717 Naval Air Squadron


717 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy which last disbanded in March 1946. It formed as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, at HMS Owl, RNAS Fearn, in July 1944, operating with Fairey Barracuda torpedo bomber aircraft. The squadron then moved to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray, in the October, continuing in Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance training. In early 1946 the squadron received Blackburn Firebrand aircraft, with the objective of forming a Firebrand Conversion Unit, but this was never realised.

History

Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron (1944-1946)

717 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl), located southeast of Tain, Scottish Highlands, Scotland, as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, on the 1 July 1944. It was equipped with Fairey Barracuda Mk II aircraft, a British carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber. The squadron provided specialist training and put together the trainees into accomplished aircrew.
On the 31 October 1944, the squadron relocated to RNAS Rattray (HMS Merganser), situated near Crimond, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Here it provided training for Part I of the Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissaince course. Twelve months later, in October 1945, it assisted in disbanding both 714 Naval Air Squadron and 769 Naval Air Squadron.
In February 1946, the squadron received T.F. II, T.F. III and T.F. IV variants of the Blackburn Firebrand aircraft, a British single-engine strike fighter, with the intention of forming a Flight as the Firebrand Conversion Unit, however the aircraft were moved on. 717 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on the 22 March 1946.

Aircraft flown

The squadron operated a number of different aircraft types:

Naval air stations

717 Naval Air Squadron operated from two naval air stations of the Royal Navy, both in Scotland:

Commanding Officers

List of commanding officers of 717 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment: