No.1702 Squadron formed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent on June 1st 1945 as Special Service Squadron under the command of Lt. (A) O. G. W. Hutchinson, RNVR. The squadron was issued with six Sea Otters which, after a short workup, embarked in the esacort carrier TROUNCER on September 5th 1945 for passage to Malta.
The squadron was put ashore to RNAS Hal Far on September 22nd where they provided Air Sea Rescue support for a time before moving to Greece to operate numerous small detachments in the Eastern Mediterranean on mine clearance duties.
A Supermarine Sea Otter at RNAS Lee-on-Solent.
Content revised: 23 October 2022
Additional sources:
Burma 1945
Sea Otter I Jun 45 - Sep 46 6
Lt. (A) O. G. W. Hutchinson RNVR 1 Jun 1945
Lt. (A) R. H. Kilburn RNVR 15 Jan 1946
Squadron disbanded 12 Sep 1946
None
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Note
Records indicate that the Sea Otters issued at RNAS Lee-on—Solent were passed to 1701 Sqn which formed there on February 1st 1945. It is assumed that only squadron personnel embarked in KHEDIVE for passage, aircraft, equipment and stores being issued on arrival in India.
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