RN Fleet Air Arm: 809 Naval Air Squadron

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Navy Lookout

809 Naval Air Squadron to be stood up at RAF Marham in the next few weeks.
The second UK frontline F-35B Squadron - will be another mixed RN/RAF unit run in the same way as 617 Sqn.

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By David Anthony Simpson

UK’S SECOND OPERATIONAL F35B LIGHTNING SQN 809NAS TO STAND UP IN EARLY DECEMBER 23

The UK MoD confirmed on 20/11/23 that 809NAS “The Immortals” will stand up (be commissioned!) at Marham the home of the UK (Joint) Lightning Force in early December 2023. This is after an unfortunate delay of around 9 months due to slower than anticipated training pipelines not producing enough pilots and engineers.
809NAS will join 617 Sqn and spend nearly 2 years (as did 617 Sqn) working up to full strength and also full operational capabilities until late 2025.
The achievement of full operational readiness by both 617 and 809 will allow the UK to declare full UK Carrier Enabled Power Projection Capability by early 2026.
809NAS has an illustrious history (no pun intended) having last seen operational service during and immediately after the Falkland’s War in 1982 as a Sea Harrier FRS1 unit, and prior to that as the RN’s last carrier borne Buccaneer sqn seeing service for its last 8 years embarked as the carrier R09 HMS Ark Royal's long range attack and strike sqn.

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809 Naval Air Squadron - the 2nd frontline F-35 unit is to be stood up in a ceremony on Friday at RAF Marham
See - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 1050921353

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UK to stand-up second frontline F-35 squadron

The re-establishment of 809 Naval Air Squadron as a frontline F-35 unit, alongside 617 Squadron, will take place on the 8th of December.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-to-s ... -squadron/

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809 NAS TOMORROW - https://www.facebook.com/RoyalAirForceM ... cale=en_GB

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Navy Lookout

F-35 with 809 NAS 'phoenix from the flames' tail art on display at RAF Marham as the squadron recommissions today.
(Aircraft will not routinely carry squadron markings)
See - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 5820260761

Our mock-up from 2017 attached.

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Phoenix rising: iconic Naval unit re-born as UK’s second front-line F-35 squadron

From the ashes the torch today passed between generations of pilots, and the UK – and Navy – gained a new front-line fast-jet squadron.

809 Naval Air Squadron joins the RAF’s 617 ‘Dambusters’ as the second, front-line stealth fighter formation, operating the F-35B Lightning.

Nearly 41 years to the day that 809 – known as the Phoenix Squadron, its pilots nicknamed The Immortals – passed into history at RNAS Yeovilton, it was brought back to life in front of scores of friends, family and VIPs at RAF Marham.

The last naval officer to hold the title of 809 Commanding Officer, Commander Tim Gedge, symbolically presented the unit crest – a phoenix rising from the flames – to the pilot in charge of its re-birth, Commander Nick Smith, the emotional high point of an hour-long ceremony and service which concluded with an F-35 flypast over the Norfolk air base.

“It is an honour and privilege to be afforded the opportunity to command 809 NAS and lead the workup to Full Operational Capability,” Commander Smith said.

“The Squadron has a rich history of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force integration from the days of operating the Blackburn Buccaneer at RAF Lossiemouth in the 1960s and 1970s, to the Falklands Conflict in 1982 and this is set to endure well into the future.

“The latest re-incarnation of ‘Phoenix Squadron’ will see this joint service approach deliver a world-leading fifth-generation combat air capability, deployable from both land and sea.”

Continues, including photos, at - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... 5-squadron

Also - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-67663054

41 years on from the Falklands War, former 809 NAS boss Tim Gedge passed the baton to the new CO, Cdr Nick Smith, as the Phoenix Squadron stood up as an F-35B unit at RAF Marham this morning. An absolute pleasure and privilege to have been there to see it. BZ to all involved.

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809 Naval Air Squadron reborn for F-35 Lightning

The iconic 809 Naval Air Squadron, known as the Phoenix Squadron, has been recommissioned as the UK’s second front-line F-35 squadron.
This historic event occurred nearly 41 years after the squadron was disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton.
Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/809-nav ... lightning/