairey Seafox, a ship-borne reconnaissance seaplane, for duty in armed merchant cruisers for much of the Second World War. It was based out of RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, England. The initial ship was, followed by, Canton, and. On 10 May 1942 a Hawker Sea Hurricane flight was formed and used on the CAM ship HMS Maplin. The squadron disbanded in July 1943.

AMC Ships' Flights

702 Long Range Catapult squadron operated a number of armed merchant cruisers ships’ flights between 1941 and 1943: the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara between 1941-42, her sister ship HMS Asturias during 1942–43, HMS Canton 1941–42, the auxiliary cruiser between 1941–42, the converted ocean liner HMS Pretoria Castle between 1941–42, and the converted ocean liner HMS Queen of Bermuda between 1941–42.

Instrument Flying Training & Checking Squadron (1945–1946)

On 1 June 1945 702 Naval Air Squadron reformed as an offshoot of 758 Naval Air Squadron, equipped with Airspeed Oxford, a training aircraft, and North American Harvard, an advanced training aircraft, as an Instrument Flying Training & Checking Squadron. Seven weeks later the squadron personnel took passage to RNAS Schofields in Australia.
It arrived at the airbase on 4 September. The airfield was on loan from the Royal Australian Air Force and was the chosen location for Mobile Operational Naval Air Base III logistical unit, which was already equipped with a mobile Beam Approach Beacon System van, however, the squadron’s training equipment did not materialise so it focused on the instrument flying training until 702 Naval Air Squadron was disbanded at RNAS Schofields in September 1946.

Naval Jet Evaluation Training Unit (1949–1952)

In 1949 the squadron reformed at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), Cornwall, England, as the Naval Jet Evaluation Training Unit. Equipped initially with four de Havilland Sea Vampire single-seat jet fighter, it also became the first unit of either the RAF or FAA to fly the Gloster Meteor T.7 jet trainer and was the first unit to achieve jet landings at night on an aircraft carrier, embarked in and later. The squadron received Supermarine Attacker F.l, a British single-seat naval jet fighter, in March 1952, and proceeded converting piston-engined pilots to jets, but in August 1952 the squadron was renumbered as 736 Naval Air Squadron in August 1952.

Junior Officers Air Course (1957–1958)

In September 1957, 702 Naval Air Squadron next reformed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, England, out of the Junior Officers Air Course Flight of 781 Naval Air Squadron. It was quipped with Boulton Paul Sea Balliol, an advanced trainer aircraft, de Havilland Sea Vampire T.22, a two-seat jet trainer, and a Percival Sea Prince transport aircraft, for training. A fortnight after standing up it moved to RNAS Ford, Sussex, where it disbanded almost twelve months later in August 1958, being absorbed into 727 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Brawdy, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Lynx Headquarters and Training Squadron (1978–2014)

In January 1978, 702 Naval Air Squadron reformed from 700L Naval Air Squadron, the Lynx Intensive Flying Trials Unit, at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), Somerset, England, to become the Lynx headquarters and training squadron.
It operated the Westland Lynx multi-purpose military helicopter, using the Maritime Lynx anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare HAS.2 and HAS.3 and the maritime attack HMA.8 variants. The squadron was tasked to provide Pilot and Observer training, and maintenance personnel, and for advanced and operational flying training, ready for ship's flights.
All RN Westland Lynx Flights were initially parented by 700L Naval Air Squadron from July 1977. This transferred to 702 Naval Air Squadron on its formation in January 1978. These Flights were formed of a single Westland Lynx HAS.2 anti-submarine helicopter, these were later followed with the HAS.3 variant and then eventually the HMA.8. Personnel consisted of a Pilot and an Observer, one as Flight Commander, Chief Petty Officer Senior Maintenance Rating and six Rating technicians.
In January 1981 these roles were split and the headquarters parenting duty became the charge of 815 Naval Air Squadron. The following year both squadrons relocated to RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey), Dorset, England, for a period of eighteen years before returning to its previous home location of RNAS Yeovilton in 1999.
It was one of the initial squadrons within the Lynx Helicopter Force, which was a previous Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm unit, set up around the operational deployment for the Westland Lynx.
Around 2011, it had a complement of around 160 experienced aircrew and maintainers providing training for approximately just over twelve aircrew and 100 maintainers, per annum, for 815 Naval Air Squadron. It also provided refresher training for an additional 50 aircrew.

