No. 406 Squadron RCAF
Encyclopedia
| 406 City of Saskatoon Squadron | ||
|---|---|---|
| Squadron badge |
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| Information | ||
| Role | Training | |
| Aircraft flown | Bristol Blenheim Bristol Blenheim The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter... , Bristol Beaufighter Bristol Beaufighter The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design... , de Havilland Mosquito De Havilland Mosquito The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"... , North American Harvard, Beech CT-128 (C-45) Expeditor, North American B-25 Mitchell B-25 Mitchell The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named... , Canadair (Lockheed) CT-33 Silver Star, de Havilland CC-123 (DHC-3) Otter, de Havilland (Grumman) CP-121 Tracker, CH-124 Sea King H-3 Sea King The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King is a twin-engined anti-submarine warfare helicopter. It served with the United States Navy and other forces, and continues to serve in many countries around the world. The Sea King has been built under license in Italy and Japan, and in the United Kingdom as the... |
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| Wing | 12 Wing | |
| Base | CFB Shearwater CFB Shearwater Canadian Forces Base Shearwater , commonly referred to as CFB Shearwater, was a Canadian Forces Base located in Shearwater, Nova Scotia on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour in the Halifax Regional Municipality.... |
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| Motto | WE KILL BY NIGHT | |
| Call Sign | ||
| History | ||
| Date founded | May, 1941 | |
| Badge | 406 "Lynx" Squadron badge depicts a lynx leaping out at one. The lynx, an animal possessing keen night vision typifies the unit's operational role as a night fighter squadron. | |
| Notable Battle Honours | Defence of Britain 1941-45, English Channel and North Sea 1944, Fortress Europe 1943-44, France and Germany 1944-45, Biscay Ports 1944, Normandy 1944, Rhine | |
| Previous Designation | ||
406 "City of Saskatoon" Maritime Operational Training Squadron is an 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...
unit with 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 12 Wing Shearwater
CFB Shearwater
Canadian Forces Base Shearwater , commonly referred to as CFB Shearwater, was a Canadian Forces Base located in Shearwater, Nova Scotia on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour in the Halifax Regional Municipality....
it is responsible for crew training on the Sea King
H-3 Sea King
The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King is a twin-engined anti-submarine warfare helicopter. It served with the United States Navy and other forces, and continues to serve in many countries around the world. The Sea King has been built under license in Italy and Japan, and in the United Kingdom as the...
. The squadron was originally an 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) unit flying with RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
.
History
It was first formed at AcklingtonRAF Acklington
The former Royal Air Force Station Acklington, commonly known as RAF Acklington, was a Royal Air Force airfield airbase situated near Acklington, in Northumberland, England....
in May 1941, as part of No. 13 Group
No. 13 Group RAF
No. 13 Group was a group in the Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century. It is most famous for having the responsibility for defending the North of Great Britain during the Battle of Britain-World War I:...
of Fighter Command. The unit was equipped with Blenheim If
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
heavy fighters, re-equipping with the improved Beaufighter IIf
Bristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
the next month. They operated out of several bases in the United Kingdom, changing to the Beaufighter VIf in mid-1942, and receiving the Mosquito XII
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
night-fighter in April 1944. They upgraded to the Mosquito XXX in July, and operated this aircraft for the remainder of the war.
In June 1945, they transferred to RAF Predannack in Cornwall, where the squadron disbanded in August.
Reformed as a reserve (auxiliary) squadron in April 1947. It was based at Saskatoon and adopted title City of Saskatoon. The squadron was disbanded again on 1 April 1964.
Reformed at CFB Shearwater on July 12, 1972 as the Maritime Helicopter Operational Training Squadron operating the CH-124 Sea King
H-3 Sea King
The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King is a twin-engined anti-submarine warfare helicopter. It served with the United States Navy and other forces, and continues to serve in many countries around the world. The Sea King has been built under license in Italy and Japan, and in the United Kingdom as the...
helicopters.