404 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):

Based:

• Thorney Island, Hants. 15 Apr 41 – 19 June 41.
• Castletown, Caith., Scot. 20 Jun 41 – 26 Jul 41.
• Skitten, Caith., Scot. 27 Jul 41 – 7 Oct 41.
• Dyce, Aber., Scot. 8 Oct 41 – 2 Dec 41.
• “B” Flight, Sumburgh, Shetland Islands 9 Oct – 2 Dec 41.
• Sumburgh, Shetland Islands 3 Dec 41 – 25 Mar 42.
• Dyce, Aber., Scot. 26 Mar 42 – 5 Aug 42.
• Sumburgh, Shetland Islands 6 Aug 42 – 23 Sep 42.
• Dyce, Aber., Scot. 24 Sep 42 – 21 Jan 43.
• Chivenor, Devon. 22 Jan 43 – 1 Apr 43.
• Tain, Ross., Scot. 2 Apr 43 – 19 Apr 43.
• Wick, Caith., Scot. 20 Apr 43 – 7 May 44.
• Davidstow Moor, Cornwall 8 May 44 – 30 Jun 44.
• Strubby, Lincs., 1 Jul 44 – 2 Sep 44.
• Banff, Scot. 3 Sep 44 – 21 Oct 44.
• Dallachy, Moray., Scot. 22 Oct 44 – 2 Apr 45.
• Banff, Scot. 3 Apr 45 – 25 May 45.

Years Active:

Aircraft Used:

• Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV (Apr 41 – Jan 43)
• Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IIF (Sep 42 – Apr 43)
• Bristol Beaufighter Mk.XIC (Mar – Dec 43)
• Bristol Beaufighter T.F. Mk.XC (Sep 43 – Mar 45)
• de Havilland Mosquito P.R. Mk. VIC (Mar – May 45)

Commanding Officer:

Wing Commander H.P. Woodruff (Can/RAF) .	2 May 41 – 17 Jun 42
Wing Commander J.A. Nixon (RAF) KIA.	18 Jun 42 – 13 Jul 42
Wing Commander E.H. McHardy (NZ/RAF), DFC and Bar .	14 Jul 42 – 16 Oct 42
Wing Commander G.G. Truscott .	17 Oct 42 – 7 Sep 43
Wing Commander C.A. Willis POW.	8 Sep 43 – 30 Mar 44
Wing Commander A.K. Gatwood (RAF), DSO, DFC and Bar	1 Apr 44 – 23 Aug. 44.
Wing Commander E.W. Pierce	24 Aug 44 – 25 May 45

Battle Honors:

Daily Diary / Historical Reports / ORB Links:

Key Dates / Notes:

• Authorized as ‘404 (Coastal Fighter) Squadron’ 15 April 1941 at Thorney Island, Hants., England.
• Disbanded 25 May 1945 at Banff, Banffs., Scotland
• Reformed as ‘404 Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron’ 30 April 1951.
• Redesignated ‘404 Maritime Patrol Squadron’ 17 July 1956.
• Redesignated ‘404 Maritime Training Squadron’ 1 September 1975.
• Redesignated ‘404 Maritime Patrol and Training Squadron’ 1 June 1982.
• Re-designated ‘404 Long Range Patrol and Training Squadron’ 4 September 2008.

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