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...

 existed from 1924 to 1968, later designated Canadian Forces Air Command under 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."...

, and then renamed to its original historic name of Royal Canadian Air Force in 2011. These are the squadrons

Squadron (aviation)

A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...

 that have served with Canada's air force since 1924.

Early squadrons

These early squadron numbers have a history going back to the post-First World War Canadian Air Force

Canadian Air Force (1918-1920)

The Canadian Air Force was a contingent of two Canadian air force squadrons - one fighter and one bomber - authorized by the British Air Ministry in August 1918 during the close of the First World War...

 which disbanded in 1920. These units were formed after the creation of the RCAF in 1924.

• No. 1 Squadron RCAF
  No. 1 Squadron RCAF
  No. 1 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force was formed as a fighter unit at Trenton, Ontario on 21 September 1937 with Siskin aircraft. The squadron was formed from the Fighter Flight of No. 3 Squadron. In August 1938, the squadron moved to Calgary, Alberta and was re-equipped with Hawker Hurricane...
  
  
• No. 2 Squadron RCAF
• No. 3 Squadron RCAF
• No. 4 Squadron RCAF
• No. 5 Squadron RCAF
• No. 6 Squadron RCAF
• No. 7 Squadron RCAF

• No. 8 Squadron RCAF
  No. 8 Squadron RCAF
  -References:NotesBibliography* Kostenuk, S. and J. Griffin. RCAF Squadron Histories and Aircraft: 1924–1968. Toronto: Samuel Stevens, Hakkert & Company, 1977. ISBN 0-88866-577-6....
  
  
• No. 9 Squadron RCAF
• No. 10 Squadron RCAF
  No. 10 Squadron RCAF
  No. 10 Squadron RCAF was a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron that was active during the Second World War. It was primarily used in an anti-submarine role and was based on the east coast of Canada and Newfoundland. It established the RCAF record for attacks on U-boats with 22 and was successful in...
  
  
• No. 11 Squadron RCAF
• No. 12 Squadron RCAF
  No. 412 Squadron RCAF
  No. 412 Transport Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force is one of 3 transport squadrons attached to CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. This squadron, however, is based out of Ottawa, Ontario. It had formerly been attached to CFB Ottawa, which closed in 1994. The squadron operates with a strength...
  
  
• No. 13 Squadron RCAF
  No. 413 Squadron RCAF
  413 Transport and Rescue Squadron is an air force squadron of the Canadian Forces. It was originally a flying boat squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War...
  
  
• No. 14 Squadron RCAF
  No. 442 Squadron RCAF
  442 Transport and Rescue Squadron is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force of the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Comox on Vancouver Island it provides Search and Rescue coverage for the West Coast of Canada...
  
  
• No. 18 Squadron RCAF
  No. 438 Squadron RCAF
  438 "City of Montreal" Tactical Helicopter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the CH-146 Griffon tactical helicopter from CFB St. Hubert in Quebec, Canada...
  
  

The 100-series squadrons

Established in Canada in the 1930s most of these units were either disbanded or reassigned a 400 series number for overseas service.

• No. 110 Squadron RCAF
  No. 400 Squadron RCAF
  400 "City of Toronto" Tactical Helicopter and Training Squadron is part of 1 Wing, and as such a lodger unit of Canadian Forces Base Borden. The squadron operates the CH-146 Griffon.-History:...
  
  
• No. 111 Squadron RCAF
• No. 112 Squadron RCAF
  No. 402 Squadron RCAF
  402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron is about to be renamed , as a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada-Pre-war history:...
  
  
• No. 113 Squadron RCAF
• No. 114 Squadron RCAF
• No. 115 Squadron RCAF
  No. 115 Squadron RCAF
  No. 115 Squadron was a Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian Home War Establishment Squadron.-Equipment:*Bristol Bolingbroke I *Bristol Bolingbroke IV *Lockheed Ventura GR.V...
  
