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1702 Naval Air Squadron

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1702 Naval Air Squadron
Naval Ensign
Active1 June 1945 - 12 September 1946
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeAmphibian Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron
Role
Sizesix aircraft
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Home stationSee Naval air stations section for full list.
Insignia
Identification Markings02A+ on Ocean[1]
Aircraft flown
PatrolSupermarine Sea Otter
Supermarine Sea Otter, of the type used by 1702 NAS

1702 Naval Air Squadron (1702 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA), which last disbanded during September 1946. It was formed in June 1945 at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as a Special Service squadron.[2] It was equipped with the Supermarine Sea Otter, and by the end of the Second World War the squadron remained at Lee-on-Solent. It joined HMS Trouncer in September 1945 to search for mines in the Mediterranean.[2] A detachment of three aircraft were aboard HMS Ocean when the squadron disbanded at Malta and this became the Ship's Flight.[1]

History

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Special Service Squadron (1945 - 1946)

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1702 Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 August 1945 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, England.[3] It was designated as a Special Service Squadron under the command of Lieutenant(A) O.G.W. Hutchinson, RNVR.[4] The squadron was equipped with six Supermarine Sea Otter, an amphibious maritime patrol and air sea rescue aircraft, intended for operations in the Pacific.[5]

Instead, with the surrender of Japan, the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean. It embarked in the Ruler-class escort carrier HMS Trouncer,[4] via RNAS Abbotsinch (HMS Sanderling), Paisley, Scotland, arriving on 5 September,[6] for passage to Malta on 13 and disembarked on 22 at RNAS Hal Far (HMS Falcon), undertaking air sea rescue duties.[4]

During October the squadron took on mine hunting work around Greece and from May 1946 performed the same task in Tunisia. It returned to Malta in July moving to RNAS Takali (HMS Goldfinch) where it disbanded on 12 September 1946.[1]

Aircraft flown

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1702 Naval Air Squadron flew only one aircraft type:[1]

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1702 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple of naval air stations of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom, some overseas in Malta, and other airbases:[1]

Commanding Officers

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List of commanding officers of 1702 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[1]

  • Lieutenant(A) O.G.W. Hutchinson, RNVR, from 1 June 45
  • Lieutenant(A) R.H. Kilburn, RNVR, from 15 January 1946
  • disbanded - 12 September 1946

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 276.
  2. ^ a b "1702 NAS at the Fleet Air Arm Archive website". Archived from the original on 19 June 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  3. ^ "Lee-on-Solent". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "1702 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Naval Air Squadrons 1938 to present day. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  5. ^ Wragg 2019, p. 189.
  6. ^ "Abbotsinch". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

Bibliography

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