437 Squadron

General Information:

Based:

• RAF Blakehill Farm, Wilts. 14 Sep 44 – 6 May 45.
• B.(Base) 75 Nivelles, Bel. 7 May 45 – 6 Jun 45.
• B.58 Melsbroek, Bel. 7 Jun 45 – 14 Sep 45.
• Oslo, Norway 17 Jul – 27 Nov 45, (6 Aircraft detachment)
• RAF Odiham, Hants. 1 Aug – 14 Nov 45. (6 Aircraft Detachment)
• B.56 Evére, Bel. 15 Sep 45 – 14 Nov 45.
• RAF Odiham, Hants. 15 Nov 45 – 15 Jun 46.
• B.56 Evére, Bel. 15 Nov 45 – 12 Mar 46. (14 Aircraft Detatchment)
• RAF Croydon, Surrey 13 Mar – 30 May 46
• RCAF Station Trenton – 1 October 1961 – Present (2026)

Years Active:

Aircraft Used:

• Douglas Dakota Mk. III & IV – Sep 44 – Jun 46
• Canadair CC-106 Yukon – October 1961 – March 1971
• Boeing 707 (CC-137) – 10 April 1970 – 1997
• Airbus CC-150 Polaris – 1997 – Present (2026)
• Airbus CC-330 Husky – November 2023 –

Commanding Officer:

Wing Commander John A. Sproule (Can/RAF), DFC	14 September 1944 – 14 September 1945.
Wing Commander A.R. Holmes	15 September 1945 – 15 June 1946.
Squadron Inactive
Wing Commander J.O. Maitland, CD	19 October 1961 – 25 May 1964.
Wing Commander D.R. Adamson, CD	26 May 1964 – 8 August 1966 Other sources say June 1966 for his end of command.
Wing Commander R.G. Husch, CD	Other sources say his command began July 1966. 9 August 1966 – August 1969
Lieutenant Colonel J.G. Wynn	August 1969 – July 1972
Lieutenant Colonel T.M. Hall	July 1972 – July 1975
Lieutenant Colonel D.F.C. Garland	July 1975 – July 1977
Lieutenant Colonel J.A Forest	July 1977 – August 1979
Lieutenant Colonel J.W. Ratcliffe	August 1979 – December 1981
Lieutenant Colonel G.A. Edwardson	December 1981 – July 1984
Lieutenant Colonel Jeffery C. Brace	July 1984-

Battle Honors:

FRANCE AND GERMANY	1944-1945
Arnhem
Rhine
The Gulf War honorary distinction emblazoned on the squadron Standard
Libya	2011

Daily Diary / Historical Reports / ORB Links:

Key Dates / Notes:

• 1 September 1944 – Authorized as ‘437 (Transport) Squadron’
• 27 September 1945 – Approved Squadron crest presented to the squadron by Air Commodore Whitney-Straight
• 15 June 1946 – Disbanded
• 1 October 1961 – Reformed as ‘437 Transport Squadron’
• 9 September 1977 – Designated in French ‘437 Escadron de transport’

Ephemera:

External Links:

• Government of Canada
  • Official website
  • Official linage website
• Wikipedia
• CASPIR – Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource

Sources:

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