  
• No. 116 Squadron RCAF
• No. 117 Squadron RCAF
• No. 118 Squadron RCAF
• No. 119 Squadron RCAF
  No. 119 Squadron RCAF
  -History:RCAF Canadian Home War Establishment Squadron.Tasked with anti-submarine duty over the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Ocean around Nova Scotia.Disbanded 15 March 1944-Equipment:*Northrop Delta...
  
  
• No. 120 Squadron RCAF
• No. 121 Squadron RCAF
• No. 122 Squadron RCAF
• No. 123 Squadron RCAF
  No. 439 Squadron RCAF
  No. 439 Squadron RCAF was a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, formed during World War II.439 Fighter Bomber Squadron was formed on December 31, 1943, at Wellingore, England, incorporating Aircraft and personnel from 123 Army Co-operation Squadron. They spent the war in England, France, Belgium,...
  
  
• No. 124 Squadron RCAF
• No. 125 Squadron RCAF
• No. 126 Squadron RCAF
• No. 127 Squadron RCAF
  No. 443 Squadron RCAF
  443 "City of New Westminster" Maritime Helicopter Squadron is a Canadian Forces helicopter squadron under Royal Canadian Air Force, located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia...
  
  
• No. 128 Squadron RCAF
• No. 129 Squadron RCAF

• No. 130 Squadron RCAF
• No. 131 Squadron RCAF
• No. 132 Squadron RCAF
• No. 133 Squadron RCAF
• No. 134 Squadron RCAF
• No. 135 Squadron RCAF
• No. 145 Squadron RCAF
• No. 147 Squadron RCAF
  No. 147 Squadron RCAF
  -References:NotesBibliography* Kostenuk, S. and J. Griffin. RCAF Squadron Histories and Aircraft: 1924–1968. Toronto: Samuel Stevens, Hakkert & Company, 1977. ISBN 0-88866-577-6....
  
  
• No. 149 Squadron RCAF
• No. 160 Squadron RCAF
• No. 161 Squadron RCAF
• No. 162 Squadron RCAF
  No. 162 Squadron RCAF
  Formed as a Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron at RCAF Station Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada on May 19, 1942 with Canso A aircraft, the squadron spent an uneventful eighteen months on East Coast anti-submarine duty...
  
  
• No. 163 Squadron RCAF
• No. 164 Squadron RCAF
  No. 164 Squadron RCAF
  No. 164 Squadron was a transportation squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force that formed at Moncton, New Brunswick in January 1943. It was the primary source of crews and aircraft for airlift within Canada....
  
  
• No. 165 Squadron RCAF
• No. 166 Squadron RCAF
• No. 167 Squadron RCAF
• No. 168 Squadron RCAF
• No. 170 Squadron RCAF

The 400-series squadrons

During the Second World War, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...

 set out co-operation between the various British Commonwealth

Commonwealth 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 forces. Under Article XV of the plan, RCAF squadrons were attached to and/or formed within British RAF

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

 operational formations. These squadrons were known as 'Article XV squadrons

Article XV squadrons

Article XV squadrons were Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand air force squadrons formed from graduates of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , during World War II....

'. To avoid confusion with squadron numbers of other Commonwealth squadrons, RCAF units were assigned squadron numbers from 400-449. Not all squadrons up No. 449 were formed, however. This squadron series continued through the post-war years, and the majority of current 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...

 operational squadrons are still numbered in the 400s due to their legacy as wartime units. For this historical reason current squadrons are listed here with their original RCAF names.

• No. 400 Squadron RCAF
  No. 400 Squadron RCAF
  400 "City of Toronto" Tactical Helicopter and Training Squadron is part of 1 Wing, and as such a lodger unit of Canadian Forces Base Borden. The squadron operates the CH-146 Griffon.-History:...
  
  
• No. 401 Squadron RCAF
• No. 402 Squadron RCAF
  No. 402 Squadron RCAF
  402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron is about to be renamed , as a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada-Pre-war history:...
  
