788 Naval Air Squadron

788 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm naval air squadron of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy which last disbanded during June 1945. The squadron formed at RN Air Section China Bay in Ceylon, in January 1942, as the British Eastern Fleet's Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Pool, however it lost half its strength during the heavy raids by Japanese carrier-borne aircraft in the April. The squadron regrouped at RNAS Tanga in Tanganyika, East Africa to become a Fleet Requirements Unit and relocating almost immediately to RN Air Section Port Reitz, in Mombasa, where it remained operational for the next three years.

History

788 Naval Air Squadron Formed at RN Air Section China Bay which had lodger facilities at RAF China Bay, in British Ceylon, on 18 January 1942, as the British Eastern Fleet's Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Pool.
On 5 April six of its Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber aircraft were shot down by Imperial Japanese Navy carrier-borne aircraft, whilst they were flying to collect torpedoes for an attack on the Japanese aircraft carriers. The remainder of the unit then travelled to East Africa.

The remnants of the Eastern Fleet TBR Pool, relocated to RNAS Tanga, in Tanganyika Territory, East Africa, to regroup, re-equip and to reform as a Fleet Requirements Unit on 20 May 1942. On 24 June 1942 the squadron relocated to RN Air Section Port Reitz which had lodger facilities at RAF Port Reitz, Mombasa, Kenya and started its role as a FRU. Shortages of equipment and lack of re supply led to the unit operating a variety of aircraft with Fairey Albacore, a biplane torpedo bomber, Fairey Fulmar, a carrier-borne reconnaissance and fighter aircraft, Hawker Sea Hurricane, a navalised version of the Hawker Hurricane single-engine single-seat fighter aircraft, Blackburn Skua, a carrier-based dive bomber/fighter aircraft and Fairey Swordfish, a biplane torpedo bomber. A detached section operated from RAF Eastleigh, in Nairobi, Kenya, between May and November 1943.
1944 saw the squadron receive some new aircraft and it was equipped with four Boulton Paul Defiant target tug variants, two Bristol Beaufighter, a British multi-role aircraft and a Supermarine Walrus amphibious maritime patrol aircraft. 788 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at RN Air Section Port Reitz, Mombasa, on 11 June 1945.

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

788 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, located overseas:

List of commanding officers of 788 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:

Note: Abbreviation signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.