Helicopter Display Team

The squadron was also the home of the Black Cats – the Royal Navy’s official helicopter display team. Originally known as "The Lynx Pair" the 'Black Cat' team name derives from the fierce wildcat depicted on 702 Naval Air Squadron’s badge and also the naval slang of "Black Catting" which implies one-upmanship, having something better than anyone else.
702 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at a ceremony held at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton on 1 August 2014. Its aircraft transferred to 815 Naval Air Squadron.

Aircraft flown

The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:

Naval air stations and aircraft carriers

702 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, both in the UK and overseas, a number of RN aircraft carriers and other RN warships, a number of Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships and other air bases:
1936 – 1940
1940 – 1943
1945 – 1946
1949 – 1952
1957 – 1958
1978 – 2014

Ship Flights

702 Naval Air Squadron parented a number of ships' flights between 1978 and 1980 with Westland Lynx HAS.2, by Flight Nos.:
  • 200 Flight
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  • 201 Flight
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  • 202 Flight
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  • 203 Flight
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  • 204 Flight
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  • 205 Flight
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  • 206 Flight
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  • 207 Flight
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  • 208 Flight
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  • 209 Flight
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  • 210 Flight
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  • 211 Flight
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  • 212 Flight
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  • 213 Flight
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  • 214 Flight
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  • 215 Flight
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  • 216 Flight
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  • 218 Flight
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  • 219 Flight
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  • 221 Flight
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  • 222 Flight
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  • Trials Flight

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 702 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:
1936 – 1940
  • Lieutenant S.W.D. Colls, RN,, from 15 July 1936
  • none, from 18 July 1937
  • Lieutenant P.E. O'Brien, RN,, from 14 August 1938
  • not identified, from 14 November 1938
  • Lieutenant Commander R.A.B. Phillimore, RN, from 24 May 1939
  • disbanded – 21 January 1940
1940 – 1943
  • not identified, from 27 December 1940
  • disbanded – July 1943
1945 – 1946
  • Lieutenant Commander G.T. Bertholdt, RNVR, from 1 June 1945
  • Lieutenant J.E.G. Essery, RNVR, from 4 September 1945
  • disbanded – 10 September 1946
1949 – 1952
  • Lieutenant A.B.B. Clark, RN, from 4 April 1949
  • Lieutenant N. Perrett, RN, from 3 May 1951
  • disbanded – 26 August 1952
1957 – 1958
  • Lieutenant Commander T.V.G. Binney, RN, from 30 September 1957
  • disbanded – 11 August 1958
1978 – 2014
  • Lieutenant Commander B.F. Prendergast, RN, from 3 January 1978
  • Lieutenant Commander R.F. Edmonds, RN, from 29 January 1980
  • Lieutenant Commander D.H.N. Yates, RN, from 29 October 1980
  • Lieutenant Commander H.F. Hatton, RN, from 6 January 1981
  • Lieutenant Commander T.L. Bailey, RN, from 5 May 1983
  • Lieutenant Commander C.D. Ferbrache, RN, from 2 July 1985
  • Lieutenant Commander M. Bishop-Bailey, RN, from 28 July 1986
  • Lieutenant Commander R.G. Burrows, RN, from 26 September 1988
  • Lieutenant Commander C.L. Palmer, RN, from 27 November 1990
  • Lieutenant Commander C.F. Mervik, RN, from 20 June 1991
  • Lieutenant Commander P.J. Bryant, RN, from 21 February 1992
  • Lieutenant Commander R.N. Wain, RN, from 4 February 1994
  • Lieutenant Commander N.P. Yates, RN, from 13 February 1996
  • Lieutenant Commander A. Raggett,, RN, from 26 March 1998
  • Lieutenant Commander M.A. Sheehan, RN, from 28 July 2000
  • Lieutenant Commander S.E. Kilby, RN, from 19 June 2001
  • Lieutenant Commander M.B. Davies, RN, from 1 August 2003
  • Commander K.P. Fleming, RN, from 14 December 2005
  • Commander C.D.C. Mahony, RN, from 28 March 2008
  • Commander P.J.E. Hoare, RN, from 20 July 2010
  • Commander A.K. Rimington, RN, 16 July 2012
  • Commander G. Owen, RN, from 18 December 2013
  • disbanded – 1 August 2014
Note: Abbreviation signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.