Squadron patch/insigna

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RCAF, 432 Squadron

 

Nickname: Leaside

Badge: In front of a full moon a cougar leaping down

Motto: Saeviter ad lucem (Ferociously towards the light)

 

 

No. 432 Squadron formed at Skipton-on-Swale on 1 May 1943 as part of No. 6 Group. Originally equipped with Vickers Wellington Mk Xs, it had become operational with these before the month was out, using the type for night bombing until November, when it was re-equipped with Avro Lancaster Mk IIs at East Moor. This gave the squadron greater capabilities, but in February 1944 this type was withdrawn and No. 432 was given Handley Page Halifax Mk IIIs. With these and Halifax Mk VIIs, which were very similar, the squadron continued to operate in the bomber offensive role throughout 1944 and into 1945, flying increasingly around the clock as the German fighter defences evaporated. Its final operation was on 25 April 1945, and the squadron disbanded 20 days later on 15 May at East Moor.

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This is the current color version of the squadron patch for the 336th Fighter Squadron, one of the F-15E Strike Eagle operational squadrons located at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC.

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Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 142 (VMFA-142) is a reserve United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. The squadron is based at Naval Air Station Atlanta, Georgia and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 42 (MAG-42), 4th Marine Aircraft Wing (4th MAW). Due to a re-organization within Marine aviation, the squadron is going to move Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas and be placed in a cadre status under Marine Aircraft Group 41 This patch does not come with velcro attached.

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RCAF, 431 Squadron

 

Badge: An Iroquois Indian's head

Motto: The Hatiten ronteriios (Warriors of the air)

 

 

 

No. 431 Squadron was formed on 11 November 1942 with Vickers Wellington Mk Xs at Burn as part of No. 4 Group, Bomber Command, and commenced night raids with a 'Gardening' mission on 2 May 1943. In July the squadron moved to Tholthorpe, joining No. 6 (RCAF) Bomber Group and re-equipping with Handley Page Halifax Mk Vs. It was soon operational with this type again in the night offensive against Germany, flying farther afield as the longer winter nights permitted. At the end of 1943 the squadron moved again, to Croft in County Durham, where it began to re-equip with Halifax Mk IIIs in March 1944, maintaining the operational offensive all the while. These were used for seven months until the production of Canadian-built Avro Lancaster Mk Xs was sufficient to enable the squadron to re-equip with this type. Laneasters were used for the remainder of the Second World War in Europe, the last of the squadron's 3,000 or more sorties being flown with them on 25 April 1945 in a daylight raid on Wangerooge. In June 1945 the squadron crossed the Atlantic and settled at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, but disbanded on 5 September 1945.

 

Aircraft flown during this period were:

 

Wellington X (December 1942 - July 1943)

Halifax V (July 1943 - April 1944)

Halifax III (April 1944 - October 1944)

Lancaster X (October 1944 - September 1945)

Reformed in January 1954 as an interim F-86 Sqn awaiting production of the CF-100. The Squadron's greatest claim to fame, however, was its four plane aerobatic team which participated in "Prairie Pacific" across Canada in 1954 to demonstrate the skills of RCAF personnel to the Canadian public. The team was led by Flying Officer F.G. Fern Villeneuve who would later be selected to be the first leader of the Golden Hawks in 1959. The Squadron was once again disbanded in October 1954.

 

The squadron was reformed April 1, 1978 as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron the "Snowbirds"

 

The squadron celebrated 30 years of active service in 2004 and continues to display the quality of Canadian Pilots to the World as the world famous Snowbirds aerobatic team.

 

Operational History

First Operational Mission in WWII: 2nd/3rd March 1943 - 5 Wellingtons laid mines in Nectarines I (Frisian Islands) area

Last Operational Mission in WWII: 25th April 1945 - 15 Lancasters dispatched to bomb gun batteries on island of Wangerooge.

Summary

Sorties: 2584 (including 11 airlifting 240 POW's back to England).

