| Unit Name: | 871 Naval Air Squadron VF 871 |
| Dates: | 1 May 1951 – 16 March 1959 |
| Type: | Single-seat fighter squadron |
| Role: | Fighter squadron |
| Command Structure: | Fleet Air Arm |
| Garrison: | See Naval air stations section for full list. |
| Garrison Label: | Home station |
| Identification Symbol: | 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 Symbol Label: | Squadron badge description |
| Identification Symbol 2: | VG-AAA+, 140+ (Sea Fury June 1952) 100-120, later in range 295-510 (Banshee) |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Identification Markings |
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]
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 light aircraft carrier,, primarily tasked with fleet air defense.
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, . Ultimately, VF 871 was integrated into VF 870 at RCAF Station Dartmouth on 16 March 1959.
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 of Royal Canadian Navy light aircraft carriers:
List of commanding officers of 871 Naval Air Squadron, VF 871:[3]