442 Squadron

General Information:

The Squadron was initially formed as 14 (Fighter) Squadron, Rockcliffe, Ontario in January 1942.

*Note* – My plan it to create a page for Squadron and the other 10 series units once I have completed the 400 and 100 series squadrons. The history of this squadron will be documented on that page.

Role(s):

• Fighter Squadron 1942 – 1958
• Auxilary Squadron 1958 – 1964
• Communications and Rescue Squadron 1968
• Transport and Rescue Squadron 1968 – Present

Based:

• RAF Digby, Lincs. 8 Feb 44 – 17 Mar 44.
• RAF Holmsley South, Hants. 18 Mar 44 – 31 Mar 44.
• RAF Westhampnett, Sussex 1 Apr 44 – 22 Apr 44.
• RAF Funtington, Sussex 23 Apr 44 – 14 May 44.
• No. 16 Armament Practice Camp, Hutton Cranswick,
• RAF Yorks. 25 Apr – 1 May 44.
• RAF Ford, Sussex 15 May 44 – 14 Jun 44.
• B.(Base) 3 Ste Croix-sur-Mer, Fr. 15 Jun 44 – 14 Jul 44.
• B(Base).4 Beny-sur-Mer, Fr. 15 Jul 44 – 7 Aug 44.
• B(Base).18 Cristot, Fr. 8 Aug 44 – 31 Aug 44.
• B(Base).24 St André, Fr. 1 Sep 44.
• B(Base).25 Iliers I’Evéque, Fr. 2 Sep 44.
• B(Base).44 Poix, Fr. 3 Sep 44 – 6 Sep 44.
• B(Base).56 Evére, Bel. 7 Sep 44 – 20 Sep 44.
• -B(Base).58 Le Culot, Bel. 21 Sep 44 – 2 Oct 44.
• B(Base).84 Rips, Neth. 3 Oct 44 – 13 Oct 44.
• B(Base).80 Volkel, Neth. 14 Oct 44 – 5 Dec 44.
• No. 17 Armament Practice Camp, Warmwell, Dorset., Eng. 14-25 Nov 44.
• B(Base).88 Heesch, Neth. 6 Dec 44 – 22 Mar 45.
• RAF Hunsdon, Herts., 23 Mar 45 – 16 May 45.
• RAF Digby, Lincs. 17 May 45 – 16 Jul 45.
• RAF Molesworth, Hunts. 17 Jul 45 – 7 Aug 45.
• Vancouver, B.C. 15 Apr 46 – 8 Nov 48.
• RCAF Station Sea Island, B.C. 9 Nov 48 – 1 Apr 64.

Years Active:

Aircraft Used:

• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VB (Feb – Mar 44, not on operations)
• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXB(Mar – Sep 44)
• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXE (Sep 44 – Mar 45)
• North American Mustang Mk.III (Mar – Aug 45)
• North American Harvard Mk.II (Jul 46 – Sep 58)
• de Havilland Vampire Mk.III (Apr 48 – Oct 56)
• North American Mustang Mk.IV (Nov 50 – Oct 56)
• Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Aug 56 – Aug 58)
• Beechcraft Expeditor Mk.3 (Oct 58 – Mar 64)
• de Havilland Otter (Oct 60 – Mar 64)

Commanding Officer:

Squadron Leader B.R. Walker, DFC	8 Feb 44 – 27 Apr 44.
Squadron Leader B.D. Russel, DFC	28 Apr 44 – 6 Jul 44.
Squadron Leader H.J. Dowding, DFC and Bar	7 Jul 44 – 22 Sep 44
Squadron Leader W.A. Olmstead, DSO, DFC and Bar	23 Sep 44 – 13 Dec 44
Squadron Leader Milton Eardly Jowsey, DFC Evaded capture	14 Dec 44 – 22 Feb 45
Squadron Leader M. Johnston .	22 Feb 45 – 7 Aug 45
Wing Commander R.F. Begg	1 May 46 – 14 Jul 47
Wing Commander J.W. Reid, DFC	15 Jul 47 – 23 Oct 47
Wing Commander D.C. MacDonald, DFC, CD	8 Dec 47 – 2 Dec 48
Wing Commander G.W. Northcott, DSO, DFC and Bar	3 Dec 48 – 3 Jan 51
Wing Commander E.A. Alexander, AFC	4 Jan 51 – 31 Dec 53.
Wing Commander G.M. Smith, DFC	1 Jan 54 – 31 Dec 54
Wing Commander D.C. Cameron, CD	1 Jan 55 – 7 May 58.
Wing Commander D.F.R. Aitken, CD	8 May 58 – 8 May 61
Wing Commander J.L.T. Edwards, CD	9 May 61 – 1 Apr 64.

Battle Honors:

Fortress Europe	1944
France and Germany	1944-1945
Normandy	1944
Arnhem
Rhine
Aleutians (1)	1943

(1) Earned as 14 (Fighter) Squadron

Daily Diary / Historical Reports / ORB Links:

Key Dates / Notes:

• Formed as No. 14 (F) Sqn, Rockcliffe, Ont. 2 Jan 42.
• Renumbered No. 442 (F) Sqn, Digby, Lincs., Eng. 8 Feb 44.
• Disbanded at Molesworth, Hunts. 7 Aug 45.
• Formed as No. 442 (F) Sqn (Aux), Vancouver, B.C. 15 Apr 46.
• Titled No. 442 “City of Vancouver” (F) Sqn (Aux) 3 Sep 52.
• Redesignated No. 442 “City of Vancouver” Sqn (Aux) 1 Sep 58.
• Disbanded 1 Apr 64,
• Reformed as ‘442 Communications and Rescue Squadron’ 8 July 1968, from ‘121 Composite Unit’ (authorized 1 January 1959).
• Redesignated ‘442 Transport and Rescue Squadron’ 1 October 1968.

Ephemera:

External Links:

• Government of Canada
  • Official lineage webpage
• Wikipedia

Sources:

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