Unit Name: | 1702 Naval Air Squadron |
Dates: | 1 June 1945 - 12 September 1946 |
Type: | Amphibian Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron |
Role: |
|
Size: | six aircraft |
Command Structure: | Fleet Air Arm |
Identification Symbol: | 02A+ on Ocean |
Identification Symbol Label: | Identification Markings |
Aircraft Patrol: | Supermarine Sea Otter |
1702 Naval Air Squadron (1702 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA), which last disbanded during September 1946. It was formed in June 1945 at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as a Special Service squadron.[1] It was equipped with the Supermarine Sea Otter, and by the end of the Second World War the squadron remained at Lee-on-Solent. It joined HMS Trouncer in September 1945 to search for mines in the Mediterranean.[1] A detachment of three aircraft were aboard HMS Ocean when the squadron disbanded at Malta and this became the Ship's Flight.
1702 Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 August 1945 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, England.[2] It was designated as a Special Service Squadron under the command of Lieutenant(A) O.G.W. Hutchinson, RNVR.[3] The squadron was equipped with six Supermarine Sea Otter, an amphibious maritime patrol and air sea rescue aircraft, intended for operations in the Pacific.
Instead, with the surrender of Japan, the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean. It embarked in the,[3] via RNAS Abbotsinch (HMS Sanderling), Paisley, Scotland, arriving on 5 September,[4] for passage to Malta on 13 and disembarked on 22 at RNAS Hal Far (HMS Falcon), undertaking air sea rescue duties.[3]
During October the squadron took on mine hunting work around Greece and from May 1946 performed the same task in Tunisia. It returned to Malta in July moving to RNAS Takali (HMS Goldfinch) where it disbanded on 12 September 1946.
1702 Naval Air Squadron flew only one aircraft type:
1702 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple of naval air stations of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom, some overseas in Malta, and other airbases:
List of commanding officers of 1702 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment: