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Fleet Air Arm Patch Air Group HMS Ark Royal 801 820 849 Naval Air Squadron NAS 1986 (3 inch) Variant A
$26.99
Fleet Air Arm Royal Navy 801 Naval Air Squadron HMS Ark Royal Air Group Patch 1986
This original Fleet Air Arm 801 Naval Air Squadron patch dates from 1986 and commemorates the Squadron’s service as part of the HMS Ark Royal Air Group. Embroidered on twill with a cut edge, the triangular design incorporates the distinctive badge of HMS Ark Royal, celebrating one of the Royal Navy’s most famous aircraft carriers during a goodwill and training deployment to North America.
Following its distinguished service during the Falklands War, where 801 NAS Sea Harrier FRS.1 pilots achieved eight confirmed air-to-air victories, the Squadron continued to form a key element of the Fleet Air Arm’s front-line fighter force. In 1986, 801 Naval Air Squadron embarked alongside 820 Naval Air Squadron and 849 Naval Air Squadron as part of the HMS Ark Royal Air Group during the carrier’s deployment to the United States and Canada, including visits to New York and participation in NATO exercises.
The patch features the badge of HMS Ark Royal—a crowned tower upon a golden ark—set within a blue triangle, surrounded by the title “Ark Royal Air Group” and the deployment dates 01-820-849, representing the three embarked squadrons that made up the carrier’s air group. Produced as a deployment souvenir, this badge celebrates the close cooperation between the Fleet Air Arm’s fighter, anti-submarine and airborne early warning squadrons during one of the Royal Navy’s major overseas deployments of the 1980s.
Original HMS Ark Royal Air Group patches were produced in limited numbers for personnel taking part in the deployment and are increasingly sought after by collectors of Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy, Sea Harrier, and Cold War naval aviation memorabilia.
Patch Details
- Country: United Kingdom
- Service: Royal Navy – Fleet Air Arm
- Squadron: 801 Naval Air Squadron (801 NAS)
- Carrier: HMS Ark Royal
- Air Group: 801 NAS, 820 NAS and 849 NAS
- Aircraft: Sea Harrier FRS.1
- Period: 1986
- Construction: Embroidered on twill with cut edge.
- Size: 65 mm × 75 mm (2 9/16 × 3 inches).
- Postage: Free Shipping.
Free Shipping
Fleet Air Arm Royal Navy 801 Naval Air Squadron HMS Ark Royal Air Group Patch 1986
This original Fleet Air Arm 801 Naval Air Squadron patch dates from 1986 and commemorates the Squadron’s service as part of the HMS Ark Royal Air Group. Embroidered on twill with a cut edge, the triangular design incorporates the distinctive badge of HMS Ark Royal, celebrating one of the Royal Navy’s most famous aircraft carriers during a goodwill and training deployment to North America.
Following its distinguished service during the Falklands War, where 801 NAS Sea Harrier FRS.1 pilots achieved eight confirmed air-to-air victories, the Squadron continued to form a key element of the Fleet Air Arm’s front-line fighter force. In 1986, 801 Naval Air Squadron embarked alongside 820 Naval Air Squadron and 849 Naval Air Squadron as part of the HMS Ark Royal Air Group during the carrier’s deployment to the United States and Canada, including visits to New York and participation in NATO exercises.
The patch features the badge of HMS Ark Royal—a crowned tower upon a golden ark—set within a blue triangle, surrounded by the title “Ark Royal Air Group” and the deployment dates 01-820-849, representing the three embarked squadrons that made up the carrier’s air group. Produced as a deployment souvenir, this badge celebrates the close cooperation between the Fleet Air Arm’s fighter, anti-submarine and airborne early warning squadrons during one of the Royal Navy’s major overseas deployments of the 1980s.
Original HMS Ark Royal Air Group patches were produced in limited numbers for personnel taking part in the deployment and are increasingly sought after by collectors of Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy, Sea Harrier, and Cold War naval aviation memorabilia.
Patch Details
- Country: United Kingdom
- Service: Royal Navy – Fleet Air Arm
- Squadron: 801 Naval Air Squadron (801 NAS)
- Carrier: HMS Ark Royal
- Air Group: 801 NAS, 820 NAS and 849 NAS
- Aircraft: Sea Harrier FRS.1
- Period: 1986
- Construction: Embroidered on twill with cut edge.
- Size: 65 mm × 75 mm (2 9/16 × 3 inches).
- Postage: Free Shipping.
Free Shipping
Squadron History 1962 2007
801 Naval Air Squadron NAS was reactivated at HMS Fulmar RNAS Lossiemouth on 18 March 1962 equipped with Buccaneer S1 tasked with maritime strike. The Squadron embarked ten aircraft on HMS Victorious for a Far East tour in July 1962. The squadron subsequently received the 1967 Boyd Trophy annual award for the best squadron in the Fleet Air Arm for its efforts in bringing the Buccaneer into service. The Squadron transferred operations to HMS Hermes and embarked seven aircraft for a further Far East tour in 1968. In March 1969 HMS Hermes returned to the UK to spend the next year in Home and Mediterranean waters. The squadron disbanded at Lossiemouth on the 21 July 1970.
801 NAS was reactivated in January 1981 at RNAS Yeovilton equipped with Sea Harrier FRS 1 and deployed aboard HMS Invincible for the Falklands War with an additional three aircraft and crews transferred from the Harrier training squadron 899 NAS. The Squadron shot down eight Argentine aircraft while it lost four aircraft and two pilots during the conflict. The Squadron joined 820 NAS and 849 NAS on HMS Ark Royal for deployment to USA New York in 1986. 801 Squadron joined 820 NAS and 849 NAS on HMS Illustrious for deployment to the Adriatic in March 1995 to support UN air combat operation over the former Yugoslavia. In the mid 1990s the squadron reequipped with the more capable Sea Harrier FA2 and embarked on HMS Illustrious in 1997 for the Gulf for Operation Southern Watch carrying out its first mission armed with AMRAAM.
On 31 March 2006 the squadron was disbanded at RNAS Yeovilton as the final Sea Harrier FA2 was withdrawn from service. 801 NAS and 800 NAS were due to re commission at RAF Cottesmore in March 2007 to operate the Harrier GR7 and GR9 Harriers. However due to lack of manpower all personnel allocated for 801 and 800 NAS instead formed Naval Strike Wing NSW at RAF Cottesmore on 7 March 2007. On 1 April 2010 Naval Strike Wing reverted to the identity of 800 Naval Air Squadron and disbanded on 15 December 2010.
This patch dates from 1986.