407 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):

• General Reconnaissance Squadron
• Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron
• Maritime Patrol Squadron
• Long Range Patrol Squadron

Based:

• Thorney Island, Hants. 8 May 41 – 8 jul 41,
• North Coates, Lincs. 9 Jul 41 – 17 Feb 42.
• Thorney Island, Hants. 18 Feb 42 – 30 Mar 42.
• Bircham Newton, Norfolk 31 Mar 42 – 30 Sep 42.
• St. Eval, Cornwall 1 Oct 42 – 9 Nov 42.
• Docking, Norfolk 10 Nov 42 – 15 Feb 43.
• Skitten, Caith., Scot. 16 Feb 43 – 31 Mar 43.
• Chivenor, Devon. 1 Apr 43 – 2 Nov 43.
• St. Eval, Cornwall 3 Nov 43 – 1 Dec 43.
• Chivenor, Devon. 2 Dec 43 – 26 Jan 44.
• Limavady, Derry, N. Ire. 29 Jan 44 – 26 Apr 44.
• Chivenor, Devon 28 Apr 44 – 22 Aug 44.
• Wick, Caith., Scot. 24 Aug 44 – 9 Nov 44.
• Chivenor, Devon 11 Nov 44 – 4 Jun 45,
• RCAF Station Comox, B.C. 1 Jul 52 – 31 Jan 68.

Years Active:

Aircraft Used:

• Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV (May – Jul 41, not on operations)
• Lockheed Hudson Mk.II & V (Jun 41 – Apr 43)
• Vickers Wellington Mk-XI (Feb – Apr 43)
• Vickers Wellington Mk.XII(L/L) (Mar 43 – Feb 44)
• Vickers Wellington Mk.XIV(L/L) Gun 43 – Jun 45)
• Avro Lancaster Mk.X (Jul 52 – May 59)
• Lockheed Neptune (May 58 – Jan 68)

Commanding Officer:

Wing Commander H.M. Styles (RAF), DSO	15 May 41 – 6 Jan 42.
Wing Commander A.C. Brown (Can/RAF), DSO, DFC	7 Jan 42 -28 Sep 42.
Wing Commander C.F. King (RAF) KIA.	29 Sep 42 – 3 Nov 42
Wing Commander J.C. Archer (RAF) KIA.	7 Nov 42 – 27 Sep 43
Wing Commander R.A. Ashman ,	2 Nov 43 – 31 Oct 44
Wing Commander K.C. Wilson	1 Nov 44 – 4 Jun 45
Wing Commander C.W., McNeill, CD	1 Jul 52 – 8 Sep 54.
Wing Commander W. McLeod, CD	9 Sep 54 – 12 Jul 55.
Wing Commander W.D. Foster, DFC, CD	13 Jul 55 – 21 May 59.
Wing Commander J.C. McCarthy, DSO, DFC, CD	22 May 59 – 4 Jul 62.
Wing Commander L.H. Croft, CD	5 Jul 62 – 22 Jun 64.
Wing Commander K.O. Moore, DSO, CD	23 Jun 64 – 22 Dec 65.
Wing Commander H.E Smale, CD	23 Dec 65 – 31 Jan 68.

Battle Honors:

Atlantic	1943-1945
English Channel and North Sea	1941-1945
Fortress Europe	1942
German Ports	1942
Normandy	1944
Biscay	1942-1945.

Daily Diary / Historical Reports / ORB Links:

Key Dates / Notes:

• Authorized as ‘No. 407 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron’ 8 May 1941 at Thorney Island, Hants., Eng.
• Redesignated No. 407 (GR) Sqn, Docking, Norfolk 29 Jan 43.
• Disbanded 4 June 1945 at Chivenor, Devon
• Reformed as ‘407 (Maritime Reconnaissance) Squadron’ 1 July 1952 at Comox, British Columbia
• Redesignated ‘407 (Maritime Patrol) Squadron’ 17 July 1956.
• Designated in French ‘407e Escadron de patrouille maritime’ 9 September 1977.
• Re-designated ‘407 Long Range Patrol Squadron’ 5 Sep 2008.

Ephemera:

External Links:

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

Sources:

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