406 Squadron
General Information:
Role:
- Night Fighter Squadron – April 1941 – November 1944
- Intruder Squadron – November 1944 – September 1944
- Tactical Bomber Squadron – April 1947 – April 1949
- Light Bomber Squadron – April 1949 – March 1958
- Unknown – March 1958 – March 1964
- Helicopter Operational Training Squadron – 1972 – Present
Based:
- RAF Acklington, Northumb. 10 May 41 – 31 Jan 42.
- RAF Ayr, Scot. 1 Feb 42 – 15 Jun 42.
- 4 aircraft, RAF Scorton, Yorks. 2 Feb – 15 Jun 42.
- RAF Scorton, Yorks. 16 Jun 42 – 3 Sep 42.
- RAF Predannack, Cornwall 4 Sep 42 – 7 Dec 42.
- RAF Middle Wallop, Hants., 8 Dec 42 – 30 Mar 43.
- RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales 31 Mar 43 – 14 Nov 43.
- RAF Exeter, Devon. 15 Nov 43 – 13 Apr 44.
- RAF Winkleigh, Devon. 14 Apr 44 – 16 Sep 44.
- RAF Colerne, Wilts. 17 Sep 44 – 26 Nov 44.
- RAF Manston, Kent 27 Nov 44 – 12 Jun 45.
- RAF Predannack, Cornwall 14 Jun 45 – 1 Sep 45.
- RCAF Station Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (April 1947 – April 1964)
- CFB Shearwater, Nova Scotia (1972 – Present)
Years Active:
Aircraft Used:
- Bristol Blenheim Mk.I & IV (May – Jun 41)
- Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IIF (Jun 41 – Aug 42)
- Bristol Beaufighter Mk. VIF (Jun 41 – Aug 44)
- de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XII (Apr – Jul 44)
- de Havilland Mosquito F.B.Mk.XXX (Jul 44 – Sep 45)
- North American Harvard Mk.II (May 47 – Oct 51)
- North American Mitchell Mk.III (Jun 48 – Jun 58)
- Canadair Silver Star Mk.3 (Sep 56 – Jun 58)
- Beechcraft Expeditor Mk.3 (Feb 58 – Oct 63)
- de Havilland Otter (Feb 61 – Mar 64)
- Grumman CP-121 Tracker (1972 – 1981)
- Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King Helicopter (1972 – 2016)
- Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone Helicopter (Summer 2016 – Present)
Commanding Officer:
| Wing Commander D. G. Morris (or possibly Norris) DFC (RAF) | 10 May 1941 – 6 August 1942 |
| Wing Commander R. A. Wills (RAF) | 7 August 1942 – 31 January 1943 |
| Wing Commander I. R. Stephenson (RAF) | 1 February 1943 – 24 August 1943 |
| Wing Commander R. C. Fumerton DFC and Bar | 25 August 1943 – 26 July 1944 |
| Squadron Leader D. J. ‘Blackie’ Williams DSO, DFC | 27 July 1944 – 3 November 1944 |
| Wing Commander R. Bannock DFC and Bar | 23 November 1944 – 14 May 1945 |
| Wing Commander R. G. Gray, DFC and Bar | 14 May 1945 – 1 September 1945 |
| Wing Commander J. Baillie (RAF) | 9 July 1947 – 31 December 1951 |
| Wing Commander A. A. Myers | 1 January 1952 – 31 December 1954 |
| Wing Commander R. J. Henry, DFC | 1 January 1955 – 16 July 1956 |
| Wing Commander W. B. Maloney | 17 July 1956 – 31 December 1956 |
| Wing Commander J. P. Coggins | 1 January 1960 – 31 March 1962 |
| Wing Commander T. Jasieniuk | 1 April 1962 – 31 March 1964 |
| Major K. P. Sheedy | 12 July 1972 – 3 July 1973 |
| Lieutenant Colonel L. A. Ashley | 3 July 1973 – 3 September 1974 |
| Lieutenant Colonel G. H. Brown | 3 September 1974 – 1 August 1976 |
| Lieutenant Colonel J. F. Stevenson | 1 August 1976 22 June 1978 |
| Lieutenant Colonel O. K. MacLean, OMM | 22 June 1978 – 25 August 1980 |
| Lieutenant Colonel N. H. Browne | 25 August 1980 |
Battle Honors:
| Defence of Britain | 1941-1945 |
| English Channel and North Sea | 1944 |
| Fortress Europe | 1943-1944 |
| France and Germany | 1944-1945 |
| Biscay Ports | 1944 |
| Normandy | 1944 |
| Rhine | |
| Biscay | 1944 |
Key Dates / Notes:
- Authorized as ‘406 (Night Fighter) Squadron’ 5 April 1941.
- Redesignated ‘406 (Intruder) Squadron’ 27 November 1944.
- Disbanded 1 September 1945.
- Reformed as ‘406 (Tactical Bomber) Squadron’ 1 April 1947.
- Redesignated ‘406 (Light Bomber) Squadron’ 1 April 1949.
- Redesignated ‘406 “City of Saskatoon” (Light Bomber) Squadron’ 3 September 1952.
- Redesignated ‘406 Squadron’ 31 March 1958.
- Disbanded 31 March 1964.
- Reformed and amalgamated with ’21 Helicopter Utility Squadron’ as ‘406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron’ 12 July 1972
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