No. 432 Squadron RCAF

No. 432 Squadron RCAF
432 All Weather Fighter Squadron RCAF

Aircrew and groundcrew of No. 432 (Leaside) Squadron, with one of the squadron's Handley Page B.III aircraft in England, May 1944
Active 1943–1945
1954–1961
Country Canada
Branch Royal Canadian Air Force
Role Strategic bombing (1943–1945)
Fighter-interceptor (1954–1961)
Part of No. 6 Group RCAF (1943–1945)
Motto(s) Saeviter ad Lucem
("Ferociously towards the light")
Battle honours
  • English Channel & North Sea 1943
  • Fortress Europe 1944–1945
  • France and Germany 1944–1945
  • Biscay Ports 1944
  • Ruhr 1943–1945
  • Berlin 1943–1944
  • German Ports 1943–1945
  • Normandy 1944
  • Rhine, Biscay 1943
Insignia
Squadron Code QO (1943–1945)
Squadron Badge Argent in front of a full moon Argent a Cougar leaping downwards Sable armed and langued Gules.
Aircraft flown
Bomber Vickers Wellington Mk.X
Avro Lancaster Mk.II
Handley Page Halifax Mk.III & VII (1943–1945)
Fighter Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck (1954–1961)

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 RAF Skipton-on-Swale in May 1943, as part of No. 6 Group of RAF Bomber Command. The unit was equipped with Wellington Mk.X bombers.[1]

The squadron deployed to RAF East Moor in mid-September, equipping with Lancaster Mk.IIs in October. In February 1944 they changed to Halifax Mk.IIIs, upgrading these to Halifax Mk.VIIs in July.[1][2]

As part of a Royal Canadian Air Force public relations plan, the town of Leaside officially "adopted" No. 432 Squadron RCAF. Formed and adopted on 1 May 1943 the squadron took the town's name as its nickname, becoming 432 "Leaside" Squadron RCAF. The sponsorship lasted the duration of the war.[3]

The squadron was disbanded at East Moor in May, 1945.[1]

On October 1, 1954, it was reformed as a fighter squadron at CFB Bagotville flying the Canadian designed Avro CF-100. The squadron was again disbanded on October 15, 1961.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "RAF Bomber Command No.432 (Leaside) Squadron". raf.mod.uk. 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  2. ↑ McNeill, Ross (March 1999). "No.432 (Leaside) Squadron RCAF". rafcommands.com. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  3. ↑ Fletcher, Mark (2013). "An Unimaginable Task : Vintage Wings of Canada". vintagewings.ca. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  4. ↑ "No. 432 Squadron, Canadian Air Force". canadianwings.com. 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
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