809 Naval Air Squadron
| 809 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1941–1965 1966–1978 1982 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal NavyFleet Air Arm |
| Motto(s) | "Immortal" |
| Battle honours | Arctic 1941, Malta Convoys 1942, North Africa 1942, Salerno 1943, South France 1944, Aegean 1944, Burma 1945, Falklands 1982 |
| Disbanded | 17 December 1982 |
809 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Fleet Air Arm of the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1941 and flew in Russia, the Mediterranean and the Far East during World War II. After active service during the Suez Crisis, 809 was disbanded in 1959. Reformed in 1963 to fly Buccaneers, the squadron was disbanded briefly in 1965-66, and then again in 1978. A brief period during the Falklands war saw 809 reformed to bring Sea Harrier aircraft south to the UK task group and to fly from Illustrious. In September 2013 it was announced that the first Royal Navy squadron equipped with the F-35 Lightning would be named 809 Naval Air Squadron with the nickname "Immortals". It will stand up in April 2023 as the UK's second operational F-35B squadron after 617 Squadron RAF.
Formed in January 1941 at RNAS St Merryn with 12 Fairey Fulmars, the squadron embarked in HMS Victorious in July 1941. At first involved in operations against Petsamo and Bodø, and then the convoys to North Russia, Victorious and her air group fought in the Mediterranean from July 1942, including participating in Operation Pedestal.
After being trained in army co-operation duties at Sawbridge, 809 re-embarked in Victorious in October 1943 and conducted tactical reconnaissance for the North African landings of Operation Torch. After being re-equipped with the Seafire IIc, the squadron provided cover for Operation Avalanche, the allied landings at Salerno.
The squadron flew Supermarine Seafires off HMS Stalker during 1944, including landing detachments in North Africa and Italy between May and July.Stalker and 809 formed part of Task Force 88 covering the Operation Dragoon landings in Southern France in August 1944. In November 1944 the squadron transferred to HMS Attacker, rejoining Stalker in March 1945, bound for the Eastern Fleet at Ceylon.
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