The Husky Squadron
The Story of 437 Squadron
(Republished from the 2 September 1971 issue of Contact Magazine)
The history of 437 Transport Squadron extends back to early September, 1944 when it was formed at Blakehil] Farm, near Swindon in England. It was the RCAF’s first overseas transport unit, and equipped with Dakota aircraft, the husky squadron soon had a variety of operations to fulfill.
The first Commanding Officer was W/C JA Sproule, DFC, a Canadian in the Royal Air Force who later transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force. The motto “Omnia Passim”, (anything, anywhere) was adopted, and the Squadron went to war.
On September 17th, when the invasion of Holland began fourteen Dakotas of the Husky Squadron, led by W/C Sproule took off on the squadron’s first operational flights. They towed twelve Horsa III gliders containing elements of the first British Airborne division along with their motorcycles, jeeps, blitz buggies, etc. to the Arnhem area. On succeeding days, they hauled more gliders and supplies to maintain the troops at Armhem.
As a result of the Amhem operation, 437 Squadron lost six aircraft, and won two DFC’s awarded to F/L AC Blythe and F/O Hagerman and a DFM awarded to F/S A McHugh.
It was a severe baptism of fire, but fortunately much of the squadron’s subsequent operations were less hazardous. Normal transport operations were carried out, which involved the transport of much needed equipment, ammunition, fuel and personnel.
On March 21st, the husky squadron sent 26 crews to Birch in preparation for another great airborne operation, the crossing of the Rhine at Wesel on the 24th. W/C Sproule again led his squadron off, and 24 Horsa Gliders, bearing 230 officers and men of the first Ulster Rifles and their equipment, were successfully landed at the drop zone. The operation was successful and the high road into Germany was finally opened.
W/C Sproule, who led his squadron on both airborne operations, was awarded the Bronze Lion from the Queen of the Netherlands.
Unlike other Squadrons with an offensive role, the Huskies did not cease operations with the fall of Germany. On May 7th, 1945, the squadron moved from Blakefill Farm to Nivelles, Belgium. Along with the normal transport operations, they also transferred French, Russian, American and other allied ex-prisoners of War, and displaced personnel.
‘Another move was made early in June, this time to Melsbrock. There was no appreciable change in the nature of the work, except that the load became heavier, 450 sorties being undertaken in one month. The squadron set up a detachment in Oslo, Norway on the 17th and a regular schedule of flights between that city and Stavenger and Bardufoss was maintained for some months. Then on August Ist another detachment was established at Odiham, in Hampshire, to operate between Odiham and various places. in Europe.
In September, W/C JA Sproule, DFC, was replaced by W/C AR Holmes, and the squadron moved from Melsbrock to nearby Evere, where it remained until the middle of November. The Huskies then returned to Odiham, England, the Oslo detachment rejoining about this time. Through the winter and on into the spring of 1946 the work continued, some Dakotas maintaining a regular passenger service to Naples and Athens, while others shuttled between airfields in North-Western Europe. carrying mail, freight and personnel.
Operations ceased at the end of May, 1946. Two weeks later, fifteen Husky Dakotas left Odiham to fly back to Canada. With their departure, in June 1946, No. 437 Squadron was disbanded.
RE-FORMATION
437 Squadron was re-formed on 1 Oct 1961 as the Royal Canadian Air Force’s long range heavy transport squadron. It was re-activated at RCAF Station Trenton, under the Command of W/C JO Maitland, and charged with the main role of providing personnel and logistics support of the Canadian Forces in Europe.
The aircraft assigned to the Husky Squadron was the newly acquired Yukon, pride of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and one of the largest passenger/cargo aircraft then in use. The Yukon was capable of carrying up to 62,000 pounds of freight, or 125 passengers over trans-Atlantic routes at speeds of approximately 400 MPH. The squadron received 10 Yukon aircraft.
The latter part of 1961 was spent in training crews and carrying out operational suitability trials. During this period, specifically on December 8th, 1961 a 437 Yukon commanded by S/L Howie Russel flew non-stop from Tokyo to Trenton. This 6750 statute mile journey, in just over 17 hours broke the previous RCAF record set by a Maritime Command Argus.
On January 1st, 1962, the first Yukon Service flight left Trenton bound for No. 1 RCAF (F) Wing at Marville, France. Before long there were six trips per week to Marville, four freighter and two passenger runs, averaging 25,000 pounds of freight or 120 passengers per trip. A domestic run was also set up and once a week a Yukon flew to Comox and back stopping at Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver along the way.