Operational Flying Hours: 14,621 Non-Operational Flying Hours: 8986

Bombs Dropped: 14,004 tons

Victories: Aircraft: 6 destroyed, 1 probable, 4 damaged

Casualties: (Operational) Aircraft 72, aircrew 490 (313 killed, 54 missing, 104 POW, 18 safe, 1 injured)

Casualties: (Non-operational) 14 personnel killed

Honours & Awards

1 DSO, 63 DFC's, 10 DFM's, 2 CGM's 1 MiD

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Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 Hydrazine Maintenance Patch: Hydrazine is a colorless fuming corrosive, strongly reducing liquid base N₂H₄ used especially in fuels for rockets and jet engines.

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NATO Tiger Meet 2007

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"This is a patch designed for the 2nd as in 2nd Air Expeditionary Group, which was composed of B-52Hs and KC-10s. This was designed as the group/wing

patch for the deployment of B-52H bombers from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB and KC-10s from McGuire AFB to the atoll island of Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territories (B.I.O.T.). This deployment was in 1998 and lasted for over six months. The bombers sat CALCM alert until they were executed and struck targets in Iraq in Dec 1998. The patch depicts a B-52 being refueled by a KC-10 as it flies over the outline of the atoll island of Diego Garcia. Needless to say, it is not SAC related as SAC was sadly no more by then. I know this because I was part of the deployment for 78 days, and have that patch as a memento"

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F-117

 

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F-117

 

 

 

Non si vede.

 

 

RCAF, 425 Squadron

 

Nickname: Alouetté

Motto: JE TE PLUMERAI - "I shall pluck you"

 

 

No. 425 Squadron was formed as a French-Canadian squadron (named 'Alouette') on 22 June 1942 at Dishforth. It was equipped with Vickers Wellington Mk IIIs and Mk Xs, which it first took into action early in October 1942. Night bombing was its task and this continued in 1943 when it transferred to No. 331 Wing at Kairouan in Tunisia for operations against Sicily and Italy during mid-1943. In November it returned to Dishforth to the more deadly operations over Germany, and by December had re-equipped with Handley Page Halifax Mk IIIs, which it took on operations from its new base at Tholthorpe beginning in February 1944. For the next 14 months the squadron flew on every night it was required against the Third Reich, and dropped over 11,000 tons of bombs during its operational career, which ended on 25 April 1945. Immediately after VE-Day it was re-equipped with Avro Lancaster Mk Xs which it took back to Canada to prepare for 'Tiger Force'. Based at Debert from June 1945, the squadron was eventually disbanded there on 5 September 1945.

 

Re-formed at RCAF Station St-Hubert on 1 October 1954 as an all-weather fighter squadron. It spent a short time at RCAF Station Namao (from October 1961 to July 1962) as the CF-101 Operational Training Unit before moving to its present home at 3 Wing Bagotville. Upon unification of the forces No. 425 Alouetté was a French language squadron that was an air defence squadron equipped with the CF-101 Voodoo interceptor. The squadron was based at CFB Bagotville, Quebec. The squadron was re-equipped in the early 80's with CF-18 Hornet.

 

No. 425 Alouetté is a French language squadron based at CFB Bagotville, PQ currently flying the CF-18 Hornet.

 

Representative Aircraft

Wellington III (August 1942 - April 1943)

Wellington X (April 1943 - October 1943)

Halifax III (December 1943 - May 1945)

Lancaster X (May 1945 - September 1945)

CF-100 Canuck

CF-101 Voodoo

CF-18 Hornet

Operational History

First Operational Mission in WWII: 5th/6th October 1942 - 4 Wellingtons bombed Aachen & another Wellington bombed what was "believed" to have been Aachen.

Last Operational Mission in WWII: 25th April 1945 - 18 Halifaxs bombed gun batteries on island of Wangerooge.

