| 870 Naval Air Squadron VF-870 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 May 1951 – 30 March 1954 1 November 1955 – 7 September 1962 |
| Disbanded | 7 September 1962 |
| Country |  Canada |
| Branch |  Royal Canadian Navy |
| Type | Fighter squadron |
| Mottos | Intercedimus et delemus (Latin for 'To intercept and to destroy') |
| Colors | White and blue |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron badge | Azure issuant from a base barry wavy of three Argent and Azure a winged demi lion Or armed and langued Gules.[1](The design shows a lion rising from the water by means of wings and assuming a fighting posture.) |
| Squadron code | BC (May 1951–June 1952)[2] |
870 Naval Air Squadron (870 NAS), also known asVF-870, was a squadron of theRoyal Canadian Navy (RCN). It was formed when803 Naval Air Squadron of theRoyal Navy was renumbered to 870 NAS on 1 May 1951. It operated throughout the 1950s and early 1960s before disbanding on 7 September 1962. It was the first RCN squadron to operate jet aircraft.[3]
870 Naval Air Squadron was formed on 1 May 1951 when803 Naval Air Squadron of theRoyal Navy'sFleet Air Arm was re-numbered.[4] It was initially based atRCNAS Shearwater,Nova Scotia, with the Squadron operating theHawker Sea Fury FB.11.[5] In November 1952, 870 NAS adopted anAmerican-styled squadron designation becoming VF-870.[6] On 24 September 1953, the Squadron relocated toRCAF Summerside onPrince Edward Island.[5] VF-870 had its first deployment in January 1954 when it was attached toHMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), it finished its deployment on 9 March. The Squadron stood down for the first time on 30 March.[1]
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VF-870 reformed on 1 November 1955, this time equipped with 10McDonnell F2H-3 Banshees, becoming the first jet squadron in theRoyal Canadian Navy.[3][7] The commanding officer of VF-870 at its reformation was future CanadianChief of Defence Staff, Lt. Cdr.Robert Hilborn Falls.[7] A total of 39 Banshees were eventually purchased second-hand from theUnited States Navy (USN) for a cost of $25 million, serving with VF-870, VF-871 and VX-10.[8][9] VF-870 was attached, along with VF-871, to the aircraft carrierHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) – Canada's newest carrier – from which it would deploy.[5] While not deployed, VF-870 was based at RCNAS Shearwater.[3] The Squadron participated in the 1956Canadian International Air Show inToronto.[7] The Squadron suffered a loss in August 1957, when a Banshee crashed into aGrumman Avenger AS.3, with one aircraft taking off as the other was landing.[10] VF-870 made their first deployment on 7 September 1957, which lasted until 30 October.[5]
On 16 March 1959, VF-871 amalgamated with VF-870 thus leaving the Squadron as the only RCN unit to operate the Banshee.[4] The Squadron made its final deployment on HMCS Bonaventure on 9 April 1962, lasting until 29 June 1962.[5] While not deployed, VF-870 flew intercepts in the Canadian sector ofNORAD.[3][8] VF-870 disbanded for the last time on 7 September 1962. Throughout its service, the Royal Canadian Navy lost 12 of the 39 Banshees it had purchased, including those of VF-870.[11] A replacement for the Banshee never came to fruition making VF-870 one of only three RCN squadrons to ever operate a jet fighter.[3][9]
Aircraft operated included:[5]
Commanding officers included:[5]
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