809 Naval Air Squadron 809 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Fleet Air Arm of the United Kingdom . It was formed in 1941 and flew in Russia , the Mediterranean and the Far East during World War II . After active service during the Suez Crisis , 809 was disbanded in 1959 . Reformed in 1963 to fly 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 aircraft south to the UK task group and to fly from " Illustrious " . In September 2013 it was announced that the Royal Navy squadron equipped with the F - 35 Lightning would be named 809 Naval Air Squadron with the nick name " " Immortals " " . History . WWII . Formed in January 1941 at St Merryn with 12 Fairey Fulmar s , the squadron embarked in in July 1941 . At first involved in operations against Petsamo and Bodø , and then the convoys to North Russia , " Victorious " and her air group fought in the Mediterranean from July 1942 , including participating in Operation " Pedestal " . After being trained in army co - operation duties at Sawbridge , 809 re - embarked in " Victorious " in October 1943 and conducted tactical reconnaissance for the North African landings of Operation " Torch " . After being re - equipped with the Seafire IIc , the squadron provided cover for Operation " Avalanche " , the allied landings at Salerno . The squadron flew Supermarine Seafires off during 1944 , including landing detachments in North Africa and Italy between May and July . " Stalker " and 809 formed part of Task Force 88 covering the Operation " Dragoon " landings in Southern France in August 1944 . In November 1944 the squadron transferred to , rejoining " Stalker " in March 1945 , bound for the Eastern Fleet at Ceylon . The final days of World War II saw 809 providing fighter cover for Operation " Dracula " , the re - occupation of Rangoon , then in June operations in Malaya and Sumatra . The ship subsequently gave cover for Operation " Zipper " , the re - occupation of Malaya after VJ - day . Post - WWII . In January 1949 , the Sea Hornet NF 21 equipped 809 Squadron at RNAS Culdrose , moved to and then , in May 1951 to . The unit was then briefly seconded to the RAF at Coltishall before a posting to Hal Far Malta where it transitioned from the De Havilland Sea Hornet NF 21 to Sea Venoms in 1954 . Between May 1954 and August 1959 the squadron operated De Havilland Sea Venom s , in the all - weather fighter role , including active service during the Suez Crisis in 1956 . Cold War . 809 NAS re - formed on 15 January 1963 as the second frontline Blackburn Buccaneer S . 1 squadron ( after 801 NAS ) , using aircraft and crews from the recently disbanded 700Z NAS ( the Buccaneer S . 1 trials and training unit ) under the command of 700Z ' s commanding officer , Commander ' Spiv ' Leahy . The squadron was tasked with continuing 700Z ' s duties and became the Buccaneer Headquarters squadron . The aircraft at the time were painted in ' anti - flash ' white with toned - down markings because of the Buccaneer ' s nuclear role , with the squadron badge of a Phoenix on the sides of the jet intakes . By 1965 the Buccaneer force had switched to the standard Fleet Air Arm finish of dark sea grey upper surfaces and white undersides , and the squadron badge was moved to the tail . In April 1965 , 809 NAS disbanded again and its role was taken over by 736 NAS at RNAS Lossiemouth . 809 re - formed in 1966 under the command of Lt Cdr Lyn Middleton and was now equipped with the Rolls - Royce Spey - powered Buccaneer S . 2 . Royal Navy Buccaneers were now being painted dark sea grey overall with all markings other than roundels in either light grey or light blue to reduce visibility . 809 embarked in with six aircraft for the next two years , then from 1968 were shore - based again at Lossiemouth , during which time they formed a display team and attended many air shows . In 1970 , having increased its complement to 14 Buccaneer S . 2s , 809 embarked in and , from 1972 onward , became the last Royal Navy Buccaneer squadron following the disbandment of 800 Naval Air Squadron . In 1972 , " Ark Royal " and 809 RNAS were despatched " with haste " from the North Atlantic to ' show presence ' over British Honduras , now Belize , in the face of neighbouring Guatemalan threats to invade and ' take back Belize ' which they viewed as their own . Steaming hard at 27 knots , and when eventually off Bermuda , two Buccaneers were launched along with two more ' buddy tanker ' versions to make one of the longest journeys of its type . In a six - hour round trip the two Buccaneers ' showed presence ' over Belize and made the Guatemalan government , with its P - 51D Mustangs and limited ground forces , hesitate long enough for other events to intervene . Later the squadron transferred its home base from RNAS Lossiemouth ( which was being transferred to RAF control , and later became the home base of the last RAF Buccaneer squadrons ) to RAF Honington . 809 NAS continued to alternate between RAF Honington and " Ark Royal " until November 1978 , when after flying off the carrier for the last time in the Mediterranean , the squadron flew direct to RAF St Athan , where the aircraft were formally handed over to the RAF . 809 Squadron was officially disbanded at HMS " Daedalus " on the 13 December 1978 , and the aircraft were used to form the RAF ' s 216 Squadron in 1979 . Falklands War . During the Falklands War of 1982 , the Fleet Air Arm only had three Sea Harrier squadrons , 800 NAS and 801 NAS ( with five aircraft each for front line operations from and ) and 899 NAS ( training ) ( with around twelve Sea Harriers operating as the headquarters and training squadron ) . At the outbreak of war , 899 sent three aircraft to join 801 aboard " Invincible " and seven aircraft to join 800 aboard " Hermes " . These aircraft sailed with the Falklands Task Force , whilst the remains of 899 NAS set about bringing the remaining Sea Harriers in store or on other duties into operational use . It was planned to form a third front line squadron with ten Sea Harriers , but only eight could be brought together initially . These aircraft were painted a lighter low visibility grey than the rest of the Sea Harrier fleet , and were then issued to the reformed 809 NAS , under Lieutenant Commander Tim Gedge , which were transported south on the ill - fated " Atlantic Conveyor " . After arriving with the Task force , the aircraft and pilots were split between the two carriers and were absorbed by their squadrons , as 899 ' s aircraft had been earlier . After the ceasefire , 809 re - formed as a single unit and returned to the UK aboard " Hermes " , where after a very short break they embarked aboard the newly completed and returned to the South Atlantic to provide air defence cover until Port Stanley Airport could be repaired . The squadron remained on station until relieved by RAF F - 4M Phantom FGR2s of 29 Squadron based at Stanley . " Illustrious " returned home in December , and 809 NAS finally disbanded on 17 December 1982 . Future . In September 2013 , it was announced that 809 NAS was to be reformed to become the first Fleet Air Arm squadron to be equipped with the F - 35B Lightning . The squadron will operate alongside 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force , and will be stationed at RAF Marham when not deployed aboard one of the s . It will consist of both Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel . Aircraft flown . During its life 809 squadron has flown 7 different aircraft types :