Article XV squadrons
Encyclopedia
Article XV squadrons were Australian
, Canadian
, and New Zealand
air force
squadron
s formed from graduates of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
(BCATP; also known as the Empire Air Training Scheme or EATS), during World War II
.
These units complemented another feature of the BCATP, under which personnel from the Royal Air Force
(RAF), Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force
(RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force
(RNZAF) were placed in a common pool, and assigned to Article XV and RAF squadrons — in Europe
, the Mediterranean Theatre
, Africa and South-East Asia
— according to operational needs.
The RAAF, RCAF and RNZAF also formed non-Article XV squadrons, which performed home defence duties and saw active service in various parts of the Pacific Theatre
.
– was officially signed on 17 December 1939.
Under Article XV of the Agreement, graduates from Dominion
air forces were to be assigned to squadrons either formed by their own air forces, or with a specific national designation, under the operational control of a local air force, in most cases the RAF. These became known as "Article XV squadrons." In addition, Articles XVI and XVII stipulated that the UK government would be responsible for the pay and entitlements of aircrews trained under the BCATP. Nevertheless, these personnel and any squadrons formed for service with the RAF, under Article XV, would belong to the three Dominion air forces. This was largely an initiative of the Canadian Prime Minister, Mackenzie King
, during the negotiations with Riverdale.
During the war, a total of 44 Canadian, 17 Australian and six New Zealand Article XV squadrons were formed. In practice – and technically in contravention of Article XV – most personnel from Dominion air forces, while they were under RAF operational control, were assigned to British units. This was generally due to practical staffing considerations. Similarly, many of the Article XV squadrons contained few airmen from their nominal air force, when they were first formed. However, by the end of the war this had generally been rectified.
Several other RAAF and RCAF units, which were not covered by Article XV, were also under RAF operational control (see below). Initially, there was no cross-posting of personnel to or from these squadrons, by the RAF and other Dominion air forces, although this requirement was relaxed later in the war.
The remaining dominion, South Africa
, was not a signatory to the BCATP and the South African Air Force
(SAAF) did not form any Article XV squadrons. However, South Africa provided training facilities for some Article XV personnel and many SAAF units took part in the East African
, North African
and Italian Campaign
s. Furthermore, as the war progressed, personnel from other Dominion air forces were transferred to SAAF units and vice versa, in North Africa, the Mediterranean and Italy.
Southern Rhodesia
(later Zimbabwe) was not technically a Dominion and was therefore not a signatory to the BCATP, although aircrews from other dominions were trained there. In 1940, the small Southern Rhodesia Air Force
was designated No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF
. Two other RAF squadrons, No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF
and No. 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF
were also formed; both had significant numbers of Rhodesian personnel.
Similarly, No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF
, which was not an Article XV squadron, was staffed primarily by RNZAF aircrews during the war. The squadron was officially transferred to the RNZAF in late 1945.
While RAF units are not considered to have been Article XV squadrons, three RAF units had a status similar to Article XV squadrons, as they were under RAAF operational control for part of the war and included a significant number of non-RAF personnel. These units were: No. 54 Squadron RAF, No. 548 Squadron RAF
and No. 549 Squadron RAF
.
A further four squadrons served outside North America during the war: No. 162 Squadron RCAF
, which in 1944 was transferred from RCAF Eastern Air Command to RAF Coastal Command
, from airfields in Iceland
and Scotland
and; three Air Observation Post
(AOP; artillery spotter) squadrons, composed of RCAF and Royal Canadian Artillery personnel: No. 664 Squadron RCAF
; No. 665 Squadron RCAF
and; No. 666 Squadron RCAF
.
Some non-Article XV RCAF squadrons were re-numbered to become Article XV squadrons when they were transferred from North America to Europe. This included No. 111 Squadron RCAF
(later 440 Sqn), which had already seen action in the Alaskan Campaign. However, most of the RCAF Article XV squadrons were formed overseas.
Following the end of the war and termination of the BCATP, the RCAF squadrons covered by Article XV retained their numbers. Furthermore, home-based, non-Article XV squadrons were renumbered in the 400-series. During an expansion of the RCAF in the early 1950s the numbers 444 to 449 were used, and — following the 1968 unification of the three service branches — a Canadian Army helicopter squadron became known as 450 Squadron (a name that overlapped the RAAF numbers).
