Royal Naval Air squadrons at the RNAS Daedalus

HMS DAEDALUS
HERITAGE

Air Squadron History 1917-1996

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814 squadron the last front line squadron to visit HMS Daedalus in 1993

Over 102 squadrons and 12 Flights have been stationed at Lee on Solent over its long history. Perhaps the longest resident, was 781 squadron which was still being used for VIP and SAR work with Wessex HU.5s finally disbanded on 31 March 1981 after 41 years residing at Lee on Solent.

SQUADRONS AND FLIGHTS AT LEE ON SOLENT
The following list includes profile histories of each of the squadrons stationed at HMS Daedalus (click on the underlined hypertext links to review the profile histories):
No. 440 Flight (formerly No 205 squadron RAF), No. 443 Catapult Flight, Floatplane Training Flight, Fleet Reconnaissance Flight, Fleet Requirements Unit (later numbered 771 sqdn), 712 Flight, 713 Flight, 714 Flight, 718 Flight, 716 Flight, 700H, 700W, 701, 702, 703, 705, 708, 710, 712, 716, 728C, 737X, 739, 746, 752, 753, 754, 760, 763, 764, 764B, 765, 770, 771, 772, 773, 776, 778, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 787, 793, 798, 799, 799, 800, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 807, 808, 809, 810, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, 833, 835, 836, 837, 841, 842, 845, 847, 848, 849, 849B, 850, 854, 855, 878, 881, 884, 885, 886, 887, 888, 891, 892, 894, 895, 897, 1700, 1701, 1702, 1703, 1791, 1792, 1831, Search and Rescue (SAR) Flight, JOAC Flight.
RAF - REPRESENTATIVE UNITS

RAF unit Arrival/Departure RAF unit Arrival/Departure

Naval Seaplane Training School
(became 209 TDS) Established 30 July 1917. Closed 1 January 1919. Flew Short 827 Floatplanes then Short 184/187/FBA/NT2B 63 Squadron Arrived 28 Amy 1944, departed 2 July 1944. Flew Spitfire VB

RAF and Naval Co-operation School (name changed to RAF Seaplane School July 1919) Formed 6 June 1919. Station closed December 1919. Flew Short 184 63 Squadron Arrived 30 August 1944, departed 20 September 1944. Flew Spitfire VB

School of Naval Co-operation and Air Navigation
(renamed as School of Naval co-operation May 1923). Opened 1 June 1920, renamed RAF Seaplane Training School April 1921. Flew Fairey IIID 202 Squadron (detachment) Arrived April 1988, departed May 1988. Flew Sea King HAR3

Floatplane Training Flight Arrived April 1938 268 Squadron Arrived June 1944, departed June 1944. Flew Mustang II,

2AACU Formed December 1936 414 Squadron Arrived June 1944, departed June 1944. Flew Mustang II.

407 Flight Formed 1920/30s, departed June 1935. Flew Osprey
1320 Flight Arrived June 1944, departed June 1944. Flew Typhoon

443 Flight Formed 1920s, extant 1930. Flew Fairey IIIF

444 Flight Formed January 1925. Flew Fairey IIID

444 Flight Arrived July 1929, departed June 1935. Flew Fairey IIIF

2 Squadron Arrived June 1944,departed June 1944. Flew Mustang II

16 Squadron Arrived 6 June 1941, departed September 1941. Flew Spitfire VA

26 Squadron Arrived 29 April 1944, departed 6 October 1944. Flew Spitfire VA / Hurricane IIC

42 Squadron Detachment 11 March 1938. Flew Vildebeeste

FLEET AIR ARM - REPRESENTATIVE UNITS

Fleet Air Arm Unit Arrival/Departure Fleet Air Arm Unit Arrival/Departure

Naval Seaplane Training School
(became 209 TDS) Established 30 July 1917. Closed 1 January 1919. Flew Short 827 Floatplanes 800 Squadron Seafire XVII. Arrived 1946, departed Sept 1946.

700 Squadron (Helicopter Flt) Formed 18 March 1957, disbanded 26 September 1957. Whirlwind HAs 7, 802 Squadron Sea Furies. Extant July 1948

701 Squadron Extant July 1958. Dragonfly 807 Squadron Arrived Jan 1947

702 Squadron Formed December 1940. Reformed 1957, departed 1957. Seafox 808 Squadron Seafires. Arrived Jan 1944. Departed August 1944

703 Squadron Sea Hornets
Arrived 1948. Absorbed 778 Squadron. Departed April 1950 810 Squadron Barracuda. Departed Oct 1943.

705 Squadron HTE-1/Dragonfly/Whirlwind.
Arrived November 1955. 811 Squadron Chesapeake/Sea Hurricane. Formed July 1941, departed 1941.

708 Squadron Formed from 764B Squadron 2 October 1944. Flew Fireband. 813 Squadron Firebrand. Arrived 1948, departed Feb 1953.

