402 Squadron

“City of Winnipeg”

General Information:

The Squadron was initially formed as 112 (Army Cooperation) Squadron, in 1933.

*Note* – My plan it to create a page for 112 (Army Cooperation) Squadron and the other 100 series units once I have completed the 400 series squadrons. The history of the squadron as 112 Squadron will be documented on that page.

Role(s):

Based:

• RAF Digby, Lincolnshire, England (9 December 1940 – 22 June 1941)
• RAF Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, England (23 June 1941 – 9 July 1941)
• RAF Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland (10 July 1941 – 18 August 1941)
• RAF Southend, Essex, England (19 August 1941 – 5 November 1941)
• RAF Warmwell, Dorset, England (6 November 1941 – 1 March 1942)
• RAF Colerne, Wiltshire, England (2 March 1942 – 16 March 1942)
• RAF Fairwood Common, South Wales (17 March 1942 – 13 May 1942)
• RAF Kenley, Surrey, England (14 May 1942 – 30 May 1942)
• RAF Redhill, Surrey, England (31 May 1942 – 12 August 1942)
• RAF Kenley, Surrey, England (13 August 1942 – 20 March 1943)
• RAF Digby, Lincolnshire, England (21 March 1942 – 6 August 1943)
• RAF Merston, West Sussex, England (7 August 1943 – 18 September 1943)
• RAF Digby, Lincolnshire, England (19 September 1943 – 11 February 1944)
• RAF Wellingore, Lincolnshire, England (12 February 1944 – 29 April 1944)
• RAF Horne, Yorkshire, England (30 April 1944 – 18 June 1944)
• RAF Westhampnett, West Sussex, England (19 June 1944 – 26 June 1944)
• RAF Merston, West Sussex, England (27 June 1944 – 7 August 1944)
• RAF Hawkinge, Kent, England (8 August 1944 – 29 September 1944)
• Base 70, Antwerp, Belgum (30 September 1944 – 1 October 1944)
• Base 82, Grave, Netherlands (1 October 1944 – 31 October 1944)
• Base 64, Diest, Belgum (1 November 1944 – 26 December 1944)
• Base 88, Heesch, Netherlands (27 December 1944 – 11 April 1945)
• Base 108, Rheine, Germany (12 April 1945 – 14 April 1945)
• Base 116, Wunstorf, Germany (15 April 1945 – 11 May 1945)
• Base 152, Fassberg, Germany (12 May 1945 – 10 July 1945)
• RCAF Station Winnipeg / CFB Winnipeg – April 1946 – Present

Years Active:

• 1933-1940 (as 112 (Army Cooperation) Squadron
• 1940-Present

Aircraft Used:

• Hawker Hurricane Mk.I (March – May 1941)
• Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIA (May – July 1941)
• Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB (June – October 1941)
• Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB(B) (October 1941 – March 1942)
• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VB (March – May 1942)
• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX (May 1942 – March 1943)
• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VC (April 1943 – June 1944)
• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXB (July – August 1944)
• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIVE (August 1944 – June 1945)
• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI (June 1945)
• North American Harvard – Mk.II (July 1946 – March 1957)
• de Havilland Vampire Mk.III (April 1948 – November 1950)
• North American Mustang Mk.IV (November 1950 – September 1956)
• Canadiar Silver Star Mk.3 (November 1954 – August 1956)
• Beechcraft Expeditor Mk.3 (August 1956 – March 1964)
• de Haviland Otter (May 1960 – January 1968)
• Douglas Dakota (Unknown – Unknown)
• de Haviland Dash-8 (Gonzo)

Commanding Officer:

Squadron Leader W.F. Hanna	9 Dec 40 – 6 Jan 41.
Squadron Leader G.R. McGregor, DFC	7 Jan 41 – 13 Apr 41
Squadron Leader V.B. Corbett	14 Apr 41 – 13 Dec 41.
Squadron Leader R.E.E. Morrow, DFC	14 Dec 41 – 16 Aug 42.
Squadron Leader N.H. Bretz, DFC	17 Aug 42 – 26 Sep 42.
Squadron Leader D.G. Malloy, DFC	27 Sep 42 – 14 May 43.
Squadron Leader L.V. Chadburn, DFC	15 May 43 – 12 Jun 43.
Squadron Leader Phillip Leslie Irving Archer, DFC Killed in action	13 Jun 43 – 17 Jun 43
Squadron Leader G.W. Northcott, DSO, DFC and Bar	18 Jun 43 – 25 Jul 43
Squadron Leader W.G. Dodd, DFC	26 Jul 43 – 28 Oct 44
Squadron Leader J.B. Lawrence	29 Oct 44 – 21 Feb 45
Squadron Leader Leslie Albert Moore, DFC Killed in action	22 Feb 45 – 25 Mar 45
Squadron Leader D.C. Laubman, DFC and Bar Missing in action, Evaded capture. (1)	6 Apr 45 – 14 Apr 45
Squadron Leader D.C. Gordon, DFC and Bar	15 Apr 45 – 10 Jul 45
Wing Commander R.J. Clement, DFC ret.	2 Aug 46 – 21 Dec 48
Wing Commander L.M. Cameron, DFC ret.	22 Dec 48 – 27 Feb 50
Wing Commander W.B. Breckon ret.	28 Feb 50 – 7 Nov 51
Wing Commander D.W. Rathwell, DFC ret.	8 Nov 51 – 7 Oct 53
Wing Commander J.M. Reid, DFC ret.	8 Oct 53 – 14 May 56
Wing Commander D.M. Gray, CD	15 May 56 – 17 Jul 60
Wing Commander J.T. Patterson, CD	18 Jul 60 – 15 Oct 62
Wing Commander D.R. Scott, CD	16 Oct 62 – 15 Oct 65
Wing Commander J.A. Brown, CD	21 Oct 65 – 31 Jan 68

(1) Evaded Capture and returned to England. (RCAF Squadrons and Aircraft, John Griffin and S. Kostenuk, 1977)

Battle Honors:

DEFENCE OF BRITAIN, 1941-1944;
ENGLISH CHANNEL AND NORTH SEA, 1941-1944;
FORTRESS EUROPE, 1941-1944;
Dieppe;
FRANCE AND GERMANY, 1944-1945;
Normandy, 1944;
Arnhem;
Rhine.

Daily Diary / Historical Reports / ORB Links:

Key Dates / Notes:

26 November 1961 – Squadron Standard Presented.

Ephemera:

External Links:

• Government of Canada
• Wikipedia
• CASPIR – Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource

Sources:

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