717 Naval Air Squadron

717 Naval Air Squadron (717 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded in March 1946. It formed as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, at HMS Owl, RNAS Fearn, in July 1944, operating with Fairey Barracuda torpedo bomber aircraft. The squadron then moved to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray, in the October, continuing in Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance training. In early 1946 the squadron received Blackburn Firebrand aircraft, with the objective of forming a Firebrand Conversion Unit, but this was never realised.

Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron (1944 - 1946)
717 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl), located 5.4 mi southeast of Tain, Scottish Highlands, Scotland, as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron, on the 1 July 1944. It was equipped with Fairey Barracuda Mk II aircraft, a British carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber. The squadron provided specialist training and put together the trainees into accomplished aircrew.

On the 31 October 1944, the squadron relocated to RNAS Rattray (HMS Merganser), situated near Crimond, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Here it provided training for Part I of the Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissaince course. Twelve months later, in October 1945, it assisted in disbanding both 714 Naval Air Squadron and 769 Naval Air Squadron.

In February 1946, the squadron received Blackburn Firebrand T.F. II, T.F. III and T.F. IV aircraft, a British single-engine strike fighter, with the intention of forming a Flight as the Firebrand Conversion Unit, however the aircraft were moved on. 717 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on the 22 March 1946.

Aircraft flown
The squadron operated a number of different aircraft types:
 * Fairey Barracuda Mk II (July 1944 - March 1946)
 * Blackburn Firebrand T.F. II (February 1946 - March 1946)
 * Blackburn Firebrand T.F. III (February 1946 - March 1946)
 * Blackburn Firebrand T.F. IV (February 1946 - March 1946)

Naval Air Stations
717 Naval Air Squadron operated from two naval air stations of the Royal Navy, both in Scotland:
 * Royal Naval Air Station FEARN (1 July 1946 - 31 October 1944)
 * Royal Naval Air Station RATTRAY (31 October 1944 - 22 March 1945)

Commanding Officers
List of commanding officers of 717 Naval Air Squadron with month and year of appointment:
 * Lieutenant Commander D. Norcock, RN, from July 1944
 * Lieutenant Commander(A) A. Brunt, DSC, RNZNVR, from September 1944
 * Lieutenant Commander(A) JL. Fisher, RNVR, from January 1945
 * Lieutenant(A) H.H.T. Harding, RNVR, from December 1945