The remaining 57 RAAF squadrons served under the operational control of the RAAF or United States Army Air Forces
, in the South West Pacific Theatre
during World War II.
When some Article XV squadrons and RAF units were transferred to RAAF operational control, from 1943 onwards, they retained their original numbers.
All the Australian Article XV squadrons were disbanded after the end of the war. Since 2005 four of the squadrons have been re-formed by re-designating RAAF intelligence and air traffic control units.
The RAAF Article XV squadrons were:
Five other RAAF squadrons were also under RAF operational control for the whole or part of the war:
Coastal Command
Far East Air Force
Desert Air Force
(As stated above, No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF
, a heavy bomber unit, while it was made up of RNZAF aircrews, was not officially an Article XV squadron.)
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
air force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
s formed from graduates of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
(BCATP; also known as the Empire Air Training Scheme or EATS), during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
These units complemented another feature of the BCATP, under which personnel from the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF), Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
(RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
(RNZAF) were placed in a common pool, and assigned to Article XV and RAF squadrons — in Europe
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
, the Mediterranean Theatre
Mediterranean Theatre of World War II
The African, Mediterranean and Middle East theatres encompassed the naval, land, and air campaigns fought between the Allied and Axis forces in the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and Africa...
, Africa and South-East Asia
South-East Asian theatre of World War II
The South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was the name given to the campaigns of the Pacific War in Burma , Ceylon, India, Thailand, Indochina, Malaya and Singapore. Conflict in the theatre began when the Empire of Japan invaded Thailand and Malaya from bases located in Indochina on December 8,...
— according to operational needs.
The RAAF, RCAF and RNZAF also formed non-Article XV squadrons, which performed home defence duties and saw active service in various parts of the Pacific Theatre
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
.
History
Negotiations regarding the BCATP, between the four governments concerned, took place in late 1939. The Air Training Agreement – often referred to as the "Riverdale Agreement", after the UK representative at the negotiations, Lord RiverdaleArthur Balfour, 1st Baron Riverdale
Arthur Balfour, 1st Baron Riverdale GBE , known as Sir Arthur Balfour, 1st Baronet, from 1929 to 1935, was a British steel manufacturer.Balfour was the son of Herbert Balfour...
– was officially signed on 17 December 1939.
Under Article XV of the Agreement, graduates from Dominion
Dominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
air forces were to be assigned to squadrons either formed by their own air forces, or with a specific national designation, under the operational control of a local air force, in most cases the RAF. These became known as "Article XV squadrons." In addition, Articles XVI and XVII stipulated that the UK government would be responsible for the pay and entitlements of aircrews trained under the BCATP. Nevertheless, these personnel and any squadrons formed for service with the RAF, under Article XV, would belong to the three Dominion air forces. This was largely an initiative of the Canadian Prime Minister, Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
, during the negotiations with Riverdale.
During the war, a total of 44 Canadian, 17 Australian and six New Zealand Article XV squadrons were formed. In practice – and technically in contravention of Article XV – most personnel from Dominion air forces, while they were under RAF operational control, were assigned to British units. This was generally due to practical staffing considerations. Similarly, many of the Article XV squadrons contained few airmen from their nominal air force, when they were first formed. However, by the end of the war this had generally been rectified.
Several other RAAF and RCAF units, which were not covered by Article XV, were also under RAF operational control (see below). Initially, there was no cross-posting of personnel to or from these squadrons, by the RAF and other Dominion air forces, although this requirement was relaxed later in the war.
The remaining dominion, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, was not a signatory to the BCATP and the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
(SAAF) did not form any Article XV squadrons. However, South Africa provided training facilities for some Article XV personnel and many SAAF units took part in the East African
East African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
, North African
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
and Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
s. Furthermore, as the war progressed, personnel from other Dominion air forces were transferred to SAAF units and vice versa, in North Africa, the Mediterranean and Italy.
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
(later Zimbabwe) was not technically a Dominion and was therefore not a signatory to the BCATP, although aircrews from other dominions were trained there. In 1940, the small Southern Rhodesia Air Force
Royal Rhodesian Air Force
The Rhodesian Air Force was the air arm of the British colonial state of Rhodesia. It existed between 1935 and 1980 under various names, and is now the Air Force of Zimbabwe.-History:...
was designated No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF
No. 237 Squadron RAF
No. 237 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron. During the Second World War the unit was formed from No. 1 Squadron Southern Rhodesian Air Force for operations in North Africa.-History:...
