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{{Short description|Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 736 Naval Air Squadron
| native_name =
| image = [[File:736 naval air squadron badge.gif]]
| image_size = 200
| alt =
| caption = Squadron badge
| dates = 24 May 1943 - 25 August 1952<br />26 August 1952 - 26 March 1965<br />26 March 1965 - 25 February 1972<br />7 June 2013 - 31 March 2022
| disbanded =
| country = {{UK}}
| branch = {{navy|UK}}
| type = [[List of Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadrons|Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron]]
| role = *Fighter Combat School
*Advanced Jet Flying School
*Jet Strike Training Squadron
*Fleet Requirements Unit
| size = [[Squadron (aviation)|Squadron]]
| command_structure = [[Fleet Air Arm]]
*[[List of Fleet Air Arm groups#Training air groups|52nd Training Air Group]] (February 1950 - August 1951)
|garrison = ''See [[#Naval air stations and other airbases|Naval air stations]] section for full list.''
|garrison_label = Home station
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto = {{Language with name/for|la|Aquila suos educit|The eagle trains its young|break=yes}} (1962){{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=40}}
| colors = <!-- or | colours = -->
| colors_label = <!-- or | colours_label = -->
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| equipment = ''See [[#Aircraft operated|Aircraft operated]] section for full list.''
| equipment_label = Aircraft
| battles =
| battles_label =
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| battle_honours_label =
| flying_hours =
| website = 
<!-- Commanders -->
| current_commander = 
| commander1 =
| notable_commanders = [[Rear admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear Admiral]] Phillip David “Percy” Gick {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100|sep=,|CB|OBE|DSC1}}, RN<br />[[Vice admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Fell (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Michael Frampton Fell]], {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100|sep=,|KCB|DSO|DSC1}}, RN<br />[[Rear admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear Admiral]] Ray Rawbone, {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100|sep=,|CB|AFC}}, RN<Ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.keymilitary.com/article/faa-top-gun-who-flew-40-types-dies
|title=FAA 'top gun' who flew 40 types dies |date=25 October 2018 |publisher=keymilitary.com |access-date=14 April 2024}}</Ref>
<!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol = ''Black, an eagle volant gold surmounting a flash of lightning white (1948)''{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=40}}
| identification_symbol_label = Squadron Badge Description
| identification_symbol_2 = '''ACA+''' (''All types'' to 1946)<br />'''S3A+''' to '''S6A+''' (to 1947)<br />'''Y0A+''' (''B Flight'' 1945)<br />'''100-109''' (''Seafire''/''Sea Fury'')<br />'''201-287''' (''Harvard''/''Firefly'')<br />'''551-553''' (''Martinet'') (from 1947)<br />'''100-189''' (''Seafire'')<br />'''270-271''' (''Firefly'')<br />'''291-296''' (''Sea Fury'') (February 1950)<br />'''100-119''', '''150-158''' & '''176'''(''Attacker'')<br />'''180-189''' (''Seafire'')<br />'''405-408''' (''Meteor'')<br />'''150-156''' (''Sea Hawk'')<br />'''211-242''' (''Sea Vampire'') (August 1952)<br />'''600-625''' (''Sea Hawk''/''Hunter''/''Scimitar'')<br />'''630-657''' (''Buccaneer'') (March 1965)<br />'''840-850''', '''860-880''' (''Hawk''){{sfn|Wragg|2019|p=120}}{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=41}}
| identification_symbol_2_label = Identification Markings
| identification_symbol_3 = '''[[RNAS St Merryn (HMS Vulture)|JB]]''' (''Seafire'', ''Firefly'' & ''Sea Fury'' from 1947)<br />'''[[RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk)|CW]]''' (''Seafire'', ''Sea Fury'', ''Harvard'' & ''Firefly'' February 1950)<br />'''CW:[[RNAS Lossiemouth|LM]]''' (''Attacker'' & ''Meteor'' August 1952)<br />'''CW''' (''Seafire'' August 1952)<br />'''LM''' (''Sea Hawk'' & ''Sea Vampire'' August 1952)<br />'''LM''' (''Sea Hawk'', ''Hunter'' & ''Scimitar'' from November 1953){{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=41}}
| identification_symbol_3_label = Fin Shore Codes
}}
'''736 Naval Air Squadron''' (736 NAS) was a [[Fleet Air Arm]] (FAA) [[naval air squadron]] of the United Kingdom’s [[Royal Navy]] (RN). It was most recently recommissioned at HMS ''Seahawk'', [[RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk)|RNAS Culdrose]] in June 2013 to fly the [[BAE Systems Hawk]], mainly in the maritime aggressor role, following the disbandment of the [[Fleet Requirements and Aircraft Direction Unit]] (FRADU) and operated up until March 2022. It initially formed as the School of Air Combat in May 1943 at HMS ''Heron'', RNAS Yeovilton. In September 1943 it moved to HMS ''Vulture'', RNAS St Merryn, where it became the '''Fighter Combat School''' and it created an independent 'B' Flight for fighter affiliation work between March and September 1945. 736 Naval Air Squadron moved to HMS ''Seahawk'', RNAS Culdrose in February 1950 as the Naval Air Fighter School in the 52nd Training Air Group, but disbanded in August 1952. Immediately the following day, the squadron reformed at HMS ''Seahawk'', RNAS Culdrose out of 702 Naval Air Squadron as an '''Advanced Jet Flying School''' and in November 1953 it moved to HMS ''Fulmar'', RNAS Lossiemouth. 736 Naval Air Squadron disbanded there in March 1965, but what was left became 764 Naval Air Squadron ‘B’ Flight. The squadron reformed the same day at Lossiemouth from 809 Naval Air Squadron as a '''Jet Strike Training Squadron'''. 1966. In March 1967, its aircraft were part of the group that bombed and set on fire the supertanker SS ''Torrey Canyon'' aground and leaking crude oil on Seven Sisters rocks off Cornwall. The squadron disbanded in February 1972.

