808 Naval Air Squadron (808 NAS) was a unit of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA). Formed during the Second World War, the squadron served primarily in the Pacific theatre and later operated under the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) before being re‑commissioned and disbanded several times in the post‑war era.
Formation and Early History
- The squadron was first established on 15 June 1940 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), United Kingdom.
- Initially equipped with the Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber, the unit was intended for carrier‑borne anti‑shipping and anti‑submarine duties.
World War II Service
- In 1941, 808 NAS embarked on the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and took part in operations in the Mediterranean, including the Battle of Crete.
- In 1942, the squadron transferred to the Pacific, operating from the carrier HMS Formidable. During the Solomon Islands campaign it conducted strikes against Japanese positions and escorted convoys.
- Aircraft operated during the war included the Fairey Swordfish, Grumman Martlet (Wildcat) fighters, and later the Supermarine Seafire.
- The squadron suffered notable losses during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands (October 1942) but continued to provide close air support and reconnaissance throughout 1943–1944.
Post‑war and Australian Service
- After the war, 808 NAS was disbanded in 1945.
- The designation was revived on 10 April 1950 when the Royal Australian Navy formed 808 Squadron RAN, equipped with Hawker Sea Fury fighters. The Australian unit operated from the carrier HMAS Sydney, participating in regional training and patrol duties until its disbandment in 1956.
- The Royal Navy again re‑established 808 NAS in 1958 as a jet squadron, this time flying the de Havilland Sea Venom. It served primarily as a night‑fighter unit based at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) until its final disbandment on 3 September 1964.
Aircraft Operated
- Fairey Swordfish (1940–1945)
- Grumman Martlet / Wildcat (1942–1945)
- Supermarine Seafire (1944–1945)
- Hawker Sea Fury (1950–1956, RAN)
- de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.20 (1958–1964)
Roles and Operational Emphasis
- Torpedo bombing and anti‑shipping strikes (WWII)
- Fighter and ground‑attack missions (WWII, post‑war)
- Night‑fighter and all‑weather interception (late 1950s–1960s)
Legacy
808 NAS is remembered for its contributions to carrier‑based air operations in the Pacific during World War II and for its later association with the Royal Australian Navy, reflecting the close operational ties between the United Kingdom and Australia in naval aviation. The squadron’s battle honours include Pacific 1942–44 and Solomon Islands 1942.
References
- Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm archives.
- RAN Historical Series, "Aircraft Squadrons of the Royal Australian Navy," 1995.
- Sturtivant, R., & Ballance, T. (1994). The Squadrons of the Royal Navy, 1912–1993. Chichester: Navy Records Society.