. Two other RAF squadrons, No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF
No. 44 Squadron RAF
No. 44 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is no longer operational. For most of its history it served as a heavy bomber squadron.-History:...
and No. 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF
No. 266 Squadron RAF
-World War I:The squadron was formed from No's 437 and 438 Flights at Mudros, Greece on 27 September 1918 to carry out anti-submarine patrols in that area, flying Short 184s and 320s along with Felixtowe F.3s. In February 1919 it was transferred to the Caucasus on HMS Engadine. It operated from...
were also formed; both had significant numbers of Rhodesian personnel.
Similarly, No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF
No. 75 Squadron RAF
No. 75 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operated as a bomber unit in World War II, before being transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1945.-First World War, Royal Flying Corps, Home Defence Squadron :...
, which was not an Article XV squadron, was staffed primarily by RNZAF aircrews during the war. The squadron was officially transferred to the RNZAF in late 1945.
While RAF units are not considered to have been Article XV squadrons, three RAF units had a status similar to Article XV squadrons, as they were under RAAF operational control for part of the war and included a significant number of non-RAF personnel. These units were: No. 54 Squadron RAF, No. 548 Squadron RAF
No. 548 Squadron RAF
No. 548 Squadron RAF was a fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1945.-History:The squadron was formed at Lawnton, near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on 15 December 1943 to provide air defence duties with Spitfires, as the RAAF Kittyhawks were inadequate for interception missions...
and No. 549 Squadron RAF
No. 549 Squadron RAF
No. 549 Squadron RAF was a fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force operating in Australia from 1943 to 1945.-History:The squadron was formed at Lawnton Airfield, Queensland Australia on 15 December 1943, made up of RAF Aircrew and RAAF groundstaff, to provide air defence duties with Spitfires, as...
.
Royal Canadian Air Force
- No. 400 Squadron RCAFNo. 400 Squadron RCAF400 "City of Toronto" Tactical Helicopter and Training Squadron is part of 1 Wing, and as such a lodger unit of Canadian Forces Base Borden. The squadron operates the CH-146 Griffon.-History:...
- No. 401 Squadron RCAF
- No. 402 Squadron RCAFNo. 402 Squadron RCAF402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron is about to be renamed , as a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada-Pre-war history:...
- No. 403 Squadron RCAF
- No. 404 Squadron RCAFNo. 404 Squadron RCAF404 Maritime Patrol and Training Squadron is a long range patrol and training squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron was originally No. 404 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force .-History:...
- No. 405 Squadron RCAFNo. 405 Squadron RCAF405 Maritime Patrol Squadron is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force within the Canadian Forces, initially formed as No. 405 Squadron RCAF during the Second World War.-World War II:...
- No. 406 Squadron RCAFNo. 406 Squadron RCAF406 "City of Saskatoon" Maritime Operational Training Squadron is an air force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at 12 Wing Shearwater it is responsible for crew training on the Sea King. The squadron was originally an Royal Canadian Air Force unit flying with RAF Fighter Command.-History:It...
- No. 407 Squadron RCAFNo. 407 Squadron RCAF407 Long Range Patrol Squadron is a long range & maritime patrol squadron of the Canadian Forces. It is located at 19 Wing Comox, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia operating the CP-140 Aurora.-History:No...
- No. 408 Squadron RCAF
- No. 409 Squadron RCAFNo. 409 Squadron RCAF409 Tactical Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the CF-18 Hornet from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada.-History:...
- No. 410 Squadron RCAFNo. 410 Squadron RCAF410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron, nicknamed the "Cougars", is a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft squadron currently located at Canada's primary training base for the CF-18 , at Cold Lake, Alberta...
- No. 411 Squadron RCAFNo. 411 Squadron RCAFNo. 411 "City of York" Squadron RCAF was a Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force squadron that operated as part of RAF Fighter Command in Europe with the Supermarine Spitfire. -History:...
- No. 412 Squadron RCAFNo. 412 Squadron RCAFNo. 412 Transport Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force is one of 3 transport squadrons attached to CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. This squadron, however, is based out of Ottawa, Ontario. It had formerly been attached to CFB Ottawa, which closed in 1994. The squadron operates with a strength...
- No. 413 Squadron RCAFNo. 413 Squadron RCAF413 Transport and Rescue Squadron is an air force squadron of the Canadian Forces. It was originally a flying boat squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War...
