710 Naval Air Squadron

710 Naval Air Squadron (710 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.

710 Naval Air Squadron
Active	1939-1943 1944-1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
Role	Seaplane Squadron Torpedo Training Squadron
Size	Squadron
Part of	Fleet Air Arm
Equipment	Supermarine Walrus Fairey Barracuda Fairey Swordfish

Fairey Barracuda, an example of the type used by 710 NAS

History of 710 NAS

Seaplane Squadron (1939 - 1943)

A Supermarine Walrus amphibian airplane being launched from the catapult deck of HMS Bermuda, an example of the type use

710 Naval Air Squadron was a seaplane squadron that was stood up at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) on 23 August 1939. They were equipped with the Supermarine Walrus flying boat and did multiple deployments onboard HMAS Albatross (1928), a seaplane tender. They performed convoy escort, anti submarine patrols, and air sea rescue services in the Atlantic off the west coast of Africa and in the Indian Ocean, in addition to support roles like pulling target drogues for gunnery practice and aerial photography. The squadron supported Allied landings during Battle of Madagascar in April and remained in the area through November. The squadron did some further work in the Indian Ocean but was eventually sent back to England where it was disbanded on 14 October 1943.

Torpedo Training Squadron (1944 - 1945)

The squadron was reformed on 7 October 1944 on the Isle of Man as a torpedo training squadron equipped with Fairey Barracuda and Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers. The squadron was finally disbanded at HMS Urley [RNAS Ronaldsway] on 20 December 1945.

References

• Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
• http://www.wings-aviation.ch/32-FAA/4-Sqn/710-NAS.htm