No. 400 Squadron RCAF

No. 400 Squadron RCAF

No. 400 Tactical Helicopter and Training Squadron is part of 1 Wing, and as such a lodger unit of CFB Borden. The squadron currently operates the CH-146 Griffon.

History

The squadron initially formed as No. 10 Army Co-Operation Squadron at Toronto, Ontario on 5 October 1932. On 15 November 1937, it was renumbered No. 110 "City of Toronto" Army Co-Operation Squadron.

The squadron was called out on Active Service 3 September 1939 at the start of the Second World War, and on 15 February departed Halifax for England. There it was re-designated as No. 400 Army Co-Operation Squadron on the 1st of March, 1941 in recognition of the fact it was the first squadron to deploy overseas.

During the war, it flew the Westland Lysander, P-40 Tomahawk, P-51 Mustang, de Havilland Mosquito and Supermarine Spitfire primarily in the armed and unarmed reconnaissance role. Later in the war, the squadron also flew air interdiction operations. At the end of the war, 400 Squadron was disbanded on 7 August 1945, at a captured airfield in Luneburg, Germany.

No. 400 Squadron reformed at RCAF Station Downsview, Toronto on 15 April 1946 as an Auxiliary Fighter-Bomber Squadron operating North American Harvard Mk IIBs commanded by S/L G.W. Gooderman, A.F.C. At the start of the Cold War the squadron flew the de Havilland Vampire Mk IIIs and then F-86 Sabre Mk V aircraft. No. 400 (City of Toronto) Squadron, as part of 2 Air Reserve Wing, first flew Beechcraft Expeditor starting in 1958 and then the DHC Otter in 1960. These aircraft were flown throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

Unification of the Canadian Forces brought about another name change, this time to 400 "City of Toronto" Air Reserve Squadron. In 1980, the conversion to helicopters began with the CH-136 Kiowa. The squadron received its current name in the 1980s, becoming 400 Tactical Helicopter and Training Squadron. The squadron moved to CFB Borden in 1996 and is now equipped with the CH-146 Griffon.

During peacetime, the squadron fulfills 1 Wing commitments by providing operational and training support to Land Force Central Area (LFCA), the defence of Canadian sovereignty, support to national taskings, and support to peacekeeping operations. Its secondary duties are to support AIRCOM's search and rescue operations.

In the unlikely event that the nation mobilizes for war, 400 Tactical Helicopter and Training Squadron will deploy all of its aviation assets, including support equipment, to augment 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron in Petawawa. Those personnel remaining behind will form the core of a forces generation unit.

400 Tactical Helicopter and Training Squadron has an establishment of 237 personnel divided into 6 flights:

* 3 flying flights
* 1 maintenance flight
* 1 administrative support flight
* 1 squadron headquarters flight

The HQ Flight is a conglomeration of the Orderly Room, Finance Section, Medical Section and the 400 Squadron Pipes and Drums Band.

References

On Watch to Strike, History of 400 (City of Toronto) Squadron, 1932 to 1996

External links

* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/1wing/squadron/400_e.asp Squadron History (Government of Canada)]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • No. 401 Squadron RCAF — Active 1 March 1941 10 July 1945 15 April 1946 23 June 1996 Country  Canada A …   Wikipedia

  • No. 162 Squadron RCAF — 162 Osprey Squadron Squadron badge 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… …   Wikipedia

  • 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron — {{{image}}} Squadron badge Information Role Tactical Helicopter and Training Aircraft flown Westland Lysander, P 40 Tomahawk, P 51 Mustang, de Havilland Mosquito, Supermarine Spitfire, North American Harvard, F 86 Sabre, Beechcraft …   Wikipedia

  • 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron — 410 Squadron banner Active 1941–1945 1946–1964 1968–present …   Wikipedia

  • 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron — Active April 1941–September 1945 April 1947–present Country  Canada Branch …   Wikipedia

  • 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron — Squadron badge Information Role Transport and Rescue Aircraft flown C 130 Hercules, CH 149 Cormorant Wing …   Wikipedia

  • 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron — No. 403 Squadron RCAF Active 1941 to Present Country …   Wikipedia

  • 404 Maritime Patrol and Training Squadron — No. 404 Squadron RCAF Four No. 404 Squadron Beaufighters in mid February 1945 Active 1941–1945, 1951–current Country …   Wikipedia

  • 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron — 427 Squadron badge Active 1944 1946 1952 1970 1971 present Country …   Wikipedia

  • No. 664 Squadron RAF — Active 9 December 1944–31 May 1946 1 September 1949–10 March 1957 Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”