1701 Naval Air Squadron
Encyclopedia
1701 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm
of the Royal Navy
was formed in February 1945 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent as an amphibian bomber reconnaissance squadron. It was equipped with the Supermarine Sea Otter
, and the squadron joined HMS Begum
in April 1945 bound for the Far East.
The squadron was intended to join the newly-established Mobile Naval Air Bases
for Air Sea Rescue duties. B Flight joined MONAB IV (HMS Nabaron) at Ponam in the Admiralty Islands
in May 1945 and embarked in HMS Reaper
in October 1945. A Flight joined MONAB VI (HMS Nabstock) at Maryborough, Queensland
, Australia in June 1945.
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
was formed in February 1945 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent as an amphibian bomber reconnaissance squadron. It was equipped with the Supermarine Sea Otter
Supermarine Sea Otter
|-Survivors:No museum holds a complete aircraft. Australia's Museum of Flight has the nose section of JN200, a Sea Otter which served with the Royal Australian Navy.-See also:-References:...
, and the squadron joined HMS Begum
HMS Begum (D38)
The USS Bolinas was an escort aircraft carrier launched 11 November 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding, Tacoma, Washington; sponsored by Mrs. G. B. Sherwood, wife of Commander Sherwood; and commissioned 22 July 1943, Captain H. L...
in April 1945 bound for the Far East.
The squadron was intended to join the newly-established Mobile Naval Air Bases
Mobile Naval Air Bases
Mobile Operational Naval Air Bases were a series of mobile units first formed in 1944 to provide logistical support to the Fleet Air Arm aircraft of the Royal Navy's British Pacific Fleet towards the end of World War II....
for Air Sea Rescue duties. B Flight joined MONAB IV (HMS Nabaron) at Ponam in the Admiralty Islands
Admiralty Islands
The Admiralty Islands are a group of eighteen islands in the Bismarck Archipelago, to the north of New Guinea in the south Pacific Ocean. These are also sometimes called the Manus Islands, after the largest island. These rainforest-covered islands form part of Manus Province, the smallest and...
in May 1945 and embarked in HMS Reaper
HMS Reaper (D82)
The USS Winjah was a Bogue-class escort aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, leased to the Royal Navy during World War II....
in October 1945. A Flight joined MONAB VI (HMS Nabstock) at Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is...
, Australia in June 1945.