1700 Naval Air Squadron

History

Air Sea Rescue (1944-1946)

1700 Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 November 1944 as an Air Sea Rescue (ASR) squadron at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, England. It was initially equipped with six Supermarine Sea Otter, an amphibious maritime patrol and air sea rescue aircraft, planned for operations in the Pacific theatre. The squadron personnel consisted commanding officer Lieutenant(A) A.B. Edgar, RNVR, six pilots and six observers. Upon finishing the work-up, the squadron boarded the , , on 8 January 1945, at the Aircraft Maintenance Yard, RNAMY Belfast (HMS Gadwall), County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. in preparation for the journey to southern India.

HMS Khedive reached Cochin, India, on 3 February. Following the unloading of their aircraft, 1700 Naval Air Squadron departed for RNAS Sulur (HMS Vairi) in Coimbatore, Southern India, located 120 miles to the northeast, on 8 February. At this location, several Supermarine Sea Otter aircraft and multiple Supermarine Walrus amphibious maritime patrol aircraft, as the Supermarine Sea Otter had yet to receive clearance for landing on the deck, were provided by the nearby RN Aircraft Repair Yard (RNARY) at Coimbatore, HMS Garuda. On 4 April 1945, the squadron relocated to the Royal Air Force flying boat base in Koggala, Ceylon, where aircraft were embarked in small numbers in various escort carriers for Air Sea Rescue, including the s, and which were among the escort carriers that constituted the protective force for the amphibious assault on Rangoon, which took place on 2 May and was designated Operation Dracula. Additionally, HMS Hunter participated in an anti-shipping operation in the Andaman Sea, known as Operation Mitre, as well as in Operation Dukedom.

A detachment was embarked in the Ruler-class escort carrier, during operations at Car Nicobar in July, and also minesweeping activities. Additional detachments were assigned to the escort carriers , , and HMS Khedive. After the Victory over Japan Day, the squadron was primarily stationed on land. 'A' Flight operated six Supermarine Sea Otter aircraft from RNAS Trincomalee (HMS Bambara), Ceylon, starting in November, while 'B' Flight had six Supermarine Walrus aircraft at RNAS Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), Ceylon,. 'C' Flight occasionally operated from RNAS Sembawang (HMS Nabrock), Sembawang, Singapore, and a small number of Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber aircraft and other aircraft types such as Grumman Avenger and Supermarine Seafire, were also flown during this period.

On 3 June 1946, 1700 Naval Air Squadron was absorbed into 733 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Trincomalee (HMS Bambara).

Aviation Support Squadron (2017-present)

Previously known as the Maritime Aviation Support Force (MASF) and stationed at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), Cornwall, the unit was reclassified as 1700 Naval Air Squadron on 2 October 2017. The official commissioning of the new squadron took place during a ceremony on 31 October with Lieutenant Commander C. Roberts, RN, serving as the commanding officer.

When a Fleet Air Arm aircraft or squadron is deployed to a ship or a distant operational base, it is the responsibility of the squadron to establish the required support facilities. 1700 Naval Air Squadron deploys specialised teams consisting of two to fifty personnel, guaranteeing that vessels and other remote operational bases are equipped with the essential support staff whenever and wherever needed. This squadron offers a comprehensive array of services, including engineering, aviation, and logistical support, as well as flight deck operations, warfare capabilities, and medical assistance.

Aircraft flown

1700 Naval Air Squadron flew a number of different aircraft types, including:

• Supermarine Sea Otter ABR.I amphibious air sea rescue aircraft (November 1944 - June 1946)
• Supermarine Walrus amphibious maritime patrol aircraft (May 1945 - June 1946)
• de Havilland Tiger Moth trainer aircraft (November 1945 - January 1946)
• Stinson Reliant liaison and training aircraft (November 1945 - January 1946)
• Grumman Avenger Mk.II torpedo bomber (December 1945 - January 1946)
• Supermarine Seafire F Mk.IIc fighter aircraft (December 1945 - January 1946)
• Fairey Swordfish II torpedo bomber (January - June 1946)

Battle honours

The battle honours awarded to 1700 Naval Air Squadron are:

• Burma 1945

Naval air stations

1700 Naval Air Squadron operated mostly from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy overseas and a number of Royal Navy escort carriers, during its initial formation:

1944 - 1946

• Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, (1 November 1944 - 8 January 1945)
• (8 January - 8 February 1945)
• Royal Naval Air Station Sollur (HMS Vairi), India, (8 February - 4 April 1945)
• Royal Air Force Koggala, Ceylon, (4 April - 26 May 1945)
  • (Detachment 14 April - 24 June 1945)
  • (Detachment 23 April - 12 June 1945)
• Royal Naval Air Station Trincomalee (HMS Bambara), Ceylon, (26 May 1945 - 3 June 1945)
  • HMS Khedive (Detachment 12 June - 18 September 1945)
  • (Detachment 19 June - 20 July 1945)
  • (Detachment 2 - 13 July 1945)
  • (Detachment 8 - 26 August 1945)
  • (Detachment 16 August - 21 September 1945)
  • HMS Hunter (Detachment 6 August - 18 September 1945)
  • HMS Emperor (Detachment 17 - 30 October 1945)
• disbanded - (3 June 1946) 'A' Flight:
• Royal Naval Air Station Trincomalee (HMS Bambara), Ceylon, (17 November 1945 - 3 June 1946) 'B' Flight:
• Royal Naval Air Station Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), Ceylon, (24 November 1945 - 3 June 1946) 'C' Flight:
• Royal Naval Air Station Sembawang (HMS Nabrock), Singapore, (8 - 20 November 1945)
• Royal Naval Air Station Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), Ceylon, (20 November - 15 December 1945)
• Royal Naval Air Station Sembawang (HMS Nabrock) (15 December 1945 - 26 January 1946)
• transferred to 791 Naval Air Squadron (26 January 1946)

2017 - present

• Royal Navy Air Station Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), Cornwall, (2 October 2017 - present)

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 1700 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:

1944 - 1946

• Lieutenant(A) A.B. Edgar, RNVR, from 1 November 1944
• Lieutenant(A) J.A. Gossett, RNVR, from 25 January 1946
• disbanded - 3 June 1946

2017 - present

• Lieutenant Commander C. Roberts, RN, from 2 October 2017
• Lieutenant Commander R. Turrell, RN, from March 2022
• Lieutenant Commander B.J. Smith, RN, from 17 July 2024

Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.

References

Citations

Bibliography

References

1. (2 November 2017). "Maritime Aviation Support Unit becomes 1700 Squadron".
2. "1700 Naval Air Squadron".
3. "1700 NAS at the Fleet Air Arm Archive website".
4. Brown, J. D.. (May 2009). "Carrier Operations in World War II". Seaforth Publishing.
5. "Lee-on-Solent". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day.
6. "1700 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Naval Air Squadrons 1938 to present day.
7. "A history of 1700 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Naval Air Squadrons 1938 to present day.
8. "Burma 1944-45".
9. RNAS Culdrose. "It's all change at 1700 Naval Air Squadron -pictured left is Lt Cdr Richard Turrell handing over command to Lt Cdr Barry Smith. @1700NAS deploys teams of sailors to @RoyalNavy warships and RFA support ships around the world to allow flying operations #1700NAS".