| 809 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active | 1941–1946 1949–1959 1963–1965 1966–1978 1982 2023–present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | RAF Marham |
| Motto(s) | "Immortal" |
| Aircraft | Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning |
| Battle honours | Arctic 1941 Malta Convoys 1942 North Africa 1942 Salerno 1943 South France 1944 Aegean 1944 Burma 1945 Falklands 1982 |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Commander Nick Smith[1] |
809 Naval Air Squadron (809 NAS), nicknamed the Immortals, is a squadron of the Fleet Air Arm of the United Kingdom. It was first formed in 1941 and flew in the Soviet Union, the Mediterranean and the Far East during the Second World War. After active service during the Suez Crisis, 809 was disbanded in 1959. Reformed in 1963 to fly Blackburn 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 FRS.1 aircraft south to the UK task group and to fly from HMS Illustrious.
In December 2023, 809 NAS was recommissioned at RAF Marham, Norfolk, to operate the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning.[2][3] The unit is jointly manned by both Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel and operates from Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.[4]
- ^ "Leader of reborn Immortals living his dream with 809 Squadron flying the F-35". forces.net. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Building up the Lightning Force – when will the UK get its F-35 jets? | Navy Lookout". 14 September 2022.
- ^ @NavyLookout (8 December 2023). "@NavyLookout F-35 with @809NAS 'phoenix from the flames' tail art on display at @RAF_Marham as the squadron recommissions today" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 December 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "'Immortal' Naval Air Squadron 809 NAS to fly Navy's newest jets". Royal Navy. 9 September 2013. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2013.