764 Naval Air Squadron (764 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It initially formed in April 1940, at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as an Advance Seaplane training Squadron. The Squadron moved to RAF Pembroke Dock in July 1940, and later to RNAS Lawrenny Ferry, in October 1941 and remaining there until the Squadron disbanded in November 1943. It reformed at RNAS Gosport, in February 1944, as the User Trials Unit, however, the Squadron was decommissioned for the second time in September 1945. 764 NAS reformed again, at RNAS Lossiemouth, in May 1953, where it became an Advanced Training Unit. It moved to RNAS Yeovilton in September 1953, where it received its first jet aircraft. In November 1954 the Squadron disbanded.
It reformed in February 1955, at RNAS Ford, as a Fighter Pilot Holding Unit and equipped exclusively with jets. However, in the May, the squadron also provided Westland Wyvern aircraft type conversion, for the next couple of years. In June 1957, 764 NAS moved to RNAS Lossiemouth, utilising its satellite airfield, RNAS Milltown, and with it a change to multiple training roles: Air Weapons Training, Commanding Officers and Senior Pilots Designate Course, a Jet Fighter Pool and a Target Towing Unit. With Hawker Hunter aircraft arriving in December 1958, the squadrons primary duty was Air Warfare Instructor training. It also undertook swept wing conversion to the Hunter. From March to November 1965 a ‘B’ flight was formed at Lossiemouth, to train Airwork Limited pilots to fly Supermarine Scimitar aircraft. In July 1972, 764 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at RNAS Lossiemouth.
764 Naval Air Squadron reformed as a non-flying squadron at HMS Sultan, in October 2008, as the Initial Training Squadron, as part of the Royal Naval Air Engineering & Survival School (RNAESS), within the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering (DSAE)to simulate a squadron environment for training of Air Engineer Officers', Air Engineering Technicians and Survival Equipment ratings.
History of 764 NAS
Advance Seaplane Training Squadron (1940 - 1943)
764 Naval Air Squadron formed on the 8 April 1940, as an Advance Seaplane Training Squadron, at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), situated near Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire. It was equipped with Walrus amphibian aircraft, Seafox and Swordfish floatplanes. When the trainees had passed the conversion course at Lee-on Solent they boarded the seaplane carrier, HMS Pegasus, for catapult training.
Lodger facilities, for a RN Air Section at RAF Pembroke Dock, a Royal Air Force Seaplane and Flying Boat station located at Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales, were granted to the Royal Navy and 764 NAS moved there on the 3 July 1940, leaving behind its Seafox aircraft. From August 1940, the squadron was providing the Seaplane Flying Training Course Part II (765 NAS provided part I, where the Seafoxes ended up). Around May 1941, aircraft from 764 NAS started using Lawrenny Ferry, a Royal Naval established seaplane facility used to train Fleet Air Arm pilots in the art of flying seaplanes, which was situated 3 miles north east of Pembroke Docks on the north side of the junction of the Cresswell and Carew rivers.
The Swordfish floatplanes were withdrawn in September 1941. However, in response to Luftwaffe air raids on Pembroke Docks, in October 1941 the Air Section was withdrawn and 764 NAS moved to RNAS Lawrenny Ferry. It arrived with eight Walrus and one Swordfish floatplane, which was soon withdrawn and the Walrus was the main eaircraft operated. In July 1942, Kingfisher aircraft arrived. The need for Seaplane Training had diminished by the middle of 1943 and eventually 764 NAS disbanded at RNAS Lawrenny Ferry on 7 November 1943.
User Trials Unit (1944 - 1945) 764 Naval Air Squadron reformed at RAF Gosport, situated in Gosport, Hampshire, England, on 19 February 1944, as the User Trials Unit. It was initially equipped with three Barracuda II and three Avenger II aircraft. On the 1 July 1944, the squadron moved to RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), located near Lee-on-the-Solent, in Hampshire and immediately a ’B’ flight was formed as a Tactician Trials flight. This flight was equipped with Firebrand aircraft.