Global Information766 Naval Air Squadron information
| 766 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 766 NAS badge | |
| Active | 15 April 1942 – 25 November 1954 18 October 1955 – 10 December 1970[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role |
|
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Motto(s) | Festina lente (Latin for 'Hasten slowly')[2] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | Blue, in base two bars wavy white a torch gold winged white inflamed proper (1949)[2] |
| Identification Markings | K1A+ to K3A+ Swordfish K1A+, K2A+ & K5A+ Firefly K1A+ Sea Hurricane[3] I1A+, I2A+, I3A+ I6A+ & I7A+ (all types 1946) 100-140 (Seafire), 200-268 (Firefly), 231-248 (Harvard), 270-275 (Sea Fury), 400-402 (Anson), (from 1946-1953) 200-255 (Firefly 1953-1954) 200-207 (Sea Venom 1955) 700-740 (all types 1956-1970)[2] |
| Tail Codes | LM (1946 - 1953) CU Firefly (1953 - 1954) VL Sea Venom (1955) VL (1956 - 1970) |
766 Naval Air Squadron (766 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was to have initially formed in 1939 at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as a Seaplane School, however, it formed at HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihannish, as a Night ALT (Attack Light Torpedo) Course, in 1942. It moved to HMS Nightjar, RNAS Inskip, in 1943, to become part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit. By 1944, it was operating over 30 Swordfish aircraft, but, during the year, also acquired Firefly aircraft from 1772 NAS, and Sea Hurricane aircraft from 760 NAS. It moved to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray, early in 1946, but later that year, moved to HMS Fulmar, RNAS Lossiemouth, where it received Seafire aircraft, along with being Part 1 of the Operational Flying School. By late 1951, Sea Fury trainer aircraft were also added to its varied list of types operated. In 1953, the squadron moved to HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose, where it disbanded in 1954.
In 1955, it reformed at HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, with Sea Venom aircraft from 890 NAS, to form an All Weather Fighter Pool. Yeovilton's runways were undergoing reconstruction in 1956, so the squadron relocated to RNAS Merryfield, which was a satellite station of Yeovilton. In October 1957, the squadron became the Naval All Weather Fighter School, a task previously performed by 238 Operational Conversion Unit, at RAF North Luffenham. The title changed to All Weather Fighter Training Squadron, in 1958, when it returned to Yeovilton. When the initial Sea Vixen aircraft arrived, they were designated as 766B NAS, until the remaining Sea Venom were finally withdrawn, in October 1960. Sea Vixen FAW.2 aircraft were added to the initial FAW.1 aircraft, in 1965. The squadron disbanded at Yeovilton, in December 1970, when its task ended and its aircraft were transferred to 890 NAS.[2]
Aircraft had the code VL on tail and a 3-digit number assigned to each aircraft. VL-###
- ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 83.
- ^ a b c d Ballance 2016, p. 67.
- ^ Wragg 2019, p. 129.