725 Squadron RAN

725 Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm flying squadron. The squadron was formed for the first time in 1943 and was last disbanded in 1975.

History

725 Squadron was formed on 27 August 1943 as a fleet requirements unit. It became an air target towing squadron in August 1945 and was disbanded in December of that year.cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/725_Squadron|title=725 Squadron|publisher=Royal Australian Navy|accessdate=2008-09-19]

725 Squadron was re-formed as a Royal Australian Navy fleet requirements and communications unit unit at HMAS "Albatross" on 13 January 1958. The squadron was initially equipped with C47 Dakota, Auster Autocar, Hawker Sea Fury, Fairey Firefly and Fairey Gannet aircraft and added De Havilland Sea Venoms shortly afterwards. The squadron was redesignated an anti-submarine training squadron in May 1959cite book|last=Eather|first=Steve|title=Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force|publisher=Aerospace Publications|location=Canberra|date=1995|pages=p.134|isbn=1875671153] and suffered its only fatality in December of that year when a Gannet crashed while landing at HMAS "Albatross". The squadron's duties during this period included providing aircraft for air direction officer training, radar calibration and target towing as well as conducting simulated attacks on RAN warships during exercises. These duties continued until 31 May 1961 when 725 Squadron was disbanded and absorbed into 724 Squadron.

725 Squadron was reformed as an operational anti-submarine squadron equipped with Westland Wessex helicopters on 1 November 1962. In this role the squadron regularly deployed four Wessex helicopters on HMAS "Sydney" to provide the converted aircraft carrier with anti-submarine cover during her many transport voyages to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The squadron also participated in the search and rescue efforts which followed the collision between HMAS "Melbourne" and "Voyager" in February 1964. Helicopters from the squadron also took part in the relief effort after Cyclone Tracy destroyed much of Darwin in December 1974. [cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/index.php/Publication:Semaphore_-_Issue_14,_2004|title=Disaster Relief - Cyclone Tracy and Tasman Bridge|date=2004|work=Semaaphore, Issue 14|publisher=Sea Power Centre Australia|accessdate=2008-09-19] 725 Squadron was disbanded at HMAS "Albatross" on 27 December 1975.

References