707 Naval Air Squadron
707 Naval Air Squadron
707 Naval Air Squadron (707 NAS) was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron with a long history of radar work, training, and helicopter ops. It first formed in February 1945 as the Radar Trials Unit at Burscough, HMS Ringtail, to develop and train crews in airborne radar, including air-to-surface and interception radars. The squadron began life flying Fairey Swordfish, Fairey Barracuda, and Grumman Avenger aircraft, later adding radar-equipped Avro Anson planes. In August 1945 the unit moved to Gosport, and in October 1945 it was disbanded and merged into 778 NAS.
The squadron was reformed in December 1964 at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) from the disbanded 847 NAS. This time it operated Westland Wessex HU.5 helicopters as an Advanced and Operational Flying Training (AFT/OFT) Commando helicopter squadron. Its job was to train Royal Navy and Royal Marines Commando pilots, support communications work, assist with development and weapons trials, and prepare aircrews for Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. It also took part in exercises with Army units.
In May 1972 707 NAS moved to RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron). In the summer of 1974 it took on search-and-rescue duties and formed the Red Dragon Flight, a small two-helicopter unit that conducted a three-month conversion course for HRH Prince Charles (The Prince of Wales); after the course he transferred to 845 NAS.
In April 1982 a large part of 707 NAS helped form 848 NAS. Then 707 NAS re-equipped with Westland Sea King HC.4 helicopters from October 1983. By September 1985 the Wessex Commando training role had moved to 771 NAS.
The squadron also carried out mountain flying training with detachments to Landsberg-Lech in Germany and to locations around Saint-Raphaël, Var and Saillagouse in southern France. Other detachments were based at Castlemartin Training Area and at Dartmoor Training Area, with Deck Landing Practice conducted on Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships.
707 NAS supported 848 NAS during the Gulf War, providing personnel and helicopters. In October 1993 it deployed three helicopters to RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to support security operations, but the role was taken over by 846 NAS in April 1994. In February 1995 707 NAS was disbanded and redesignated as 848 NAS.
Over its history, 707 NAS operated a variety of aircraft, including Swordfish, Barracuda, Avenger, Avro Anson, Westland Wessex, and Westland Sea King, and it served from several Royal Navy and Royal Air Force stations in the UK and overseas. The squadron produced a list of commanding officers from its 1945–1994 period.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 23:48 (CET).