Leader of reborn Immortals living his dream with 809 Squadron flying the F-35
The Commanding Officer of the legendary 809 Naval Air Squadron, resurrected as the second frontline F-35B fighter jet squadron at RAF Marham, has told Forces News about his excitement as he always dreamt of flying the combat aircraft.
The rebirth of the unit comes 82 years after the squadron was first stood up in 1941, since when it has operated the likes of the Fulmar, Sea Venom, Harrier and Buccaneer.
809 NAS becomes the first Royal Navy unit to fly the new stealth aircraft, operating alongside 617 Squadron, The Dambusters.
809's CO, Commander Nick Smith, said: "The F-35 is a phenomenal aeroplane to fly.
"It does everything that you would want a fighter aircraft to do – it goes very fast, it goes very high, and it has an awful lot of capability, most of which, unfortunately, we can't talk about here today.
"I have always wanted to fly the aircraft since the Harrier went out of service and as a naval aviator fighting and flying in combat air, F-35 was clearly the way to go."
The Navy-badged squadron, also known as the Immortals, operated as a fast jet squadron during the Falklands conflict and supported several crucial operations during the Second World War.
Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Martin Connell told Forces News: "Hugely proud. If you look at the battle honours of 809 Squadron, formed in 1941 and six months later they're engaged in operations protecting Arctic convoys and to the current day, this squadron, they know what's happening in the world, it's a pretty unstable world to be in.
"They're on the frontline, they are the tip of that spear and they’re operating the world’s best jet."
809 NAS has a vibrant crest featuring a phoenix.
The squadron reborn will be a mixed unit of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel, led by a Naval officer. However, the next commander is expected to be from the RAF.
Cdr Smith added: "It is inevitable over the coming years that we're going to be asked basically to step out the door and probably deliver effect somewhere in the world.
"My message to the team is that the hard work starts tomorrow. We have a year before we’re looking to declare initial operational capability and then we’ll be ready to react to whatever we’re asked to do."
Air Marshal Harvey Smyth, the RAF's Air and Space Commander, said: "The Immortals - who wouldn't want to be in a squadron called the Immortals? And really quite ironic that they’ve been disbanded for over 40 years and today come back to life.
"The F-35 aircraft will be with us for many, many decades to come - well into the latter half of this century - so the Immortals get to have an extended lease of life."
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