424 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:
- Topcliffe, Yorks. 15 October 1942 – 7 April 1943.
- Leeming, Yorks. 8 Apr 43 – 2 May 43.
- Dalton, Yorks. 3 May 43 – 15 May 43.
- En route to North Africa! 16 May 43 – 22 Jun 43.
- Kairouan/Pavillier, Tunisia 23 Jun 43 – 29 Sep 43.
- Hani East Landing Ground, Tunisia 30 Sep 43 – 18 Oct 43.
- En route to England (minus aircraft) 26 Oct 43 – S Nov 43.
- Skipton-on-Swale, Yorks. 6 Nov 43 – 15 October 1945.
- Mount Hope airport (Hamilton), Ont. 15 Apr 46 – 1 Apr 64.
- CFB Trenton, Ontario – July 1968 – Present
Years Active:
Aircraft Used:
- Vickers Wellington
- B.Mk.III (Oct 42 – Apr 43)
- B.Mk.X (Feb – November 43)
- Handley Page Halifax B.Mk.III (Dec 43 – Jan 45)
- Avro Lancaster B.Mk.I & IIIf (Jan – Oct 45)
- North American Harvard Mk.II (Nov 47 – Dec 58)
- North American Mustang Mk.IV (Nov 50 – Sep 56)
- Canadair Silver Star Mk.3 (Oct 54 – Oct 56)
- Beechcraft Expeditor Mk. 3 (May 56 – Mar 64)
- de Havilland CC-123 Otter
- (Oct 61 – Mar 64)
- (1968 – ?)
- de Havilland Twin Otter (July 1971 –
- Piasecki H-21 Helicopter (July 1968 – 1970)
- de Havilland CC-108 Caribou (July 1968 – 1970)
- Douglas CC-129 Dakota (1968-1971)
- de Havilland CC-115 Buffalo (1970 –
- Lockheed CC-130H Hercules (long-time workhorse for tactical transport and SAR)
- Lockheed CC-130J Super Hercules (modern standard platform adopted for SAR and transport)
- Piasecki H-44A / CH-127 (inherited in 1968)
- Boeing Vertol CH-113 Labrador (inherited/operated for search and rescue)
- AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant – Early 2000’s with plans to reintroduce the airframe in the upcoming years.
- Bell CH-146 Griffon
Commanding Officer:
| Wing Commander HLM. Carscallen | 20 Oct 42 – 16 Apr 43 |
| Wing Commander G.A. Roy, DFC | 17 Apr 43 – 2 Oct 43 |
| Wing Commander J.P. McCarthy, DFC | 3 Oct 43 – 29 Nov 43 |
| Wing Commander A.N. Martin Killed in action | 18 Dec 43 – 21 Jan 44 |
| Wing Commander J.D. Blane Killed in action | 27 Jan 44 – 28 Jul 44 |
| Wing Commander G.A. Roy, DFC Prisoner of War | 15 Aug 44 – 9 Oct 44 |
| Wing Commander C.C.W. Marshall, DFC | 19 Oct 44 – 26 Mar 45 |
| Wing Commander R.W. Norris | 27 Mar 45 – 30 Sep 45 |
| Wing Commander R.D.P. Blagrave | 1 Oct 45 – 15 Oct 45 |
| Wing Commander D.H. Wigle | 1 May 46 – 31 Aug 48 |
| Wing Commander D.B. Annan, DFC, AFC, CD | 1 Sep 48 – 30 Sep 50 |
| Wing Commander G.C. Frostad, CD | 1 Oct 50 – 30 Nov 53 |
| Wing Commander M.G. Marshall, DFC, CD | 1 Dec 53 – 14 Nov 57 |
| Wing Commander R.C. Small | 15 Nov 57 – 28 Feb 59 |
| Wing Commander C.H. Forsyth, CD | 1 Mar 59 – 28 Feb 62 |
| Wing Commander G.W. Johnson, DFC, CD | 1 Mar 62 – 1 Apr 64 |
| Lieutenant Colonel F.M. Murphy, CD | 18 September 1968 – |
| Lieutenant Colonel Jean Bernier | 2012-2014 |
| Lieutenant Colonel Dany Poitras | 2014 – |
| Lieutenant Colonel Neil Prescott |
Battle Honors:
| ENGLISH CHANNEL AND NORTH SEA | 1943-1945 |
| BALTIC | 1944-1945 |
| FORTRESS EUROPE | 1943-1944 |
| FRANCE AND GERMANY | 1944-1945 |
| Biscay Ports | 1943-1944 |
| Ruhr | 1943-1945 |
| Berlin | 1944 |
| German Ports | 1943-1945 |
| Normandy | 1944 |
| Rhine | |
| BISCAY | 1943-1944 |
| SICILY | 1943 |
| ITALY | 1943 |
| Salerno |
Daily Diary / Historical Reports / ORB Links:
194
194
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Key Dates / Notes:
- 15 October 1942 – Authorized as ‘424 (Bomber) Squadron’
- 15 October 1945 – Disbanded
- 15 April 1946 – Reformed as ‘424 Light Bomber Squadron (Auxiliary)’
- 1 April 1947 – Redesignated ‘424 Fighter Squadron (Auxiliary)’
- 19 September 1952 – Redesignated ‘424 “City of Hamilton” (Fighter) Squadron’
- 22 September 1957 – Redesignated ‘424 “City of Hamilton” (Transport) (Auxiliary) Squadron’
- 31 March 1958 – Redesignated 424 Squadron’.
- 31 March 1964 – Disbanded.
- 8 July 1968 – Reformed as ‘424 Communication and Rescue Squadron’, from ‘102 Composite Unit’ (authorized 1 January 1959).
- 18 September 1968 – Redesignated ‘424 Transport and Rescue Squadron’
Ephemera:
Republished Articles
External Links:
- Government of Canada
- Wikipedia
- CASPIR – Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource
Sources:
- RCAF Squadrons and Aircraft, John Griffin and S. Kostenuk, 1977