| 785 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
785 NAS badge
| |
| Active | 4 November 1940 - 1 March 1946[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role | Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron |
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Garrison/HQ | RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw) |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | White, a jackdaw rising grasping in his claws a torpedo proper (warhead red) (1943)[2] |
| Identification Markings | initially individual numbers (Swordfish/Albacore) A-Q & AA-EE (Swordfish later) R-Z & RE-ZZ (Albacore later) C1A+toC5A+ (all types 1943 - 1946)[3][2] |
785 Naval Air Squadron (785 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which disbanded in early 1946. 785 NAS formed as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, at HMS Jackdaw, RNAS Crail, in November 1940. Throughout its existence it operated a number of various types of torpedo bomber aircraft. The squadron became part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit in late 1944.
785 Naval Air Squadron formed as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance training squadron at RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw), in Fife, Scotland, on 4 November 1940,[3] out of the naval element of the Torpedo Training Unit RAF, from RAF Abbotsinch, in Renfrewshire.[2] The squadron was initially equipped with Blackburn Shark, a carrier-borne biplane torpedo bomber and Fairey Swordfish, a biplane torpedo bomber. August 1941 saw the withdrawal of the Blackburn Shark aircraft and these were replaced by Fairey Albacore, a biplane torpedo bomber. In December 1942 the squadron started to receive Fairey Barracuda, a carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber[3] and by late 1943, it was providing an anti-submarine warfare course, alongside a Fairey Barracuda familiarisation course.[2]
By the end of 1944, 785 NAS had become part of No.1 Naval Operational Training Unit and midway through the following year it started to introduce Grumman Avenger, an American torpedo bomber, on 31 July 1945 when 736 Naval Air Squadron was absorbed.[3] Later, the squadron also absorbed 711 and 786 Naval Air Squadrons, during December.[2] 785 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 1 March 1946.[3]
The squadron operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[2]
785 Naval Air Squadron operated from a single naval air station of the Royal Navy, in Scotland:[4][2]
List of commanding officers of 785 Naval Air Squadron with day, month and year of appointment:[3][2][4]
