726 Naval Air Squadron
726 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. It was formed as a Fleet Requirements Unit from 1943 to 1945, operating out of RN Air Section Durban, located at SAAF Station Stamford Hill, Durban, South Africa, during its existence. It operated various aircraft including, Bristol Beaufighter, Boulton Paul Defiant, Fairey Fulmar, North American Harvard, Vought Kingfisher, Miles Martinet and Fairey Swordfish.
History
Fleet Requirements Unit (1943–1945)
726 Naval Air Squadron formed at RN Air Section Durban, located at SAAF Station, Stamford Hill, Durban, South Africa, on 7 July 1943, as a Fleet Requirements Unit. The squadron was initially equipped with two Vought Kingfisher landplane aircraft. From August 1943 the squadron received Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber and Fairey Fulmar carrier-borne reconnaissance aircraft/fighter aircraft, however, the Fairey Fulmar were gone by October.In December 1943, the squadron received Boulton Paul Defiant, an interceptor aircraft, repurposed as a target tug aircraft, however, six months later these were withdrawn, replaced by Miles Martinet, a target tug aircraft, designed specifically for target towing, in June 1944. Additionally, Bristol Beaufighter multi-role aircraft arrived in that month as well, but were gone during the following September. North American Harvard an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft, arrived around May 1945, however, 726 Naval Air Station disbanded on the 3 November 1945.
Aircraft flown
The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:- Vought Kingfisher I observation floatplane
- Fairey Swordfish I biplane torpedo bomber
- Fairey Swordfish II biplane torpedo bomber
- Fairey Fulmar Mk.II carrier-borne reconnaissance / fighter aircraft
- Supermarine Walrus Amphibious maritime patrol aircraft
- Boulton Paul Defiant TT Mk I target tug aircraft
- Miles Martinet TT.Mk I target tug aircraft
- Bristol Beaufighter Mark IIF multirole combat aircraft
- North American Harvard III advanced trainer aircraft
Naval air stations
726 Naval Air Squadron operated from lodger faculties for one disembarked RN Squadron, at SAAF Station Stamford Hill, Durban, South Africa:- RN Air Section Durban, Durban, South Africa,
- disbanded -
Commanding officers
List of commanding officers of 726 Naval Air Squadron, with dater of appointment:- Lieutenant Commander F.G. Hood, SANF, from July 1943
- Lieutenant W.A. McElroy, RNVR, from January 1945
- unknown - February 1945 - June 1945
- Lieutenant D.C. Langley, SANF, from June 1945
- disbanded - 3 November 1945