748 Naval Air Squadron


748 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. It was initially formed, at HMS Vulture, RNAS St Merryn, as a Fighter Pool Squadron, before becoming No. 10 Naval Operational Training Unit. The squadron moved to HMS Dipper, RNAS Henstridge, in February 1944 and then onto HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton in the March. In September 1944, 748 Naval Air Squadron moved to HMS Goldcrest, RNAS Dale, in Wales, remaining for just under twelve months, before moving back to HMS Vulture, RNAS St Merryn in August 1945, where it disbanded in February 1946. During its existence, the squadron was equipped with numerous aircraft and various marks, operated by the Fleet Air Arm.

History

Fighter Pool Squadron (1942–1943)

748 Naval Air Squadron was formed at RNAS St Merryn (HMS Vulture), which is located northeast of Newquay, Cornwall, as a Fighter Pool Squadron on 12 October 1942. It was initially equipped with four Fairey Fulmar, a British carrier-borne reconnaissance aircraft / fighter aircraft, four Grumman Martlet, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft, four Supermarine Spitfire, a British single-seat fighter aircraft and four Hawker Hurricane, also British single-seat fighter aircraft.

No. 10 Naval Operational Training Unit (1943–1946)

In early 1943, 748 Naval Air Squadron became No. 10 Operational Training Unit, adding Supermarine Seafire aircraft, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire specifically adapted for operation from aircraft carriers, to its inventory. On 4 February 1944, it left RNAS St Merryn and moved to RNAS Henstridge (HMS Dipper), situated approxiamately east of Sherborne in the South Somerset district, near the border with Dorset, here it also received Supermarine Spitfire Vb, Miles Martinet, a target tug aircraft and Stinson Reliant, an American liaison and training monoplane. However, within five weeks of arriving, the squadron was on the move again, reloacting to RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), sited a few miles north of Yeovil, in Somerset, on 9 March 1944.
Six months later and 748 Naval Air Squadron relocated again. On 1 September 1944 the squadron was transferred to RNAS Dale (HMS Goldcrest), a Fleet Air Arm airbase located west of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales. By this time the squadron was equipped with Vought Corsair, an American fighter aircraft, North American Harvard, an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft, Fairey Firefly, a carrier-borne fighter and anti-submarine aircraft, Grumman Hellcat, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft, Supermarine Seafire and Grumman Wildcat another American carrier-based fighter aircraft. The squadron remained at RNAS Dale for almost one year before returning to RNAS St Merryn on the 14 August 1945.
748 Naval Air Squadron remained there for a further six months, disbanding on the 11 February 1946.

Aircraft operated

The squadron was equipped with numerous types and marks of aircraft operated by the Fleet Air Arm including:

Naval air stations

748 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in Wales and England:

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 748 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:
Note: Abbreviation signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.