RNAS Lee - The Airfield Research Group

Unit (771 Squadron) therefore transferred to HMS Daedalus in March 1947. At this time the
principal aircraft type in use was the Martinet target tug, but the squadron also had smaller
numbers of Seafires, Sea Otters and Ansons as well as some of the first de Havilland
Mosquitoes to be used by the FAA. 783 Squadron provided radar equipped Anson and
Barracuda aircraft to fly exercises for the Naval Air Signal School at Seafield Park.
Although the fighters of 778 (trials) Squadron also spent three months here in 1948, a gradual
reduction in the number of units on the station began to take place. In May 1948, 799 Squadron
left for Yeovilton and in November 1949 783 Squadron disbanded, leaving 771 and 781
squadrons as the principal residents for the next three years.
Between 1949 and 1953, there was just one other squadron that spent its shore time on the
station in between service on HMS Implacable and later HMS Indomitable. This was 813
Squadron, equipped with the troublesome Blackburn Firebrand torpedo strike fighter.
However, several new types of aircraft made their appearance here during 1950. These included
the twin-engined de-Havilland Sea Hornet, the Short Sturgeon target tug, and a few de-Havilland
Sea Vampires and Gloster Meteors. After major reconstruction work to take jet aircraft, RNAS
Ford reopened and 771 Squadron transferred there in September 1952. Meanwhile 781
Squadron had received it’s first Sea Prince in 1950 painted in a special dark blue livery for its role
as ‘Admiral’s Barge’.
On 24 November 1950, a record flight was made from Gibraltar to HMS Daedalus by a Sea
Hornet of 809 Squadron. Flown by Lieutenant D.M Rouse and navigated by Lieutenant DE Hunt,
the flight to Lee took 2 hours 45 minutes, at an average speed of 370 mph.
The Fireflies of 826 Squadron used the station as their shore base for much of 1952 and 1953, in
between trips serving on HMS Indomitable and HMS Illustrious. Sometimes they were in
company with the similarly equipped 820 Squadron, and both units were present for the event
which proved to be the highlight of 1953.
Although the limitations of the airfield were becoming increasingly evident, the station was to
have a moment of special glory, when it was chosen as the control centre for the massive flypast
of no less than 327 Naval aircraft for the Coronation Review. A large part of this huge formation
was assembled and despatched from the runways here which had never been so full of aircraft
since 1944.
The very last first-line fixed wing squadron to be based at Lee-on-Solent was also the first to
introduce into service the highly promising Fairey Gannet. Disembarking in February 1954 with its
Fireflys from HMS Glory, 826 Squadron had a long wait for its new aircraft, which finally began to
arrive in January 1955. After working up until May, the squadron then went to sea on board HMS
Eagle and undertook several months of successful trials before returning to HMS Daedalus to
disband in November.
This was the point at which helicopters made their first appearance in strength at Lee-on-Solent,
with the transfer of 705 Squadron (Helicopter Training Squadron) across from Gosport. This was
equipped with Westland Dragonfies, Whirlwinds and Hillers, and was the principal Naval
helicopter training unit at this time.
November 1955 also saw the formation of the very last operational unit to be formed at Lee-on-
Solent - 845 Squadron. This was being reformed after previous service as the first Naval antisubmarine
helicopter unit and it worked up here with Westland Whirlwind HAS 22s before
departing for Eglinton in April 1956.
On 30 July 1956, Her Majesty the Queen presented the Queen the Queen’s Colour to the Royal
Naval Barracks Lee-on-Solent.
781 Squadron continued with its transport duties, for which it was receiving some de-Havilland
Sea Devons, but most of the flying at the station was by helicopter activity. During 1957,
intensive trials on Whirlwind HAS7 helicopters was being carried out by 700H Squadron. More
helicopters arrived in October, when 701 Squadron reformed here as a Whirlwind and Dragonfly
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