731 Naval Air Squadron


731 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. It was active between 1943 and 1945 and its sole role throughout its formation was a Deck Landing Control Officer training squadron. Through this role the squadron pilots were nicknamed 'Clockwork Mice'. It was based out of the purpose built airbase, commissioned as HMS Peewit, known as Royal Naval Air Station East Haven, in Scotland, as part of the Deck Landing Training School there.

History

Deck Landing Control Officer training (1943–1945)

On 5 December 1943, 731 Naval Air Squadron was formed at RNAS East Haven (HMS Peewit), located approximately east of Carnoustie and south west of Arbroath, in Angus, Scotland, as a Deck Landing Control Officer training squadron for the training of Deck Landing Control Officers. The initial commanding officer was Lieutenant Commander K. Stilliard, RNVR and squadron strength was thirteen pilots. It was equipped with a mix of the biplane torpedo bomber Fairey Swordfish, marks I & II, and Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IIb, a navalised version of the Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft. The squadron teamed up with two other Naval Air Squadrons, 767 Naval Air Squadron, a Deck Landing Training squadron and 769 Naval Air Squadron, a Torpedo, bomber and reconnaissance Deck Landing Training squadron. Together they formed the Deck Landing Training School at RNAS East Haven.

Training

731 Naval Air Squadron pilots, who were already qualified for carrier deck landing, operated a number of various Fleet Air Arm aircraft. Initially operating with Hawker Sea Hurricane and Fairey Swordfish, they flew continuous circuits and approaches to land on whichever runway was in use. This enabled the prospective DLCOs to direct their approach and familiarise themselves with the differing landing characteristics across the aircraft types operated within the Fleet Air Arm.
The runway in use was known as the 'Dummy Deck', the trainee DLCOs were known as 'Batsmen' and the repetitive work earned them the nickname 'Clockwork Mice'. A Dummy Carrier Island was introduced, in an attempt to create authenticity, in the form of a converted 1930s Albion bus and given the nickname 'HMS Spurious Mark II.
Trainee DLCOs used high visibility paddles during the day and illuminated paddles at night. The paddles were similar to tennis rackets or 'bats', hence the DLCOs being referred to as 'bats'. The DLCO trainees had to learn the different signals used to communicate with the pilot during an intensive three week training course. Signals were given until the aircraft was committed to land, however, if the approach was deemed unsafe the trainee would 'wave him off', to go around for another approach. Training in aircraft carrier flight deck activities and incidents was provided through the Aircraft Handling and Fire Fighting School', located at HMS Peewit. Curriculum included aircraft parking and taxiing after landing, simulated ready for takeoff manoeuvring, the spreading and folding of wings and fire fighting.
The training course ended with the trainees operating on an actual aircraft carriers. A number of escort aircraft carriers were assigned as Deck Landing Training Carriers. Carriers on DLT duty included:
Fairey Fulmar, a British carrier-borne reconnaissance and fighter aircraft, arrived in early 1944, with these aircraft followed by Supermarine Seafire, a naval version of the Supermarine Spitfire single seat fighter adapted for operation from aircraft carriers, and Vought Corsair, an American fighter aircraft, by mid 1944. Around December 1944 the squadron received Fairey Firefly, a carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft, with Fairey Barracuda, a British carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber, arriving around the middle of 1945.

Disbandment

731 Naval Air Squadron was disbanded on 1 November 1945 at RNAS East Haven, its role absorbed into 767 and 768 Deck Landing Training Squadrons.

Aircraft flown

The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:

Naval air stations

731 Naval Air Squadron operated from a single naval air station of the Royal Navy in Scotland:

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 731 Naval Air Squadron, with date of appointment: