714 Naval Air Squadron

714 Naval Air Squadron
714 (Catapult) Flight FAA
Fairey Barracuda; an example of the type used by 714 NAS
ActiveRoyal Air Force
15 July 1936 - 24 May 1939
Royal Navy
24 May 1939 - 21 January 1940
1 August 1944 - 29 October 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
Role
  • Catapult Flight
  • Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron
SizeSquadron
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Home stationSee Naval air stations section for full list.
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Lieutenant Commander J R Godley, RN
Insignia
Identification Markings
  • 305, 307 (Walrus)
  • J9A+ (Walrus May 1939)
  • F1A+ & F2A+ (Barracuda)
  • AT1A+ & AT2A+ (Barracuda October 1944)
  • I1A+ & I2A+ (Barracuda later)
Aircraft flown
BomberFairey Barracuda
PatrolSupermarine Walrus
Reconnaissance

714 Naval Air Squadron (714 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). The unit was initially established as 714 (Catapult) Flight in July 1936. By 1939, it had evolved from a flight into a squadron and was actively operating from the cruisers HMS Gloucester, HMS Liverpool, and HMS Manchester at the onset of the Second World War, utilising Supermarine Walrus aircraft, with RAF Seletar and RAF China Bay serving as its shore bases. In 1940, it was incorporated into 700 Naval Air Squadron. Subsequently, in August 1944, it was reestablished at HMS Owl, RNAS Fearn, as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, equipped with Fairey Barracuda aircraft. The squadron relocated to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray, in October and was disbanded nearly one year later, almost to the exact day.