871 Naval Air Squadron

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871 Naval Air Squadron
VF 871
VF-871 Badge.jpg
871 NAS badge
Active1 May 1951 – 16 March 1959
CountryFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
BranchNaval ensign of Canada.svg  Royal Canadian Navy
Type Single-seat fighter squadron
RoleFighter squadron
Size Squadron
Part of Fleet Air Arm
Home stationSee Naval air stations section for full list.
Motto(s)Pugnandum surgimus
(Latin for 'We rise to fight')
Insignia
Squadron badge descriptionAzure, a base barry wavy of four argent and azure over all a winged centaur argent reguardent and arresting holding in the position to shoot to the sinister a bow and arrow gules the latter flighted and barbed argent and bow stringed of the same a quiver gules filled with arrows and issuing from the dexter side of the centaur being suspended by a strap or from the sinister shoulder the centaur winged maned and unguled or (1954)
Identification Markings
  • VG-AAA+, 140+ (Sea Fury June 1952)
  • 100-120, later in range 295-510 (Banshee)
Aircraft flown
Fighter

871 Naval Air Squadron (871 NAS), also known as VF 871, was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). It was established in May 1951 [1] and was disbanded in March 1959. [2]

Contents

History

Fighter squadron (1951-1959)

Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 of VF-871, Royal Canadian Navy, from the aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) SeaFuries VF-871 RCN NAN6-54.jpg
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 of VF-871, Royal Canadian Navy, from the aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21)

871 Naval Air Squadron was established within the numbering system of the Commonwealth Navies as a Royal Canadian Navy unit, resulting from the renumbering of 883 Naval Air Squadron at HMCS Shearwater, Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 1 May 1951. Initially equipped with ten Hawker Sea Fury FB. 11 fighter aircraft, it served as part of the 30th Carrier Air Group on Majestic-class light aircraft carrier, HMCS Magnificent, primarily tasked with fleet air defense. [3]

In November 1952, the squadron adopted an American-style designation, becoming VF 871. Following a re-equipment phase in August 1956, it transitioned to eight McDonnell F2H Banshee jet fighter aircraft. By 1958, these aircraft were upgraded to carry AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and that same year, the squadron was deployed aboard the Majestic-class aircraft carrier, HMCS Bonaventure. Ultimately, VF 871 was integrated into VF 870 at RCAF Station Dartmouth on 16 March 1959. [3]

Aircraft operated

The squadron has operated a couple of different aircraft types:

871 Naval Air Squadron, VF 871, operated from a naval air stations of the Royal Canadian Navy in Canada and also a couple of Royal Canadian Navy light aircraft carriers: [3]

HMCS Magnificent HMCS Magnificent MIKAN 4821170.jpg
HMCS Magnificent

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 871 Naval Air Squadron, VF 871: [4]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ 871 NAS Fleet Air Arm
  2. ↑ VF-871 Naval Air Squadron Badge
  3. 1 2 3 Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 246.
  4. ↑ "871 NAS Fleet Air Arm". wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 15 November 2024.

Bibliography

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