  
• No. 403 Squadron RCAF
• No. 404 Squadron RCAF
  No. 404 Squadron RCAF
  404 Maritime Patrol and Training Squadron is a long range patrol and training squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron was originally No. 404 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force .-History:...
  
  
• No. 405 Squadron RCAF
  No. 405 Squadron RCAF
  405 Maritime Patrol Squadron is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force within the Canadian Forces, initially formed as No. 405 Squadron RCAF during the Second World War.-World War II:...
  
  
• No. 406 Squadron RCAF
  No. 406 Squadron RCAF
  406 "City of Saskatoon" Maritime Operational Training Squadron is an air force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at 12 Wing Shearwater it is responsible for crew training on the Sea King. The squadron was originally an Royal Canadian Air Force unit flying with RAF Fighter Command.-History:It...
  
  
• No. 407 Squadron RCAF
  No. 407 Squadron RCAF
  407 Long Range Patrol Squadron is a long range & maritime patrol squadron of the Canadian Forces. It is located at 19 Wing Comox, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia operating the CP-140 Aurora.-History:No...
  
  
• No. 408 Squadron RCAF
• No. 409 Squadron RCAF
  No. 409 Squadron RCAF
  409 Tactical Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the CF-18 Hornet from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada.-History:...
  
  
• No. 410 Squadron RCAF
  No. 410 Squadron RCAF
  410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron, nicknamed the "Cougars", is a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft squadron currently located at Canada's primary training base for the CF-18 , at Cold Lake, Alberta...
  
  
• No. 411 Squadron RCAF
  No. 411 Squadron RCAF
  No. 411 "City of York" Squadron RCAF was a Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force squadron that operated as part of RAF Fighter Command in Europe with the Supermarine Spitfire. -History:...
  
  
• No. 412 Squadron RCAF
  No. 412 Squadron RCAF
  No. 412 Transport Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force is one of 3 transport squadrons attached to CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. This squadron, however, is based out of Ottawa, Ontario. It had formerly been attached to CFB Ottawa, which closed in 1994. The squadron operates with a strength...
  
  
• No. 413 Squadron RCAF
  No. 413 Squadron RCAF
  413 Transport and Rescue Squadron is an air force squadron of the Canadian Forces. It was originally a flying boat squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War...
  
  
• No. 414 Squadron RCAF
  No. 414 Squadron RCAF
  No. 414 Squadron RCAF was a squadron associated with the Royal Canadian Air Force and later with Canadian Forces Air Command.-History:On 13 August 1941, No 414 Army Co-operation Squadron was formed at RAF Croydon, England, flying Lysander and Curtis Tomahawk aircraft. On 28 June 1943 the...
  
  
• No. 415 Squadron RCAF
  No. 415 Squadron RCAF
  No. 415 Squadron RCAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force that first saw service during the Second World War. After unification of Canada's armed forces in 1968, the squadron continued to provide service within the Canadian Forces....
  
  
• No. 416 Squadron RCAF
  No. 416 Squadron RCAF
  416 "City of Oshawa" Tactical Fighter Squadron was a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operated the CF-188 Hornet fighter jet from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada...
  
  
• No. 417 Squadron RCAF
  No. 417 Squadron RCAF
  417 Combat Support Squadron is an Air Force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Cold Lake it provides helicopter support to the base operations. Since 1994, it has also provided Search and Rescue.-History:...
  
  
• No. 418 Squadron RCAF
  No. 418 Squadron RCAF
  No. 418 "City of Edmonton" Squadron RCAF was a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, formed during World War II....
  
  
• No. 419 Squadron RCAF
  No. 419 Squadron RCAF
  419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron is an air force unit with the Canadian Forces. The squadron was originally formed during the Second World War as part of the Royal Canadian Air Force...
  
  
• No. 420 Squadron RCAF
  No. 420 Squadron RCAF
  No. 420 "City of London" Squadron RCAF was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force which existed from late December 1941 forwards. The Squadron's nickname was "Snowy Owl". Their motto was Pugnamus Finitum, Latin for We Fight To The Finish. No. 420 Squadron is no longer active.-History:No...
  
