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• Naval Air

Blazon

Or, in base three barrulets undy azure, and issuing therefrom a demi-opinicus sable armed and langued gules and holding in the dexter paw a maple leaf of the last.
(Glossary of Heraldic Terms)

Significance

The opinicus in this badge is one of the menagerie of heraldic monsters. It resembles a griffin whose upper hall is eagle and whose lower hall is a lion. The forelegs are those of the lion. It suggests the 880 squadron has the strength of the lion combined with the agility and grace of the eagle. It is seen rising from the sea in response to the call to duty.

Remarks

This squadron had also been one of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadrons, (Torpedo-Bomber-Reconnaissance) 825, which had formed in 1934 and served aboard HMS Eagle. Disbanded in 1944 it was reactivated as an RCN squadron on July 1, 1945 in preparation for joining HMCS Warrior in 1946. It later became part of the 19 Support Air Group, and on May 1, 1951 became part of 880 Squadron. Today MR-880 Squadron flies the CP-121 Tracker aircraft from CFB Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

Motto

Reperer et detruire (To seek and to destroy)

Colours

Black and gold

Battle Honours

Diego Suarez, 1942; North Africa, 1942; Sicily, 1943; Salemo, 1943; Norway, 1944; Japan, 1945.

References

Badges Of The Canadian Navy by Arbuckle, J. Graeme. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 1987.