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 (HMS Heron) 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 in the post war period as an Aircraft carrier based squadron.

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 (R12), HMS Invincible (R05), HMS Illustrious (R06) and HMS Ark Royal (R07). Only HMS Illustrious now remains until 2014 as only a helicopter carrier as cover for HMS Ocean (L12).

899 NAS did not take part directly in the Falklands War. However it supplied personnel to both 800 NAS (HMS Hermes) and 801 NAS (HMS Invincible). It also allowed 809 Naval Air Squadron to be set up specially for the Falklands War.

Aircraft operated
Sea Harrier