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CG 73

 

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RCAF, 419 Squadron

 

Nickname: Moose

Motto: MOOSA ASWAYITA - "Beware of the moose"

 

 

No. 419 Squadron formed at Mildenhall on 15 December 1941 as a Vickers Wellington squadron in No. 3 Group, Bomber Command. It started operations in January 1942, converting almost immediately to Wellington Mk IIIs with which it fought on, moving north to Leeming as part of the new No. 6 Group in August 1942. Here in November it re-equipped with Handley Page Halifax Mk IIs, which it flew for the next 18 months on the night offensive against Germany. After three quick moves it settled at Middleton St George in November and stayed there for the rest of its service in Bomber Command. In April 1944 the squadron began to convert to Avro Laneasters, using the Mk X which was produced in Canada and flown across the Atlantic. It was with one of these that Pilot Officer A. C. Mynarski won the squadron's VC in June 1944. The squadron remained continuously on the offensive until 25 April 1945, when it flew its last sortie. It flew back to Canada in June 1945 and was disbanded at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, on 5 September 1945.

 

No. 419 Squadron reformed as an All-Weather (Fighter) unit at North Bay, Ontario on 15 March 1954, the squadron flew CF-100 aircraft on North American air defence until August 1957 when it then joined No. 1 Air Division Europe to replace No. 414 (Fighter) Squadron in No. 4 (Fighter) Wing at Baden-Soellingen, Germany. On the withdrawal of CF-100 aircraft from operational service, the squadron was disbanded on 31 December 1962. Upon unification of the forces No. 419 squadron became the operational training squadron for the CF-5 Freedom Fighter. With the demise of 433 and 434 CF-5 operations. The squadron role was changed to that of Lead-in-Fighter training and adversary training for the CF-18 Hornet.

 

No. 419 squadron has been re-formed as a fighter lead-in training squadron at CFB Cold Lake flying the CT-155 Hawk as part of the NATO Flying Training Program

 

Representative Aircraft

Wellington IC (January 1942 - November 1942)

Wellington III (February 1942 - November 1942)

Halifax II (November 1942 - April 1944)

Lancaster X (March 1944 - August 1945)

CF-100 Canuck

CF-116 CF-5

CT-155 Hawk

Operational History

First Operational Mission in WWII: 11th January 1942 : 2 Wellingtons bombed Brest.

Last Operational Mission in WWII: 25th April 1945 : 15 Lancasters bombed gun batteries on island of Wangerooge.

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RCAF, 409 Squadron

Nickname: Goose

Motto: For Freedom

 

 

No. 408 Squadron was formed at Lindholme, Yorkshire, on June 24, 1941 and was the second of the many RCAF bomber squadrons which served overseas in the Second world war. The squadron took part in the first 1,000-bomber raid on Germany, flew many missions against naval and industrial targets, and played an active part in Gardening (mine laying) for victory. Beginning operations with Hampdens in 1941, No. 408 was given Halifaxs towards the end of the following year and later (August 1943) Lancaster II's. In the summer of 1944 it returned to Halifaxs and dropped "well over 10,000 tons of bombs and mines". It gained more than 210 awards, including 160 DFC's and over 30 DFM's. The squadron was disbanded September 1945. Reformed as a Photographic unit at Rockcliffe (Ottawa), Ontario on 10 January 1949, the squadron flew modified Lancaster aircraft equipped with shoran, for geodetic control in aerial photography in the far north and Arctic regions of Canada, and Canso, Norseman, Otter and Dakota aircraft to fly in and maintain the ground stations associated with shoran. When this program was completed, the unit was redesignated Reconnaissance on 18 July 1957 and flew Lancaster aircraft on Arctic surveillance patrols. In April 1964 it moved to Rivers, Manitoba, was redesignated Transport Support and Area Reconnaissance, and re-equipped with CC-119 Flying Boxcar and Silver Star aircraft. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces. It was disbanded on 1 April 1970 and moved to CFB Edmonton where it re-formed as 408 Tactical Helicopter Sqn.

 

Today No. 408 Sqn flies, twenty three CH-146 Griffon's, out of CFB Edmonton, Alberta

 

Manchester I (June 1941 - August 1941)

Hampden I (July 1941 - August 1942)

Halifax V (September 1942 - December 1942)

Halifax II (December 1942 - October 1943)

Lancaster II (October 1943 - September 1944)

Halifax III/VII (September 1944 - May 1945)

Lancaster X (May 1945 - August 1945)

Canso

Norseman

Otter

Dakota

Lancaster MP

CC-119 Flying Boxcar

CT-133 Silver Star

CC-130 Hercules

CH-135 Twin Huey

CH-136 Kiowa

CH-146 Griffon

Operational History

First Operational Mission in WWII:

11/12th August 1941 : 2 Hampdens bombed Rotterdam docks & 2 more Hampdens aborted.

