899 Naval Air Squadron


899 Naval Air Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Aircraft carrier based squadron. Latterly it was the Sea Harrier training squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton.
899 Naval Air Squadron was reformed in 1979 as the training squadron for the Sea Harrier. It was initially based at RNAS Yeovilton until it was decommissioned in 2005 prior to the Stand up of 800 Naval Air Squadron GR7 at RAF Cottesmore.

Earlier operations

899 NAS saw service during the Second World War and was mostly deployed in the Mediterranean Sea. Gibraltar - Between March 1943 and August 1943 899 Sqn. FAA was disembarked at R.N.A.S. Cormorant II when the carrier was damaged by torpedo. It was disbanded when the war ended. In 1955 the squadron was recommissioned and deployed to Egypt on Operation Musketeer during the Suez Crisis.
During the 1960s, the squadron was deployed to the African continent a number of times. In 1965 it deployed on board HMS Eagle to Rhodesia in light of the government's dispute with the British Crown and issuing of its internationally unrecognised Unilateral Declaration of Independence. The squadron provided air support during the Beira Patrol blockade, remaining at sea for a record 72 days. In 1967, with the disintegration of the Protectorate of South Arabia, a Sea Vixen of 899 NAS was the last British military aircraft to leave Aden carrying the British flag. During this period the squadron operated Sea Vixen aircraft at R.N.A.S. Yeovilton and on board HMS Eagle.
899 NAS did not take part directly in the Falklands War. However it supplied personnel to both 800 NAS and 801 NAS. It also allowed 809 Naval Air Squadron to be set up specially for the Falklands War. During the 1990s, the squadron was called into action for the Yugoslav Wars as part of NATO peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. From 1993 until its disbandment the squadron took on the role as the training squadron for Harrier pilots.
899 NAS trained personnel for the front line squadrons 800 Naval Air Squadron and 801 Naval Air Squadron.
These squadrons were deployed as required in HMS Hermes, HMS Invincible, HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal.

Aircraft operated

;World War II