792 Naval Air Squadron
Encyclopedia
792 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm
of the Royal Navy
was originally formed at St. Merryn in August 1939 as an Air Target Unit, equipped with six Blackburn Skuas. The squadron disbanded in 1945 and merged with 794 Naval Air Squadron.
792 Squadron reformed at RNAS Culdrose in 1948 as a Night Fighter
Training Unit. It was initially equipped with Firefly NF.1s
and Avro Anson
s. They were later replaced with Sea Hornets shortly before the squadron disbanded again in August 1950.
The squadron was reformed at RNAS Culdrose
in November 2001 from the Fleet Target Group from RNAS Portland
, which closed in 1998. It operates the Mirach 100/5 unmanned subsonic drones which are used to test the Sea Dart Missile System on Type 42 Destroyers and Sidewinder
missiles on Harrier and Tornado
fighters.
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 originally formed at St. Merryn in August 1939 as an Air Target Unit, equipped with six Blackburn Skuas. The squadron disbanded in 1945 and merged with 794 Naval Air Squadron.
792 Squadron reformed at RNAS Culdrose in 1948 as a Night Fighter
Night fighter
A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...
Training Unit. It was initially equipped with Firefly NF.1s
Fairey Firefly
The Fairey Firefly was a British Second World War-era carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm ....
and Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
s. They were later replaced with Sea Hornets shortly before the squadron disbanded again in August 1950.
The squadron was reformed at RNAS Culdrose
RNAS Culdrose
Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose , based in Cornwall, near Helston, on the Lizard Peninsula, has three major roles: serving the Fleet Air Arm's front line Sea King and Merlin helicopter squadrons; providing search and rescue for the South West region; and training specialists for the Royal Navy...
in November 2001 from the Fleet Target Group from RNAS Portland
RNAS Portland
RNAS Portland was an air station of the Royal Navy from 1917.The site was first built in 1917 as HMS Sarepta within the confines of Portland Harbour as a seaplane base; the aircraft operating from the base's slipways. In 1919 No...
, which closed in 1998. It operates the Mirach 100/5 unmanned subsonic drones which are used to test the Sea Dart Missile System on Type 42 Destroyers and Sidewinder
AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried mostly by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. The missile entered service with United States Air Force in the early 1950s, and variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces...
missiles on Harrier and Tornado
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
fighters.