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408 Squadron

407 Squadron 409 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):

  • Bomber Squadron 15 June 1941 – 30 September 1945.
  • Photographic Squadron 1 April 1949 – 18 July 1957
  • Reconnaissance Squadron 18 July 1957 – 1 May 1964
  • Tactical Support and Area Reconnaissance Squadron 1 May 1964 – 19 September 1967.
  • Tactical Support and Reconnaissance Squadron 19 September 1967 – 3 October 1968.
  • Tactical Fighter Squadron 3 October 1968 – 1 April 1970.
  • Tactical Helicopter Squadron 27 November 1970 – Present.

Based:

  • Lindholme, Yorks. 24 Jun 41 – 19 Jul 41.
  • Syerston, Notts. 20 Jul 41 – 8 Dec 41.
  • Balderton, Notts. 9 Dec 41 – 12 Sep 42.
  • North Luffenham, Notts. (Balderton runways under repair) 25 Jan – 17 Mar 42.
  • Leeming, Yorks. 14 Sep 42 – 26 Aug 43
  • Linton-on-Ouse, Yorks. 27 Aug 43 – 13 Jun 45.
  • En route to Canada 14 Jun 45 – 17 Jun 45.
  • RCAF Station Greenwood, Nova Scotia, 18 Jun 45 – 5 Sep 45.
  • RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 10 Jan 49 – 31 Mar 64.
  • Canadian Joint Air Training Center, Rivers, Manitoba, 1 Apr 64 – 1970.
  • CFB Edmonton, Alberta (1971-Present)

Years Active:

Aircraft Used:

  • Handley Page Hampden Mk.] (Jul 41 – Sep 42)!
  • Handley Page Halifax Mk.V (Sep – Dec 42, not on operations)
  • Handley Page Halifax Mk.II (Dee 42 – Oct 43)
  • Avro Lancaster B.Mk.II (Oct 43 – Sep 44)
  • Handley Page Halifax B.Mk.II & A.Mk.VII (Sep 44 – May 45)
  • Avro Lancaster B.Mk.X (May – Sep 45, not on operations)
  • Avro Lancaster Mk.X (Jan 49 – Mar 64)
  • Consolidated Canso A (Jan 49 – Sep 59)
  • Noorduyn Norseman Mk.VI (May 51 – Sep 53)
  • de Havilland Otter (Feb 53 – Sep 57)
  • Avro Lancaster Mk.X (Dec 53 – Mar 64)
  • Douglas Dakota Mk.III & IV (Jan 55 – Nov 66)
  • Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Apr 64 – May 65)
  • Canadair Silver Star Mk.3 (Apr 64 – Jan 68)
    • Roles: Armament, Photo, Trainer
  • Lockheed C- 130B Hercules (Apr 65 – Mar 66)
  • Bell CH-135 Twin Huey (1971-1996)
  • Bell CH-136 Kiowa(1971-1996)
  • CH-146 Griffon helicopters (1996-Present)

Commanding Officer:

Wing Commander
N.W. Timmerman (Can/RAF),
DSO, DFC		24 Jun 41 – 25 Mar 42.
Wing Commander
W/C A.C.P. Clayton (Can/RAF),
DFC and Bar 		26 Mar 42 – 14 Apr 42.
Wing Commander
W/C J.D. Twigg
Kiled in action		18 May 42 – 28 Aug 42
Wing Commander
W/C W.D.S. Ferris,
DFC 		1 Sep 42 – 27 Oct 43.
Wing Commander
A.C. Mair,
DFC
Killed in action		28 Oct 43 – 26 Nov 43
Wing Commander
D.S. Jacobs,
DFC
Killed in action		27 Nov 43 – 22 May 44
Wing Commander
A.R. McLernon,
DFC 		24 May 44 – 13 Oct 44
Wing Commander
J.F. Easton,
DFC 		14 Oct 44 – 25 Nov 44
Wing Commander
W/C F.R. Sharp,
DFC 		26 Nov 44 – 5 Sep 45
Wing Commander
C.L. Olsson, DFC 		10 Jan 49 – 19 Nov 50
Wing Commander
D.J.G. Jackson,
CD 		20 Nov 50 – 22 Sep 51
Wing Commander
H.M. Smith,
DFC, CD 		23 Sep 51 – 2 Apr 54
Wing Commander
J.G. Showler,
AFC, CD 		3 Apr 54 – 14 Jul 57
Wing Commander
J.F. Mitchell,
DFC, AFC, CD		15 Jul 57 – 20 Aug 58
Wing Commander
F.W.H. MacDonnell,
CD 		21 Aug 58 – 2 Oct 61
Wing Commander
S.F. Cowan,
CD 		3 Oct 61 – 25 Jul 63
Wing Commander
R.G. Orpen,
CD 		26 Jul 63 – 22 Aug 65
S/L P. Bissky,
CD 		23 Aug 65 – 1 May 66
Wing Commander
H.A. McKay,
DFC, CD 		2 May 66 – 31 Jan 68

Battle Honors:

English Channel and North Sea1941-1943
Baltic1941-1943
Fortress Europe1941-1944
France and Germany 1944-1945
Biscay Ports1941-1944
Ruhr1941-1945
Berlin1943-1944
German Ports1941-1945
Normandy1944
Rhine.
Biscay1942-1943
AFGHANISTAN

Daily Diary / Historical Reports / ORB Links:

194

194

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Key Dates / Notes:

  • Authorized as ‘408 (Bomber) Squadron’ 15 June 1941 at RAF Lindholme, Yorkshire, England.
  • Disbanded 30 September 1945 at RCAF Station Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
  • Reformed as ‘408 (Photographic) Squadron’ 1 April 1949 at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Onatrio.
  • Redesignated ‘408 (Reconnaissance) Squadron’ 18 July 1957.
  • Redesignated ‘408 Tactical Support and Area Reconnaissance Squadron’ 1 May 1964 at Canadian Joint Air Training Center, Rivers, Manitoba.
  • Redesignated ‘408 Tactical Support and Reconnaissance Squadron’ 19 September 1967.
  • Redesignated ‘408 Tactical Fighter Squadron’ 3 October 1968.
  • Disbanded 1 April 1970 at Canadian Joint Air Training Center, Rivers, Manitoba.
  • Reformed as ‘408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron’ 27 November 1970, at CFB Edmonton, Alberta
  • Designated ‘408e Escadron tactique d’hélicoptères’ in French 27 June 1978

Ephemera:

External Links:

Sources:

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

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