Armament Training Squadron (1939) 782 Naval Air Squadron formed at
RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine) on 23 October 1939 as an Armament Training Squadron, but before it's intended
aircraft could be delivered the squadron disbanded on 10 November, its personnel being amalgamated with those of
815 Naval Air Squadron to form
774 Naval Air Squadron.
Northern Communications Squadron (1940–1953) 782 Naval Air Squadron reformed on 1 December 1940, out of an unnumbered communications flight, at
RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), in
Fife, Scotland, as the Northern Communications Squadron. It operated connecting the Royal Navy's
naval air stations in
Scotland,
Northern Ireland and the
Northern Isles and to and from
RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), in
Hampshire, England. Squadron personnel were former
Jersey Airways ground and
aircrews. Aircraft were also ex-
airline and the squadron was equipped with
de Havilland Flamingo, a twin-engined
airliner and communications aircraft and
de Havilland Express, a four-engined passenger aircraft, as well as
Percival Proctor, a radio trainer and communications aircraft. The squadron provided a
Flight at
Inverness Airport to enable a connection with
trains from
London. Additional aircraft were soon acquired and included
Beech Expeditor, a 6- to 11-seat
trainer,
transport and
utility aircraft,
Airspeed Oxford, a twin-engine trainer aircraft and
Beech Traveller, a utility aircraft.
Handley Page Harrow were also acquired, designed as a bomber-transport hybrid, some of these aircraft were modified to carry
aero engines and other larger freight items. Identification markings comprised the air station name
Merlin and an individual number on most of the aircraft. When
781 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 31 July 1945, 782 NAS took over part of its role and had detached Flights of
de Havilland Dominie, a
short-haul biplane airliner, being by then stationed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS
Daedalus), in Hampshire, England,
RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), in
County Down,
Northern Ireland and Inverness In the
Scottish Highlands. Around this time the squadron mainly supported the
Flag Officer, Flying Training (FOFT)
headquarters and it was equipped with
Fairey Firefly, a
carrier-borne fighter and
anti-submarine aircraft,
Supermarine Seafire, a
navalised version of the
Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft and
Hawker Sea Fury, a fighter aircraft. In July 1953 the FOFT moved to
RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), in
Somerset, England, which meant the squadron's tasks were reduced and it eventually disbanded on 9 October 1953. == Aircraft operated ==