Communications Unit (1940 - 1945)

781 Naval Air Squadron formed on 20 March 1940, as a communications squadron at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent,^[2] although originally intended as a Reserve Amphibious Bomber Reconnaissance squadron to be equipped with six Supermarine Walrus amphibian aircraft.^[4] It was initially equipped with a variety of different aircraft types: de Havilland Hornet Moth, a cabin biplane trainer and tourer aircraft, Fairey Fulmar, designed as carrier-based reconnaissance/fighter aircraft, Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber and Supermarine Walrus amphibious maritime patrol aircraft.^[2]

The squadron later received Avro Anson multi-role aircraft, de Havilland Dominie, a short-haul 6–8 passenger biplane airliner, Lockheed Hudson a light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft, Airspeed Oxford twin-engine trainer aircraft, Percival Proctor radio trainer and communications aircraft, Tiger Moth biplane trainer aircraft and Percival Vega Gull, a four-seater touring, military trainer and communications aircraft.^[2]

During June 1943 the squadron received a small number of Bristol Beaufighter II, multirole combat aircraft, and then proceeded to run a conversion course, however, four months later this split off during October and formed part of 798 Naval Air Squadron, but training and refresher flying were added to the squadrons remit.^[2][4]

A detachment, ‘B’ Flight’, was based at Heathrow from February 1944 and was equipped with Fairey Swordfish and a Percival Proctor.^[2] It was Fairey's Great West Aerodrome, for the use of the Admiralty, before moving to Heston by October and then became 701 Naval Air Squadron in April 1945.^[4]

After the Normandy landings, an Avro Anson was based at Rochester for the Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.^[2] The Allied Naval Commander, Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey had a Lockheed Hudson as his personal aircraft.^[4] From early July 1944, 781 NAS flew to various airstrips on the Continent for Royal Navy units using de Havilland Dominie, Lockheed Hudson and Airspeed Oxford aircraft. Later an ‘X' Flight was based at Toussus-le-Noble from September and the Flight moved into Germany in June 1945. On 31 July 1945, 781 Naval Air Squadron disbanded into 782 and 799 Naval Air Squadrons. Three de Havilland Dominie aircraft remained at Lee-on-Solent as a detached Flight of 782 Naval Air Squadron, and the Continental detachment became 'X' Flight of 799 Naval Air Squadron.^[2][4]

Communications Unit (1946 - 1981)

781 Naval Air Squadron reformed at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, from ‘B’ Flight of 799 Naval Air Squadron, in June 1946. It was again designated a Communications Unit (known as the Southern Communications Squadron). It was equipped with de Havilland Dominie and Beech Expediter, with a Search and Rescue Flight operating Supermarine Sea Otter. The ‘X’ Flight which was now equipped with Avro Anson XIX and Beech Expediter, and operated on the Continent, returned to 781 NAS and then later disbanded during November 1947.^[5]

The squadron was providing communications aircraft for VIPs, operating an Instrument Examining Flight along with a Bad Weather Flying Training Flight (which involved flying in adverse weather conditions, day and night), by the autumn of 1951. Then in August 1952, when 799 Naval Air Squadron disbanded, it provided refresher flying again and 781 NAS consisted Communications, Training and Miscellancous, and Instrument Flying Examining sections, and was operating with Percival Sea Prince, Beech Expediter, de Havilland Dominie, Fairey Firefly, North American Harvard, Hawker Sea Fury, Gloster Meteor and Airspeed Oxford aircraft. Although when the Supermarine Sea Otter aircraft were withdrawn in the October, the unit no longer provided Search and Rescue duties.^[5]

It formed a Junior Officers Air Course (JOAC) Flight in November 1952, equipped with four Fairey Firefly, two Gloster Meteor, an Avro Anson and a Percival Sea Prince. During September 1954 an ‘Admiralty Flight’ was formed of two Fairey Firefly and four Hawker Sea Fury aircraft, enabling flying practice for Admiralty pilots and staff. April 1955 saw the initial de Havilland Sea Devon aircraft on the squadrons inventory. The JOAC Flight had replaced all aircraft except the Percival Sea Prince with de Havilland Sea Vampire and Boulton Paul Sea Balliol and in September 1957 it was redesignated 702 Naval Air Squadron. 781 NAS took over the role of the Northern Communications Squadron in 1958.^[5]

1959 saw the squadron awarded The Boyd Trophy for its efficiency in carrying out communications flights. It also saw the initial Westland Whirlwind helicopter arrive. These were followed by de Havilland Sea Heron aircraft in 1961 and by 1967 the squadron consisted five de Havilland Sea Devon, three de Havilland Sea Heron and two Westland Whirlwind, along with a Hawker Sea Hawk for use by the Flag Officer Air (Home).^[5]

All 4 SAR Flight Wessex airborne at once for a flypast of the Lee-on-Solent Tower - Westland Wesex HU.5, 781 Squadron, Lee-On-Solent SAR Flight

The Westland Whirlwind of the VIP Flight were withdrawn during 1969 and replaced with Westland Wessex HU.5 helicopter. The 1970s saw 781 NAS undertake surveillance and fisheries protection flights and it operated these out of various airfields around the United Kingdom, including Stornoway, RAF Manston and RAF Valley. It also had a de Havilland Sea Devon based at Belfast between 1972 - 1973 and at Prestwick between 1974 - 1975. Just prior to disbanding the squadron was operating with Westland Wessex HU.5 for both Search and Rescue and VIP duties, de Havilland Sea Heron, de Havilland Sea Devon and a de Havilland Chipmunk. 781 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 31 March 1981.^[3]

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