710 Squadron Walrus.Formed August 1939, departed 1939. 814 Squadron Firefly. Present April 1948, departed 10 May 1948

739 Squadron (BADU) Swordfish/Fulmar/Anson/Oxford.
Formed 1942, departed February 1943. 820 Squadron Firefly. Arrived October 1955

753 Squadron Shark. Formed 1939, departed October 1940. 826 Squadron Gannet. Formed 17 Jan 1955, departed May 1955.

754 Squadron Shark. Formed 1939, departed December 1940 827 Squadron Barracuda. Arrived 1943.
Firefly. Arrived 1946, departed Sept 1946

763 (TBR Pool) Squadron Arrived June 1940. departed October 1940. 829 Squadron Albacore. Formed June 1940, departed 1940.
829 Squadron
Barracuda II, Reformed December 1943, departed December 1943.

764 Squadron Walrus. Formed March 1940, departed July 1940.
764B Squadron. Firebrand, formed September 1944, renumbered 708 Sq 2 October 1944
845 Squadron Whirlwind 22/HAS7,
Reformed November 1955. Departed August 1957

765 Squadron Walrus/Swordfish/Seafox.
Formed from Seaplane Training Flt
885 Squadron Seafire IB. Arrived 1942, departed 1942.
885 Squadron Seafire. Arrived October 1943. Disbanded November 1943.
885 Squadron Seafire LIII/Spitfire VB. Formed March 1944, departed August 1944

770 Squadron Moth/Skua,Sea Gladiator.
Arrived November 1939 886 Squadron Seafire. Arrived Jan 1944, absorbed by 885 Squadron July 1944.

771 FRU Various types.
Formed January 1941, departed April 1950.
771 Squadron Firefly TTIV. Present November 1951, departed 1 September 1952.
1791 Squadron. Firefly IF. Formed March 1945. Departed June 1945

772 Squadron (SAR Flt) Wessex.
Departed 31 March 1988 1792 Squadron Formed May 1945. Departed June 1945

778 Squadron (Service Trials Unit) Swordfish/Roc/Skua/Fulmar.
Formed 1939, departed July 1940.
778 Squadron Firefly Mk5. Present May 1948
1831(RNR)Sq, Chipmunk/Wasp, extant 1980

780 Squadron Arrived December 1940 2 Observer School Swordfish/Walrus/Shark.
Extant 1939

781 Squadron Disbanded 1945.
781 (Comms) Squadron - flew various types. Reformed June 1946, disbanded 31 March 1981
Interservice Hovercraft Trials Unit Formed 1962, renamed Naval HTU 1 December 1975.

782(comms) Squadron Extant 1945. Night Fighter School Fulmar/Anson. Formed June 1942

783 Squadron Mosquito/Anson. Arrived May 1947 Service Trials Unit Seafire/Firefly.
Arrived mid 1947

799 Squadron SeaOtter/Expeditor/Avenger.
Departed 1948 School of Aircraft Handling Arrived 1956, departed 1958

OTHER MILITARY UNITS

Other unit Arrival/Departure Other unit Arrival/Departure

US Navy Squadron
VCS-7 Spitfire VB. Arrived June 1944, departed June 1944

US Navy
USS Texas Ship's Flight Arrived June 1944, departed June 1944

HMS Daedalus site from the air looking north, 2000, Lee-on-Solent

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RAF unit	Arrival/Departure	RAF unit	Arrival/Departure
Naval Seaplane Training School (became 209 TDS)	Established 30 July 1917. Closed 1 January 1919. Flew Short 827 Floatplanes then Short 184/187/FBA/NT2B	63 Squadron	Arrived 28 Amy 1944, departed 2 July 1944. Flew Spitfire VB
RAF and Naval Co-operation School (name changed to RAF Seaplane School July 1919)	Formed 6 June 1919. Station closed December 1919. Flew Short 184	63 Squadron	Arrived 30 August 1944, departed 20 September 1944. Flew Spitfire VB
School of Naval Co-operation and Air Navigation (renamed as School of Naval co-operation May 1923).	Opened 1 June 1920, renamed RAF Seaplane Training School April 1921. Flew Fairey IIID	202 Squadron (detachment)	Arrived April 1988, departed May 1988. Flew Sea King HAR3
Floatplane Training Flight	Arrived April 1938	268 Squadron	Arrived June 1944, departed June 1944. Flew Mustang II,
2AACU	Formed December 1936	414 Squadron	Arrived June 1944, departed June 1944. Flew Mustang II.
407 Flight	Formed 1920/30s, departed June 1935. Flew Osprey	1320 Flight	Arrived June 1944, departed June 1944. Flew Typhoon
443 Flight	Formed 1920s, extant 1930. Flew Fairey IIIF
444 Flight	Formed January 1925. Flew Fairey IIID
444 Flight	Arrived July 1929, departed June 1935. Flew Fairey IIIF
2 Squadron	Arrived June 1944,departed June 1944. Flew Mustang II
16 Squadron	Arrived 6 June 1941, departed September 1941. Flew Spitfire VA
26 Squadron	Arrived 29 April 1944, departed 6 October 1944. Flew Spitfire VA / Hurricane IIC
42 Squadron	Detachment 11 March 1938. Flew Vildebeeste

