808 Naval Air Squadron
| 808 Naval Air Squadron 808 Squadron RAN | |
|---|---|
Squadron badge (top RN, bottom RAN) | |
| Active | 1940–1941 1942–1945 1950–1954 1955–1958 2011– |
| Country | United Kingdom (1940–1941; 1942–1945) Australia (1950-1954; 1955-1958; 2011-) |
| Branch | Royal Navy Royal Australian Navy |
| Type | Single-seat fighter squadron (RN) Ship based helicopter squadron (RAN) |
| Role |
|
| Size | squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm Fleet Air Arm (RAN) |
| Home station | See Naval air stations section for full list. |
| Motto(s) | Strength in Unity |
| Aircraft | See Aircraft flown section for full list. |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Battle honours |
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Captain Edgar Duncan Goodenough Lewin, CB, CBE, DSO, DSC & Bar, RN |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | Azure, five rings interlocked argent to form the figures 808 interlaced with a trident palewise or (1941) |
| Identification Markings |
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808 Naval Air Squadron is a ship-based helicopter squadron of the Royal Australian Navy.
808 Naval Air Squadron (808 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). Originally established as a fleet fighter squadron at HMS Kestrel, RNAS Worthy Down, in July 1940, it subsequently relocated to RAF Castletown, Caithness, in September. In October of the that year, the squadron was deployed aboard HMS Ark Royal, joining Force H in the Western Mediterranean. Following the sinking of HMS Ark Royal in November 1941, the squadron was integrated into 807 Naval Air Squadron.
Re-formed at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, in January 1942, the squadron swiftly relocated to HMS Vulture, RNAS St Merryn, HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton and HMS Gadwall, RNAS Belfast, before boarding the escort carrier HMS Biter in September but disembarking at HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton. In December 1942, Supermarine Seafire aircraft were introduced, followed by a series of relocations to various shore bases, before briefly operating from HMS Battler in April 1943. Between May and June 1943 a detachment of four aircraft was deployed aboard HMS Battler as 'A' Flight to escort a convoy to Gibraltar. The squadron was then deployed on the carrier for operations in the Mediterranean in July 1943, supporting the Salerno landings. Upon returning home the squadron was assigned to the 3rd Naval Fighter Wing. It was later deployed from HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, serving with the 2nd Tactical Air Force before, during, and following the Normandy landings.
It re-equipped with Grumman Hellcat fighters in October 1944 and the unit embarked on the escort carrier HMS Khedive in January 1945 to join the Royal Navy's East Indies Fleet in April. It conducted operations off the coasts of Malaya and Sumatra and six aircraft were detached to HMS Emperor, providing air support for the liberation of Rangoon. The unit later targeted airfields in Sumatra and was present during the Japanese surrender in Malaya. It was disbanded in December 1945.
It was re-formed in 1950 as 808 Squadron RAN, a carrier-based attack squadron of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Air Arm, and saw action during the Korean War before disbanding again in 1958.
It was re-formed in 2011 to operate the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter.