726 Naval Air Squadron
| 726 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 726 NAS badge | |
| Active | 7 July 1943 - 3 November 1945[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role | Fleet Requirements Unit |
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Garrison/HQ | RN Air Section Durban |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | Per fess blue and Barry wavy of six white and blue, two assegais in saltire points in base surmounted by a Zulu shield all proper (1945)[1] |
726 Naval Air Squadron (726 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was formed as a Fleet Requirements Unit from 1943 to 1945, operating out of R.N. Air Section Durban (HMS Kongoni), at S.A.A.F. Station Stamford Hill, Durban, South Africa, during its existence. It operated various aircraft including, Bristol Beaufighter, Boulton Paul Defiant, Fairey Fulmar, North American Harvard, Vought Kingfisher, Miles Martinet and Fairey Swordfish.
History of 726 NAS[edit]
Fleet Requirements Unit (1943 - 1945)[edit]
726 Naval Air Squadron formed at R.N. Air Section Durban (HMS Kongoni), located at S.A.A.F. Station, Stamford Hill, Durban, South Africa, on 7 July 1943, as a Fleet Requirements Unit. The squadron was initially equipped with two Vought Kingfisher landplane aircraft.[2] From August 1943 the squadron received Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber and Fairey Fulmar carrier-borne reconnaissance aircraft/fighter aircraft, however, the Fairey Fulmar were gone by October.
In December 1943, the squadron received Boulton Paul Defiant, an interceptor aircraft, repurposed as a target tug aircraft, however, six months later these were withdrawn, replaced by Miles Martinet, a target tug aircraft, designed specifically for target towing, in June 1944. Additionally, Bristol Beaufighter multi-role aircraft arrived in that month as well, but were gone during the following September. North American Harvard an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft, arrived around May 1945, however, 726 NAS disbanded on the 3 November 1945.[3]
Aircraft flown[edit]
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The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:[3]
- Vought Kingfisher I observation floatplane (Jul 1943 - Sep 1944)
- Fairey Swordfish I biplane torpedo bomber (Aug 1943 - Nov 1945)
- Fairey Swordfish II biplane torpedo bomber (Aug 1943 - Nov 1945)
- Fairey Fulmar Mk.II carrier-borne reconnaissance / fighter aircraft (Aug 1943 - Oct 1943)
- Supermarine Walrus Amphibious maritime patrol aircraft (Oct 1943 - Nov 1945)
- Boulton Paul Defiant TT Mk I target tug aircraft (Dec 1943 - May 1944)
- Miles Martinet TT.Mk I target tug aircraft (Jun 1944 - Nov 1945)
- Bristol Beaufighter Mark IIF multirole combat aircraft (Jun 1944 - Sep 1944)
- North American Harvard III advanced trainer aircraft (May 1945 - Nov 1945)
[edit]
726 Naval Air Squadron operated from lodger faculties for one disembarked R.N. Squadron, at S.A.A.F. Station, Stamford Hill, Durban, South Africa:
- R. N. Air Section DURBAN (7 July 1943 - 3 November 1945)[2]
Commanding Officers[edit]
List of commanding officers of 726 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment and end:[3]
- Lieutenant Commander(A) F.G. Hood, SANF(V), from July 1943
- Lieutenant (A) W.A. McElroy, RNVR (KIA), from January 1945
- unknown - February 1945 - June 1945
- Lieutenant(A) D.C. Langley, SANF(F), from June 1945
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 48.
Bibliography[edit]
- Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.