801 Naval Air Squadron

801 Naval Air Squadron
801 Naval Air Squadron
	Squadron badge
Active	Royal Air Force; 1933–1939; Royal Navy; 1940–1941; 1941–1946; 1947–1955; 1955–1956; 1957–1960; 1962–1965; 1965–1970; 1981–2006; 2006–2007;
Disbanded	9 March 2007
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Single-seat fighter squadron
Role	Carrier-based fighter squadron; Carrier-based Maritime Strike;
Part of	Fleet Air Arm
Mottos	On Les Aura; (French for 'We'll have them')
Aircraft	See Aircraft flown section for full list.
Engagements	World War II; Korean War; Falklands War; NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Decorations	Boyd Trophy 1967, 1981
Battle honours	Norway 1940–44; Dunkirk 1940; Atlantic 1940; Malta Convoys 1942; North Africa 1942–43; Japan 1945; Korea 1952–53; Falkland Islands 1982;
Insignia
Squadron Badge Description	White, a trident erect blue winged proper (1937)
Identification Markings	512-514 (Flycatcher); 516-521, to 134-136 (Nimrod 1936); 234–235, to 134–143 (Osprey 1936); 134–143 (Sea Gladiator); uncoded at first to U6A+ (Skua January 1940); A7A+ (Skua April 1940, unknown from May 1940); single letters (Sea Hurricane); 7A+ (Sea Hurricane June 1942); single letters (Spitfire); single letters (Seafire); P6A+, P7A+ and P8A+ (Seafire early 1945); 111–151 (Seafire June 1945); 150–161 (Sea Hornet); 450–462 (Sea Hornet March 1948); 150–161 (Sea Fury); 151–170 (Sea Fury March 1952); 146–158 (Sea Hawk); 116–127 (Sea Hawk January 1956); 115–124 (Buccaneer to July 1965); 230–243 (Buccaneer from October 1965); 000-008 (Sea Harrier);

801 Naval Air Squadron (801 NAS), also known as 801 Squadron, is an inactive Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). It most recently operated the Harrier II GR.7 V/STOL strike aircraft as part of Joint Force Harrier (JFH), at RAF Cottesmore, from October 2006 until March 2007.

Formed on 3 April 1933 by the redesignation of No. 401 (Fleet Fighter) Flight, FAA. Operating as a carrier-based fighter squadron, it served throughout the Second World War. It operated with de Havilland Sea Hornet post-war. During the Korean War, it flew Hawker Sea Fury. These were followed with the Hawker Sea Hawk during the late 1950s and later the Blackburn Buccaneer during the 1960s. The squadron flew the Sea Harrier throughout the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, notably during the Falklands War.

801 Naval Air Squadron
Squadron badge
Active	Royal Air Force 1933–1939 Royal Navy 1940–1941 1941–1946 1947–1955 1955–1956 1957–1960 1962–1965 1965–1970 1981–2006 2006–2007
Disbanded	9 March 2007
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Single-seat fighter squadron
Role	Carrier-based fighter squadron Carrier-based Maritime Strike
Part of	Fleet Air Arm
Mottos	On Les Aura (French for 'We'll have them')
Aircraft	See Aircraft flown section for full list.
Engagements	World War II Korean War Falklands War NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Decorations	Boyd Trophy 1967, 1981
Battle honours	Norway 1940–44 Dunkirk 1940 Atlantic 1940 Malta Convoys 1942 North Africa 1942–43 Japan 1945 Korea 1952–53 Falkland Islands 1982
Insignia
Squadron Badge Description	White, a trident erect blue winged proper (1937)
Identification Markings	512-514 (Flycatcher) 516-521, to 134-136 (Nimrod 1936) 234–235, to 134–143 (Osprey 1936) 134–143 (Sea Gladiator) uncoded at first to U6A+ (Skua January 1940) A7A+ (Skua April 1940, unknown from May 1940) single letters (Sea Hurricane) 7A+ (Sea Hurricane June 1942) single letters (Spitfire) single letters (Seafire) P6A+, P7A+ and P8A+ (Seafire early 1945) 111–151 (Seafire June 1945) 150–161 (Sea Hornet) 450–462 (Sea Hornet March 1948) 150–161 (Sea Fury) 151–170 (Sea Fury March 1952) 146–158 (Sea Hawk) 116–127 (Sea Hawk January 1956) 115–124 (Buccaneer to July 1965) 230–243 (Buccaneer from October 1965) 000-008 (Sea Harrier)