703 Naval Air Squadron

703 Naval Air Squadron
703 NAS Badge
Active3 June 1942 - 1 May 1944
19 April 1945 - 17 August 1955
22 January 1972 - 19 December 1980
1 April 2003 - present
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
Role
  • Catapult Squadron
  • Naval Air Sea Warfare Development Unit
  • Service Trials Unit
  • Wasp Training Unit
  • Elementary Flying Training
Part ofFleet Air Arm and No. 3 Flying Training School
Home station
Motto(s)Experientia docet
(Latin for 'Experiences teaches')
Aircraft
WebsiteOfficial website
Commanders
Current
commander		Major B Atherton, RM[1]
Insignia
Squadron BadgeBlue, in chief a mailed hand white holding a balance gold over waves white and blue of four in base white (1946)[2]

703 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy was formed as a long-range catapult squadron on 3 March 1942 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent. During the Cold War, it was reformed as an experimental trials unit, and then as a helicopter training squadron. Since 2003, the squadron has formed the Royal Naval wing of the Defence Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Barkston Heath.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference pp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 9.