Last Operational Mission in WWII:

25th April 1945 : 17 Halifaxs dispatched to bomb gun batteries on island of Wangerooge. 16 bombed primary & the other a/c FTR.

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F-15 Eagle

 

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RCAF, 448 Squadron

 

 

No. 448 squadron was the test and evaluation squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron was superceded by the Central Experimental & Proving Establishment (CEPE) which late became the Aerospace Engineering & Test Establishment (AETE).

 

Representative Aircraft

H-34A

Canadair (Lockheed) CT-33 Silver Star

de Havilland CT-120 (DHC-1) Chipmunk

Douglas CC-129 (DC-3) Dakota

Avro CF-100 Canuck

Canadair (Lockheed) CF-104 Starfighter

Canadair (Northrop) CF-5 Freedom Fighter

Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King

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Tailhook 91'

 

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RCAF, 447 Squadron

 

Motto: MONJAK ECOWI - "Always Ready"

 

In front of a red maple leaf a dagger per pale held by a dextor hand.

 

The History

Formed as a Surface-to-Air Missile unit at La Macaza, Quebec on September 15, 1962, the squadron was equipped with the nuclear-armed Bomarc surface-to-air missiles for North American air defence. On February 1, 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces. The squadron was disbanded and the Bomarc's returned to the US on 1 September 1972. The squadron was reformed at CFB Namao, Alberta on 1 January 1979 as No. 447 Helicopter Squadron and flew the CH-147 Chinook heavy lift helicopter in a variety of roles in support of the Canadian Army, as well as tactical resupply to northern regions. The squadron was disbanded on 1 April 1991 with the retirement of the Chinook.

 

Representative Aircraft

Boeing CIM-10B Bomarc

Boeing CH-147 Chinook

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BULLDOGS

 

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RCAF, 446 Squadron

 

Nickname: Griffon

Motto: VIGILANCE - SWIFTNESS - STRENGTH

 

In front of two swords in saltire a Griffin sergeant. The Griffin, a fabulous creature with the body of a lion and head and wings of an eagle, is a combination of two of the most powerful beasts. Its function is reputedly that of a guardian of treasure and, therefore, it is symbolic of watchfulness, alluding in this way to the unit's role in the defence of the North American Continent. The two-handed swords refer to the weight of the units armament.

 

The Background

Formed as a Surface-to-Air Missile unit at North Bay, Ontario on 28 December 1961, the squadron was equipped with nuclear-armed Bomarc surface-to-air missiles for North American air defence. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces.

 

Representative Aircraft

CIM-10B Bomarc

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Korean WAR

 

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RCAF, 444 Squadron

 

Nickname: Cobra

Motto: STRIKE SWIFT STRIKE SURE

 

A Cobra ready to strike. Authority Queen Elizabeth 11, November 1954 This unit adopted the cobra in a position to strike as being indicative of the role of a fighter squadron. A brass likeness of the Cobra was acquired by the Squadron in 1955 and is affectionately named 'Cecil'.

 

The History

Formed on September 1, 1947. No. 444 Squadron bore the first new number (i.e. which had no war-time predecessor) in the post-war R.C.A.F., however No. 444 Squadron was the direct descent of three Canadian wartime Squadrons, Nos. 664, 665 and 666. 'Triple Four' provided artillery observation for the Royal Canadian Artillery and also trained Army aviators for operational light aircraft tasks. Composed of both RCAF and Army personal, the Squadron flew Austers and the deHavilland Chipmunk until it was disbanded in April 1949.

 

The Squadron reformed as No. 444 (Fighter) Squadron in March 1953 at St. Hubert Quebec. The unit was equipped with the Canadian built F-86 Sabre aircraft. Six months later the squadron flew its Sabres overseas on "Leapfrog 4". The squadron joined No. 4 (Fighter) Wing at Baden-Soellingen, Germany in September.

