Photographic Trials and Development Unit
On 1 May 1947, 739 Naval Air Squadron reformed at RNAS Culham (HMS Hornbill) to become the Royal Navy’s Photographic Trials and Development Unit, (it had originally been intended to share the RAF's Photographic Reconnaissance resources at RAF Benson, but this had become overcrowded). The squadron operated de Havilland Sea Mosquito, a navalised variant of the de Havilland Mosquito, equipped as a torpedo bomber and a carrier-borne variant, and also the photo-reconnaissance version of the de Havilland Sea Hornet, a twin-engine fighter aircraft, until the unit finally disbanded on 12 July 1950.[4]
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) Pilots and Observers needed to have completed between seventy-five and 125 flying hours per year. This included non-continuous flying hours of training drills and fourteen days continuous training in air warfare and weapons, per year. Flying was mainly done during weekends, as there was a requirement for twelve weekends on squadron duty.[6]
The Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch was reorganised into five air divisions on 1 June 1952. HMS Hornbill was home to the Southern Air Division which was initially formed of only 1832 Naval Air Squadron. On 1 October, 1832A and 1832B RNVR fighter Squadrons were formed, and then in March 1953 these became 1836 and 1835 Naval Air Squadrons respectively. The pooled aircraft, comprising Supermarine Seafire and Hawker Sea Fury, of the Southern Air Division was divided between the three squadrons.[6]
1840 Naval Air Squadron
1840 Naval Air Squadron re-formed at RNAS Culham on 14 April 1951 as a RNVR (Air) Anti-Submarine Squadron. The commanding officer was Lieutenant Commander (A) N H Bovey DSC, RNVR. Eight pilots and observers were detached from 1832 Naval Air Squadron and redeployed to the new squadron.[7] It was equipped with six Fairey Firefly FR.4, a carrier-borne fighter and anti-submarine aircraft and two North American Harvard T.2b advanced trainer aircraft. The squadron remained at HMS Hornbill for just over two months and moved to RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine) on 30 June 1951.[7]
1832A Naval Air Squadron
1832A Naval Air Squadron formed as a RNVR (Air) Fighter Squadron on 1 October 1952. It shared the Hawker Sea Fury FB.II fighter aircraft of 1832 Naval Air Squadron. Almost six months later it was re designated 1836 Naval Air Squadron, on 23 March 1953.[6]
1832B Naval Air Squadron
1832B Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 October 1952, as a RNVR (Air) Fighter Squadron, sharing the Hawker Sea Fury FB.II fighter aircraft of 1832 Naval Air Squadron with 1832A RNVR Squadron. Around six months later on 23 March 1953, it was redesignated 1836 Naval Air Squadron.[6]
1835 Naval Air Squadron
1835 Naval Air Squadron re-formed at RNAS Culham on 28 March 28 1953 as a RNVR (Air) Fighter Squadron by redsignating 1832B Naval Air Squadron. The commanding officer was Lieutenant Commander (A) A C B Ford DSC, RNVR. It shared a common pool of aircraft with 1832 and 1836 RNVR squadrons, which were Supermarine Seafire F.17 fighter aircraft and Hawker Sea Fury fighter aircraft, FB.11 and T.20 variants, together the three squadrons formed the RNVR Southern Air Division. 1835 Naval Air Squadron moved to RAF Benson on 19 July 1953.
1836 Naval Air Squadron
1836 Naval Air Squadron re-formed at RNAS Culham on 28 March 1953, as a RNVR (Air) Fighter Squadron by redsignating 1832A Naval Air Squadron. It shared a pool of a number of Hawker Sea Fury, FB.11 and T.20 fighter aircraft, alongside some Supermarine Seafire F.17 fighter aircraft, with 1832 and 1835 RNVR Squadrons. The squadron was commanded by Lieutenant Commander (A) T O Adkin, RNVR and was a component of the RNVR Southern Air Division, alongside the other two squadrons. The division moved with its three squadrons to RAF Benson, on 19 July 1953.[10]