  
• No. 421 Squadron RCAF
  No. 421 Squadron RCAF
  No. 421 Squadron RCAF was a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, formed during World War II....
  
  

• No. 422 Squadron RCAF
  No. 422 Squadron RCAF
  No. 422 Squadron RCAF was a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, formed during World War II.422 General Reconnaissance Squadron formed at RAF Castle Archdale near Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, in April 1942. It was a flying-boat squadron, flying PBY Catalinas and Short Sunderlands to patrol the...
  
  
• No. 423 Squadron RCAF
  No. 423 Squadron RCAF
  423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. It currently operates the Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King from CFB Shearwater in Nova Scotia, Canada.-History:...
  
  
• No. 424 Squadron RCAF
  No. 424 Squadron RCAF
  424 "City of Hamilton" Transport and Rescue Squadron is a search and rescue/transport squadron of the Canadian Forces and based out of 9 Hangar with 8 Wing CFB Trenton.-History:...
  
  
• No. 425 Squadron RCAF
  No. 425 Squadron RCAF
  425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, also "Alouette" Squadron, is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. It operates CF-188 Hornet fighter jets from CFB Bagotville in Quebec, Canada...
  
  
• No. 426 Squadron RCAF
  No. 426 Squadron RCAF
  426 Transport Training Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force, located at CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. It originated as a squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force that fought during the Second World War as a bomber squadron.The motto of the squadron is "On...
  
  
• No. 427 Squadron RCAF
• No. 428 Squadron RCAF
  No. 428 Squadron RCAF
  No. 428 Squadron RCAF, also known as 428 Bomber Squadron, and 428 Ghost Squadron, was a bomber squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Throughout its service in the Second World War the squadron was based in England and flew bombing missions against the enemy. After the end of the war the...
  
  
• No. 429 Squadron RCAF
  No. 429 Squadron RCAF
  429 Transport Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force is one of three transport squadrons attached to CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. The squadron was originally formed as a bomber squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force attached to RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War.-History:The...
  
  
• No. 430 Squadron RCAF
  No. 430 Squadron RCAF
  430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. It operates Bell CH-146 Griffons from CFB Valcartier, near Quebec City in Quebec, Canada.-History:...
  
  
• No. 431 Squadron RCAF
• No. 432 Squadron RCAF
  No. 432 Squadron RCAF
  No. 432 Squadron RCAF was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force formed during the Second World War.-History:It was first formed at Skipton-on-Swale in May 1943, as part of No. 6 Group of RAF Bomber Command. The unit was equipped with Wellington X bombers.The squadron deployed to RAF East Moor...
  
  
• No. 433 Squadron RCAF
  No. 433 Squadron RCAF
  433 Tactical Fighter Squadron was a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. It operated CF-188 Hornet fighter jets from CFB Bagotville in Quebec, Canada....
  
  
• No. 434 Squadron RCAF
  No. 434 Squadron RCAF
  No. 434 Squadron was a Royal Canadian Air Force bomber squadron that flew bombing operations over Europe during World War II and was later a post-war fighter and combat support unit. It was last disbanded in 2000.-Second World War:...
  
  
• No. 435 Squadron RCAF
  No. 435 Squadron RCAF
  435 Transport and Rescue Squadron is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.-Operations:The squadron flies the CC-130 Hercules H-model tanker/transport in the airlift and search and rescue roles...
  
  
• No. 436 Squadron RCAF
  No. 436 Squadron RCAF
  436 Transport Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under the Royal Canadian Air Force. It currently operates the CC-130J Super Hercules from CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario.-History:...
  
  
• No. 437 Squadron RCAF
  No. 437 Squadron RCAF
  437 Transport Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under the Royal Canadian Air Force, based at CFB Trenton in Ontario. The unit operates the CC-150 Polaris, and is responsible for long range military and VIP transportation .-History:437 Squadron was formed at Blakehill Farm in Wiltshire,...
  
