741 Naval Air Squadron

741 Naval Air Squadron (741 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded during November 1947. It was initially active, between March 1943 and March 1945 as an Observer Training Squadron at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, Scotland, as part of the No. 2 Observer Training School. It reformed at HMS Vulture, RNAS St. Merryn, England, as an Operational Flying Training Unit in August 1946.

Observer Training School (1943 - 1945)
741 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor) as an Observer Training Squadron, as part of No. 2 Observer Training School, on 1 March 1943. It was equipped with Fairey Swordfish, a British biplane torpedo bomber aircraft. The squadron was tasked with training the students up to 'Wings' standard. Upon completion they were then passed them to 753 Naval Air Squadron to complete their training. 741 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), on 19 March 1945.

Operational Flying Training Unit (1946 - 1947)
741 Naval Air Squadron reformed on 12 August 1946, at RNAS St Merryn (HMS Vulture), Cornwall, England, as an Operational Flying Training unit. It was equipped with Fairey Firefly FR.I, a carrier-borne fighter and anti-submarine aircraft, and a few Supermarine Seafire L Mk III, a naval version of the Supermarine Spitfire adapted for operation from aircraft carriers. From January 1947 it took over the task of Operational Flying School Part II and by autumn 1947 the squadron’s role was Part II (Strike) Operational Flying Course. 741 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at RNAS St Merryn (HMS Vulture) on 25 November 1947.

Aircraft flown
The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:
 * Fairey Swordfish I torpedo bomber (March 1943 - March 1945)
 * Fairey Swordfish II torpedo bomber (March 1943 - March 1945)
 * Fairey Firefly FR.I fighter/reconnaissance aircraft (August 1946 - November 1947)
 * Supermarine Seafire L Mk.III fighter aircraft (February - November 1947)
 * North American Harvard III advanced trainer aircraft (September - November 1947)

Naval Air Stations
741 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple of naval air station of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom:

1943 - 1945
 * Royal Naval Air Squadron ARBROATH (HMS Condor) (1 March 1943 - 19 March 1945)
 * disbanded - (19 March 1945)

1946 - 1947
 * Royal Naval Air Station ST MERRYN (HMS Vulture) (12 August 1946 - 25 November 1947)
 * disbanded - (25 November 1947)

Commanding Officers
List of commanding officers of 741 Naval Air Squadron with date, month and year of appointment:

1943 - 1944
 * Lieutenant Commander(A) O.H. Cantrill, RNVR, from 1 March 1943
 * Lieutenant Commander(A) R. McA. Stratton, RNVR, from 17 March 1944
 * disbanded - 19 March 1945

1946 - 1947
 * Lieutenant Commander S.G. Cooper, RN, from 12 August 1946
 * Lieutenant Commander T.W. Harrington,, RN, from 25 August 1947
 * disbanded - 25 November 1947