| 767 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 767 NAS badge | |
| Active | 24 May 1939 - 25 June 1940 8 July 1940 - 15 May 1954 20 September 1954 - 1 March 1955 1 March 1956 - 1 April 1957 14 January 1969 - 1 August 1972[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role |
|
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm
|
| Motto(s) | Cum dilgentia salus (Latin for 'Safety with diligence')[2] |
| Aircraft | See Aircraft operated section for full list. |
| Battle honours |
|
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | Blue, a hawk wings elevated and addorsed proper alighting on a lure gold (1949)[2] |
| Identification Markings | T4A+ & T0A+ (Swordfish, 1939-1940) T4A+ (from July 1940) E1A+ & E2A+ (all types, May 1943)[3] IT1A+ & IT2A+ (all types, July 1946) 100-154 (Seafire), 201-244 (Firefly), (from 1947) 200-206 (Firefly, from September 1949) 160-169 (Sea Fury), 171-173 (Attacker) & 260-263 (Firefly) (from September 1952) 120-128 (Sea Hawk), 161-163 (Sea Fury), 171-176 (Attacker), 260-264 (Firefly) & 361-365 (Avenger) (from 1953) 704-715 (Sea Hawk) (from March 1956) 150-160 (Phantom)[2] |
| Tail Codes | MV:VL & VL (1947) VL (from September 1949) HR (from January 1952) JA (from September 1952) ST (from 1953) FD (from March 1956) VL (Phantom)[2] |
767 Naval Air Squadron (767 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed as a Deck Landing Training Squadron in 1939, when 811 Naval Air Squadron was renumbered 767 Naval Air Squadron, at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle. A detachment went to Hyeres de la Palyvestre in the south of France, enabling training in fairer conditions. While here, the squadron took on an operational mission, with a bombing attack on the Italian port of Genoa. With the fall of France the squadron evacuated to French Algeria, where it split. Part went to Malta, forming 830 Naval Air Squadron, the other part to HMS Ark Royal, with personnel returning to the UK via Gibraltar. The squadron regrouped at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, and moved to the Deck Landing School at HMS Peewit at RNAS East Haven in 1943.
The squadron moved to RNAS Lossiemouth in 1946 where it provided its training, operating out of the satellite airfield at HMS Fulmar at RNAS Milltown. It then moved to RNAS Yeovilton three years later in 1949, where its role became Deck Landing Control Officer Training Squadron. It continued in this role, moving on to RNAS Henstridge in 1952. Later the same year it moved to RNAS Stretton and a change in technology, the introduction of an optical landing system, meant a change in role to a Landing Signal Officers Training Squadron, eventually disbanding in 1955.
It reformed in 1956 as a Fighter Pilot Pool squadron at RNAS Ford, moving to HMS Goldcrest (RNAS Brawdy) later in the year. However, a month later it was back at HMS Peregrine but was disbanded in April 1957. 767 Naval Air Squadron was next reformed in 1969, as the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) for the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1, operating from RNAS Yeovilton. When this task completed it was then disbanded again, in 1972.
- ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 85.
- ^ a b c d Ballance 2016, p. 68.
- ^ Wragg 2019, p. 129.