747 Naval Air Squadron
747 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy which last disbanded in December 1945. 747 Naval Air Squadron was part of the Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Pool and formed at HMS Owl, RNAS Fearn, in March 1943, evolving into an Operational Training Unit. July saw the squadron move to HMS Nightjar, RNAS Inskip and became part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit.
It returned to HMS Owl in January 1944 and then to HMS Urley, RNAS Ronaldsway, in July. In November 1945 the squadron headquarters moved to HMS Jackdaw, RNAS Crail, leaving a Flight at HMS Urley.
History
Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Pool (1943)
747 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl), in Scottish Highlands, on 22 March 1943 as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Pool squadron. It was initially equipped with three Fairey Swordfish, a biplane torpedo bomber, three Fairey Barracuda, a torpedo and dive bomber and a few Avro Anson multi-role training aircraft, fitted out as radar flying classrooms.Operational Training Unit (1943-1945)
The squadron evolved into an Operational Training Unit and on 9 July, it moved to RNAS Inskip (HMS Nightjar), in Lancashire and became part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit. Here it added Fairey Albacore, a biplane torpedo bomber, to its strength. It returned to RNAS Fearn with No. 1 OTU when the OTU moved there on 26 January 1944. The unit remained until the summer when it then relocated to RNAS Ronaldsway (HMS Urley) on the Isle of Man during July 1944.When the squadron headquarters moved to RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw), in Fife, Scotland, in November 1945, the Avro Anson equipped ’B’ Flight remained at RNAS Ronaldsway. 747 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 20 December 1945.
Aircraft operated
The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:- Fairey Barracuda Mk I torpedo and dive bomber
- Fairey Albacore torpedo bomber
- Fairey Swordfish I torpedo bomber
- Avro Anson Mk I multi-role training aircraft
- Fairey Barracuda Mk II torpedo and dive bomber
- Fairey Swordfish II torpedo bomber
- Supermarine Walrus I amphibious maritime patrol aircraft
- Fairey Barracuda Mk III torpedo and dive bomber
- Stinson Reliant I liaison and training aircraft
Naval air stations
747 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in Scotland, England and on the Isle of Man:- Royal Naval Air Station Fearn (HMS Owl), Scottish Highlands,
- Royal Naval Air Station Inskip (HMS Nightjar), Lancashire,
- Royal Naval Air Station Fearn, Scottish Highlands,
- Royal Naval Air Station Ronaldsway (HMS Urley), Isle of Man,
- Royal Naval Air Station Crail (HMS Jackdaw), Fife,
- * Royal Naval Air Station Ronaldsway, Isle of Man,
- disbanded -
Commanding officers
List of commanding officers of 747 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:- Lieutenant Commander J.A. Ievers, RN, from 22 March 1943
- Lieutenant Commander F.A. Swanton,, RN, from 13 September 1943
- Lieutenant Commander T.M. Bassett, RNZNVR, from 1 March 1944
- Lieutenant Commander R.D. Kingdon,, RNVR, from 6 November 1944
- Lieutenant Commander J.E. Barker, RNVR, from 18 April 1945
- Lieutenant Commander J.O. Sparke, RNVR, from 1 August 1945
- disbanded - 20 December 1945