Catapult Flight (1936–1940) No. 716 (Catapult) Flight, FAA, formed on 15 July 1936 at
RAF Mount Batten, a Seaplane Station and
flying boat base in
Plymouth Sound,
Devon, England, from part of No. 443 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight FAA. It was for ships of the
6th Cruiser Squadron in the South Africa Station. Initially equipped with
Hawker Osprey floatplane, a
biplane designed for spotting and reconnaissance, which was used in the
Leander-class cruiser,
HMS Amphion. However, starting in October 1937, with the arrival of
sister ship , these aircraft were gradually supplanted by
Fairey Seafox floatplane, another reconnaissance biplane. During operations in
Home waters, RAF Mount Batten served as the shore base until it was succeeded by
RAF Lee-on-Solent,
Hampshire, England, in January 1938. Additionally,
Simonstown, South Africa, functioned as a seaplane base. The Flight conducted comprehensive reconnaissance missions from HMS
Amphion, monitoring British interests near
Tenerife during the initial phases of the
Spanish Civil War. Later, in late 1939, operations were transferred to HMS
Neptune, where the Flight focused on identifying
blockade runners near
Freetown. On 21 January 1940, 716 Naval Air Squadron was integrated into
700 Naval Air Squadron; however, the Flight that was embarked continued to function autonomously for an additional four months.
Safety Equipment School (1944-1945) On 28 June 1944, the 716 Naval Air Squadron was re-established at
RNAS Eastleigh (HMS Raven), Hampshire, England. The squadron was outfitted with several
Supermarine Sea Otter aircraft, an
amphibious air-sea rescue type, as well as a minimum of one
Vickers Wellington, a twin-engine
medium bomber designed for long-range missions. The primary focus of the squadron was to conduct developmental activities for the School of Safety Equipment. The unit delivered training on Air Sea Rescue operations utilising a detached Flight stationed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS
Daedalus), (previously RAF Lee-on-Solent), to support the formation of the 1700-series Supermarine Sea Otter squadrons, for the
British Pacific Fleet. In January 1945, a detachment from the squadron was assigned to , the
lead ship of her
class of
escort carrier, at
Greenock for a brief period. The disbandment of 716 Naval Air Squadron occurred in September 1945; however, the Air Sea Rescue Flight continued to operate as an independent unit until November. == Aircraft flown ==