RCAF.Info » Squadrons Units » 403 Squadron

403 Squadron

402 Squadron 404 Squadron

General Information:

Role(s):

  • Helicopter Operational Training Squadron

Based:

  • Baginton, War. 1 Mar 41 – 29 May 41.
  • Ternhill, Salop. 30 May 41 – 3 Aug 41.
  • Hornchurch, Essex 4 Aug 41 – 14 Aug 41.
  • Debden, Essex 25 Aug 41 – 2 Oct 41.
  • Martlesham Heath, Suffolk 3 Oct 41 – 21 Dec 41.
  • North Weald, Essex 22 Dec 41 – 1 May 42.
  • Southend, Essex 2 May 41 – 2 Jun 42.
  • Martlesham Heath, Suffolk 3 Jun 42 – 18 Jun 42.
  • Catterick, Yorks. 19 Jun 42 – 22 Jan 43.
  • 4 aircraft, West Hartlepool, Durham 19 Jun 42 – 22 Jan 43.
  • Kenley, Surrey 23 Jan 43 – 6 Aug 43.
  • Lashenden, Kent 7 Aug 43 – 19 Aug 43.
  • Headcorn, Kent 20 Aug 43 – 13 Oct 43.
  • Kenley, Surrey 14 Oct 43 – 17 Apr 44.
  • No. 16 Armament Practice Camp, Hutton Cranswick, Yorks. 24-29 Feb 44.
  • Tangmere, Sussex 18 Apr 44 – 15 Jun 44.
  • B.(Base) 2 Bazenville, Fr. 16 Jun 44 – 15 Aug 44.
  • B.26 Illiers I’Eveque, Fr. 26 Aug 44 – 21 Sep 44.
  • B.68 Le Culot, Bel. 22 Sep 44 – 30 Sep 44.
  • No. 11 Armament Practice Camp, Fairwood Common, S. Wales 22 Sep – 3 Oct 44.
  • B.82 Grave, Neth. 1 Oct 44 – 20 Oct 44.
  • B.58 Melsbroek, Bel. 21 Oct 44 – 2 Nov 44.
  • B.56 Evére, Bel. 3 Nov 44 – 1 Mar 45.
  • Pilots to United Kingdom to re-equip with Spitfire XVI’s 2-4 Dec 44.
  • No. 17 Armament Practice Camp, Warmwell, Dorset., Eng. 4-14 Jan 45.
  • B.90 Petit-Brogel, Bel. 2 Mar 45 – 30 Mar 45.
  • B.78 Eindhoven, Neth. 31 Mar 45 – 10 Apr 45.
  • B.100 Goch, Ger. 11 Apr 45 – 27 Apr 45.
  • B.152 Fassberg, Ger. 28 Apr 45 – 10 Jul 45.
  • Calgary, Alberta, 15 Oct 48 – 1 Apr 64
  • Petawawa, Ontario, January 1968 – July 1972
  • Gagetown New Brunswick, July 1972 – Present

Years Active:

Aircraft Used:

  • Curtiss Tomahawk Mk.1 & IIA (Mar – Jun 41)
  • Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I (May – Jul 41)
  • Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIA (Jul – Sep 41)
  • Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VB & VC (4-21 Aug 41)
  • Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VB (Sep 41 – Jan 43)
  • Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX (Jan 43 – Feb 44)
  • Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXB (Feb – Dec 44)
  • Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI (Dec 44 – Jul 45)
  • North American Harvard Mk.II (Aug 49 – Mar 57)
  • North American Mustang Mk.IV (Nov 50 – Oct 56)
  • Canadair Silver Star Mk.3 (Nov 55 – Feb 57)
  • Beechcraft Expeditor Mk.3 (Aug 56 – Mar 64)
  • de Havilland Otter (Oct 56 – Mar 64)
  • Bell CUH-1H Iroquois Helicopter (1968 – 1972)
  • Bell CH-135 Twin Huey Helicopter (1972 – 1994)
  • Bell CH-136 Kiowa Helicopter (1972 – 1995)
  • Bell CH-146 Griffin Helicopter (1995 – Present)

Commanding Officer:

Squadron Leader
B.G. Morris (RAF)
Prisoner of War		6 Mar 41 – 21 Aug 42
Squadron Leader
R.A. Lee-Knight (RAF),
DFC
Killed in action		23 Aug 41 – 27 Sep 41
Squadron Leader
C.E. Gray (RAF),
DFC and Bar		28 Sep 41 – 29 Sep 41
Squadron Leader
A.G. Douglas (RAF),
DFC		30 Sep 41 – 11 Jan 42
Squadron Leader
C.N.S. Campbell (RAF),
DFC
Prisoner of War		12 Jan 42 – 27 Apr 42
Squadron Leader
A.C. Deere (RAF),
DFC and Bar		30 Apr 42 – 12 Aug 42
Squadron Leader
L.S. Ford,
DFC and Bar		13 Aug 42 – 21 Apr 43
Squadron Leader
C.M. Magwood,
DFC		22 Apr 43 – 12 Jun 43
Squadron Leader
H.C. Godefroy,
DFC and Bar		13 Jun 43 – 11 Aug 43
Squadron Leader
Walter Allan Grenfell Conrad,
DFC
Missing in action, evaded capture		12 Aug 43 – 17 Aug 43
Squadron Leader
Frank Edward Grant
Killed in action		27 Aug 43 – 4 Sep 43
Squadron Leader
N.R. Fowlow,
DFC .		5 Sep 43 – 5 Oct 43
Squadron Leader
R.A. Buckham,
DFC and Bar .		6 Oct 43 – 14 Jun 44
Squadron Leader
E.P. Wood,
DFC .		16 Jun 44 – 15 Nov 44
Squadron Leader
J.E. Collier 		26 Nov 44 – 15 Feb 45
Squadron Leader
H.P.M. Zary,
DFC		16 Feb 45 – 16 May 45
Squadron Leader
A.E. Fleming		17 May 45 – 10 Jul 45
Squadron Leader
H.P.M. Zary, DFC .		16 Feb 45 – 16 May 45
Squadron Leader
A.E. Fleming .		17 May 45 – 10 Jul 45
Wing Commander
W.A. Mostyn-Brown,
AFC 		15 Jan 50 – 31 Jan 52
Wing Commander
Donald Burke Freeman,
DFC
Killed in flying accident.		1 Feb 52 – 29 Nov 53
Wing Commander
A.R. Cruickshank
ret.		30 Nov 53 – 29 Nov 56
Wing Commander
G.M. Kelly,
CD		30 Nov 56 – 28 Feb 59
Squadron Leader
H.T. Johnstone 		1 Mar 59 – 25 Nov 59
Squadron Leader
W.H. Huston,
CD		26 Nov 59-7 Sep 60
Wing Commander
J.G. McLaws 		8 Sep 60 – 31 Jan 63
Wing Commander
W.H. Huston,
CD		1 Feb 63 – 1 Apr 64

Battle Honors:

Defence of Britain1941-1944
English Channel and North Sea1942
Fortress Europe1941-1944
Dieppe
France and Germany1944-1945
Normandy1944
Rhine

Daily Diary / Historical Reports / ORB Links:

194

194

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Key Dates / Notes:

  • Formed at Baginton, War., Eng. 1 Mar 41.
  • Disbanded at Fassberg, Ger. 10 Jul 45.
  • Formed as No. 403 (FB) Sqn (Aux), Calgary, Alta. 15 Oct 48.!
  • Titled No. 403 “City of Calgary” (FB) Sqn (Aux) 3 Sep 52.
  • Redesignated No. 403 “City of Calgary” (F) Sqn (Aux) 16 Nov 53.
  • Redesignated No. 403 “City of Calgary” (T) Sqn (Aux) 25 Jan 57.
  • Redesignated No. 403 “City of Calgary” Sqn (Aux) 1 Apr 58.
  • Disbanded 1 Apr 64.
  • Reformed as ‘403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron’ 15 February 1968

Ephemera:

External Links:

Sources:

  • RCAF Squadrons and Aircraft, John Griffin and S. Kostenuk, 1977

Leave a Reply