== History ==

=== Fighter Combat School (1943–1952) ===

736 Naval Air Squadron formed as the School of Air Combat at [[RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron)|RNAS Yeovilton (HMS ''Heron'')]], [[Somerset]], England, on 24 May 1943. It was equipped with [[Supermarine Seafire]], a [[navalised aircraft|navalised]] version of the [[Supermarine Spitfire]] single-seat single-engine [[fighter aircraft]] and was tasked with teaching the latest techniques to experienced naval fighter leaders.{{sfn|Wragg|2019|p=120}}

In September the squadron moved to [[RNAS St Merryn (HMS Vulture)|RNAS St Merryn (HMS ''Vulture'')]], [[Cornwall]], England, and it became the Fighter Combat School, part of the School of Naval Air Warfare.<ref name="RNAS-St. Merryn">{{cite web|title=St. Merryn |url=https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/St_Merryn.htm |work=Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day |access-date=9 April 2024}}</ref> The squadron received [[Miles Master]], an advanced [[trainer aircraft]], and [[Fairey Barracuda]], a British [[carrier-borne]] [[torpedo bomber|torpedo]] and [[dive bomber]], which enabled a TBR flight to be created providing a TBR Air Strike Course and an Air Instructors Course.{{sfn|Wragg|2019|p=120}}

In March 1945 the squadron took [[787 Naval Air Squadron]]s ’Y’ Flight and formed its own ’B’ Flight for affiliation work, equipped with Supermarine Seafire aircraft. ‘B’ Flight embarked in {{HMS|Colossus|R15|6}} for [[Malta]] and gave training on [[gyro gunsight]] tactics{{sfn|Wragg|2019|p=120}} to the [[11th Carrier Air Group]], working up in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] prior to their sailing to [[British Ceylon|Ceylon]] (Sri Lanka) to join the [[British Pacific Fleet]]. The Flight returned to [[RAF Woodvale|RNAS Woodvale (HMS ''Ringtail II'')]], [[Merseyside]], in June. Here it continued operating with Supermarine Seafire, but also used [[Bristol Beaufighter]] a British multi-role aircraft and a [[de Havilland Dominie]] short-haul [[airliner]]. It moved to [[RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl)|RNAS Fearn (HMS ''Owl'')]], [[Scottish Highlands]], in July, returning to RNAS Woodvale in August,{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=40}} with the Flight disbanding in September.{{sfn|Wragg|2019|p=120}}

