History 

11. March 1943 - 29. July 1943

HMS Indomitable

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Seafire IIc

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28. Augusrt 1943 - 13. October 1943

HMS Hunter

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Seafire IIc

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1. April 1944 - 27. April 1944

HMS Khedive

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Seafire L.III

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12. May 1944 - 31. May 1944

HMS Khedive

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Seafire L.III

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5. July 1944 - 27. July 1944

HMS Khedive

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Seafire L.III

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1. August 1944 - 12. October 1944

HMS Khedive

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Seafire L.III

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25. January 1945 - 29. January 1945

HMS Chaser

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Seafire L.III

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25. February 1945 - 23. April 1945

HMS Chaser

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Seafire L.III

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31. January 1956 - 10. February 1956

HMS Bulwark

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Sea Hawk FGA.6

485-496 J

16. April 1956 - 3. January 1957

HMS Eagle

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Sea Hawk FGA.6

485-496 J

2. December 1964 - 21. May 1965

HMS Eagle

25. August 1965 - 14. August 1966

HMS Eagle

24. June 1967 - 18. July 1967

HMS Eagle

15. August 1967 - 19. June 1968

HMS Eagle

24. August 1968 - 2. October 1968

HMS Eagle

3. April 1969 - 29. April 1969

HMS Eagle

16. June 1969 - 18. July 1969

HMS Eagle

4. September 1969 - 3. December 1969

HMS Eagle

12. January 1970 - 23. March 1970

HMS Eagle

2. October 1970 - 9. December 1970

HMS Eagle

19. January 1971 - 5. April 1971

HMS Eagle

26. May 1971 - 23. January 1972

HMS Eagle

5. April 1982 - 21. July 1982

HMS Hermes  Dt.

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Sea Harrier FRS-1

710-716 -

5. April 1982 - 21. July 1982

HMS Invicible Dt.

Sea Harrier FRS-1

710-716 N

History 

1942 - 1945
899 NAS was formed on 15. December 1942 at RNAS Hatston, with Seafire IIc aircraft and six pilots detached from 880 NAS. The squadron embarked on HMS Indomitable in March 1943, and provided fighter cover for the Sicily landings in July of that year, with a brief pause at RAF North Front (Gibraltar) when the ship was torpedoed. By September it was embarked on HMS Hunter and supported the Allied landings at Salerno. In October the squadron had returned to the UK - initially Ballyhalbert in Northern Ireland but later Belfast, where its strength was increased over the next few months to twenty-six aircraft, many of which were ex-RAF Spitfire VBs until Seafire LIII deliveries replaced the RAF airframes.
The squadron's next major action was in August 1944, supporting the Allied landings in the South of France (Operation Dragoon), embarked on HMS Khedive. The following months were spent on reconnaissance and bombing missions against shipping and shore targets in the Aegean before HMS Khedive returned to the UK in October and 899 disembarked to Long Kesh, Northern Ireland (now an infamous prison of course). In February 1945 the squadron joined the Assault carrier HMS Chaser for service in the Pacific theatre. However, a shortage of Seafire pilots resulted in 899 NAS transferring some of its pilots to 887 NAS and 894 NAS on HMS Indefatigable.
In February 1945 899 NAS embarked on HMS Chaser with twenty-four Seafire LIII, and subsequently disembarked at Schofield, Australia in April, where it operated from RAAF Schofield as an Operational Training Unit, teaching ex-RAAF Spitfire pilots to deck-land Seafires, and forming the basis for the modern-day flying element of the Australian Navy. The squadron disbanded at Schofield on 18. September 1945.

1955 - 1957
899 NAS reformed on 7. November 1955 with twelve Seahawk FGA.6 jets at RNAS Brawdy. After an intensive work up the squadron embarked on HMS Eagle on 16. April 1956. HMS Eagle sailed for the Mediterranean and in October her air group were heavily involved in Operation Musketeer - the Suez Campaign. The squadron flew 165 ground attack sorties without loss, and returned to the UK with Eagle in January 1957. On 5. January 897 NAS and 899 NAS flew back to RNAS Brawdy, where both were disbanded two days later.

1961 - 1972
899 NAS next recommissioned at RNAS Yeovilton on 1 February 1961 with five Sea Vixen FAW.1s, the first British naval aircraft to be fully armed with guided weapons (Firestreak missiles) instead of guns. The squadron became the Sea Vixen HQ Squadron, responsible for evaluating tactics and equipment. It was involved with in-flight refuelling trials using the 'buddy' pack, demonstrating this at the 1961 and 1962 SBAC displays at Farnborough. In February of 1964 the squadron began to take delivery of the Sea Vixen FAW.2, a more capable aircraft with increased fuel stowage and the more effective Red Top missiles. In June 1964 the squadron regained front-line status, becoming the Sea Vixen FAW.2 Intensive Flying Trials Unit, and in December the squadron, now up to fourteen aircraft, embarked on HMS Eagle and sailed for the Far East.
After returning to the UK in May 1965, HMS Eagle again sailed for the Far East on 25. August. 899 NAS aircraft were involved in the Rhodesian (now Zimbabwe) UDI crisis of November 1965, with Eagle's air group providing air cover during the Biera Patrol blockade, remaining at sea for a record seventy-two days.
In 1967, Eagle covered the British withdrawal from Aden and a Sea Vixen of 899 NAS was the last aircraft to leave, carrying the British flag. The squadron remained part of HMS Eagle's air group until it was disbanded once more on 26. January 1972, after the then-government decided that Britain no longer needed aircraft carriers. The Sea Vixens had many years of life left to them but were mostly scrapped in short order.

1980 - 2005
The Sea Harrier has been in service with 899 NAS since 1980, when they reformed, taking over from 700(A) Flight who worked up the type for FAA service. In 1982 the squadron took part in Operation Corporate, the campaign to recapture the Falkland Islands, and normal squadron operations virtually ceased. As the Headquarters Unit 899 provided five pilots each to 800 and 801 NAS, with some aircraft. 899 also provided the core of the short-lived 809 NAS when it commissioned in April 1982.

The squadron returned to normal in August 1982. As the Sea Harrier training squadron 899 also operated the two-seat Harrier T.4N trainer, which had no radar and lacked much FRS.1 instrumentation, and through FRADU, used three Blue Fox equipped Hunter T.8Ms as radar trainers. The upgraded Sea Harrier FA.2 was first flown in June 1993. In October and November of the same year a detachment of four 899 NAS aircraft joined 800 NAS on HMS Invincible in the Adriatic, for operations in support of British and United Nations ground forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The introduction of the Sea Harrier FA.2 also required an updated trainer, and the T.4Ns were upgraded to T.8s, the first of which was delivered in May 1995. These aircraft are not fitted with radar, but have a cockpit layout more representative of the FA.2. Since 1993 899 NAS has trained pilots and engineers to fly and maintain the Sea Harrier FA.2.

At RNAS Yeovilton on 23 March 2005 899 NAS held its disbandment ceremony.