807 Naval Air Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=803 Naval Air Squadron


caption=
dates=1958
country=United Kingdom
allegiance=
branch=Royal Navy
type=
role=
equipment=
size=
command_structure=Fleet Air Arm
motto="Quoquo versus fenturi"
(Latin:"Ready to Strike in all directions")
colors=
march=
mascot=
battle_honours=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=none

807 Naval Air Squadron (807 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy.

Recommissioning

The squadron was recommissioned on 1 October 1958 at RNAS Lossiemouth under the command of Lieutenant Commander Keith Leppard. 807 NAS immediately began a hectic work up period and participated in a major exercise 15 days after commissioning. 807 remained at Lossiemouth throughout 1959, working up and taking part in exercises and trials.

Aerobatic displays

In September 1959 the squadron performed in front of thousands of spectators at Farnborough Airshow with a display of formation aerobatics. The naval aviators began their display with a six stream takeoff to form a four aircraft aerobatic team and two soloists. One of the singletons performed a target banner pick up using an extension fitted to its deck arrestor hook. Meanwhile the four aircraft formation returned for a transonic pass at 700 mph followed by a short aerobatic display. Included in this sequence was what the Naval commentator described as an 'original manoeuvre', a fast pass in open box formation with a rapid individual roll by each Supermarine Scimitar; the "Twinkle Roll" was created. The two singletons touched down from the left and immediately folded their wings whilst one aircraft from the other four detached and approached from the right, landing head on between them.

hip-based service

On 10 November 1959 Lieutenant N. Grier-Rees RN carried out a successful ejection from a Scimitar when his flying controls locked. The squadron finally embarked on HMS "Ark Royal" on 3 March 1960 where it remained for the next year, taking part in major exercises and carrying out cold weather trials in the Arctic Circle. In March 1961, 807 transferred from "Ark Royal" to HMS "Centaur". Scimitar operations from this ship proved difficult due to her small size and slower speed than Ark Royal, resulting in restrictions on launch and recovery weights. This prevented them from being used to their limits; problems that became more acute in tropical climates with little or no natural wind. Before leaving for the Far East in October 1961 the aircraft were modified to carry AIM-9 Sidewinder air to air missiles and AGM-12 Bullpup air to ground missiles. The latter were command guided by a joystick in the cockpit of the launching aircraft. Flight refuelling capability was also added at this time. On 21 October 1961 Lieutenant P.M. Hessey fired the first successful live Sidewinder from a British aircraft when he destroyed a meteor target aircraft over the Aberporth Ranges. After 7 months in the Middle and Far East 807 NAS disbanded aboard "Centaur" in Portsmouth on 17 May 1962.

References

Scimitar by D. Gibbings & J. A. Gorman, ISBN 0 948251 39 5