769 Naval Air Squadron


769 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. It last disbanded and merged with 717 Naval Air Squadron after the Second World War. 769 Naval Air Squadron Formed at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, during May 1939, by renumbering 801 Naval Air Squadron.
Its role was a fighter Deck Landing Training Squadron, using HMS Furious for advanced training, before disbanding in the December. It reformed in November 1941, as a unit within the Deck Landing Training School at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, and in November 1943, it moved to HMS Peewit, RNAS East Haven. Its role changed to Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training in 1944, before moving to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray, in July 1945.

History

Deck Landing Training Squadron (1939)

769 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), Fife, Scotland, on 24 May 1939 as a fighter Deck Landing Training squadron, by renumbering 801 Naval Air Squadron. It was equipped with Gloster Sea Gladiator, a biplane fighter aircraft, Blackburn Skua, a dive bomber and fighter aircraft and Blackburn Roc, a naval turret fighter aircraft. Advanced deck landing training was done using the modified to an aircraft carrier. On 24 November 804 Naval Air Squadron was formed using four of 769’s Gloster Sea Gladiator aircraft and on 1 December 769 Naval Air Squadron disbanded.

Deck Landing Training Squadron (1941–1944)

On 29 November 1941, 769 Naval Air Squadron reformed as a Deck Landing Training squadron within the Deck Landing Training School at RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor). It operated with Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Albacore, both biplane torpedo bomber aircraft. The squadron received Fairey Barracuda, a dive and torpedo bomber, when it relocated to RNAS East Haven (HMS Peewit), Angus, Scotland, on 7 November 1943. Here it also ran a deck landing training course for officers until the course moved to 731 Naval Air Squadron on 5 December.

Torpedo, Bomber and Reconnaissance Training (1944–1945)

769 Naval Air Squadron changed its role to Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance training during 1944. It moved to RNAS Rattray (HMS Merganser), Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on 28 July 1945. The intention was to expand the TBR school at HMS Merganser, however, due to V-J Day, it was no longer required and 769 Naval Air Squadron disbanded and was absorbed into 717 Naval Air Squadron, on 29 October 1945.

Aircraft operated

The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:

Naval air stations

769 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air station of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom:
1939
1941 - 1945

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 769 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:
1939
  • [Lieutenant commander (Royal Navy)| Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant Commander] C.A. Kingsley-Rowe, RN, from 24 May 1939
  • disbanded - 1 December 1939
1941 - 1945
  • Lieutenant W.H. Crawford, RN, from 29 November 1941
  • Lieutenant Commander W.H. Nowell, RN, from 1 January 1943
  • Lieutenant Commander S.P. Luke, RN, from 7 May 1943
  • Lieutenant Commander P.N. Medd,, RN, from 24 January 1944
  • Lieutenant Commander D. Brooks,, RNVR, from 8 July 1944
  • Lieutenant Commander G.C. Edwards, RCNVR, from 7 April 1945
  • Lieutenant Commander G. Bennett, DSC, RNVR, from 28 July 1945
  • disbanded - 29 October 1945
Note: Abbreviation signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.