| 860 Naval Air Squadron VSQ-860 | |
|---|---|
 NH90N-175 of 860 Squadron, August 2013 | |
| Active | 1943–1964 1966–present |
| Country | United Kingdom Netherlands |
| Branch | Royal Navy Royal Netherlands Navy |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm Naval Aviation Service |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Station De Kooy |
| Mottos | Arcens affligo (Latin: "I defend and strike") |
| Engagements | World War II Indonesian War of Independence |
| Battle honours | Atlantic 1941-45 |
860 Naval Air Squadron (860 NAS) was aNaval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy'sFleet Air Arm during World War II, which was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1946, and remains active.
860 Squadron was formed in June 1943 atRNAS Donibristle, Scotland, from personnel of theRoyal Netherlands Navy, under the command ofLuitenant J. van der Tooren. As a torpedo-bomber/reconnaissance squadron, flying theFairey Swordfish, the squadron moved toMaydown, Northern Ireland, in November 1943. There it was divided into twoflights of six aircraft to operate from themerchant aircraft carriersMV Acavus andMV Gadila, and then fromAcavus andMV Macoma from June 1944. In June 1945 the squadron was re-equipped with theFairey Barracuda, and in August it was assigned to theescort carrierHMS Nairana.[1]
In May 1946 the squadron converted to theFairey Firefly, and in September 1946 was handed over to Dutch control, becoming part of theNetherlands Naval Aviation Service.[2]
Assigned to the formerNairana, now renamed HNLMSKarel Doorman (QH1), it took part in operations inJava during theIndonesian War of Independence. It operated theHawker Sea Fury from 1950 until 1956, then theHawker Sea Hawk from 1957, while based atValkenburg Naval Air Base, and flying from the secondHNLMS Karel Doorman (R81). Disbanded in 1964, it was reformed in October 1966 as anASW/SAR helicopter squadron operating fromNaval Air Station De Kooy and theVan Speijk-classfrigates. Equipped with theWestland Wasp, then theWestland Lynx from 1978,[2][3] in early 2008 it converted to theNHIndustries NH90, and in July that year became part of the joint militaryDefence Helicopter Command.[4]