Society of Friends Fleet Air Arm Museum

Society of Friends Fleet Air Arm Museum The UK's leading naval aviation Society, we support solely the Royal Navy Museums: Naval Aviation at Yeovilton, Somerset.

SoFFAAM is Registered Charity 280725
The object of the Society is the education of the public by promotion, support, assistance and improvement of the Fleet Air Arm Museum. The Society elects a trustee Council annually including a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary. An educational schools travel bursary to visit the museum is now offered by the Society. Patron: Commodore Bill

Covington CBE RN (Retd)

SoFFAAM covers naval aviation from its early seaplanes and the formation of the Royal Naval Air Service, to the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier F-35 Lightning strike jets of today. Our members live in both the UK and overseas. Members receive the “Jabberwock” journal every quarter. Entertaining speaker evenings are held at Yeovilton monthly and cover aviation topics past, present and future. Our talks programme is also streamed live for members not local to Yeovilton. As a member you'll have free access to the Museum at Yeovilton and will get 20% discount in the museum shop and catering outlet. A membership programme of day trips, visits and social events is also offered. All monies raised go to supporting FAAM and news on donations and funding support can be found on the Website. To join us download the Membership Form here...
https://www.fleetairarmfriends.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/SoFFAAM-Membership-Leaflet-JANUARY-2024-WEB.pdf

23/06/2026

The Reheat is on...
For those not watching the England match action tonight here's a look back at when the Royal Navy operated cat & trap aircraft carriers. Cold War era F-4 Phantoms of 892 Squadron are seen visiting an unidentified US Navy Forrestal-class carrier, which may be USS Independence (CV-62).

Presumably if you were a sea cadet in the 1970s this is what the Navy would promote?

fleetairarmfriends.org.uk/jabberwock

Who doesn't like aircraft in Raspberry Ripple!We said the Royal Air Force didn't fly Lynx, but RAF pilots of the Empire ...
21/06/2026

Who doesn't like aircraft in Raspberry Ripple!
We said the Royal Air Force didn't fly Lynx, but RAF pilots of the Empire Test Pilots School at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, flew this training Westland Lynx AH7 (Army Helicopter Mk7).

AH7s were flown by 847 Naval Air Squadron and carried Royal Marines titles. It's hoped that a commando Lynx may be displayed within the planned RNM Royal Marines Experience at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

We're grateful to our friends at Army Flying Museum for pointing out that XX153 pictured yesterday was also a speed record holder and is part of their Army Air Corps historic aviation collection.

RNMNA's own Lynx HAS2 XZ699 as seen in 2011 after being fitted with decommissioned armament; how would you describe the blue 'camouflage' used?
fleetairarmfriends.org.uk/jabberwock

Our thanks to guest speaker Chris Holliday for his May presentation on the the Westland Lynx World Speed Record, which w...
20/06/2026

Our thanks to guest speaker Chris Holliday for his May presentation on the the Westland Lynx World Speed Record, which was set by Yeovil-built G-LYNX over the Somerset Levels in 1986. It's an aviation record that still stands to this day.
The Lynx made its first flight way back in 1971 and replaced the Scout (Army Air Corps) and Wasp (Royal Navy), but never entered RAF service.
An feature article on the Lynx/Wildcat helicopter appeared in the society journal Jabberwock number 114 and can be accessed via the Members Area of our website: fleetairarmfriends.org.uk/members-area
https://www.facebook.com/SoFFAAM/events

Here with the RAF naval aviation connections from King's Birthday Parade Trooping the Colour flypast.....72 (Fighter) Sq...
14/06/2026

Here with the RAF naval aviation connections from King's Birthday Parade Trooping the Colour flypast.....

72 (Fighter) Squadron fly Texan T1 basic fast jet training (BFT) aircraft used by both Royal Air Force and Royal Navy student pilots. RAF 72(F) Squadron was involved in Operation Fuller - known as the ‘Channel Dash' – in 1942, during which Royal Navy pilot Eugene Esmonde gained the Senior Service's sole aviation Victoria Cross of the Second World War as detailed upstairs in Hall 2 Fleet Air Arm Museum

201 Squadron operates Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and formed at the start of the Great War in 1914 as 1 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. During 1915 1 Squadron RNAS pilot Rex Warneford RN was awarded the Victoria Cross.

203 Squadron engineers maintain the RAF Poseidon P-8 fleet and on unit formation in 1914 was originally numbered 3 Wing RNAS. Richard Bell Davies RN won his Victoria Cross while serving with 3 Wing RNAS in 1915 during the Salonika Campaign in Greece: 203 holds the 'Aegean 1915' Battle Honour.

