718 Naval Air Squadron


718 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy created on 15 July 1936 to serve as a Catapult Flight of the Fleet Air Arm. It was elevated to squadron status at the end of 1937, before being disbanded on 21 January 1940. It was re-formed on 5 June 1944 to operate as the Army Co-operation Naval Operational Training Unit before being disbanded again on 1 November 1945. On 23 August 1946 it was reformed for the third time to operate as a Seafire Conversion Squadron but was disbanded less than one year later, on 17 March 1947. On 25 April 1955, after almost a decade, the squadron was reformed once more to train RNVR on jet aircraft. Once this work was complete, it was disbanded for the final time on 31 December 1955.

History

Initial formation

718 NAS originally came into being as a flight-sized unit following a renumbering of No. 443 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight RAF and operated in the 8th Cruiser Squadron in the America and West Indies Station.
The unit was initially equipped with Fairey IIIFs and Hawker Ospreys, and was stationed aboard the Leander-class cruisers HMS Apollo and HMS Ajax, and the York-class cruisers HMS Exeter and HMS York. The unit began to requip with six Fairey Seafox and six Supermarine Walrus aircraft, with the final Hawker Osprey being replaced in 1937. At the end of the year the unit was granted Squadron-status whilst stationed at Royal Naval Air Station Bermuda.

Second World War

At the onset of the Second World War, the squadron was deploying five Supermarine Walrus and five Fairey Seafox aircraft across six cruisers. The departure of HMS Apollo from the station was offset by the arrival of,, and. During the Battle of the River Plate on 13 December 1939, HMS Ajax Flight observed the impact of enemy fire, which resulted in the squadron receiving its sole Battle Honour.
Not long after the war began, on 21 January 1940, the squadron was merged into 700 Naval Air Squadron.

Army Co-operation Training Unit

Four years later, on 5 June 1944, the squadron was reformed to operate as an Army Co-operation Training Unit, with its base at RNAS Henstridge (HMS Dipper), Somerset.
It was equipped with six Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk XII, a photo-reconnaissance variant of the fighter aircraft along with nine Supermarine Seafire F Mk III, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire. In its role as an Army Co-operation Training Unit the unit trained new pilots in a variety of tactical reconnaissance techniques so they could replace experienced pilots on already on deployment. They also operated an Air Combat course.

No.4 Naval Air Fighting School

The following year the unit was operating in a new role as the School of Naval Air Reconnaissance, but was rebased, on 17 August 1945, to RNAS Ballyhalbert (HMS Corncrake), County Down, Northern Ireland and had its role change again, this time to the No.4 Naval Air Fighting School.
In this context, Vought Corsair, an American carrier-borne fighter-bomber, took the place of the Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk XIII aircraft, with additional North American Harvard training aircraft and Miles Martinet aircraft incorporated to provide target facilities. The squadron was disbanded in November, with the Vought Corsair aircraft being abandoned at sea from HMS Ranger, while the remaining aircraft were transferred to 794 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Eglinton.

Seafire conversion unit

On 23 August 1946, the squadron was reformed for the third time at RNAS Eglington (HMS Gannet), County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, to operate as a Seafire conversion squadron within the 51st Training Air Group, but was transferred to the 52nd Training Group in November of that year. In its role as a conversion squadron the unit worked with Supermarine Seafire L Mk.III fighter aircraft, alongside two types of advanced trainer aircraft: North American Harvard and Miles Master.
In November, the squadron underwent a transfer of its Commanding Officer and staff with 794 Naval Air Squadron, allowing them to gain embarked experience with the new squadron. On 17 March 1947, the squadron was disbanded for the penultimate time.

Jet conversion training

Nearly ten years later, on 26 April 1955, the squadron was re-established at RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap), Cheshire. Its primary function was to train Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve pilots from 1831 Naval Air Squadron in operating the Supermarine Attacker, a naval jet fighter aircraft and the de Havilland Sea Vampire jet fighter aircraft.
Later in the year, the unit relocated to RAF Honiley, Warwickshire, to collaborate with 1833 Naval Air Squadron in fulfilling the same training responsibilities.
The unit was ultimately disbanded for the last time on 31 December 1955, having successfully completed its assigned tasks.

Aircraft operated

The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:

Naval air stations

718 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom, one overseas and a Royal Air Force station:
1936 - 1940
1946 - 1947
1955

Ships' Flights

List of Royal Navy cruisers where responsibility for the aircraft belonged to 714 Flight, between 1936 and 1940:
  • HMS Apollo 1936-38
  • 1936-40
  • 1936-40
  • 1937-40
  • 1938-40
  • 1939-40
  • 1936-40

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 718 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:
1936 - 1940
1944 - 1945
  • Lieutenant Commander W.H. Stevens, RN, from 5 June 1944
  • Lieutenant Commander S.J. Hall,, RN, from 26 November 1944
  • disbanded - 1 November 1945
1946 - 1947
  • Lieutenant R.M. Crosley,, RN, from 23 August 1946
  • Lieutenant A.C. Lindsay, DSC, RN, from 13 November 1946
  • disbanded - 17 March 1947
1955
  • Lieutenant Commander W.G. Cook, RN, from 25 April 1955
  • disbanded - 31 December 1955