413 Squadron

General Information:

The Squadron was initially formed as both 13 Squadron and 103 Squadron, it has linage to both units.

*Note* – My plan it to create a page for 13 Squadron and and the other non-400 series units once I have completed the 400 series squadrons. The history of the squadron as 13 Squadron and 103 Squadron will be documented on those pages.

Role(s):

• General Reconnaissance Squadron – July 1941 – February 1945
• Photographic Squadron – April 1947 – April 1949
• Survey Transport Squadron – April 1949 – November 1950
• All Weather Squadron – August 1951 – December 1951
• Fighter Squadron – December 1951 – May 1957
• All Weather Fighter Squadron – May 1957 – December 1961
• Rescue Squadron – July 1968 – August 1970
• Transport and Rescue Squadron – August 1970 – Present

Based:

• Stranraer, Scotland, 1 Jul 41 – 30 Sep 41.
• Sullom Voe, Shetland 1 Oct 41 – 3 Mar 42.
• En route to Ceylon 4 Mar 42 – 29 May 42. (First 4 aircraft arrived 2-4 Apr 42)
• Koggala, Ceylon 2 Apr 42 – 19 Jan 45.
• Detachments at Addu Atoll, Seychelles Is., Indian Ocean; Mombasa, Kenya; Bahrein, Persian Gulf; Langebaan, South Africa; Aden,
• En route to England (minus aircraft) 21 Jan 45 – 20 Feb 45.
• Bournemouth, Hants. 21 Feb 45 – 23 Feb 45.
• RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 1 Apr 47 – 1 Nov 50.
• RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec, 1 Aug 51 – 6 Mar 53.
• En route overseas (Operation “Leapfrog III”) 7 Mar 53 – 6 Apr 53.
• Zweibrucken, Germany, 7 Apr 53 – 7 Apr 57.
• Squadron inactive
• RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec, 1 May 57 – 30 Dec 61.
• Squadron Inactive
• CFB Summerside, Prince Edward Island (July 1968-June 1991)
• CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia (June 1991-Present)

Years Active:

Aircraft Used:

• Consolidated Catalina Mk.1, IB & IV (Jul 41 – Dec 44)
• Noorduyn Norseman Mk. VI (Apr 47 – Oct 50)
• Consolidated Canso A (Apr 47 – Oct 50
• North American Mitchell Mk.II (Apr 47 – Oct 48)
• Avro Lancaster Mk.X (Jan – Apr 48)
• Douglas Dakota Mk.IV (Apr 49 – Oct 50)
• de Havilland Vampire Mk.II] (Aug – Dec 51)
• Canadair Sabre Mk.2 (Nov 51 – Jun 54)
• Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Jun 54 – Sep 55)
• Canadair Sabre Mk.6 (Sep 55 – Apr 57)
• Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk.5 (May 57 – Dec 61)
• Boeing CH-113 Labrador Helicopter (1968 – 2004)
• Lockheed C-130 Hercules (? – ?)
• CH-149 Cormorant (approximately 2004 – Present)
• CC-295 Kingfisher (approximately 2026 – Present)

Commanding Officer:

Wing Commander V.H.A. McBratney (RAF)	1 Jul 41 – 18 Aug 41
Wing Commander R.G. Briese KIA.	19 Aug 41 – 22 Oct 41
Wing Commander J.D. Twigg	15 Nov 41 – 19 Mar 42
Wing Commander J.L. Plant	20 Mar 42 – 21 Oct 42
Wing Commander J.C. Scott, DSO	22 Oct 42 – 20 Jun 43
Wing Commander L.H. Randall, DFC	21 Jun 43 – 14 Sep 44
Wing Commander S.R. McMillan	15 Sep 44 – 18 Feb 45
Squadron Leader J.A. Wiseman, AFC	1 Apr 47 – 4 Jan 48
Squadron Leader C.S. Olsen, CD	5 Jan 48 – 24 Aug 49
Wing Commander A.P. Blackburn, DFC	25 Apr 49 – 22 Jan 50
Wing Commander D.J.G. Jackson	3 Jan 50 – 1 Nov 50
Squadron Leader J.D. Lindsay, DFC	1 Aug $1 – 6 Mar 53
Squadron Leader W.I. Gordon	7 Mar 53 – 1 Sep 53
Squadron Leader E.P. Wood, DFC	8 Jun 54 – 10 Jul 50
Wing Commander H.C. Stewart, AFC, CD	27 Aug 56 – 7 Apr 57
Squadron inactive
Squadron Leader C. Allison, CD	1 Jul 57 – 14 Jul 59
Wing Commander J.R.D. Schultz, DFC and Bar, CD	24 Aug 59 – 20 Aug 60
Squadron Leader E.G. Smith, DFC, CD	21 Aug 60 – 28 Jan 61
Wing Commander E.D. Kelly, CD	2 Feb 61 – 30 Dec 61

Battle Honors:

ATLANTIC	1941-1943
CEYLON	1942
EASTERN WATERS	1942-1944

Daily Diary / Historical Reports / ORB Links:

Key Dates / Notes:

• Authorized as ‘413 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron’ 1 July 1941.
• Disbanded 18 February 1945.
• Reformed as ‘413 (Photographic) Squadron’ 1 April 1947 from ‘No.13 (Photographic) Squadron’
• Redesignated ‘413 (Survey Transport) Squadron’ 1 April 1949.
• Disbanded 1 November 1950.
• Reformed as ‘413 All Weather Squadron’ 1 August 1951.
• Redesignated ‘413 Fighter Squadron’ 7 December 1951.
• Redesignated ‘413 All Weather Fighter Squadron’ 1 May 1957.
• Disbanded 30 December 1961.
• Reformed as ‘413 Rescue Squadron’ 18 July 1968, from ‘103 Rescue Unit’ (authorized 1 April 1947).
• Redesignated ‘413 Transport and Rescue Squadron’ 31 August 1970.

Ephemera:

External Links:

• Government of Canada
  • Official Webpage
  • Official lineage webpage
• Wikipedia
• CASPIR – Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource

Sources:

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