# 744 Naval Air Squadron

744 Naval Air Squadron (744 NAS) is a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was originally established in 1943 in Nova Scotia and has undergone various re-designations and reformations throughout its history. The squadron has transitioned from early air gunner training to anti-submarine warfare and trials, and in 2018, it reformed at MoD Boscombe Down as the Mission Systems and Armament Test and Evaluation Squadron. Now, in 2024, 744 Naval Air Squadron is taking on the new role of Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron (JUAS TES), leading the Ministry of Defence's efforts in UAS testing and evaluation.

## History
### Air Gunner Training Squadron (1943–1944)

The squadron formed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), situated near Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire, approximately four miles west of Portsmouth, on 10 February 1943 (1943-02-10). However, as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, the squadron moved to RN Air Section Yarmouth, located in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada, almost straight away. It was equipped with Curtiss SO3C Seamew aircraft. Fifteen months later, in June 1944, the squadron was re-designated as 754 Naval Air Squadron.

### Merchant Aircraft Carrier and Anti-Submarine training (1944–1947)

The squadron re-formed at RNAS Maydown (HMS Shrike), located 4.3 miles (6.9 km) northeast of Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, as a Merchant Aircraft Carrier training unit, on 6 March 1944, operating Swordfish aircraft. A detachment, working out of RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), close to Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, trained crews for 836 NAS, including providing Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training. 744 Naval Air Squadron swapped its Swordfish for Barracuda and briefly, Firefly aircraft. The squadron moved to RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), located 1.3 miles (2.1 km) northeast of Eglinton, County Londonderry, in October 1945 and continued in the ASW training role using Anson aircraft for this purpose, until 1 December 1947 when it was renamed 815 Squadron.

### Anti-Submarine Trials and Development Unit (1951–1956)

It reformed on 20 July 1951, from 737 Squadron X Flight, as an anti-submarine trials and development unit at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) and continued in this role until 31 October 1956 when it was disbanded. The squadron was engaged with trials to support the development of search receivers, which were designed to detect submarine radar. A Fairey Barracuda ASV Mk.XI underwent a conversion for trial purposes, this was known as ‘Investigation Pointer’. It was also involved with Orange Harvest, which was subsequently fitted to the RAF's maritime patrol Avro Shackletons. A detachment went to RNAS Hal Far, Malta, in October 1951 following two Fairey Fireflies being fitted with a homing device that could detect sonobuoys, therefore removing the need for smoke markers, for subsequent trials with submarines and ships, from successive initial trials at Farnborough.
Additionally the squadron took on Search and Rescue duties from December 1952, using Dragonfly HR.3 helicopters, although this role ended on disbandment at Eglinton. By 1953, 744 Naval Air Squadron also operated as the Station Flight, but again this ended on disbandment, which took place on 1 March 1954. However, on the same day, the squadron reformed at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), located near Helston, Cornwall, as a Naval fixed wing anti-submarine warfare development unit (ASWDU), remaining there until the October where it relocated to RAF St Mawgan, near St Mawgan and Newquay, in Cornwall. Here, the squadron was initially equipped with Firefly AS.6 aircraft on reformation and these were later followed by Fairey Gannet, which arrived in May 1955. Two months later, the squadron received Grumman Avengers and the Firefly were withdrawn later in the year. Two years on from arriving in St Mawgan, the squadron disbanded on 31 October 1956.

### Mission Systems and Armament Test and Evaluation Sqn (2018–2024)

On 14 November 2018, the squadron was reformed, at MoD Boscombe Down. It was initially tasked with introducing the Crowsnest Airborne Early Warning Merlin Mk2 aircraft and supporting the RAF's Chinook Mk5 and Mk6 helicopters. It operated as a joint unit under the Air Warfare Centre, evaluating and testing new helicopter and fixed-wing platforms, including their avionics and weapons. The squadron also provided support for the Merlin HC4/4A, Wildcat HMA2, and Wildcat AH1 helicopters, focusing on weapons integration programmes, including the Martlet and Sea Venom missiles

### Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron (2024–present)

On 26 September 2024, 744 Naval Air Squadron transitioned into the Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron (JUAS TES). This marked a significant evolution, as the squadron became the Ministry of Defence's lead unit for testing and evaluating uncrewed air systems (UAS). This transition positions 744 Naval Air Squadron at the forefront of UAS development, supporting future UK air systems.
744 Naval Air Squadron is based at MoD Boscombe Down as part of the Air and Space Warfare Centre. The principal objective of this unit is to conduct testing and evaluation of both novel and established uncrewed air systems (UAS). This encompasses the assessment of platform performance, the integration of payloads and weapons, as well as the advancement of sophisticated networks. Serving as the Ministry of Defence's primary entity for UAS, JUAS TES is instrumental in influencing the future trajectory of air systems and their operational capabilities in the United Kingdom.
The squadron continues to support the Crowsnest Programme, an airborne early warning and control system for the Royal Navy's Merlin HM2 helicopters. This programme is key to enhancing the Royal Navy's ability to detect and respond to airborne and surface threats, maintaining the strategic capability of the fleet. The squadron also supports the integration of new weapons systems such as the Martlet missile and Sea Venom Anti-ship missile for the Wildcat helicopter.
In a large change, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Luke Pollard answered a written parliamentary question stating that 216 Squadron will transition from its current role as the swarming drone trials unit "to become the operational delivery squadron for an Autonomous Collaborative Platforms [ACP] capability in 2025." The role of the drone trials unit will pass to 744 Naval Air Squadron as the Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron.

