724 Squadron RAN 724 Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm flying squadron . The squadron was formed for the first time in 1945 and was last disbanded in 1984 . History . 724 Squadron was first formed on 10 April 1945 as a Royal Navy naval air communications unit . The squadron made daily flights between Sydney and Melbourne until 31 May 1946 when it was disbanded . 724 Squadron was recommissioned as an Australia unit on 1 June 1955 at the Royal Australian Navy ' s ( RAN ) main air station HMAS " Albatross " . The squadron ' s role was to carry out fixed - wing conversion training and it was initially equipped with Wirraway , Sea Fury and Firefly propeller - driven aircraft and Vampire jets . The squadron ' s role changed in October 1956 when it absorbed most of the decommissioned 723 Squadron ' s Sea Venom and Gannet aircraft and Sycamore helicopters . As part of this change 724 Squadron ' s Wirraways , Sea Furies and Fireflys were transferred to other units . In its new role the squadron provided Sea Venom and Gannet operational training on board the RAN ' s only aircraft carrier , HMAS " Melbourne " . Three 724 Squadron pilots were killed during separate flying accidents during 1956 . 724 Squadron ' s make - up continued to change in 1957 and 1958 . The Sycamores were transferred back to the recommissioned 723 Squadron in early 1957 and the Gannets moved to 725 Squadron during 1958 . This left 724 Squadron equipped with Sea Vampires and Sea Venoms . In 1959 the squadron formed an aerobatic team called the Ramjets which was equipped with Sea Venoms and performed at air shows across Australia . The squadron ' s role and aircraft inventory expanded during the early 1960s as the RAN wound - down its fixed - wing aircraft operations . 724 Squadron absorbed 725 Squadron in June 1961 and 805 Squadron and 723 Squadron in June and November 1963 respectively . As a result of these changes the squadron ' s aircraft complement eventually included Sea Venoms , Gannets , Vampires , Fireflies , Dakotas and Autocars . Between 1963 and 1968 724 Squadron and 816 Squadron were the only FAA squadrons operating fixed - wing aircraft . During this time the squadron ' s roles included all - weather fighter , anti - submarine warfare and operational flying training along with fleet support , trials and communications tasks . 724 Squadron became an all - jet conversion training squadron again in December 1968 and was equipped with two - seat trainer variants of the new A - 4G Skyhawks , Vampires and Venoms . The Vampires and Venoms were replaced by new MB - 326 Macchi trainers between 1970 and 1972 . Despite its rating as a second - line training unit , 724 Squadron participated in some fleet exercises and used its Skyhawks to provide close air support to Army units during ground manoeuvres . The squadron ' s Skyhawks were also used in a new aerobatic team called the Checkmates . In June 1982 HMAS " Melbourne " was decommissioned without being replaced . As a result , the RAN ' s fixed - wing aircraft squadrons were rapidly decommissioned . 724 Squadron absorbed 805 Squadron ' s Skyhawks in July 1982 and transferred its Macchis to the Royal Australian Air Force in 1983 . The squadron was decommissioned at HMAS " Albatross " on 30 June 1984 and its Skyhawks were later sold to the Royal New Zealand Air Force . Notes . The " Checkmates " were an aerobatic team operated by 805 Sqn ( VS 805 ) which was the front line Skyhawk sqn . Aircraft on this team at one stage sported a chess knight logo on the tailfin instead of the red / white check pattern . ( The aircraft of 724 sported a similar pattern but in blue / yellow