Fleet Air Arm Unit	Arrival/Departure	Fleet Air Arm Unit	Arrival/Departure
Naval Seaplane Training School (became 209 TDS)	Established 30 July 1917. Closed 1 January 1919. Flew Short 827 Floatplanes	800 Squadron	Seafire XVII. Arrived 1946, departed Sept 1946.
700 Squadron (Helicopter Flt)	Formed 18 March 1957, disbanded 26 September 1957. Whirlwind HAs 7,	802 Squadron	Sea Furies. Extant July 1948
701 Squadron	Extant July 1958. Dragonfly	807 Squadron	Arrived Jan 1947
702 Squadron	Formed December 1940. Reformed 1957, departed 1957. Seafox	808 Squadron	Seafires. Arrived Jan 1944. Departed August 1944
703 Squadron	Sea Hornets Arrived 1948. Absorbed 778 Squadron. Departed April 1950	810 Squadron	Barracuda. Departed Oct 1943.
705 Squadron	HTE-1/Dragonfly/Whirlwind. Arrived November 1955.	811 Squadron	Chesapeake/Sea Hurricane. Formed July 1941, departed 1941.
708 Squadron	Formed from 764B Squadron 2 October 1944. Flew Fireband.	813 Squadron	Firebrand. Arrived 1948, departed Feb 1953.
710 Squadron	Walrus.Formed August 1939, departed 1939.	814 Squadron	Firefly. Present April 1948, departed 10 May 1948
739 Squadron (BADU)	Swordfish/Fulmar/Anson/Oxford. Formed 1942, departed February 1943.	820 Squadron	Firefly. Arrived October 1955
753 Squadron	Shark. Formed 1939, departed October 1940.	826 Squadron	Gannet. Formed 17 Jan 1955, departed May 1955.
754 Squadron	Shark. Formed 1939, departed December 1940	827 Squadron	Barracuda. Arrived 1943. Firefly. Arrived 1946, departed Sept 1946
763 (TBR Pool) Squadron	Arrived June 1940. departed October 1940.	829 Squadron	Albacore. Formed June 1940, departed 1940. 829 Squadron Barracuda II, Reformed December 1943, departed December 1943.
764 Squadron	Walrus. Formed March 1940, departed July 1940. 764B Squadron. Firebrand, formed September 1944, renumbered 708 Sq 2 October 1944	845 Squadron	Whirlwind 22/HAS7, Reformed November 1955. Departed August 1957
765 Squadron	Walrus/Swordfish/Seafox. Formed from Seaplane Training Flt	885 Squadron	Seafire IB. Arrived 1942, departed 1942. 885 Squadron Seafire. Arrived October 1943. Disbanded November 1943. 885 Squadron Seafire LIII/Spitfire VB. Formed March 1944, departed August 1944
770 Squadron	Moth/Skua,Sea Gladiator. Arrived November 1939	886 Squadron	Seafire. Arrived Jan 1944, absorbed by 885 Squadron July 1944.
771 FRU	Various types. Formed January 1941, departed April 1950. 771 Squadron Firefly TTIV. Present November 1951, departed 1 September 1952.	1791 Squadron.	Firefly IF. Formed March 1945. Departed June 1945
772 Squadron (SAR Flt)	Wessex. Departed 31 March 1988	1792 Squadron	Formed May 1945. Departed June 1945
778 Squadron (Service Trials Unit)	Swordfish/Roc/Skua/Fulmar. Formed 1939, departed July 1940. 778 Squadron Firefly Mk5. Present May 1948	1831(RNR)Sq,	Chipmunk/Wasp, extant 1980
780 Squadron	Arrived December 1940	2 Observer School	Swordfish/Walrus/Shark. Extant 1939
781 Squadron	Disbanded 1945. 781 (Comms) Squadron - flew various types. Reformed June 1946, disbanded 31 March 1981	Interservice Hovercraft Trials Unit	Formed 1962, renamed Naval HTU 1 December 1975.
782(comms) Squadron	Extant 1945.	Night Fighter School	Fulmar/Anson. Formed June 1942
783 Squadron	Mosquito/Anson. Arrived May 1947	Service Trials Unit	Seafire/Firefly. Arrived mid 1947
799 Squadron	SeaOtter/Expeditor/Avenger. Departed 1948	School of Aircraft Handling	Arrived 1956, departed 1958

Other unit	Arrival/Departure	Other unit	Arrival/Departure
US Navy Squadron VCS-7	Spitfire VB. Arrived June 1944, departed June 1944
US Navy USS Texas Ship's Flight	Arrived June 1944, departed June 1944