406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = No. 406 Squadron RCAF
| image = No._406_Squadron_RCAF_badge.jpg
| caption =
| dates = 1941–1945
1947–1964
1972–present
| country = {{CAN}}
| allegiance =
| branch = {{flagicon|CAN|air force}} Royal Canadian Air Force
| type =
| role = Night interception (1941–1944)
Ground attack (1944–1945)
Tactical bombing/army co-operation (1947–1958)
Light transport/Search & Rescue (1958–1964)
Helicopter training (1972–present)
| size =
| command_structure = 12 Wing
| garrison = CFB Shearwater
| garrison_label = Home base
| nickname = Lynx Squadron
| patron =
| motto = We Kill By Night
| colors =
| colors_label =
| march =
| mascot =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles =
| anniversaries =
| decorations =
| battle_honours = {{Plainlist|
- Defence of Britain 1941–1945
- English Channel & North Sea
- Fortress Europe 1943–1944
- France and Germany 1944–1945
- Rhine Biscay Ports 1944
- Normandy 1944
- Biscay 1944
}}
| disbanded =
| commander1 =
| commander1_label =
| commander2 =
| commander2_label =
| commander3 =
| commander3_label =
| notable_commanders =
| identification_symbol = HU (1941–1945)
| identification_symbol_label = Squadron Code
| identification_symbol_2 = Lynx saliente affronte
| identification_symbol_2_label = Squadron Badge
| identification_symbol_3 =
| identification_symbol_3_label =
| identification_symbol_4 =
| identification_symbol_4_label =
| aircraft_attack =
| aircraft_bomber = B-25 Mitchell (1947–58)
| aircraft_electronic =
| aircraft_fighter = Blenheim (1941)
Beaufighter (1941–1944)
Mosquito (1944–1945)
| aircraft_helicopter = CH-124 Sea King (1972–2016)
Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone (2016–present)
| aircraft_patrol = CP-121 Tracker (1972–1981)
| aircraft_recon = Harvard
T-33 Silver Star (1947–1958)
| aircraft_transport = C-45 Expeditor
CSR-123 Otter (1958–1964)
}}
406 "City of Saskatoon" Maritime Operational Training Squadron is a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) unit of the Canadian Armed Forces. Based at 12 Wing Shearwater since 1972, it is responsible for crew training on the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone since summer of 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/squadron/406-squadron.page|title = 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron | Royal Canadian Air Force|date = 30 April 2013}} The squadron was formed during World War II as part of RAF Fighter Command.
History
The squadron was formed as No. 406 Squadron RCAF at RAF Acklington on 5 May 1941, as part of No. 12 Group of Fighter Command to operate as night fighters. The squadron was equipped with Blenheim Mk.IF heavy fighters, re-equipping with the improved Beaufighter Mk.IIF the next month. They operated out of several airfields in the United Kingdom, changing to the Beaufighter Mk.VIF in mid-1942, and receiving the Mosquito Mk.XII night-fighter during April 1944. They upgraded to the Mosquito Mk.XXX in July 1944, and operated this aircraft for the remainder of the war.{{cite web |url= http://www.canadianwings.com/Squadrons/squadronDetail.php?No.-406-Squadron-65 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140716093617/http://www.canadianwings.com/Squadrons/squadronDetail.php?No.-406-Squadron-65 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 16 July 2014 |title=No. 406 Squadron, Canadian Air Force |work=canadianwings.com |year=2013 |access-date=9 September 2013}} In November 1944 it was renamed No. 406 (Intruder) Squadron to carry out daylight offensive operations over mainland Europe.{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/406_squadron_rcaf.html |title=406 Squadron, RCAF |first=Stewart |last=Mein |encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan |year=2013 |access-date=9 September 2013}} In June 1945 the squadron was posted to RAF Predannack in Cornwall, where it disbanded in August 1945.{{cite web |url=http://www.rafcommands.com/Fighter/406F.html |title=No. 406 (Lynx) Squadron RCAF |first=Ross |last=McNeill |work=rafcommands.com |date=May 1999 |access-date=9 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911084733/http://www.rafcommands.com/Fighter/406F.html |archive-date=11 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}
The unit was reformed as a reserve unit, 406 Tactical Bomber Squadron (Auxiliary) on 1 April 1947 at RCAF Station Saskatoon. It flew B-25 Mitchell light bombers, and also Harvard and T-33 Silver Star aircraft for army co-operation duties. It was redesignated 406 (Light Bomber) Squadron on 1 April 1949,{{cite web |url= http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/ol-lo/vol-tom-4/1315-eng.asp |title=406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron |work=CMP Directorate of History and Heritage |year=2013 |access-date=10 September 2013}} and adopted the title City of Saskatoon in September 1952.
In March 1958 under the name 406 Squadron, it was re-equipped with C-45 Expeditor and CSR-123 Otter aircraft, and assigned to a light transport and emergency rescue role. The squadron was disbanded again on 1 April 1964.
The squadron was reformed for a third time at CFB Shearwater on 12 July 1972 as the 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron, operating the CH-124 Sea King helicopter and the CP-121 Tracker ASW aircraft. In mid-1981, the operational Tracker squadron, 880 Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron, was transferred CFB Summerside, which left 406 Squadron only responsible for Sea King training. It currently provides trained air and ground crews for 423 and 443 Maritime Helicopter squadrons.{{cite web |url= http://www.shearwateraviationmuseum.ns.ca/squadrons/406sqn.htm |title=No.406 (HT) Squadron |work=Shearwater Aviation Museum |year=2011 |access-date=10 September 2013}} Around 200 to 300 students graduate from 406 Squadron courses each year.{{cite web |url=http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/12-wing/406-squadron.page |title=406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron |work=Royal Canadian Air Force |year=2013 |access-date=9 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926095220/http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/12-wing/406-squadron.page |archive-date=26 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Cite book |title= The R.C.A.F. Overseas : The Fifth Year | publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Toronto |date=1945 |url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/RCAF_Overseas_vol2_e.pdf }} (Official history of RCAF operations, 1944)
- {{Cite book |title= The R.C.A.F. Overseas : The Sixth Year | publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Toronto |date=1949 |url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/RCAF_Overseas_vol3_e.pdf }} (Official history of RCAF operations, 1945)
- {{Cite book|title=Air Interception Radar in World War II Night Fighter Aircraft |first=Horace R. |last=Macaulay | chapter=Life in a Night Fighter Squadron |date=2000 |url=http://www.rquirk.com/cdnradar/cor/chapter10.pdf }} (Account by a radar technician of life in 406 Sqn, 1941–45.)
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{{Canadian Forces Air Command units}}
{{Canadian Forces Air Command}}
{{RCAF Squadrons}}
{{Canadian Forces}}
Category:Canadian Forces aircraft squadrons