736 Naval Air Squadron moved [[RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk)|RNAS Culdrose (HMS ''Seahawk'')]], Cornwall, as the Naval Air Fighter School within the [[52nd Training Air Group]] on 1 February 1950. It was now equipped with [[Hawker Sea Fury]], a British carrier-based [[fighter-bomber]] aircraft. It was split in half to enable [[738 Naval Air Squadron]] to be formed, however it disbanded on 25 August 1952, its remaining Hawker Sea Fury aircraft going to 738 NAS.{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=40}}

=== Advanced Jet Flying School (1952–1965) ===

736 Naval Air Squadron reformed the following day as an Advanced Jet Flying School out of [[702 Naval Air Squadron]], still as part of the Naval Air Fighter School (NAFS) at RNAS Culdrose. It was initially equipped with [[Gloster Meteor]] T.7, a two-seat trainer variant of the F.4 jet fighter, and [[Supermarine Attacker]], a British single-seat [[naval aviation|naval]] jet fighter.<ref name="736 NAS Fleet Air Arm">{{cite web |title=736 NAS Fleet Air Arm |url=http://www.wings-aviation.ch/32-FAA/4-Sqn/736/736-NAS.htm |access-date=10 April 2024 |work=www.wings-aviation.ch}}</ref>

The squadron relocated with the NAFS to [[RNAS Lossiemouth|RNAS Lossiemouth (HMS ''Fulmar'')]], [[Moray]], Scotland in November 1953. Here it was tasked with providing pilots experience in jet aircraft and it received [[de Havilland Sea Vampire]] T.22, a two-seat trainer for Royal Navy, and [[Hawker Sea Hawk]], a British single-seat jet [[day fighter]], with the Gloster Meteor and Supermarine Attacker aircraft being withdrawn. March 1955 saw the Hawker Sea Hawk aircraft transferred to 738 Naval Air Squadron and the squadron focused on converting American trained pilots to British aircraft and practices, flying practice for HMS ''Fulmar'' based pilots and train a number of pilots up to Air Warfare Instructors.{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=40}}
[[File:Scimitars 62.jpg|thumb|left|Scimitars of 736 Squadron at Farnborough, 1962]]
A reorganisation in 1958 resulted in 736 Naval Air Squadron becoming a Hawker Sea Hawk flying school and the de Havilland Sea Vampire aircraft were withdrawn from the squadron. The course consisted [[Army cooperation aircraft|army co-operation]] and low-level [[navigation]]. Photographic [[Aerial reconnaissance|reconnaissance flying]] and [[Interceptor aircraft|interception]] using [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] [[air-to-air missile]]s was also included, as was [[Airstrike|ground attack]] flying, which involved [[AGM-12 Bullpup]] [[air-to-surface missile]] firing, [[SNEB|rocket guns]] and [[bomb]]s.{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=40}}

Mid 1959 saw the squadron start to receive [[Supermarine Scimitar]], a single-seat naval [[strike fighter]]. It remained operational until 26 March 1965 when it was disbanded, and its aircraft were passed onto [[764 Naval Air Squadron|764B Flight]].<ref name="736 NAS Fleet Air Arm"/>

=== Jet Strike Training Squadron (1965–1972) ===
[[File:Blackburn Buccaneer S1, UK - Navy AN2247384.jpg|thumb|Blackburn Buccaneer S1, in 736 NAS markings]]
On the same day at RNAS Lossiemouth (HMS ''Fulmar''), [[809 Naval Air Squadron]] was downgraded to second line status and redesignated 736 Naval Air Squadron,{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=129}} equipped with [[Blackburn Buccaneer]] S.1, a British carrier-capable [[attack aircraft]], and tasked as a Jet Strike Training Squadron. The S.1 were partially replaced by Blackburn Buccaneer S.2, various improvements and a more powerful [[Rolls-Royce Spey|engine]] over the [[de Havilland Gyron Junior|S.1]], from May 1966,{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=41}} using aircraft and aircrews from the recently disbanded 700B Flight (the Buccaneer S.2 Intensive Flying Trials Unit) in order to train aircrews for the aircraft.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

Still based at RNAS Lossiemouth, from 1967 onwards the unit shared a pool of aircraft with [[803 Naval Air Squadron|803 NAS]], the Buccaneer HQ and weapons trials unit. With the decision to transfer all the RN's Buccaneers to the RAF, 736 NAS took on the extra task of training RAF crews. To cope with this, several Buccaneer S.1s were taken out of storage to increase the numbers of aircraft available, and a number of RAF aircrew who had previously served exchange tours with FAA Buccaneer squadrons were posted to 736 NAS as instructors. After a few accidents due to engine problems the S.1s were withdrawn from service in 1970. In 1971 the RAF stood up their own operational conversion unit ([[237 OCU]]) to take over the training of both their own and the dwindling number of RN aircrews.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