- No. 414 Squadron RCAFNo. 414 Squadron RCAFNo. 414 Squadron RCAF was a squadron associated with the Royal Canadian Air Force and later with Canadian Forces Air Command.-History:On 13 August 1941, No 414 Army Co-operation Squadron was formed at RAF Croydon, England, flying Lysander and Curtis Tomahawk aircraft. On 28 June 1943 the...
- No. 415 Squadron RCAFNo. 415 Squadron RCAFNo. 415 Squadron RCAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force that first saw service during the Second World War. After unification of Canada's armed forces in 1968, the squadron continued to provide service within the Canadian Forces....
- No. 416 Squadron RCAFNo. 416 Squadron RCAF416 "City of Oshawa" Tactical Fighter Squadron was a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operated the CF-188 Hornet fighter jet from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada...
- No. 417 Squadron RCAFNo. 417 Squadron RCAF417 Combat Support Squadron is an Air Force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Cold Lake it provides helicopter support to the base operations. Since 1994, it has also provided Search and Rescue.-History:...
- No. 418 Squadron RCAFNo. 418 Squadron RCAFNo. 418 "City of Edmonton" Squadron RCAF was a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, formed during World War II....
- No. 419 Squadron RCAFNo. 419 Squadron RCAF419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron is an air force unit with the Canadian Forces. The squadron was originally formed during the Second World War as part of the Royal Canadian Air Force...
- No. 420 Squadron RCAFNo. 420 Squadron RCAFNo. 420 "City of London" Squadron RCAF was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force which existed from late December 1941 forwards. The Squadron's nickname was "Snowy Owl". Their motto was Pugnamus Finitum, Latin for We Fight To The Finish. No. 420 Squadron is no longer active.-History:No...
- No. 421 Squadron RCAFNo. 421 Squadron RCAFNo. 421 Squadron RCAF was a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, formed during World War II....
- No. 422 Squadron RCAFNo. 422 Squadron RCAFNo. 422 Squadron RCAF was a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, formed during World War II.422 General Reconnaissance Squadron formed at RAF Castle Archdale near Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, in April 1942. It was a flying-boat squadron, flying PBY Catalinas and Short Sunderlands to patrol the...
- No. 423 Squadron RCAFNo. 423 Squadron RCAF423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. It currently operates the Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King from CFB Shearwater in Nova Scotia, Canada.-History:...
- No. 424 Squadron RCAFNo. 424 Squadron RCAF424 "City of Hamilton" Transport and Rescue Squadron is a search and rescue/transport squadron of the Canadian Forces and based out of 9 Hangar with 8 Wing CFB Trenton.-History:...
- No. 425 Squadron RCAFNo. 425 Squadron RCAF425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, also "Alouette" Squadron, is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. It operates CF-188 Hornet fighter jets from CFB Bagotville in Quebec, Canada...
- No. 426 Squadron RCAFNo. 426 Squadron RCAF426 Transport Training Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force, located at CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. It originated as a squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force that fought during the Second World War as a bomber squadron.The motto of the squadron is "On...
- No. 427 Squadron RCAF
- No. 428 Squadron RCAFNo. 428 Squadron RCAFNo. 428 Squadron RCAF, also known as 428 Bomber Squadron, and 428 Ghost Squadron, was a bomber squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Throughout its service in the Second World War the squadron was based in England and flew bombing missions against the enemy. After the end of the war the...
- No. 429 Squadron RCAFNo. 429 Squadron RCAF429 Transport Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force is one of three transport squadrons attached to CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. The squadron was originally formed as a bomber squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force attached to RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War.-History:The...
- No. 430 Squadron RCAFNo. 430 Squadron RCAF430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. It operates Bell CH-146 Griffons from CFB Valcartier, near Quebec City in Quebec, Canada.-History:...
- No. 431 Squadron RCAF
- No. 432 Squadron RCAFNo. 432 Squadron RCAFNo. 432 Squadron RCAF was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force formed during the Second World War.-History:It was first formed at Skipton-on-Swale in May 1943, as part of No. 6 Group of RAF Bomber Command. The unit was equipped with Wellington X bombers.The squadron deployed to RAF East Moor...
- No. 433 Squadron RCAFNo. 433 Squadron RCAF433 Tactical Fighter Squadron was a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. It operated CF-188 Hornet fighter jets from CFB Bagotville in Quebec, Canada....
