801 Naval Air Squadron 801 Naval Air Squadron ( NAS ) was a Fleet Air Arm squadron of the Royal Navy formed in 1933 which fought in World War II , the Korean War and the Falklands War . Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force . The squadron was formed on 3 April 1933 as part of the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force , with the promotion of No . 401 Flight to squadron status . The squadron was equipped with the Fairey Flycatcher and Hawker Nimrod aboard HMS Hermes . The Flycatchers were replaced in 1934 by the Hawker Osprey and the Nimrods were retired in 1936 . The squadron was re - equipped with the Blackburn Skua and Gloster Gladiator in 1939 just before the squadron was transferred to the Admiralty . Second World War . In January 1940 , 801 NAS was based at RNAS Donibristle with the Blackburn Skua , playing a key role in the early part of the war with operations in Norway from HMS " Ark Royal " . In September , 801 Squadron embarked on for raids on the northerly parts of the Norwegian coast . Following an attack on Trondheim on 22 September , Skua L2942 piloted by Sub Lt Bernard Wigginton with Leading Aircraftman Kenneth King as his gunner , was unable to find their carrier and crash landed in neutral Sweden . In 1943 880 Naval Air Squadron formed the 30 Naval Fighter Wing on HMS " Implacable " . In June 1945 , Naval Fighter Wings were reformed as Carrier Groups with 801 NAS , 828 NAS , 880 NAS and 1771 NAS becoming the 8th Carrier Air Group . In August 1941 they re - equipped with Sea Hurricanes at RNAS Yeovilton . The squadron deployed to the Mediterranean aboard . then to HMS " Eagle " . During this deployment 801 NAS claimed thirteen enemy aircraft of various types , for the loss of three Hurricanes and four Fulmars . Two of the Fulmars were brought down by friendly fire . Korean War . In March 1951 , 801 NAS received Hawker Sea Fury s and the squadron saw active service during the Korean War flying from HMS Glory . HMS Glory was deployed in theatre from 3 April 1951 to 30 September 1951 and from 8 November 1952 to the of 27 July 1953 . 801 NAS was embarked on the second tour of duty . Sea Furys could be armed with either two bombs or four rockets and drop tanks in both cases . The aircraft were mainly used in the ground attack role armed with bombs and rockets , but they were also engaged in air - to - air combat with the much faster MiG - 15 . The squadron suffered seven casualties . 1960s to 1980s . On 18 March 1962 , 801 squadron was reformed at Lossiemouth in the strike role with Buccaneer s . In July 1962 they embarked on HMS Victorious ( 10 aircraft ) for the Far East . The squadron subsequently received the 1967 Boyd Trophy , an annual award for the best squadron in the Fleet Air Arm , for its efforts in bringing the Buccaneer into service . 801 transferred to HMS Hermes ( 7 aircraft ) in 1968 for a further spell in Eastern waters . In March 1969 the ship returned home to spend the next year in Home and Mediterranean waters . The squadron eventually disbanded at Lossiemouth on the 21 July 1970 . In January 1981 , the squadron re - equipped with the Sea Harrier FRS . 1 at RNAS Yeovilton . Falklands War . The squadron operated the Sea Harrier equipped with Blue Fox radars aboard HMS " Invincible " during the Falklands War . The Squadron was supplemented by five pilots from 899 NAS and was under the command of Lieutenant Commander Nigel " Sharkey " Ward Royal Navy . From an air combat perspective , 801 Squadron were effective to the extent of shooting down eight Argentine aircraft Losses . 801 NAS lost four aircraft and two pilots during the conflict . Gallantry Awards . Lt Cdr N D Ward and Lt S R Thomas RN were each awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their conduct and leadership throughout the campaign . Decommissioning . On Tuesday 28 March 2006 a ceremony was held at RNAS Yeovilton , with Cdr A J W Rae RN as the last Sea Harrier Sqn CO , to mark the withdrawal from service of the Royal Navy ’ s Sea Harrier FA2s . The final Sea Harrier was withdrawn from service on 31 March 2006 at RNAS Yeovilton and the Squadron disbanded . Prior to decommissioning , all aircraft adopted the omega symbol on their tail - fin in recognition of 801 NAS being the last operators of an all - British fixed - wing fighter aircraft . This harks back to the use of this symbol by 892 Naval Air Squadron , whose McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG . 1 s were the last conventional fixed - wing aircraft used by the Fleet Air Arm . 801 NAS was due to recommission in March 2007 , under the command of Cdr K Seymour RN , to operate the Harrier GR7 and GR9 from RAF Cottesmore . However due to lack of manpower all former 801 and 800 NAS ( their sister Squadron ) personnel formed a " Naval Strike Wing " ( NSW ) within RAF Cottesmore , thus severing all remaining ties to their former home at RNAS Yeovilton . On 1 April 2010 , NSW reverted to the identity of 800 Naval Air Squadron . Aircraft flown . During its lifespan , 801 Squadron has flown ten different aircraft types :