In 1967 736 Naval Air Squadron (along with [[800 Naval Air Squadron]])) used [[RNAS Brawdy|RNAS Brawdy (HMS ''Goldcrest'')]], as a base to attack and bomb the [[Oil tanker#The supertanker era|oil tanker]] {{SS|Torrey Canyon}} from,<ref name="Navy News Dec 1996 p5">{{cite periodical|title=Blackburn Buccaneer |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/images/navynews/archivepdfs/1990s/1996/navy-news-december-1996-issue-509.pdf?rev=c3a5db6617d74f589886e2260c9fc1f2|magazine=Navy News - Special Hong Kong edition |date=December 1996 |page=5}}</ref> which had [[Torrey Canyon oil spill|struck Pollard's Rock]] on West end of the [[Seven Stones Reef|Seven Stones]] between the [[Cornwall|Cornish]] mainland and the [[Isles of Scilly]] on 18 March, in an attempt to release and burn off its residual cargo of oil.{{sfn|Phillips|2009|p=58}}

736 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on 25 February 1972 at RNAS Lossiemouth (HMS ''Fulmar'').{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=41}}

=== Fleet Requirements Unit (2013–2022) ===
[[File:British Aerospace Hawk T.1A ‘XX205 842-CU’ (31080637747).jpg|thumb|left|British Aerospace Hawk T1A ‘XX205', '842-CU’ of 736 NAS]]
736 Naval Air Squadron reformed on 7 June 2013, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Tim Flatman. Operating the Fleet Air Arm's [[BAE Systems Hawk|British Aerospace Hawk]] T1/T1A twin-seat fast-jet aircraft, the squadron replaced the [[Fleet Requirements and Aircraft Direction Unit]] (FRADU), acting as the Royal Navy's [[Adversary squadron]].{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=41}} In 2014 the squadron's aircraft began to be re-painted in its new markings and the first aircraft to receive the new look was XX240.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

After the squadron reformed it supported numerous exercises within the UK (including [[Exercise Joint Warrior|Joint Warrior]], which is held in Scotland) and overseas. These overseas exercises included 'Cougar 14' and 'Cougar 16' where the squadron operated in Albania and Deep Blue 2 in 2016 when the squadron operated from Gibraltar.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

The Hawk's role was to be replaced by the [[Air Support to Defence Operational Training]] (ASDOT) programme which would have provided aggressor training to all three British armed services, however the project was cancelled in March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airforcesmonthly.com/2017/02/20/discovery-and-inzpire-team-up-for-asdot/|title=Discovery and Inzpire team up for ASDOT|date=20 February 2017|website=Air Forces Monthly|language=en-GB|access-date=7 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107062556/http://www.airforcesmonthly.com/2017/02/20/discovery-and-inzpire-team-up-for-asdot/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Royal Navy announced that the squadron was to disband after a final fly past on 22 March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abel |first=Stuart |date=2022-03-17 |title=Royal Navy Hawks make farewell flypast over Plymouth Hoe |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/royal-navy-hawks-make-farewell-6821880 |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-30|title=736 Naval Air Squadron - a Freedom of Information request to Royal Navy|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/736_naval_air_squadron|access-date=2021-01-28|website=WhatDoTheyKnow|language=en}}</ref>

The squadron decommissioned on 31 March 2022 after its aircraft departed Culdrose the week before.<ref name="736 decommissioned">{{Cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Paul |date=31 March 2022 |title='Sad and poignant day' as 736 Naval Air Squadron decommissioned |url=https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/20035774.736-naval-air-squadron-rnas-culdrose-decommissioned/ |access-date=5 April 2022 |website=Falmouth Packet |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |language=en}}</ref>

