| 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 | SeeNaval air stations section for full list. |
| Motto(s) | 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 |
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| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | |
871 Naval Air Squadron (871 NAS), also known asVF 871, was a squadron of theRoyal Canadian Navy (RCN). It was established in May 1951[1] and was disbanded in March 1959.[2]
871 Naval Air Squadron was established within the numbering system of the Commonwealth Navies as aRoyal Canadian Navy unit, resulting from the renumbering of883 Naval Air Squadron atHMCSShearwater,Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 1 May 1951. Initially equipped with tenHawker Sea Fury FB. 11fighter aircraft, it served as part of the 30th Carrier Air Group onMajestic-classlight 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 eightMcDonnell F2H Banshee jet fighter aircraft. By 1958, these aircraft were upgraded to carryAIM-9 Sidewinderair-to-air missiles, and that same year, the squadron was deployed aboard theMajestic-classaircraft carrier,HMCS Bonaventure. Ultimately, VF 871 was integrated intoVF 870 at RCAF Station Dartmouth on 16 March 1959.[3]
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 ofRoyal Canadian Navy light aircraft carriers:[3]
List ofcommanding officers of 871 Naval Air Squadron, VF 871:[4]