1770 Naval Air Squadron

Inactive flying squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm February 2018 February 2018 1770 Naval Air Squadron 1770 Naval Air Squadron Badge.png 200px Squadron badge 1943–1945 30 September 1945Sturtivant, Ballance 1994 338 UK Two-seat fighter squadron Fighter Squadron twelve aircraft Fleet Air Arm See Naval air stations section for full list. Home station la Videre est vincere To see is to conquer yes World War II European theatre of World War II Operation Mascot Pacific War Operation Meridian Operation Iceberg * Norway 1944 East Indies Palembang 1945 Okinawa 1945 Major V.B.G. Cheesman, GBR 100% , DSO MBE DSC, RMMax Arthur 17 June 1999 Obituary: Major V. B. G. Cheesman Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-major-v-b-g-cheesman-1100749.html 15 September 2024 Blue, issuant from a base barry wavy of four white and blue a trident gold on the centre tine a firefly lambent proper (1943)Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 277 Squadron Badge Description single letters 5A+ 4A+ 270-281 (March 1945) single letters (August 1945) Identification Markings S (March 1945) Fin Carrier Code Fairey Firefly 1770 Naval Air Squadron (1770 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It formed at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), on 10 September 1943, as a two-seat Fighter Squadron and embarked on HMS Indefatigable in May 1944. It took part in several attacks on the German Battleship Tirpitzand other operations in Norwegian waters before sailing for the Far East. In 1945, as part of the British Pacific Fleet, the squadron took part in attacks on Sumatra, Sakishima Gunto and Formosa. It disembarked to Australia in June 1945 and then disbanded on 30 September 1945 at RNAS Maryborough (HMS Nabstock), Queensland, Australia. History Two-seater Fighter Squadron (1943-1945) thumb|left|A Fairey Firefly of 1770 Naval Air Squadron awaiting the signal to take off from the flight deck of HMS Indefatigable 1770 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), Somerset, on 10 September 1943 as a two-seater fighter squadron, led by Lieutenant Commander(A) I.P. Godfrey, RNVR. It was equipped with twelve Fairey Firefly I, a carrier-borne fighter, anti-submarine and reconnaissance aircraft.Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 277 During the middle of December the squadron flew north to the Orkney Islands. Initially based at RNAS Grimsetter (HMS Robin), near Kirkwall, Mainland. Major V.B.G. Cheesman, DSO, MBE, DSC, RM took command and it then moved the short distance to RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), in the middle of February 1944.Wragg 2019 190 The squadron embarked in the newly completed Implacable aircraft carrier, Indefatigable R10 6, in May 1944. It took part in operations against the German battleship Tirpitz in July, as part of Operation Mascot, where it attacked German auxiliary vessels and shore-based gun positions.Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 277 More sorties were later conducted off Norway, along with another attack on the Tirpitz, before Indefatigable sailed along with the squadron for the Far East, and subsequently joined the British Pacific Fleet.Wragg 2019 190 During April 1945, the squadron was part of the attacks on the Japanese-held oil refineries situated at Palembang on the Dutch East Indies island of Sumatra. It also operated over the Sakishima Islands between March and May 1945, and later against Formosa, the main island of Taiwan.Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 277 1770 Naval Air Squadron disembarked to RNAS Schofields (HMS Nabthorpe), New South Wales, Australia, in June, where it became part of the 7th Carrier Air Group, but it disbanded, shortly after the Second World War ended, on 30 September 1945.Wragg 2019 190 Aircraft flown 1770 Naval Air Squadron flew only one aircraft type:Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 277 Fairey Firefly I fighter and anti-submarine aircraft (September 1943 - September 1945) Battle honours The battle honours awarded to 1770 Naval Air Squadron are: Norway 1944Norway 1940-45 http://www.britainsnavy.co.uk/Battle%20Honours/Norway%201940-45.htm britainsnavy.co.uk 2 April 2025 East Indies 1945East Indies 1940-45 http://www.britainsnavy.co.uk/Battle%20Honours/East%20Indies%201940-45.htm britainsnavy.co.uk 2 April 2025 Palembang 1945Palembang 1945 http://www.britainsnavy.co.uk/Battle%20Honours/Palembang%201945.htm britainsnavy.co.uk 2 April 2025 Okinawa 1945Okinawa 1945 http://www.britainsnavy.co.uk/Battle%20Honours/Okinawa%201945.htm britainsnavy.co.uk 2 April 2025 Assignments 1770 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units: Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 305 7th Carrier Air Group (30 June - July 1945) Naval air stations 1770 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom, a number overseas, and a Royal Navy fleet carrier:Wragg 2019 190Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 277 thumb|A Fairey Firefly of 1770 Naval Air Squadron, on board HMS Indefatigable, on the aircraft's return from an air strike on a Japanese oil refinery, on Sumatra Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS Heron), Somerset, (10 September - 14 December 1943) Royal Naval Air Station Grimsetter (HMS Robin), Mainland, Orkney, (14 December 1943 - 15 February 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, (15 February - 18 May 1944) Indefatigable R10 6 (18 - 29 May 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Ауг (HMS Wagtail), South Ayrshire, (29 May - 10 June 1944) HMS Indefatigable (10 June - 5 July 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Grimsetter (HMS Robin), Mainland, Orkney, (5 - 9 July - 1944) HMS Indefatigable (9 - 25 July 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, (transit) (25 July 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Donibristle (HMS Merlin), Fife, (25 - 27 July 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Burscough (HMS Ringtail), Lancashire, (27 July - 2 August 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk), Mainland, Orkney, (2 - 7 August 1944) HMS Indefatigable (7 August - 26 September 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Grimsetter (HMS Robin), Mainland, Orkney, (Detachment 6–17 September 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Ayr (HMS Wagtail), South Ayrshire, (26 September - 16 November 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Dale (HMS Goldcrest), Pembrokeshire, (16 - 21 November 1944) HMS Indefatigable (21 November - 16 December 1944) Royal Naval Air Station Puttalam (HMS Rajaliya), Ceylon, (16 - 24 December 1944) HMS Indefatigable (24 December 1944 - 10 February 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Schofields (HMS Nabthorpe), New South Wales, (10 - 27 February 1945) HMS Indefatigable (27 February - 5 June 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Schofields (HMS Nabthorpe), New South Wales, (5 June - 29 August 1945) Royal Naval Air Station Maryborough (HMS Nabstock), Queensland, (29 August - 30 September 1945) disbanded - (30 September 1945) Commanding officers List of commanding officers of 1770 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment.Wragg 2019 190Ballance Howard Sturtivant 2016 277 Lieutenant Commander(A) I.P. Godfrey, RNVR, from 10 September 1943 Major V.B.G. Cheesman, GBR 100% , DSO MBE DSC, RM, from 5 February 1944 Lieutenant Commander(A) D.J. Holmes, RN, 22 June 1945 disbanded 30 September 1945 Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.Wragg 2019 257 References Citations Bibliography Ballance Theo Howard Lee Sturtivant Ray The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm 2016 Air Britain Historians Limited 978-0-85130-489-2 en Sturtivant R Ballance T The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm 1994 Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd Tonbridge, Kent, UK 0-85130-223-8 Sturtivant, Ballance 1994 Wragg David The Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939-1945 2019 The History Press Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK 978-0-7509-9303-6 en External links Squadron memoir, 1945 Category:1700 series Fleet Air Arm squadrons Category:Military units and formations established in 1943 Category:Air squadrons of the Royal Navy in World War II Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945