Rcaf wwii record book 417 squadron

Initially equipped with hawker hurricanes, 417 squadron conducted combat patrols against axis aircraft operating over the suez canal. This squadron series continued through the postwar years, and the majority of current royal canadian air force operational squadrons are still numbered in the 400s due to their legacy as wartime units. Combat support squadron is an air force unit with the canadian forces. The combat career of squadron leader bert houle scholars. Media in category 417 squadron rcaf the following 10 files are in this category, out of 10 total. Each wing and each squadron of the rcaf has its own history. Remained in the rcaf until retirement with the rank of group captain. The canadians are very good with their records but if you have any queries about terminology, squadrons etc then please come back and ask.

Subsequent to the second world war the rcaf expanded their squadron. This squadron series continued through the postwar years, and the majority of current royal canadian air force operational squadrons are still numbered in the 400s. While the end of the war brought a considerable relaxation of security. Son with one sister of thomas edward anderson 18941972, and dorothy gertrude alice wright 18931975.

Arrived at dispersal this morning to find all aircraft with their invasion markings painted on them. The names of the officers who reported for duty are clearly mentioned, while. John palmer and his crew arrived at 419 squadron on february 6th. The wings conduct air force operations under the direction of 1 canadian air divisioncanr. The royal canadian air force played a vital role in the second world war, providing thousands of air personnel, ground crew, and aircraft to all theatres. Stuart, your cousins service record will be held by the raf, and 408sqdns operations record books are held at the public records office at kew, london. Those who made entries into the operations record book during this period appear to be show a great disregard for the equality of the airmen who arrived in the squadron. Most units of the royal air force are identified by a two character alphabetical or alpha numeric combination squadron code.

Royal canadian air force rcaf image gallery the memory. One squadron ops flight was made with 11 aircraft against another radar installation near le havre. He recorded 38 victories, though at the time of the photograph his total was 35. If your father was a member of 408 sqn rcaf, could you please provide me some information on when he served and i would be happy to look into the squadron operational records book to see if i can find any information on him.

Second world war canadians in allied flying services. Royal canadian air force officers 19391945 world war ii. In a vain attempt to find any trace of fl oleary p. Fourteen wings are located across canada, from gander, newfoundland, to comox, british columbia. In april 1942, the squadron was sent to egypt to join the desert air force, the only rcaf squadron in that theatre. This data base scroll down to see linked files for downloading was prepared with generous assistance and editing on the part of surgeon commander ex fo. The squadrons most active period was 1944, when assigned to intruder and ranger sorties across occupied europe. Most of these air ministry records date from the second world war but there are. Oct 12, 2019 19391945 the royal canadian air force played a key role in allied victorybetween 1939 and 1945, the royal canadian air force enlisted 232,000 men and 17,000 women and operated 86 squadrons, including 47 overseas tens of thousands of canadian air crew also served with britains royal air force and canadian fighter aircraft participated in the epic battle. The squadron operated army cooperation aircraft from 1935, and upon the outbreak of world war ii was selected for overseas duty. He was an electrician by trade and when he enlisted.

Edmonton aviation heritage society hangar at city centre airport 11410 kingsway avenue edmonton, alberta, canada t5g 0x4 780 451 1175 ext 114. Operation record book 417 squadron rcaf, 14 february. Formed in 1935 with bomber and fighter flights, the squadron took two years to receive its bomber aircraft, after which the fighter flight was expanded into a separate squadron. This airfield was subjected to an attack by enemy antipersonnel bombs at approximately 1100 hrs. My painting is based on the fact and fictional history of no. After the outbreak of world war ii it moved to halifax to provide antiship capability, but was redesignated as a. It was first formed at raf skiptononswale in may 1943, as part of no. In 1939 the rcaf had begun establishing a school for the training in aeroengines, aircraft electricians, air frame fitters and instrument mechanics.

The lineage of the squadron originates with the first. History and heritage of the royal canadian air force and the rcaf reserve, including aircraft and their crew. In world war ii, rcaf iroquois squadron 431 executed 2,584 sorties, dropped 14,004 tons of bombs, lost 72 aircraft, and suffered 490 aircrew causalities, including 3 deaths, and 14 operational personnel deaths. Larry milberry, hugh halliday, the royal canadian air force at war 19391945, 1990.

