403 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 Britain	1941-1944
English Channel and North Sea	1942
Fortress Europe	1941-1944
Dieppe
France and Germany	1944-1945
Normandy	1944
Rhine

Daily Diary / Historical Reports / ORB Links:

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:

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

Sources:

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