207 ‘Black Cats’ Squadron currently flying F-35B Lightning II fighters is the joint RAF/RN F-35 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). 207 originally came into being in late 1916 as 7 Naval Air Squadron Royal Naval Air Service.

809 Squadron nicknamed 'The Immortals' also flies the F-35B having first become a Fleet Air Arm operational squadron during 1941.

If you spotted others please do leave a comment.

Photos: RAF Crown copyright & Spitfires.com
fleetairarmfriends.org.uk/jabberwock

Did you spot the naval aviation connections dating from 1914 in yesterday's King's Birthday Parade Trooping the Colour f...
14/06/2026

Did you spot the naval aviation connections dating from 1914 in yesterday's King's Birthday Parade Trooping the Colour flypast?

Royal Air Force aircraft flown over Buckingham Palace linked to Royal Navy naval aviation Victoria Cross winners from both world wars.
The types pictured offer clues and we will publish the answers later today!

Photos: MoD Crown copyright
fleetairarmfriends.org.uk/jabberwock

Trooping the Colour flypasts to celebrate the King's Birthday Parade rarely feature the Royal Navy so we're flying the f...
13/06/2026

Trooping the Colour flypasts to celebrate the King's Birthday Parade rarely feature the Royal Navy so we're flying the flag today. 🇬🇧

Photo: RNAS Yeovilton Commando Helicopter Force
fleetairarmfriends.org.uk/jabberwock

Do get along to the inspirational Yeovilton Military Wives Choir tomorrow night, who are performing in Ilchester, south ...
09/06/2026

Do get along to the inspirational Yeovilton Military Wives Choir tomorrow night, who are performing in Ilchester, south Somerset.
Show your support 👏

fleetairarmfriends.org.uk

Calling all Members You have until 10 June to book in for Members' Day.Following the success of our inaugural event last...
07/06/2026

Calling all Members
You have until 10 June to book in for Members' Day.
Following the success of our inaugural event last June the museum will once again provide a packed programme that includes a light lunch in the price. It's your chance to question museum staff directly. The programme for this event is published in society Jabberwock journal 123.
We have a few spaces left for what should be an enjoyable Behind The Scenes look at the museum our charity supports.
To attend you must be a paid member and membership benefit details can be found here....
fleetairarmfriends.org.uk/membership
Looking for accommodation in south Somerset? Head to visitsomerset.co.uk/places-to-stay

D-Day 1944 RememberedA ceremony took place yesterday at the British Normandy Memorial to mark the anniversary of the All...
07/06/2026

D-Day 1944 Remembered
A ceremony took place yesterday at the British Normandy Memorial to mark the anniversary of the Allied landings on beaches in northern France during the Second World War. It was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff and marked the addition of 98 names to the Memorial, joining the more than 22,000 names already on the Roll of Honour. 🇫🇷🇬🇧

700, 800, 804, 808, 816, 819, 838, 846, 848, 849, 850, 854, 855, 881, 885, 886, 896, 897 Naval Air Squadrons hold the 'Normandy 1944' Battle Honour. NB: 700 NAS was disbanded in March 1944.

fleetairarmfriends.org.uk/jabberwock

17 Fleet Air Arm Squadrons support D-DayOn 6 June 1944 Royal Navy Avengers, Seafires, Wildcats and Swordfish were attach...
06/06/2026

17 Fleet Air Arm Squadrons support D-Day
On 6 June 1944 Royal Navy Avengers, Seafires, Wildcats and Swordfish were attached to the RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force (2TAF).
Naval aircrews supported the largest amphibious landings in history with U-boat patrols, anti-shipping strikes and spotting the fall of shot for warships of the Allied navies bombarding German-held Normandy on France's Channel coast.
For D-Day the Avengers operated with RAF Coastal Command. 854 and 855 Squadrons flew from Hawkinge near Folkestone in Kent and 849 and 850 Squadrons were stationed at Perranporth, Cornwall. Avenger aircrew flew Rover Patrol ops, escorting Allied assault convoys and conducting anti-submarine warfare (ASW) patrols that could last 5 hours and were flown night and day.
Tragically, 32 Fleet Air Arm aircrew lost their lives during operations in support of D-Day.
Photo: Royal Navy Museums Naval Aviation
fleetairarmfriends.org.uk/jabberwock
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077001196765

Address

Royal Navy Museums Naval Aviation
Yeovilton
BA228HW

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Society of Friends Fleet Air Arm Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Society of Friends Fleet Air Arm Museum:

Shortcuts

Share

Category