706 Naval Air Squadron

The core personnel of No.706 Squadron assembled in the United Kingdom during January 1945, and took passage for Australia on 2 February 1945. The unit assembled at the beginning of March at RNAS Jervis Bay, New South Wales, before moving to RBAS Schofields, New South Wales, on March 3rd, where it officially commissioned on April 10th 1945 under the command of Lt. Cdr(A) RE Bradshaw DSC** RN. The Squadron was the first resident flying unit at RNAS Schofields.

The squadron began working up as a Crew Pool & Refresher Flying Training School; because of its training task this was a large unit, with a total strength of 36 aircraft, its equipment comprised of 6 each of Avenger, Barracuda, Corsair, Firefly, Hellcat & Seafire aircraft. The squadron acted as a pool for aircrew destined for the British Pacific Fleet, and provided refresher training for aircrew arriving from the United Kingdom and Ceylon; it also undertook conversion training for pilots changing aircraft types.

The squadron moved to RNAS Maryborough, Queensland, on August 28th; Lt. Cdr (A) DMR Wynne-Roberts RN assumed command on the 31st and the units equipment strength began to be gradually reduced as surplus aircraft were flown to RNARY Archerfield, Brisbane, until by mid-October it had only two of each type left. Having completed its downsizing the unit moved again, this time to RNAS Nowra, New South Wales, on October 24th 1945, and a new commanding officer, Lt. Cdr (A) CA Fraser RN, was appointed. On January 18th 1946 the unit returned to RNAS Schofields where it was disbanded on May 31st 1946.

The officers and men of 706 squadron with one of the unit's aircraft .  Photo curtsey of Mr. Leslie Meakin (pictured 6th from right, bottom row)

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