871 Naval Air Squadron
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| 871 Naval Air Squadron VF 871 | |
|---|---|
 871 NAS badge | |
| Active | 1 May 1951 – 16 March 1959 |
| Country |  Canada |
| Branch |  Royal Canadian Navy |
| Type | Single-seat fighter squadron |
| Role | Fighter squadron |
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | See Naval air stations section for full list. |
| Mottos | Pugnandum surgimus (Latin for 'We rise to fight') |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron badge description | Azure, 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 |
|
| 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]
Fighter squadron (1951-1959)
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:
- Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 fighter-bomber (May 1951 - August 1956)
- McDonnell F2H Banshee jet fighter aircraft (August 1956 - March 1959)
