| Unit Name: | 870 Naval Air Squadron RCN |
| Dates: | 1 May 1951 – 30 March 1954 1 November 1955 – 7 September 1962 |
| Type: | Fighter squadron |
| Colors: | White and blue |
| Disbanded: | 7 September 1962 |
| Identification Symbol: | 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.) |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Squadron badge |
| Identification Symbol 2: | BC (May 1951–June 1952)[2] |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Squadron code |
870 Naval Air Squadron (870 NAS), also known as VF-870, was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). It was formed when 803 Naval Air Squadron of the Royal 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.
870 Naval Air Squadron was formed on 1 May 1951 when 803 Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm was re-numbered. It was initially based at RCNAS Shearwater, Nova Scotia, with the Squadron operating the Hawker Sea Fury FB.11.[3] In November 1952, 870 NAS adopted an American-styled squadron designation becoming VF-870.[4] On 24 September 1953, the Squadron relocated to RCAF Summerside on Prince Edward Island.[3] VF-870 had its first deployment in January 1954 when it was attached to HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), it finished its deployment on 9 March. The Squadron stood down for the first time on 30 March.[1]
VF-870 reformed on 1 November 1955, this time equipped with 10 McDonnell F2H-3 Banshees, becoming the first jet squadron in the Royal Canadian Navy.[5] [6] The commanding officer of VF-870 at its reformation was future Canadian Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Cdr. Robert Hilborn Falls.[6] A total of 39 Banshees were eventually purchased second-hand from the United States Navy (USN) for a cost of $25 million, serving with VF-870, VF-871 and VX-10.[7] [8] VF-870 was attached, along with VF-871, to the aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) – Canada's newest carrier – from which it would deploy.[3] While not deployed, VF-870 was based at RCNAS Shearwater.[5] The Squadron participated in the 1956 Canadian International Air Show in Toronto.[6] The Squadron suffered a loss in August 1957, when a Banshee crashed into a Grumman Avenger AS.3, with one aircraft taking off as the other was landing.[9] VF-870 made their first deployment on 7 September 1957, which lasted until 30 October.[3]
On 16 March 1959, VF-871 amalgamated with VF-870 thus leaving the Squadron as the only RCN unit to operate the Banshee.[10] The Squadron made its final deployment on HMCS Bonaventure on 9 April 1962, lasting until 29 June 1962.[3] While not deployed, VF-870 flew intercepts in the Canadian sector of NORAD.[5] [7] 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.[5] [8]
Aircraft operated included:[3]
Commanding officers included:[3]