415 Squadron

General Information:

The Squadron was initially formed as

*Note* – My plan it to create a page for Squadron and the other 100 series units once I have completed the 400 series squadrons. The history of the squadron as Squadron will be documented on that page.

Role(s):

• Torpedo Bomber Squadron – August 1941 – July 1944
• Bomber Squadron – 12 July 1944 – May 1945
• Maritime Patrol Squadron – 1 May 1961 – Oct 2005
• Long Range Patrol Force Development Squadron – 2015 – Present

Based:

• Thorney Island, Hants. 20 Aug 41 – 10 Apr 42.
• St. Eval, Cornwall 11 Apr 42 – 15 May 42.
• Thorney Island, Hants. 16 May 42 – 4 Jun 42.
• North Coates, Lincs. 5 Jun 42 – 30 Jul 42.
• Wick, Caith., Scot. 31 Jul 42 – 31 Aug 42.
• Tain, Ross., Scot. 1 Sep 42 – 9 Sep 42.
• Leuchars, Fife., Scot. 10 Sep 42 – 10 Nov 42.
• 6 aircraft. St. Eval, Cornwall 18-31 Oct 42.
• 6 aircraft, Thorney Island, Hants. 18 Oct – 10 Nov 42.
• Thorney Island, Hants 11 Nov 42 – 14 Nov 43.
• Bircham Newton, Norfolk 1§ Nov 43 – 11 Jul 44.
• Albacores at Manston, Kent and Thorney Island, Hants.; Wellingtons at Docking, Norfolk and North Coates, Lines., 8 Albacores at Winkleigh, Devon. 8 May – 12 Jul 44.
• Bircham Newton, Norfolk 12 Jul 44 – 25 Jul 44.
• No. 62 (RCAF) Base, East Moor, Yorks. 26 Jul 44 – 15 May 45.
• RCAF Station Summerside, Prince Edward Island (1961-1981)
• CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia (1981-2005) (2015-Present)

Years Active:

Aircraft Used:

• Bristol Beaufort Mk.1 (Sep 41 – Feb 42, not on operations)
• Handley Page Hampden Mk.1 (Jan 42 – Sep 43)
• Vickers Wellington Mk.XII(L/L) (Sep 43 – Jul 44)
• Fairey Albacore Mk.I (Oct 43 – Jul 44, coded NH)!
• Handley Page Halifax B.Mk.III & VII (Jul 44 – May 45, coded GU)
  • (The squadron had only six B.Mk. VII’s from March to May 1945)
• Canadair CP-107 Argus (May 1961 – 1981)
• Lockheed CP-140 Aurora (1981 – 2005) (2015-Present)

Commanding Officer:

Wing Commander E.L. Wurtele	26 Aug 41 – 30 Jul 42
Wing Commander R.R. Dennis	31 Jul 42 – 10 Nov 42
Wing Commander W.W. Bean	11 Nov 42 – 15 Mar 43
Wing Commander G.H.D. Evans .	16 Mar 43 – 1 Aug 43
Wing Commander C.G. Ruttan, DSO	2 Aug 43 – 11 Jul 44
Wing Commander J.G. MeNeill, DFC Killed in FLying Accident	12 Jul 44 – 21 Aug 44
Wing Commander J.H.L. Lecomte, DFC .	22 Aug 44 – 30 Oct 44
Wing Commander F.W. Ball	31 Oct 44 – 15 May 45
Wing Commander S.S. Mitchell, CD	1 May 61 – 4 Sep 64
Wing Commander W.B. Asbury, CD	5 Sep 64 – 4 Oct 65
Wing Commander J.V. Pierpoint, CD	5 Oct 65 – 31 Jan 68

Battle Honors:

ATLANTIC	1942
ENGLISH CHANNEL AND NORTH SEA	1942-1944
FRANCE AND GERMANY	1944-1945
Biscay Ports	1944
Ruhr	1944-1945
German Ports	1944-1945
Normandy	1944
Rhine
BISCAY	1942-1943
ARABIAN SEA

Daily Diary / Historical Reports / ORB Links:

Key Dates / Notes:

• 20 August 1941 – Authorized as ‘415 (Torpedo Bomber) Squadron’
• 12 July 1944 – Redesignated ‘415 (Bomber) Squadron’
• 15 May 1945 – Disbanded
• 1 May 1961 – Reformed as ‘415 Maritime Patrol Squadron’
• 9 September 1977 – Designated ‘415e Escadron de patrouille maritime’ in French
• 7 October 2005 – Disbanded 7 Oct 2005
• 26 May 2015 – Reformed as ‘415 Long Range Patrol Force Development Squadron’

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