  
• No. 438 Squadron RCAF
  No. 438 Squadron RCAF
  438 "City of Montreal" Tactical Helicopter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the CH-146 Griffon tactical helicopter from CFB St. Hubert in Quebec, Canada...
  
  
• No. 439 Squadron RCAF
  No. 439 Squadron RCAF
  No. 439 Squadron RCAF was a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, formed during World War II.439 Fighter Bomber Squadron was formed on December 31, 1943, at Wellingore, England, incorporating Aircraft and personnel from 123 Army Co-operation Squadron. They spent the war in England, France, Belgium,...
  
  
• No. 440 Squadron RCAF
  No. 440 Squadron RCAF
  No. 440 "City of Ottawa" Transport Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under the Royal Canadian Air Force. It is part of 17 Wing and Joint Task Force North located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories....
  
  
• No. 441 Squadron RCAF
• No. 442 Squadron RCAF
  No. 442 Squadron RCAF
  442 Transport and Rescue Squadron is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force of the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Comox on Vancouver Island it provides Search and Rescue coverage for the West Coast of Canada...
  
  
• No. 443 Squadron RCAF
  No. 443 Squadron RCAF
  443 "City of New Westminster" Maritime Helicopter Squadron is a Canadian Forces helicopter squadron under Royal Canadian Air Force, located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia...
  
  

The 600-series squadrons

During the Second World War pilots who served in the 600-series RCAF squadrons were recruited from the Royal Canadian Artillery in England and Italy, and trained to fly at 22 E.F.T.S. Cambridge (England), completing their operational flying training at 43 O.T.U. (RAF Andover

RAF Andover

Andover Airfield is a former Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force station. The ICAO code for the airfield is EGWA and the IATA code is ADV...

). Observers were trained at Larkhill

Larkhill

Larkhill is a garrison town in the civil parish of Durrington, Wiltshire, England. It is a short distance west of Durrington village proper and north of the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge. It is about north of Salisbury....

 (England); these were selected 'Other Ranks' from 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...

 and Royal Canadian Artillery. The three Canadian 'Air Observation Post' squadrons operated under the command of 70 Group, 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...

; the first two squadrons saw action while serving with 84 Group, Second Tactical Air Force.

• No. 664 Squadron RCAF
  No. 664 Squadron RCAF
  No. 664 "Air Observation Post" Squadron, RCAF was formed in England during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, with select British artillery pilots briefly seconded to assist in squadron formation.-History:The...
  
  
• No. 665 Squadron RCAF
  No. 665 Squadron RCAF
  No. 665 "Air Observation Post" Squadron, RCAF was formed in England during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, with select British artillery pilots briefly seconded to assist in squadron formation...
  
  
• No. 666 Squadron RCAF
  No. 666 Squadron RCAF
  No. 666 Squadron RCAF was originally an RCAF Air Observation Post squadron formed during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel.-History:...
  
  

Post-war squadrons

Subsequent to the Second World War the RCAF expanded their squadron numbers to include 444-450. No. 450 was also a Royal Australian Air Force

Royal Australian Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...

 squadron during the war and the Canadian squadron duplicated the number by error, which was discovered when No. 450 Squadron RCAF was formed in 1968.

• No. 444 Squadron RCAF
• No. 445 Squadron RCAF
• No. 446 Squadron RCAF
• No. 447 Squadron RCAF
• No. 448 Squadron RCAF
• No. 449 Squadron RCAF
• No. 450 Squadron RCAF

Other squadrons

• No. 103 Search and Rescue Flight RCAF
  103 Search and Rescue Squadron
  103 Search and Rescue Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force is a search and rescue unit based at 9 Wing Gander on the Canadian island of Newfoundland. The squadron is responsible for a large area covering the offshore waters of Canada's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Atlantic ocean and inland...
  
  - This unit was operational in the RCAF from 1947-1968. It was reactivated in 1977 by the Canadian Forces and redesignated a squadron in 1997.