| 861 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | 16 September 1946 – April 1947 |
| Country |  Netherlands |
| Branch | Netherlands Navy |
| Type | Naval Air Squadron |
| Role | Fighter pilot training |
| Part of | Netherlands Naval Aviation Service |
| Insignia | |
| Identification Markings | 6-5 to6-12 (Firefly) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Fairey Firefly |
861 Naval Air Squadron (861 NAS) was aNaval Air Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Navy'sNetherlands Naval Aviation Service, attached to the Royal Navy'sFleet Air Arm for a period of work-up.
861 Naval Air Squadron was established atRNAS Dale (HMSGoldcrest) inPembrokeshire, Wales, on 16 September 1946, serving as a squadron of theRoyal Netherlands Navy temporarily integrated with the Royal Navy for preparatory operations,[1] under the command ofLuitenant G.H. Greve, RNIN.[2]
Initially equipped with fourFairey Firefly Ifighter aircraft,[3] the squadron spent the next five months working up at RNAS Dale before embarking in the Royal Netherlands Navy’s firstaircraft carrier,HNLMS Karel Doorman (QH1), on 22 February 1947.[1]
The squadron relocated toValkenburg Naval Air Base, nearLeiden, Netherlands, in early April 1947,[3] but was disbanded soon afterwards,[4] where it was rebranded as Opleiding Gevechts Vliegers (OGV) to facilitate the training of pilots and observers to meet operational standards.[3]
860 Naval Air Squadron flew only one aircraft type:[3]
861 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom, one Royal Netherlands Navy airbase in the Netherlands, and aRoyal Netherlands Navy aircraft carrier:[3]
List ofcommanding officers of 861 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[3]