No. 162 Squadron RCAF
Encyclopedia
| 162 Osprey Squadron | ||
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Squadron badge |
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| Information | ||
| Role | Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron | |
| Base | Yarmouth, Nova Scotia; Reykjavik, Iceland; Wick Scotland; Sydney, Nova Scotia | |
| Motto | Sectabimur usque per ima. (We will hunt them even through the lowest deeps) | |
| Call Sign | ||
| History | ||
| Date founded | May 19, 1942 | |
| Date disbanded | August 7, 1945 | |
| Badge> | ||
| Notable Battle Honours | North-West Atlantic Battle of the St. Lawrence The Battle of the St. Lawrence involved a number of submarine and anti-submarine actions throughout the lower St. Lawrence River and the entire Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Strait of Belle Isle and Cabot Strait from May-October 1942, September 1943, and again in October-November 1944... |
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Formed as a Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron at RCAF Station Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
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...
on May 19, 1942 with Canso A aircraft, the squadron spent an uneventful eighteen months on East Coast anti-submarine duty. In January 1944 it was lent to RAF Coastal Command and stationed at RAF Reykjavik, 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...
to cover the mid-ocean portion of the North Atlantic shipping route.
During June and July, the squadron operated from RAF Wick, 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 scored a series of brilliant successes by sinking four German submarines, and sharing a fifth, that were attempting to break through the North Transit Area to attack the Allied D-Day invasion fleet. In one of these engagements F/L D.E. Hornell
David Ernest Hornell
David Ernest Hornell, VC was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
won the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for attacking and sinking U-1225 despite withering anti-aircraft fire from the U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
.
No. 162 Squadron is notable because it was one of the few squadrons that was not renumbered in the 400-series for overseas deployment as were most RCAF units.
No. 162(BR) Squadron was the RCAF's most successful anti-submarine squadron during the Second World War with five U-boats destroyed, one shared sinking and one U-boat damaged.
The squadron flew the Canso during its entire operational career. From the beginning of operations until the end of the war, the squadron flew 2100 sorties and lost 6 aircraft.
The Squadron was disbanded at Sydney, Nova Scotia on August 7, 1945.
A Canso at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is a Canadian aviation museum located at the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport near Hamilton, Ontario. The museum has 36 military jets, propeller-driven aircraft and helicopters on display....
is restored in the markings and colors of No. 162 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force The museum is located in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
.