| Unit Name: | 877 Naval Air Squadron |
| Dates: | 1 April - 30 December 1943 |
| Type: | Single-seat fighter squadron |
| Role: | Fleet fighter squadron |
| Size: | nine aircraft |
| Command Structure: | Fleet Air Arm |
| Aircraft Fighter: | Hawker Hurricane |
877 Naval Air Squadron (877 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. The squadron formed at Tanga, Tanganyika Territory in April 1943 as a Fleet Fighter unit for local defence duties, using RAF Hurricane IIBs. In July 1943 the squadron moved to Port Reitz, Mombasa with the intention to fly with long-range fuel tanks to the defence of Ceylon but this was cancelled and the squadron disbanded in December 1943.[1]
877 Naval Air Squadron was established at RNAS Tanga (HMS Kilele) (formerly Tanganyika, now Tanzania) in East Africa, on 1 April 1943,[2] serving as a Fleet Fighter unit tasked with local defense operations. The squadron was equipped with nine long-range Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricane IIB, fighter aircraft, which had been borrowed for this purpose. These aircraft were modified for anti-submarine patrols along the East African coast by being fitted with depth charges, necessitating the removal of their two outer .303 Browning machine guns to accommodate the additional weight.
In July, the relocation to RN Air Section Port Reitz, situated at RAF Port Reitz in Mombasa, Kenya,[3] was intended to facilitate the aerial transport of the aircraft across the Indian Ocean to Ceylon, with the objective of strengthening the island's defense capabilities. However, this plan did not come to fruition. Ultimately, the squadron, which had a brief existence, was disbanded at RN Air Section Port Reitz on 30 December.
877 Naval Air Squadron flew only one aircraft type:
877 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple of naval air stations overseas:
List of commanding officers of 877 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment: