No. 39 Wing RCAF was a unit of the
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
which served with the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
in Europe during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
History
No. 39 Wing was established on 12 September 1942 as an "Army Cooperation" Wing at Leatherhead, Surrey, England.
It comprised
No. 400 Squadron RCAF
The numero sign or numero symbol, №, (also represented as Nº, No, No. or no.), is a typographic abbreviation of the word ''number''(''s'') indicating ordinal numeration, especially in names and titles. For example, using the numero sign, t ...
,
No. 414 Squadron RCAF
No. 414 Squadron RCAF is a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron. It is currently located in Ottawa and conducts electronic warfare support training for other units in the Canadian Armed Forces.
History
World War II
On 13 August 1941, No 414 Army ...
, and
No. 430 Squadron RCAF
The numero sign or numero symbol, №, (also represented as Nº, No, No. or no.), is a typographic abbreviation of the word ''number''(''s'') indicating ordinal numeration, especially in names and titles. For example, using the numero sign, t ...
. As a reconnaissance unit, its purpose was to gather photographic intelligence in support of allied ground operations.
The Wing left the UK and moved to the European continent on 2 July 1944 at Sommervieu, France.
The Wing moved ever eastward following the front and finished the war at airfield B156 Luneburg, Germany where it was finally disbanded.
Aircraft
*
Curtiss Tomahawk I (1942–1943)
*
North American Mustang I (1942–1945)
*
Supermarine Spitfire LF IX (1944–1945)
*
de Havilland Mosquito PR XVI (1943–1945)
Commanding Officers
*G/C D.M. Smith, 12 Sep 42 – 9 Feb 44
*G/C E.H.G. Moncrieff AFC, 10 Feb 44 – 8 Feb 45
*G/C G.H. Sellers, AFC, 9 Feb 45 – 15 May 45
*G/C R.C.A. Waddell, DSO DFC, 16 May 45 – 7 Aug 45
See also
*
List of Wings of the Royal Air Force
References
Citations
Units and formations of the Royal Canadian Air Force
RCAF 039
N
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
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