## Aircraft flown

The squadron has flown and worked with a number of different aircraft types, including:
* Curtiss Seamew I (March - December 1943)
* Fairey Swordfish II ( March 1943 - May 1944, March 1944 - April 1945)
* Fairey Swordfish I (March 1944 - April 1945)
* Stinson Reliant I (July 1944 - August 1945)
* Grumman Avenger Mk.II (October 1944 - September 1945)
* Fairey Barracuda Mk II (November 1944 - August 1945)
* Fairey Swordfish III (February - May 1945)
* Fairey Barracuda TR III (March 1945 - December 1947)
* Fairey Firefly I (July - September 1945)
* Fairey Barracuda Mk III (August 1945 - October 1946)
* Supermarine Seafire F Mk.III (May 1946)
* Avro Anson Mk I (August 1946 - December 1947, July 1951 - November 1953)
* Airspeed Oxford (September 1947)
* Supermarine Sea Otter ASR II (July 1951 - January 1952)
* Fairey Barracuda TR 3 (July 1951 - July 1953)
* de Havilland Dominie (July 1951 - September 1953)
* Fairey Firefly AS.Mk 6 (July 1951 - March 1954, March 1954 - November 1955)
* Percival Sea Prince T1 (August 1952 - February 1954, March 1954 - March 1955)
* Fairey Firefly T.Mk 1 (August 1952 - February 1954)
* Westland Dragonfly HR.3 (December 1952 - February 1954)
* Fairey Firefly T.Mk 2 (October 1953 - February 1954)
* Fairey Gannet AS.1 (May 1955 - October 1956)
* Grumman Avenger AS5 (July 1955 - February 1956)
* Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 (May - October 1956)
* AgustaWestland Merlin HM2
* Chinook HC5/HC6

## Naval air stations and other airbases

744 Naval Air Squadron previously operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, a number of Royal Navy aircraft carrier and an airbase overseas and is currently based at QinetiQ's military aircraft testing facility, MOD Boscombe Down:
1943 - 1944
* Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) (10 February 1943 - 1 March 1943)
* RN Air Section Yarmouth (1 March 1943 - 1 June 1944)
* became 754 Naval Air Squadron
1944 - 1947
* Royal Naval Air Station Maydown (HMS Shrike) (6 March 1944 - 29 September 1945)
** Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) (Detachment 6 March 1944 - 29 September 1945)
* Royal Naval Air Station Eglinton (HMS Gannet) (29 September 1945 - 1 December 1947)
** Royal Air Force Ballykelly (Detachment six aircraft 27 November 1945 - 1 May 1946)
** Royal Naval Air Station Maydown (HMS Shrike) (Detachment 1 May 1946 - 27 January 1947)
** HMS Theseus (Detachment 7 - 17 November 1946)
* became 815 Naval Air Squadron (1 December 1947)
1951 - 1954
* Royal Naval Air Station Eglinton (HMS Gannet) (20 July 1951 - 1 March 1954)
** Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS Falcon) (Detachment two aircraft 3 October - 22 November 1951)
* disbanded - (1 March 1954)
1954 - 1956
* Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) (1 March 1954 - 22 October 1954)
* Royal Air Force Station St Mawgan (22 October 1954 - 31 October 1956)
* disbanded - (31 October 1956)
2018 - present
* MOD Boscombe Down (14 November 2018 - present)

## Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 744 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:
1943 - 1944
* Lieutenant(A) E.J. Trerise, RN, from 1 March 1943
* became 754 Naval Air Squadron 1 June 1944
1944 - 1947
* Lieutenant Commander(A) C.M.T. Hallewell, RN, from 6 March 1944
* Lieutenant Commander(A) D.W. Phillips DSC, RN, from 27 February 1945
* Lieutenant Commander(A) O.W. Tattersall, DSC, RN, from 18 September 1945
* Lieutenant(A) J.H.B. Bedells, RN, from 27 February 1946
* Lieutenant(A) R.H.W. Blake, RN, from 20 May 1946
* disbanded - 1 December 1947
1951 - 1954
* Lieutenant Commander F.E. Cowtan, RN, from 20 July 1951
* disbanded - 1 March 1954
1954 - 1956
* Lieutenant Commander F.G.J. Arnold, RN, from 1 March 1954
* Lieutenant Commander R. Fulton, RN, from 4 January 1956
* disbanded - 31 October 1956