706 Naval Air Squadron (706 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Established as a fighter and torpedo-bomber training unit in Australia at the end of World War Two, it was briefly reformed as a helicopter squadron in the early 1950s, before becoming a helicopter training unit in 1962, and operating until 1998.
In January 1962 the squadron was reformed for a second time as a helicopter training unit at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) flying the Westland Wessex HAS.1, providing conversion courses to the new type and giving advanced training to specialist pilots.[2] 706 Squadron's 'B' Flight was formed at RNAS Culdrose on 7 January 1964 and equipped with Westland Wessex and Hiller HT.2, to operate in the Commando Assault role, but was incorporated into 845 Naval Air Squadron when it arrived in Borneo to take part in the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. In November 1964 the squadron received Westland Wasp HAS.1 for advanced training,[4] and the following month 706 NAS took over type conversion from 829 Naval Air Squadron.[2]
In January 1970 it converted to the Westland Sea King HAS.1, and in February 1975 Wasp training was transferred to 703 Naval Air Squadron.[4] Between February and December 1978 the squadron operated a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Trials Flight in conjunction with RFA Fort Grange, this then moved to 824 Naval Air Squadron on completion.[2] From February 1978 until April 1993 it was administrative host for the Royal Air Force's Sea King Training Unit. The squadron was a Westland Sea King conversion and advanced training squadron for pilots and maintainers, from 1976.[2] The squadron continued with Sea King flying training with 13 airframes and sea training was conducted aboard RFA Engadine (K08).[4] In May 1982 it was the foundation of the formation of 825 Naval Air Squadron for deployment in the Falklands War. From October 1985 through to May 1996 it added Observer and Aircrewmen Advanced Flying Training. 706 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 27 February 1998, with the remaining training being taken on by 810 Naval Air Squadron.[2]
Aircraft flown
The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:[1][5]
^ a b c d e f g h i jBallance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 14.
^ a b"706 Naval Air Squadron". royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
^ a b c d"706 Squadron Fleet Air Arm". Helicopter Database. 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
^ a bBallance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 15.
^Wragg 2019, p. 114.
Bibliography
Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN 978-0-85130-489-2.
Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.