785 Naval Air Squadron
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| 785 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active | 1940–1946 |
| Disbanded | 1 March 1946[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role | Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron |
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw) |
| Aircraft | See Aircraft operated section for full list. |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | White, a jackdaw rising grasping in his claws a torpedo proper (warhead red) (1943)[2] |
| Identification Markings | individual numbers (Swordfish/Albacore) A-Q & AA-EE (Swordfish later) R-Z & RE-ZZ (Albacore later) C1A+ to C5A+ (all types 1943 - 1946)[3][2] |
785 Naval Air Squadron (785 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which disbanded in early 1946. 785 NAS formed as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, at HMS Jackdaw, RNAS Crail, in November 1940. Throughout its existence it operated a number of various types of torpedo bomber aircraft. The squadron became part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit in late 1944.
Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron (1940–1946)
785 Naval Air Squadron formed as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance training squadron at RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw), in Fife, Scotland, on 4 November 1940,[3] out of the naval element of the Torpedo Training Unit RAF, from RAF Abbotsinch, in Renfrewshire.[2] The squadron was initially equipped with Blackburn Shark, a carrier-borne biplane torpedo bomber and Fairey Swordfish, a biplane torpedo bomber. August 1941 saw the withdrawal of the Blackburn Shark aircraft and these were replaced by Fairey Albacore, a biplane torpedo bomber. In December 1942 the squadron started to receive Fairey Barracuda, a carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber[3] and by late 1943, it was providing an anti-submarine warfare course, alongside a Fairey Barracuda familiarisation course.[2]
By the end of 1944, 785 NAS had become part of No.1 Naval Operational Training Unit and midway through the following year it started to introduce Grumman Avenger, an American torpedo bomber, on 31 July 1945 when 736 Naval Air Squadron was absorbed.[3] Later, the squadron also absorbed 711 and 786 Naval Air Squadrons, during December.[2] 785 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 1 March 1946.[3]
Aircraft operated
The squadron operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[2]
- Blackburn Shark II torpedo-spotter-reconnaissance aircraft (November 1940 - April 1941)
- Fairey Swordfish I torpedo bomber (November 1940 - May 1944)
- Fairey Albacore torpedo bomber (August 1941 - November 1943)
- Fairey Swordfish II torpedo bomber (April 1942 - February 1944)
- Fairey Barracuda Mk I torpedo and dive bomber (November 1942 - January 1944)
- Fairey Barracuda Mk II torpedo and dive bomber (April 1943 - February 1946)
- Miles Master I advanced trainer (May 1943 - January 1944)
- Grumman Avenger I torpedo bomber (August 1945 - February 1946)
- Avro Anson Mk I multirole aircraft (November 1945 - February 1946)
- Fairey Barracuda TR III torpedo and dive bomber (January - February 1946)