History of the royal air force in world war ii, in which the raf airfield at winkleigh simply does not exist. Royal air force operations record books 19111963 the national. Since 1994, it has also provided search and rescue. The squadrons beginning in canada during world war ii as the school of army cooperation and later no. After the outbreak of world war ii it moved to halifax to provide antiship capability, but was. Of these 126 men, 49 had been with 111 but 77 were newly assigned and joined the squadron at the wharf in halifax at the time of departure. Royal canadian air force world war ii vintage recruiting poster military art, military. Second world war royal canadian air force association. Briefing north weald, with 403 squadron at 26,000 feet, 222 squadron at 27,000 feet and 121 squadron at 28,000 was told to rendezvous with the debden wing at chatham, who were to be between 22,000 25,000 feet. It was equipped with the hurricane and later the spitfire. This is how air force of canada association summarized his military career. Honorable mentions canadian fighter pilots of wwii.

The squadron was transferred from fighter command to the desert air force and sent to the middle east in june 1942. Here is a list of wings and squadrons, with links to their histories. The microfilm also includes operations record book and orders, from image 965 to image 1034. Operations record book detail of work carried out by no. Supermarine spitfire of no 417 squadron royal canadian air force being cannibalized for. The north weald wing, with 222 squadron on the bottom at 16,000 feet, 403 squadron in the middle at 17,000 feet, and 121 squadron as top cover at 19,000 feet would make rendezvous with the debden and hornchurch wings at bradwell bay at 0730 hours, to cross the. The book is mainly about berts war experience but it does mention fl bob patterson a couple of times. The new squadron formed around a nucleus provided by no. It was initially deployed in egypt and followed the allied advance through the western desert. The rcafs no 417 squadron saw action on a completely different theatre, the mediterranean. Usually, that code is painted on the aircraft belonging to that unit. Formed at charmy down, somersetshire, england on 27 november 1941 as the rcaf s 16th seventh fighter squadron formed overseas, the unit was ordered to the middle east in the spring of 1942.

There have been as many as 79 squadrons at any one time, the most being during the second world war ww2. It was in that capacity that raf and rcaf fighter squadrons were to take part in. The royal canadian air force existed from 1924 to 1968, later designated canadian forces. Post war casualties rcafcf postwar training casualties rcafcf postwar. The royal canadian air force rcaf aircraft fighting the. New book captures the last spitfires in stunning air to. The squadron code is usually presented along with an individual letter or character to form a call sign for the particular aircraft. Where to start looking for rcaf records world war two. Sl jones and fl spires from rcaf headquarters visited the squadron for an inspection as to the general welfare and accommodation of personnel. He flew hurricanes with rcaf 1 squadron then commanded 401 squadron and 411 squadron.

Kit approached us to add this record to the peoples history, complementing our extensive research material which covers over 50,000 rcaf personnel and activities, detailed in our summary of canadian material. Spent much of his operational career in the middle east, malta, sicily, and italy ending on spitfires as co of 417 rcaf squadron. The mightiest and most powerful air forces would soon find themselves short of serviceable aircraft if it were not for members of the ground crew who maintained, repaired and in their eyes owned the aircraft. Only rcaf officers of ranks below air commodore will be shown here. The uboat war in world war two kriegsmarine, 19391945 and world war one kaiserliche marine, 19141918 and the allied efforts to counter the threat. The squadron was to include a fighter flight with the armstrong whitworth siskin. Squadrons are the operational units reporting to the wings.

It flew from a number of different bases, hitting enemy convoys and shipyards. Ground crew completed the job between 1800 hours and 0300 hrs. When a call for help comes in, sar crews at 9 wing gander are ready to head out in any direction from their base in canadas most easterly province, newfoundland. The book has indeed grown over the years with additional histories and photographs of american airmen who left. Ordered into existence on 18 may 1942, 423 squadron was formed up at oban, argyll, on the west coast of scotland. The squadron operated as part of bomber commands main force from 24 june 1941 until the end of the war. Most records were originally encoded with aircraft serial numbers in the format ab 123. These are royal air force raf operations record books orbs, though the.

List of royal canadian air force squadrons wikipedia. Squadron took part in front line patrols again today without incident. He also commanded 417 squadron in northern africa just before coming to 111. Equipped with hurricane and, later, spitfire aircraft, it spent five months in the defence of the suez canal and the nile delta. Not only does the photo have sept 1240 physically written on it ive cropped it out, but otto peterson 2nd from the left was not alive in october, having been kia on 27 september northolt, 12 september 1940. This book was rescued by kit kennard on behalf of the extended kennard family and all those associated with 409 squadron rcaf. Their choice of location was the ontario psychiatac hospital grounds at st. The friends of the canadian war museum 415 swordfish squadron rcaf no. Unfollow rcaf squadron patches to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. To avoid confusion with squadron numbers of other commonwealth squadrons, rcaf units were assigned squadron numbers from 400449. However, a shortage of aircraft forced its disbandment in late 1939 to reinforce two other squadrons. Home of the 103 search and rescue sar squadron, providing fulltime sar services to newfoundland and labrador.