== Aircraft operated ==

The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=41}}<ref name="736 NAS Fleet Air Arm"/>
[[File:Supermarine Seafire LF.IIIc ‘PP972 11-5 N’ (G-BUAR) (30663901347).jpg|thumb|Supermarine Seafire F Mk III]]
[[File:Fairey Firefly FR.1 Z2030 Ringway 04.46 edited-2.jpg|thumb|Fairey Firefly FR.I]]
[[File:Sea Fury - RNAS Yeovilton 2006 (2378579482).jpg|thumb|Hawker Sea Fury FB.11]]
[[File:Supermarine Attacker F1 in flight 1951.jpg|thumb|Supermarine Attacker F.1]]
[[File:Seahawk - Duxford Autumn Airshow 2010 (5075057611).jpg|thumb|Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6]]
* [[Supermarine Seafire]] Mk Ib [[fighter aircraft]] (May 1943 - August 1944)
* [[Fairey Barracuda]] Mk II [[torpedo bomber]] (September 1943 - July 1945)
* [[Miles Master]] II advanced trainer aircraft (September 1943 - July 1945)
* [[Supermarine Spitfire]] Mk Va fighter aircraft (March - August 1944)
* Supermarine Seafire F Mk III fighter aircraft (April - August 1944)
* [[Vought F4U Corsair|Vought Corsair]] Mk III [[fighter-bomber]] (June - August 1944)
* [[Grumman Avenger]] Mk.II torpedo bomber (February - July 1945)
* [[North American Harvard]] III advanced trainer aircraft (June 1945 - November 1949)
* [[Fairey Firefly]] FR.I fighter/[[reconnaissance aircraft]] (January 1946 - February 1950)
* Supermarine Seafire F Mk 46 fighter aircraft (January - December 1946)
* Supermarine Seafire F Mk XVII fighter aircraft (January 1946 - April 1951)
* Supermarine Seafire F Mk III fighter aircraft (February - October 1946)
* [[Miles Martinet]] TT.I [[target tug]] (February 1946 - February 1950)
* Supermarine Seafire F Mk XV fighter aircraft (April 1946 - June 1948)
* [[Blackburn Firebrand]] T.F. IV [[strike fighter]] (March 1948)
* Fairey Firefly FR.4 fighter/reconnaissance aircraft (March 1948)
* Fairey Firefly T.1 training aircraft (July 1948 - February 1950)
* [[Hawker Sea Fury]] FB.11 fighter-bomber (May 1949 - August 1952)
* [[de Havilland Sea Hornet]] F.20 fighter aircraft (February 1950 - June 1951)
* Hawker Sea Fury T.20 training aircraft (March 1950 - August 1952)
* Hawker Sea Fury F.10 fighter aircraft (August 1950 - September 1951)
* [[Gloster Meteor]] T.7 jet trainer aircraft (August 1952 - May 1954)
* [[Supermarine Attacker]] F.1 jet fighter aircraft (August 1952 - August 1954)
* Supermarine Attacker FB.1 jet fighter-bomber (September 1952 - July 1954)
* Supermarine Attacker FB.2 jet fighter-bomber (May 1953 - August 1954)
* [[de Havilland Sea Vampire]] T.22 jet trainer aircraft (November 1953 - July 1954, October 1954 - November 1958)
* [[Hawker Sea Hawk]] F.1 jet [[day fighter]] (July 1954 - March 1955)
* Hawker Sea Hawk F.2 jet day fighter (July 1954 - March 1955, March 1957 - July 1958)
* Hawker Sea Hawk FB.3 jet fighter bomber (July 1954 - March 1955, May 1958 - September 1959)
* Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.4 jet fighter-ground attack (May - June 1957, December 1958 - July 1959)
* [[de Havilland Sea Venom]] FAW.21 jet fighter bomber (October - December 1957)
* [[Hawker Hunter]] T.8 jet trainer aircraft (July - November 1958, March - July 1965)
* Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6 jet fighter-ground attack (October 1958 - July 1960)
* Hawker Sea Hawk FB.5 jet fighter bomber (March - September 1959)
* [[Supermarine Scimitar]] F.1 naval [[strike fighter]] (May 1959 - March 1965)
* [[Blackburn Buccaneer]] S.1 [[naval aircraft|maritime]] [[strike aircraft]] (March 1965 - December 1970)
* Blackburn Buccaneer S.2 maritime strike aircraft (May 1966 - February 1972)
* Blackburn Buccaneer S.2b maritime strike aircraft (January - March 1971)
* [[BAE Systems Hawk|BAe Hawk]] T.1 [[Trainer (aircraft)#Advanced training|advanced trainer]] aircraft (June 2013 - March 2022)

