[5] On 25 September 1940, Supermarine Walrus L2247, embarked on the cruiser HMAS Australia, was shot down by Vichy French fighters during the Battle of Dakar and crashed into the sea killing all three crew.

[7] In June 1942, 700 Naval Air Squadron moved its HQ, known as ‘A’ Flight, the short distance across Orkney to RNAS Twatt (HMS Tern).

[8] The training was broken down into an initial three weeks of aerodrome flying, at RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), in Fife, consisting circuits and landings, dive-bombing, photography and anti-submarine warfare.

[9] It moved again the following April when it 1946 the squadron relocated to RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), Somerset and where in May 1948 it became part of the 50th Training Air Group.

[5] 700 Naval Air Squadron reformed as a Trials and Requirements Unit on 18 August 1955 at RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine), Sussex.

703 STU and 771 FRU had disbanded at RNAS Ford the previous day and they were successfully combined to form 700 Trials and Requirements Unit.

[10] In January 1956, when 787 Naval Air Squadron disbanded, 700 NAS took over its duties, however, in February 1957 the Fleet Requirements work was given to Airwork Services Ltd at Hurn.

[citation needed] In October 1960 flight tests of landing and take-offs from HMS Vengeance with 27 launchings of the turboprop Fairey Gannet and 34 with the Hawker Sea Hawk.

[citation needed] A number of Intensive Flying Trials Units were subsequently formed under the "700 NAS" title, to prepare for new aircraft types coming into service.

From 1957 the initial one was based out of RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, to introduce the Westland Whirlwind HAS.7 anti-submarine and search and rescue helicopter.

[5] In 2007 the OEU deployed to the Caribbean aboard HMS Ocean to take part in Counter Narcotics operations with the US Coastguard and was involved with a seizure of nearly half a ton of cocaine worth around £29 million.

It was initially tasked with Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) for the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle an unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle.

[19] The squadron has been setup to undertake Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) trials, and it previously acted as a parent unit for the various ship-based flights operating the ScanEagle.

[24] As of 2021, twelve Puma systems were deployed with the squadron permitting individual teams to be embarked on Royal Navy vessels as might be required.