History 702 Naval Air Squadron

1 history

1.1 formation , wwii (1936 - 1945)
1.2 naval jet evaluation training unit
1.3 aircrew , maintainer training squadron (1978 - 2014)

history
formation , wwii (1936 - 1945)

702 nas founded on 15 july 1936 operate aircraft ships of 2nd battle squadron. operating supermarine walrus , fairey seal aircraft base @ raf mount batten initially, later these replaced fairey swordfish float-plane. granted squadron status in 1939, , briefly disbanded in 1940, 702 naval air squadron reformed long range catapult squadron fairey seafoxes duty in armed merchant cruisers of second world war.

naval jet evaluation training unit

in 1949 squadron reformed @ rnas culdrose naval jet evaluation training unit. equipped 4 de havilland sea vampires, became first unit fly gloster meteor , first unit achieve jet landings @ night on carrier, embarked in hms implacable , hms theseus. squadron renumbered 738 naval air squadron in 1952.

aircrew , maintainer training squadron (1978 - 2014)

702 reformed in 1978 , has since operated westland lynx has2, has3 , hma8. squadron tasked provide aircrew training , maintenance personnel maritime lynx, ready ship s flights. has complement of around 160 aircrew , maintainers approximately further 20 aircrew , 115 maintainers in training per annum providing refresher training additional 30 aircrew.

in 1981 these roles split , parenting duty became charge of 815 naval air squadron. following year both squadrons relocated rnas portland period of eighteen years before returning current location of rnas yeovilton in 1999.

702 nas disbanded @ ceremony held @ royal naval air station yeovilton on 1 august 2014. aircraft transferred 815 nas , personnel transferred either 815 nas or 825 nas.