- No. 434 Squadron RCAFNo. 434 Squadron RCAFNo. 434 Squadron was a Royal Canadian Air Force bomber squadron that flew bombing operations over Europe during World War II and was later a post-war fighter and combat support unit. It was last disbanded in 2000.-Second World War:...
- No. 435 Squadron RCAFNo. 435 Squadron RCAF435 Transport and Rescue Squadron is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.-Operations:The squadron flies the CC-130 Hercules H-model tanker/transport in the airlift and search and rescue roles...
- No. 436 Squadron RCAFNo. 436 Squadron RCAF436 Transport Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under the Royal Canadian Air Force. It currently operates the CC-130J Super Hercules from CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario.-History:...
- No. 437 Squadron RCAFNo. 437 Squadron RCAF437 Transport Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under the Royal Canadian Air Force, based at CFB Trenton in Ontario. The unit operates the CC-150 Polaris, and is responsible for long range military and VIP transportation .-History:437 Squadron was formed at Blakehill Farm in Wiltshire,...
- No. 438 Squadron RCAFNo. 438 Squadron RCAF438 "City of Montreal" Tactical Helicopter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the CH-146 Griffon tactical helicopter from CFB St. Hubert in Quebec, Canada...
- No. 439 Squadron RCAFNo. 439 Squadron RCAFNo. 439 Squadron RCAF was a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, formed during World War II.439 Fighter Bomber Squadron was formed on December 31, 1943, at Wellingore, England, incorporating Aircraft and personnel from 123 Army Co-operation Squadron. They spent the war in England, France, Belgium,...
- No. 440 Squadron RCAFNo. 440 Squadron RCAFNo. 440 "City of Ottawa" Transport Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under the Royal Canadian Air Force. It is part of 17 Wing and Joint Task Force North located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories....
- No. 441 Squadron RCAF
- No. 442 Squadron RCAFNo. 442 Squadron RCAF442 Transport and Rescue Squadron is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force of the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Comox on Vancouver Island it provides Search and Rescue coverage for the West Coast of Canada...
- No. 443 Squadron RCAFNo. 443 Squadron RCAF443 "City of New Westminster" Maritime Helicopter Squadron is a Canadian Forces helicopter squadron under Royal Canadian Air Force, located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia...
A further four squadrons served outside North America during the war: No. 162 Squadron RCAF
No. 162 Squadron RCAF
Formed as a Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron at RCAF Station Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada on May 19, 1942 with Canso A aircraft, the squadron spent an uneventful eighteen months on East Coast anti-submarine duty...
, which in 1944 was transferred from RCAF Eastern Air Command to RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command was a formation within the Royal Air Force . Founded in 1936, it was the RAF's premier maritime arm, after the Royal Navy's secondment of the Fleet Air Arm in 1937. Naval aviation was neglected in the inter-war period, 1919–1939, and as a consequence the service did not receive...
, from airfields in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and; three Air Observation Post
Artillery observer
A military artillery observer or spotter is responsible for directing artillery fire and close air support onto enemy positions. Because artillery is an indirect fire weapon system, the guns are rarely in line-of-sight of their target, often located tens of miles away...
(AOP; artillery spotter) squadrons, composed of RCAF and Royal Canadian Artillery personnel: No. 664 Squadron RCAF
No. 664 Squadron RCAF
No. 664 "Air Observation Post" Squadron, RCAF was formed in England during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, with select British artillery pilots briefly seconded to assist in squadron formation.-History:The...
; No. 665 Squadron RCAF
No. 665 Squadron RCAF
No. 665 "Air Observation Post" Squadron, RCAF was formed in England during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, with select British artillery pilots briefly seconded to assist in squadron formation...
and; No. 666 Squadron RCAF
No. 666 Squadron RCAF
No. 666 Squadron RCAF was originally an RCAF Air Observation Post squadron formed during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel.-History:...
.
Some non-Article XV RCAF squadrons were re-numbered to become Article XV squadrons when they were transferred from North America to Europe. This included No. 111 Squadron RCAF
No. 440 Squadron RCAF
No. 440 "City of Ottawa" Transport Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under the Royal Canadian Air Force. It is part of 17 Wing and Joint Task Force North located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories....
(later 440 Sqn), which had already seen action in the Alaskan Campaign. However, most of the RCAF Article XV squadrons were formed overseas.
