It was initially formed as a long-range catapult squadron on 3 March 1942 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus). During the Cold War, it was reformed as an experimental trials unit, and then as a helicopter training squadron.
History
World War II
Two Royal Australian Air Force Vought Kingfisher aircraft in 1942
The squadron also operated three Supermarine Walrus, an amphibious maritime patrol aircraft, from Walvis Bay in southern Africa. On 1 May 1944, the squadron was disbanded.[4]
Ships' Flights
The Ships’ Flights formed and then converted to Vought Kingfisher aircraft. Advanced training took place at RNAS Dundee (HMS Condor II), Scotland. Standard for each AMC was two aircraft, HMS Fidelity also had two, although the light Cruisers had only one. HMS Pretoria Castle’s Fairey Seafox Flight was taken over from 702 Naval Air Squadron, but didn’t convert to Vought Kingfisher. List of ships and dates for flights:[2]
HMS Fidelity (June 1942, lost with ship 30 December 1942)
Air Sea Warfare Development Unit (1945–1950)
In April 1945, the squadron was reformed as the naval Flight of the Royal Air Force's Air Sea Warfare Development Unit (ASWDU) at RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex, to conduct experimental trials on a large variety of aircraft including Grumman Avenger, an American torpedo bomber, Fairey Barracuda, a British torpedo bomber, Fairey Firefly, a carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft and de Havilland Sea Mosquito, a navalised version of the British twin-engined, multirole combat aircraft. The squadron moved to RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) in May 1948, absorbing 778 Naval Air Squadron and adding 778's Service Trials Unit role to its existing duties.[4]
In 1948–49, the squadron tested plans to land jet aircraft on to a flexible deck, without the use of an undercarriage;[4] trials were conducted by the squadron using a de Havilland Sea Vampire.
Service Trials Unit (1950–1955)
A Westland Wyvern aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm
On 19 April 1950, the squadron moved to RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine), Sussex, (now the site of HM Prison Ford),[5] concentrating on the Service Trials Unit role and became known as the STU.[4] It was further strengthened on 12 July 1950, when 739 Naval Air Squadron, a unit specialising in development of photographic reconnaissance was merged with 703 Naval Air Squadron.[6]
At RNAS Ford it experimented with British innovations in aircraft carrier operations, including the mirror landing aid and the steam catapult.[4]
Independent flights were set up for a number of specialist trials. From February to June 1954, 703A Flight was based at RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), Angus, Scotland, for tests of a new controlled approach system for aircraft carriers, while 703X Flight carried out trials on the Fairey Gannet AS.1 anti-submarine warfare aircraft, from March to December 1954 and 703W Flight tested the Westland Wyvern, a British single-seat carrier-based multi-role strike aircraft.[4]
As well as the carrier flexible deck trials, deck landing aids, and also steam catapult trials, its aircraft became the first to operate from the new HMS Eagle. Its later duties included the testing of catapult and arrester gear after aircraft carrier refits:[2]
From February 1975 it added advanced training, a role it took over from 706 Naval Air Squadron.[4] It became the sole unit for Westland Wasp training, including conversion and Advanced and Operational Flying Training, providing aircrew and ground crew training.[2]
On 1 January 1981, after 9 years of training aircrew on the Wasp, the squadron was disbanded.[4]
From April 2003, 703 Naval Air Squadron was allocated to the Royal Navy section of No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Barkston Heath, Lincolnshire, England.[2]
In 1996 the Royal Air Force (RAF) joined JEFTS and at this point the school operated the Slingsby Firefly training aircraft, however, in 2003 the RAF withdrew from the school, opting for Elementary Flying Training (EFT) as part of its University Air Squadrons.[9] JEFTS was absorbed into Defence Elementary Flying Training School (No.1 EFTS) in July 2003.[7]
703 Naval Air Squadron trains about sixty Royal Navy pilots every year. The Squadron previously used the Grob Tutor[9] basic trainer aircraft from 2009 up until 2018, before transitioning to the Grob Prefect, a Turboprop trainer provided under the new UKMFTS contract.[1]
Aircraft flown
Largely because of its role as a trials unit in the 1950s, 703 Naval Air Squadron has flown a large number of aircraft types, including:[10]
Fairey Seafox reconnaissance seaplane (June - November 1942)
Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN978-0-85130-489-2.
Sturtivant, Ray; Ballance, Theo (1994). The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-223-8.
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