During the next ten years the Yukon proved itself literally hundreds of times over and 437 Squadron matured into a truly professional, global air transport service. Re-supply and training missions around the world familiarized the Yukon crews with airports, custom procedures, passenger and cargo handling, ground transportation, feeding, housing and the myriad of details that have to be known when large aircraft are operated globally without the luxury of “company services at each stop. Flights carrying Staff College, National Defence College, or VIPs were flown to cities through out the world. Some of these trips lasted in excess of a month and were masterpieces of organization and planning (mainly by squadron personnel).
‘The Yukon became a familiar sight wherever United Nations operations were carried out. The job of supplying the UN forces in the Congo, begun by the “NORTH STARS” of 426 Squadron was carried through to completion of that operation on June 2nd, 1964. Supply and rotation of troops in Cyprus was a continuous commitment which lasted throughout the Yukon’s career. In addition many emergency flights, carrying food and supplies were carried out into areas of major disasters; to Brazil in 1964 for forest fire victims, to Turkey in 1966 for earthquake victims and in the last couple of years to Peru for earthquake victims and Pakistan for flood victims and later civil war refugees.
Military operations in which 437 Yukons took part were varied and plentiful. The names of these operations will be remembered by crews for life. Names like “QUI VIVE”, “SNOW GOOSE”, “POLAR STRIKE”, “WHITE CARIBOU”, “WINTER EXPRESS”, “FRONTIER ASSAULT”, “PRAETORIUM PANS” (Would you believe?) and “POLAR EXPRESS” are some, but not all of the games military people play, in which 437 took a major part and further displayed its diversified capability. “SNOW GOOSE” – the annual rotation of troops — was a sizable under-taking and the yearly operation involved an average of over 700 passengers and well over half a million pounds of baggage and freight. The Dusseldorf rotations, however were carried out on a larger scale and involved an average of 5500 passengers and 1 1/2 million pounds of baggage and freight. These operations tend to prove that the Husky was a most appropriate symbol to have on the Squadron Crest. In fact, for those that like figures it is estimated (very conservatively) that, during the 9 1/2 years of of the Yukon tenure, approximately 65 million miles were flown, and when figured into loads carried, the figures are 1 1/2 BILLION Passenger miles and 360 MILLION cargo ton miles. (Both figures approximate.) Many members of 437 aircrew surpassed 5000 hours on the Yukon and were suitably awarded with pins and plaques to record the event.
Four different Commanding Officers controlled 437 Squadron through the Yukon years. The first, W/C Maitland, commanded through the first formative years from 1961 until May 1964 when W/C DR Adamson took command. Then on July 28th,1966 W/C RG Husch assumed control of the squadron, a post he held until August 1969. At this time LCol JG Wynn was appointed Commanding Officer of 437 Squadron. Under LCol Wynn the squadron was to undergo & sort of re-birth and further development in its already impressive history.
During the first part of 1970, it was announced in Ottawa that four Boeing 707’s (the Canadian designation would be
CC-137) were to be purchased as replacements for the Yukon. Once the decision was announced events began to move rapidly. In March, 16 pilots and 16 Flight engineers reported to the Boeing plant in Seattle, to be followed by Navigators, Cabin Crew, servicing, maintenance and technical personnel where all underwent training for conversion to the new aircraft, It must be noted that while the training in Seatle was going on, the workload at home did not diminish, and if anything increased. Consequently the Yukon crews, with vastly reduced personnel flew their maximum allowable hours, and then some to cope with squadron commitments. The Boeing arrived on schedule in April and while most of the crews were still training the first major operation on the new bird was flown. This was an extended trip carrying Prime Minister Trudeau to the South Pacific and to Expo 70. LCol Wynn commanded the operation which was completely successful and established the 707 as a perfect vehicle for squadron operations.
As the 707 began to take over more and more of the squadron’s tasks, the venerable Yukons were slowly reduced in number and on April 1st, 1971, the last Yukon operational flight returned to Trenton signalling the end of what many would regard as one of 437 Squadron’s best eras.
The 707 has now fully established itself as a reliable and enjoyable workhorse for 437 Squadron. The present scheduled flights include three domestic runs across Canada per week, three passenger runs to Europe, and a weekly freight run to Europe and Cyprus per week. Three global flights have been carried out and another extended trip to Asia with the Prime Minister was carried out in January. In addition, flights carrying life-saving materials to war-torn Pakistan have carried on the humanitarian aspects of the Yukon era.
A fifth 707 arrived in May and there is no doubt that 437 Squadron will do more and more in the future to enhance its already respected, world-wide reputation. Now as never before the “Husky Squadron is capable of getting “ANYTHING-ANYWHERE”