Following the end of the war and termination of the BCATP, the RCAF squadrons covered by Article XV retained their numbers. Furthermore, home-based, non-Article XV squadrons were renumbered in the 400-series. During an expansion of the RCAF in the early 1950s the numbers 444 to 449 were used, and — following the 1968 unification of the three service branches — a Canadian Army helicopter squadron became known as 450 Squadron (a name that overlapped the RAAF numbers).
Royal Australian Air Force
Australia formed 17 Article XV squadrons, out of a total of 79 RAAF squadrons, during World War II. While 18 squadrons had been originally planned for service with the RAF, No. 465 Squadron was never formed.The remaining 57 RAAF squadrons served under the operational control of the RAAF or United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
, in the South West Pacific Theatre
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
The South West Pacific Theatre, technically the South West Pacific Area, between 1942 and 1945, was one of two designated area commands and war theatres enumerated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of World War II in the Pacific region....
during World War II.
When some Article XV squadrons and RAF units were transferred to RAAF operational control, from 1943 onwards, they retained their original numbers.
All the Australian Article XV squadrons were disbanded after the end of the war. Since 2005 four of the squadrons have been re-formed by re-designating RAAF intelligence and air traffic control units.
The RAAF Article XV squadrons were:
- No. 450 Squadron RAAFNo. 450 Squadron RAAFNo. 450 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. It was the second RAAF Article XV squadron formed for service with the British military, under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan...
- No. 451 Squadron RAAFNo. 451 Squadron RAAFNo. 451 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force army cooperation and fighter squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed at Bankstown in New South Wales on 12 February 1941 and began flying operations on 1 July that year as part of the North African Campaign in Egypt and Libya. In early...
- No. 452 Squadron RAAFNo. 452 Squadron RAAFNo. 452 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was originally formed in 1941 fighter unit formed in accordance with Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II, in England. The squadron flew Supermarine Spitfires for the entire war, initially over...
- No. 453 Squadron RAAFNo. 453 Squadron RAAFNo. 453 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was first was formed at Bankstown in New South Wales on 23 May 1941 during World War II and was disbanded in March 1942 after suffering heavy losses in combat during the Battle of Malaya...
- No. 454 Squadron RAAFNo. 454 Squadron RAAFNo. 454 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force was formed during World War II. 454 Squadron came into existence at Williamtown in New South Wales on 23 May 1941. The squadron was raised under the Empire Air Training Scheme.-Formation:...
- No. 455 Squadron RAAFNo. 455 Squadron RAAFNo. 455 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force torpedo bomber squadron during World War II and became famous as part of the so-called ANZAC Strike Wing.-History:No. 455 Squadron was formed at Williamtown, New South Wales on 23 May 1941...
- No. 456 Squadron RAAFNo. 456 Squadron RAAFNo. 456 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force night fighter squadron, active over Europe during World War II.-History:No. 456 Squadron was formed on 30 June 1941 at RAF Valley, Isle of Anglesey, Wales in the United Kingdom under the Empire Air Training Scheme as a night fighter squadron,...
- No. 457 Squadron RAAFNo. 457 Squadron RAAFNo. 457 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in England during June 1941 as an Article XV squadron equipped with Supermarine Spitfire fighters...
- No. 458 Squadron RAAFNo. 458 Squadron RAAFNo. 458 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron during World War II. It was formed in Australia, under the Empire Air Training Scheme. The Squadron flew various versions of Vickers Wellington bombers, first in Europe and later in the Middle East.-Over Europe:No. 458 was formed at...
- No. 459 Squadron RAAFNo. 459 Squadron RAAFNo 459 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron during World War II. It served from 1942 as a maritime patrol and bomber unit in the mediterranean theatre of war until disbanded in 1945.-History:...
- No. 460 Squadron RAAFNo. 460 Squadron RAAFNo. 460 Squadron is an Royal Australian Air Force intelligence unit active within the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation . It was first formed as a heavy bomber squadron during World War II on November 15, 1941 and disbanded on 10 October 1945 after seeing extensive combat over Europe. The...
- No. 461 Squadron RAAFNo. 461 Squadron RAAFNo. 461 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron of World War II which operated under Royal Air Force control flying in Europe and over the Atlantic. The Squadron was formed in 1942 and was disbanded in 1945.-Squadron history:...
