No. 442 Squadron RCAF
Encyclopedia
| 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron | ||
|---|---|---|
 Squadron badge |
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| Information | ||
| Role | Transport and Rescue | |
| Aircraft flown | CH-149 Cormorant CC-115 Buffalo De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo The de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo is a short takeoff and landing utility transport, a turboprop aircraft developed from the earlier piston-powered DHC-4 Caribou... |
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| Wing | 19 Wing | |
| Base | CFB Comox CFB Comox Canadian Forces Base Comox , commonly referred to as CFB Comox, is a Canadian Forces Base located north northeast of Comox, British Columbia. It is primarily operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CP-140 Aurora... |
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| Motto | Un Dieu, une Reine, un Coeur (One God, One Queen, One Heart) | |
| Call Sign | Snake | |
| History | ||
| Date founded | January, 1944 | |
| Badge | A representation on Haietlik Haietlik A mythical water serpent of the Nootka, the name Haietlik means Lightning Snake.According to the legend, the Lightning Snakes were sent off by the Thunderbirds to kill orcas for food. Once he saw a whale, Haietlik attacked it. Haietlik's head was as sharp as a knife and its tongue shot lightning... or Lightning Snake |
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| Notable Battle Honours | Fortress Europe 1944, France and Germany 1944-1945, Normandy 1944, Arnhem, Rhine, Aleutians 1943 | |
| Previous Designation | No.14 Fighter Squadron and 121 Composite Unit | |
442 Transport and Rescue Squadron is a unit of the 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...
of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
. Based at CFB Comox
CFB Comox
Canadian Forces Base Comox , commonly referred to as CFB Comox, is a Canadian Forces Base located north northeast of Comox, British Columbia. It is primarily operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CP-140 Aurora...
on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
it provides Search and Rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
coverage for the West Coast of Canada. The squadron is currently equipped with the CH-149 Cormorant and CC-115 Buffalo
De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
The de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo is a short takeoff and landing utility transport, a turboprop aircraft developed from the earlier piston-powered DHC-4 Caribou...
Squadron history
Beginning as No 14 Squadron RCAF, it transferred to England in January 1944 and became 442 Squadron in keeping with overseas numbering of CommonwealthCommonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
Air Force Units. During the war it was known as the "City of Vancouver" squadron.
During Operation Bodenplatte
Operation Bodenplatte
Operation Bodenplatte launched on 1 January 1945, was an attempt by the Luftwaffe to cripple Allied air forces in the Low Countries during the Second World War. The goal of Bodenplatte was to gain air superiority during the stagnant stage of the Battle of the Bulge, to allow the German Army and...
, 442 Squadron were operating under No. 126 Wing RCAF and were based at Heesch
Heesch
Heesch can refer to:* Heesch a town in the Netherlands in Bernheze mun.;* Heinrich Heesch, a mathematician;* Heesch's problem in mathematics....
air strip. The Hessch strip had been built in October 1944, was likely unknown to the Luftwaffe. It is believed Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
JG 6 had been launched to target Volkel airfield
Volkel Air Base
Volkel Air Base is a military airbase used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force - Dutch: Koninklijke Luchtmacht , and is located near the town of Uden, Noord-Brabant, in the Netherlands. It is home to three F-16 Fighting Falcon squadrons, 311, 312 and 313...
but, as they approached the airfield of Heesch and some pilots assumed it to be Volkel. Fortunately command had dispatched its No. 411 and No. 442 Squadrons on recce missions early that morning so the majority of its units were airborne. Very little damage was done at Heesch.
442 disbanded in England in 1945 following the end of hostilities.
The squadron then reformed at Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
as an Auxiliary (Reserve) Fighter squadron. The Name City of Vancouver was added while stationed at RCAF Station Sea Island (Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about from Downtown Vancouver. In 2010 it was the second busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements and passengers , behind Toronto Pearson International Airport, with non-stop flights daily to...
). It was disbanded in 1964 and reformed at Comox
CFB Comox
Canadian Forces Base Comox , commonly referred to as CFB Comox, is a Canadian Forces Base located north northeast of Comox, British Columbia. It is primarily operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CP-140 Aurora...
as a Search and Rescue squadron. The 442 squadron has served in the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
since then.