705 Naval Air Squadron 705 Naval Air Squadron was first formed in 1936 from No 447 Flight Royal Air Force and operated Swordfish torpedo bombers from battlecruisers . It was disbanded in 1940 , but was re - formed in 1947 as a Fleet Requirements Unit to evaluate naval use of helicopters . Since the 1950s the squadron has been involved in the basic training of helicopter aircrew , and currently forms part of the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury . History . Pre - war and World War II ( 1936 - 1940 ) . 705 Naval Air Squadron ( or " 705 NAS " ) was formed from No 447 Flight Royal Air Force , standing up in June 1936 . Operational control of naval aviation was returned to the Royal Navy on 30 July 1937 , and during this period the squadron operated the Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber from the battlecruisers " Repulse " and " Renown " . The aircraft were equipped with floats so that they could be launched from the ships by catapult and then recovered from the water by crane . Early in World War II the squadron saw service protecting troop convoys and hunting raiders on the North America and West Indies Station . After disembarkation to RNAS Lee - on - Solent in 1939 , the squadron was disbanded in 1940 . Fleet Requirements Unit ( 1947 - 1950 ) . In May 1947 , 705 Squadron was re - commissioned at RNAS Gosport with the Sikorsky Hoverfly element from 771 NAS . At first the squadron operated as a Fleet Requirements Unit , and was responsible for the evaluation of the helicopter for use at sea . On 1 February 1947 Lieutenant K Reed carried out the first helicopter deck landing on a Royal Naval ship when he landed on HMS " Vanguard " off Portland . Helicopter flying training ( 1950 - 1997 ) . The squadron gradually became responsible for the basic flying training of Royal Naval helicopter pilots and was re - equipped during the 1950s with the Westland Dragonfly , the Hiller HT1 and the Sikorsky S55 . The squadron moved to RNAS Culdrose in 1957 where the later marks of Hiller and Whirlwind were introduced . These types were replaced in 1974 by the Westland Gazelle HT Mk2 . Between 1975 and 1992 the instructors of the squadron performed as the ' Sharks ' helicopter display team at up to 20 air displays every year both in the UK and abroad . Tri - service basic flying training ( 1997 - present ) . In April 1997 705 NAS disbanded and reformed at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire as part of the Defence Helicopter Flying School ( DHFS ) , flying the Eurocopter Squirrel HT Mk 1 helicopter . Current Role . Within DHFS , 705 Squadron provides the single - engine advanced training element of basic helicopter flying training for all three services , as well as pilots from foreign and Commonwealth countries . Within this remit , 705 Squadron teaches instrument flying , navigation , night flying and search and rescue techniques . In addition to pure flying training , 705 Squadron also provides a naval focus for naval officers operating within an otherwise joint service and largely civilian - run organisation . The squadron is commanded by a Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander , and has a Royal Navy " Senior Pilot " , while the flight commander billets are filled in rotation by officers from the army and RAF . Naval graduates of DHFS are streamed towards Merlin , Commando Sea King or Lynx training squadrons . Aircraft flown . The squadron has flown a number of aircraft types since its formation , including :