- No. 462 Squadron RAAFNo. 462 Squadron RAAFNo. 462 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron which forms part of the Information Warfare Wing in the RAAF's Aerospace Operational Support Group. The squadron was first formed in 1942 as a heavy bomber unit and saw combat in this role in the Mediterranean area until it was disbanded in...
- No. 463 Squadron RAAFNo. 463 Squadron RAAFNo. 463 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force heavy bomber squadron during World War II. The squadron was formed in the United Kingdom on 25 November 1943 from personnel and aircraft allocated from No. 467 Squadron RAAF. The Squadron was equipped with Avro Lancaster bombers and flew its...
- No. 464 Squadron RAAFNo. 464 Squadron RAAFNo. 464 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force bomber squadron during World War II.-History:The Squadron was officially formed on 1 September 1942 at RAF Feltwell, Norfolk in the United Kingdom, under the Empire Air Training Scheme. No...
- No. 466 Squadron RAAFNo. 466 Squadron RAAFNo. 466 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force bomber squadron during World War II.-History:The squadron was formed at RAF Driffield in Yorkshire, England on 10 October 1942, under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. The majority of its original personnel were from British...
- No. 467 Squadron RAAFNo. 467 Squadron RAAFNo. 467 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force bomber squadron during World War II, active in the European Theater of Operations as an Article XV Squadron under command of the Royal Air Force.-History:No...
Five other RAAF squadrons were also under RAF operational control for the whole or part of the war:
Coastal Command
- No. 10 Squadron RAAFNo. 10 Squadron RAAFNo. 10 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron based at RAAF Base Edinburgh. The Squadron was first formed in 1939 and has seen active service in World War II, East Timor, the War on Terrorism and the 2003 Gulf War.-Second World War:...
Far East Air Force
- No. 1 Squadron RAAFNo. 1 Squadron RAAFNo. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley. The squadron is currently being re-equipped with F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.-World War I:...
- No. 8 Squadron RAAFNo. 8 Squadron RAAFNo. 8 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force flying training squadron of World War I and medium bomber squadron of World War II. The Squadron was first formed in October 1917 and was disbanded in January 1946 after seeing action during the Pacific War....
- No. 21 Squadron RAAFNo. 21 Squadron RAAFNo. 21 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force general reserve squadron. It saw action as a fighter, dive bomber and heavy bomber unit during World War II.-History:...
Desert Air Force
Desert Air Force
The Desert Air Force , also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, AHQ Western Desert, the Western Desert Air Force, Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force , was an Allied tactical air force initially created from No...
- No. 3 Squadron RAAFNo. 3 Squadron RAAFNo. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. It was first formed in 1916 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales.-World War I:...
Royal New Zealand Air Force
- 485 (NZ) SquadronNo. 485 Squadron RNZAFNo. 485 Squadron was a Spitfire squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War. It was the first RNZAF squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served in Europe under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.-History:Manned by New Zealand...
(fighter, fighter-bomber) - 486 (NZ) SquadronNo. 486 Squadron RNZAF486 Squadron was a fighter squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War. It was formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served in Europe under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.Second World War....
(fighter-bomber, fighter) - 487 (NZ) SquadronNo. 487 Squadron RNZAFNo. 487 Squadron was a Royal New Zealand Air Force bomber squadron, formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. It served in the European theatre during World War II, under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.-History:No...
(fighter-bomber) - 488 (NZ) SquadronNo. 488 Squadron RNZAF488 Squadron was the name given to two distinct Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons during the Second World War. Both were formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served under the operational command of the Royal Air Force....
(fighter/night Fighter) - 489 (NZ) Squadron (Coastal Command: torpedo, anti-shipping)
- 490 (NZ) SquadronNo. 490 Squadron RNZAF490 Squadron was formed from pilots of the Royal New Zealand Air Force under RAF Coastal Command as an anti-submarine and reconnaissance unit.-History:...
(Coastal Command: flying boat)
(As stated above, No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF
No. 75 Squadron RNZAF
No. 75 Squadron RNZAF was an air combat squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It was formed from the RAF's World War II bomber squadron, No. 75 Squadron, which had been initially equipped by the New Zealand government and was largely manned by New Zealanders...
, a heavy bomber unit, while it was made up of RNZAF aircrews, was not officially an Article XV squadron.)
See also
- List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
- List of Royal Australian Air Force aircraft squadrons
- List of Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft squadrons
- List of Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft squadrons