== Naval air stations and other airbases ==

736 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of [[List of air stations of the Royal Navy|naval air stations of the Royal Navy]] and airbases overseas:{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=41}}

'''1943-1952'''
* [[RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron)|Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS ''Heron'')]] (24 May - 2 September 1943)
* [[RNAS St Merryn (HMS Vulture)|Royal Naval Air Station St Merryn (HMS ''Vulture'')]] (2 September 1943 - 1 February 1950)
* [[RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk)|Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose (HMS ''Seahawk'')]] (1 February 1950 - 25 August 1952)
* disbanded - (25 August 1952)

'''1952-1965'''
* Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose (HMS ''Seahawk'') (26 August 1952 - 4 November 1953)
* [[RNAS Lossiemouth|Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth (HMS ''Fulmar'')]] (4 November 1953 - 20 August 1962)
** [[RNAS Brawdy|Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy (HMS ''Goldcrest'')]] (detachment 25 June - 2 July 1960)
** Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS ''Heron'') (Detachment 29 May - 9 June 1961)
** Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS ''Heron'') (Detachment eight aircraft 24 May - 8 June 1962)
* Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS ''Heron'') (20 - 31 August 1962)
* [[Farnborough Airport|Farnborough]] (31 August - 10 September 1962)
* Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth (HMS ''Fulmar'') (10 September 1962 - 26 March 1965)
* disbanded - (26 March 1965)

'''1965 - 1972'''
* Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth (HMS ''Fulmar'') (26 March 1965 - 25 February 1972)
* disbanded - (25 February 1972)

'''2013 - 2022'''
* Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose (HMS ''Seahawk'') (7 June 2013 - 31 March 2013)
* Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMS ''Heron'') ('A' Flight) (7 June 2013 - 31 March 2013)
** Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth (HMS ''Fulmar'') (Detachment 28 - 31 January 2014)
** Tirana (Detachment three aircraft September 2014)
** [[RNAS Prestwick|Prestwick]] (Detachment five aircraft 5 - 16 October 2014, 2 - 23 April 2015)
** RNAS Prestwick (Detachment three aircraft 11 - 25 April 2016)
** [[RAF Gibraltar|Royal Air Force Gibraltar]] (Detachment three aircraft 1 - 15 July 2016)
** Tirana (Detachment three aircraft 28 September - 9 October 2016)
** RNAS Prestwick (Detachment four aircraft 7 October 2016)
* disbanded - (31 March 2013)

=== 736B Flight ===

* [[RAF Speke|RN Air Section Speke]] (1 - 11 March 1945)
* {{HMS|Colossus|R15|6}} (11 - 20 March 1945)
* [[RAF Hal Far|Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far (HMS ''Falcon'')]] (20 March - 28 June 1945)
* [[RAF Woodvale|Royal Naval Air Station Woodvale (HMS ''Ringtail'' II)]] (28 June - 20 July 1945)
* [[RNAS Fearn (HMS Owl)|Royal Naval Air Station Fearn (HMS ''Owl'')]] (20 July - 17 August 1945)
* Royal Naval Air Station Woodvale (HMS ''Ringtail'' II) (17 August - 26 September 1945)
* disbanded - (26 September 1945)

== Commanding officers ==

List of [[commanding officer]]s of 736 Naval Air Squadron, with date of appointment:{{sfn|Wragg|2019|p=121}}{{sfn|Ballance|Howard|Sturtivant|2016|p=41}}

'''1943 - 1952'''
* [[Lieutenant commander (Royal Navy)|Lieutenant Commander]]([[Acting rank|A]]) R.E. Gardner, {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|DSC}}, [[Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve|RNVR]], from 24 May 1943
* Lieutenant Commander D.R. Curry, DSC, [[Royal Navy|RN]], from 17 August 1944
* Lieutenant Commander P.D. Gick, {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|DSC1}}, RN, from 8 February 1945
* Lieutenant Commander(A) S.P. Luke, RN, from 3 August 1945
* Lieutenant Commander D.B. Law, DSC, RN, from 6 January 1946
* Lieutenant Commander W. Stuart, DSC, RNVR, from 16 April 1946
* Lieutenant Commander J.G. Baldwin, DSC, RN, from 24 April 1947
* Lieutenant Commander [[Michael Fell (Royal Navy officer)|M.F. Fell]], {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|DSO|DSC}}, RN, from 21 October 1947
* Lieutenant Commander P.J.P. Leckie, RN, from 5 September 1949
* [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]] P.B. Stuart, RN, 1 February 1950
* Lieutenant Commander P.M. Austin, RN, from 17 October 1950
* Lieutenant Commander P.H. London, DSC, RN, 24 March 1952
* disbanded - 25 August 1952

