Hobby Master Archive

805 Squadron Motto - Over Sea and Sand, Call Sign “Checkmates” Battle Honors - Crete 1941, Libya 1941-42, Korea 1951-52 After being disbanded for 5 years 805 Squadron reformed for the third time on 10 January 1968. This time they would fly the McDonnell Douglas A-4G Skyhawk lightweight strike fighter. For 14 years 805 Squadron was based at NAS Nowra and operated from the carrier HMAS Melbourne for operational missions. In 1982 RAN’s sole carrier was decommissioned so once again the 805 Squadron was disbanded.

The RAN received several A-4G Skyhawks that had been assigned to VF-805 “The Checkmates” and operational training school squadron the 724 Squadron at Nowra. VF-805 was the primary combat-squadron stationed on HMAS Melbourne for operational duty and shore-based at Nowra. The RAN received A-4G at Nowra on August 11, 1971. During the early 1970’s aircraft N-13 155051 served time with the “Checkmates” aerobatic team. From April 1977 to October 1977 the aircraft was onboard HMAS Melbourne for “Spithead Deployment”. During this time aircraft 870 took part in the Greenham Common Air Tatoo as part of a static display and in July was involved in exercise “Highwood” in the North Sea.