 

Selected as one of eight squadrons of the Air Division to be re-equipped with CF-104 Starfighter aircraft for a nuclear strike role, it was deactivated on 1 March 1963 and reactivated as Strike Attack on 27 May. When the Air Division was reduced to six squadrons, the squadron was once more deactivated on 1 April 1967.

 

No. 444 Squadron reformed as the air element of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade group stationed in Lahr, West Germany. The unit was equipped with CH-112 Nomad and later CH-136 Kiowa helicopters. The squadron was once again disbanded when the Canadian Forces were withdrawn from Europe.

 

In 1993, the squadron reformed at No. 5 Wing Goose Bay as No. 444 Combat Support Squadron equipped with the CH-146 Griffon helicopter in the Search and Rescue role.

 

Representative Aircraft

Auster

Chipmunk

Sabre

CF-104 Starfighter

CH-112 Nomad

CH-136 Kiowa

CH-146 Griffon

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C.O.B.R.A. Team!

 

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RCAF, 443 Squadron

 

Nickname: City of New Westminster, Hornet

Motto: OUR STING IS DEATH

 

Battle Honours: Fortress Europe 1944, France and Germany 1944-45, Normandy 1944 Arnhem Rhine

 

Its Badge, a hornet affronte, as this unit was known as the Hornet Squadron

 

 

 

Background: The War Years

On arrival at Digby in February 1944 for service in Europe, No. 127 Squadron, RCAF was renumbered as No. 443. Initially equipped with the Spitfire Mk VB for familiarization, these were exchanged for Spitfire Mk IXB's in March when a move was made to Holmesley South to form No. 144 Wing, 2nd TAF (Tactical Air Force). Pre-invasion operations were flown from a number of south coast airfields, culminating at Ford in mid May. Cover to the Normandy invasion was given during June and a move to airfield B-3 at St. Croix-sur-Mer was made on the 15th of June. Air superiority patrols were flown from here over the beachhead for a month, at which time the wing was disbanded and the Squadron was sent instead to No. 127 Wing, which was also in France with No. 83 Group. Activities continued until the breakout, following which a move was made to Belgium. In January 1945 the Squadron re-equipped with the Spitfire Mk XIV's. At the end of March the squadron moved to Holland and then into Germany in April 36 aerial victories were claimed when the war ended. The Squadrons' aircraft carried the unit code 2I during this period.

 

Representative Aircraft

Spitfire VB (February 1944 - April 1944)

Spitfire IXC (April 1944 - February 1945)

Spitfire XVI (January 1945 - January 1946)

Spitfire XIVE (January 1946 - April 1946)

Background: The Cold War

Reformed on 12 September 1951 and became New Westminster (Vancouver) Auxiliary Squadron flying Mustang, Harvard and Expeditor aircraft. Disbanded on 31 March 1964.

 

Representative Aircraft

Mustang

Harvard

Expeditor

Background: Unification

No. 443 Squadron was reformed as an Anti-submarine helicopter squadron that provides shipborne and shore based anti-submarine warfare assets. The unit flies the CH-124 Sea King helicopter and is based on Canadian Destroyers and Frigates as well a shore based at CFB Shearwater, Nova Scotia. The unit also maintains a detachment at Victoria International Airport in support of Maritime Forces Pacific. The Sea King performs many other roles with the Canadian Forces including, COD, Search & Rescue and light transport.

 

Representative Aircraft

CH-124 Sea King

Background: The Present

The squadron moved to Patricia Bay (Victoria International Airport) in the late eighties where it remains today. On January 31, 1995 it changed its name to 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron. It is equipped with the CH-124 Sea King.

 

Representative Aircraft

CH-124 Sea King

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scouts!

 

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F 11- Kungliga Södermanlands Flygflottilj, Nyköping

 

The Arms of the County of Södermanland – ”On a golden shield, a rampant griffin, beaked, langued, membered and armed in red."

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HALO CONTROL