'''1952 - 1965'''
* Lieutenant Commander N. Perrett, RN, from 26 August 1952
* Lieutenant Commander P.H. London, DSC, RN, from 1 December 1952
* Lieutenant Commander A.R. Rawbone, {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|AFC}}, RN, from 20 April 1953
* Lieutenant Commander W.D.D. MacDonald, RN, from 20 October 1954
* Lieutenant Commander R. Bellamy, RN, from 16 July 1956
* Lieutenant Commander L.E.A. Chester-Lawrence, RN, from 12 December 1957 ([[Killed in action|KiFA]] 6 August 1958)
* Lieutenant Commander J.D. Baker, RN, from 2 September 1958
* Lieutenant Commander A. Mancais, RN, from 2 May 1960
* Lieutenant Commander P.G. Newman, RN, from 9 October 1961
* Lieutenant Commander J.A.D. Ford, RN, from 10 January 1963
* Lieutenant Commander J. Worth, RN, from 12 December 1963
* disbanded - 26 March 1965

'''1965 - 1972'''
* Lieutenant Commander W.H.C. Watson, RN, from 26 March 1965 (KiFA 25 June 1965)
* Lieutenant Commander M.J.A. Hornblower, RN, from 28 June 1965
* Lieutenant Commander J.F. Kennett, RN, from 31 July 1965
* Lieutenant Commander J.D.H.B. Howard, RN, from 15 February 1967
* Lieutenant Commander D.P. Mears, RN, from 23 October 1968
* Lieutenant Commander R. Wren, RN, from 16 February 1970
* Lieutenant Commander L.A. Wilkinson, RN, from 16 December 1970
* disbanded - 25 February 1972

'''2013 - 2022'''
* Lieutenant Commander T.D. Flatman, RN, from 7 June 2013
* Lieutenant Commander B.D. Issitt, RN, from 9 December 2015
* Lieutenant Commander M. Deavin, RN, from July 2018<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=RNAS Culdrose |user=RNASCuldrose |number=1014086667806834693 |title=Culdrose Baddies have a new #TopGun 736 NAS, the Royal Navy's Adversary Squadron, has a new boss: Lt Cdr Matt Deavin. 736 provide airborne threat simulations that allow realistic training at sea. Sometimes they play the goodies too acting as F35 jets. }}</ref>
* Lieutenant Commander J. Flintham, RN, from April 2020<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=RNAS Culdrose |user=RNASCuldrose |number=1246087554916585473 |title=We have a new 'Head Bad Guy' for our maritime adversary squadron. Welcome Lt Cdr Jason Flintham. The Commanding Officer handover was done 2m-spacing style! 736 provides simulated ship attack training for ships getting ready to go on operations. }}</ref>
* disbanded - 31 March 2022<ref name="736 decommissioned"/>

=== 736B Flight ===

List of commanding officers of B Flight, 736 Naval Air Squadron, with date of appointment:

* Lieutenant Commander(A) R.E. Bibby, DSO, RNVR, from 1 March 1945
* Lieutenant Commander(A) L.G.C. Reece, DSC, [[Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve|RNZNVR]], from 26 July 1945
* disbanded - 26 September 1945

== References ==

=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Ballance |first1=Theo |last2=Howard |first2=Lee |last3=Sturtivant |first3=Ray |title=The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm |date=2016 |publisher=Air Britain Historians Limited |isbn=978-0-85130-489-2 |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Phillips |first1=Alan |title=Brawdy Stronghold in the West |year=2009 |publisher=The History Press |location= [[Stroud]], [[Gloucestershire]] UK |isbn=978-0-7524-4923-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Wragg |first=David |title= The Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939-1945 |year=2019 |publisher= The History Press |location= [[Cheltenham]], [[Gloucestershire]], UK |isbn= 978-0-7509-9303-6 |language=en}}

{{Refend}}


{{Royal Naval Air Squadrons}}

[[Category:700 series Fleet Air Arm squadrons]]
[[Category:Air squadrons of the Royal Navy in World War II]]