408 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 Sea	1941-1943
Baltic	1941-1943
Fortress Europe	1941-1944
France and Germany	1944-1945
Biscay Ports	1941-1944
Ruhr	1941-1945
Berlin	1943-1944
German Ports	1941-1945
Normandy	1944
Rhine.
Biscay	1942-1943
AFGHANISTAN

Daily Diary / Historical Reports / ORB Links:

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:

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

Sources:

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