Catapult Flights (1936–1940) Formed on 15 July 1936 as
No. 701 (Catapult) Flight FAA at
RAF Kalafrana,
Malta by re-designating
No. 444 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight FAA; Acquiring some of the latter Flight's aircraft along with other additions 701 (Catapult) Flight operated with
Hawker Osprey, the
navalised carrier-borne version of the
Hawker Hart biplane light bomber,
Fairey IIIF
reconnaissance biplane,
Blackburn Shark, a carrier-borne
torpedo bomber,
Fairey Seal, a carrier-borne spotter-reconnaissance aircraft and
Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber, operating from
warships of the
1st Battle Squadron, serving with both the
Home and
Mediterranean Fleets. It was based at the island of
Malta in the
Mediterranean Sea, operating out of the
seaplane operations centre at
RAF Kalafrana, with its aircraft routinely embarking in a number of
Royal Navy capital ships. By September 1939, it was known as
701 Naval Air Squadron, and operated with five Fairey Swordfish
floatplanes. It disbanded into
700 Naval Air Squadron during January 1940.
Ships' Flights 701 (Catapult) Flight operated a number of ships’ flights between 1936 and 1940 whilst based out of Malta, including the between 1936 and 1940, the during 1938, the
Queen-Elizabeth-class battleship between 1937 and 1940, the during 1937, the
Queen-Elizabeth-class battleship during 1936 and between 1939 and 1940, and the
Queen-Elizabeth-class battleship between 1938 and 1940.
Special Duties (1940–1941) 701 Naval Air Squadron reformed 7 May 1940, at ,
RNAS Donibristle, located in
Fife,
Scotland, tasked to provide for temporary units formed ashore. 701 Squadron saw action in the
Norwegian campaign in mid-1940, and in May six
Supermarine Walrus amphibious maritime patrol aircraft of the squadron were flown off the converted to
aircraft carrier , , to support operations off
Harstad, in
Norway, performing
anti-submarine patrols, and undertaking liaison and communications flights plus a small number
bombing sorties. In June 1940 the squadron briefly appeared on the aircraft carrier , and the squadron was at
Reykjavík in Iceland in October 1940, when they were taken on board the converted from an
ocean liner to an aircraft carrier, . It returned to the United Kingdom, once again in
Argus, and was back at RNAS Donibristle from the end of October. In November a detachment started to operate out of Stornoway harbour,
Stornoway, the main town of the
Western Isles, on the island of
Lewis and Harris, in
Scotland, although this was very soon taken over by 700 Naval Air Squadron. In March 1941 three aircraft were detached to
RAF Sullom Voe in
Shetland, to augment the existing 700 Naval Air Squadron Flight. 701 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at RNAS Donibristle during June 1941.
Anti-Submarine warfare (1942–1943) On 1 October 1942, 701 Naval Air Squadron was reformed by redesignating 700 Naval Air Squadron, (Levant) Sqn at
Beirut, within the
French Mandate. It was equipped with six Supermarine Walrus amphibious biplane. Operating within the control of
No. 201 Group RAF, it undertook anti-submarine duties. Reports of
U-boat activity in the area between
Turkey and
Cyprus saw a detachment from 701 NAS join
No. 235 Wing RAF and was based at
Latakia in French mandate territory. On 15 August 1943, 701 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at Beirut. By July 1943, the squadron was attached to
No. 201 Group RAF for the invasion of Sicily (
Operation Husky).
Communications Unit (1945–1947) 701 Naval Air Squadron reformed at
Heston Aerodrome, just outside
London, on 18 April 1945, taking over 'B' Flight of
781 Naval Air Squadron. Tasked with communication duties, it was equipped with various aircraft, operating with
de Havilland Dominie, a 6–8 passenger short-haul biplane
airliner,
Airspeed Oxford, a twin-engine monoplane
training aircraft and
Beech Traveller, an American
utility aircraft. It had been operating out of
Heathrow Aerodrome, which was owned by the
Fairey Aviation Company, but was controlled by
RNAS Lee-on-Solent and mainly ferried passengers in and out of London. Aside from transport duty, the squadron also had
Supermarine Seafire, a
navalised version of the
Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft, enabling flying practice for desk bound pilots. In January 1947, 701 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at Heston.
Fleet Requirements Unit (1957–1958) 701 Naval Air Squadron reformed in October 1957, at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as a Helicopter Fleet Requirements Unit. It was equipped with
Westland Whirlwind utility helicopter and
Westland Dragonfly rescue or communications helicopter. The unit was tasked with operating detached Flights from
fleet aircraft carriers on
search and rescue duties, and later 701 NAS operated the Ships' Flights of the
ocean survey ship and the ice patrol ship . The squadron acquired the helicopter trials role from
705 Naval Air Squadron and its role became the
Helicopter Trials, Communications and FRU. 701 Naval Air Squadron disbanded during September 1958. The Helicopter Trials being picked up by 700 Naval Air Squadron, the training element moved to 705 Naval Air Squadron, the Fleet Requirements Unit tasks to
Airwork Services, at
Hurn, and the Flights became the ‘Ship's Flights’ of their respective ships. == Aircraft operated ==