402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron (french: links=no, 402
e Escadron) is a
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 ...
squadron
Squadron may refer to:
* Squadron (army), a military unit of cavalry, tanks, or equivalent subdivided into troops or tank companies
* Squadron (aviation), a military unit that consists of three or four flights with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, ...
based in
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...
, Manitoba, Canada
Pre-war history
402 Squadron began on 5 October 1932 as Number 12 Army Co-operation Squadron, a unit of the non-permanent active Air Force. During the early years, meetings were held in Minto Armories, while flying facilities were based at Stevenson Field, now
Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport
Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (commonly known as Winnipeg International Airport or Winnipeg Airport) is a Transport Canada designated international airport located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is the seventh b ...
. The aircraft flown included a number of
Avro Tutor
The Avro Type 621 Tutor is a two-seat British radial-engined biplane from the interwar period. It was a simple but rugged basic trainer (aircraft), trainer that was used by the Royal Air Force as well as many other air arms worldwide.
Design ...
s,
de Havilland Gipsy Moth
The de Havilland DH.60 Moth is a 1920s British two-seat touring and training aircraft that was developed into a series of aircraft by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.
Development
The DH.60 was developed from the larger DH.51 biplane. ...
s and a few other light aircraft. On 15 November 1937, No. 12 Army Cooperation Squadron was renumbered No. 112 Army Cooperation Squadron, flying a variety of aircraft types including the
Avro 626
The Avro 626 is a single-engined British biplane trainer aircraft produced by Avro during the (1918-1939) inter-war period.
Design and development
The Model 626 was developed by Avro from the company's Model 621 (Tutor) for export to smalle ...
and
de Havilland Tiger Moth
The de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s British biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and other operators as a primary trainer aircraft. ...
.
[McNorgan 2007, p. 25.]
The Second World War
![Supermarine Spitfire Mk](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Supermarine_Spitfire_Mk.Vb%2C_Private_JP6859844.jpg)
After the outbreak of
war
War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
, No. 112 Squadron was sent to Ottawa in February 1940, and re-equipped with the
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander is a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft that was used immediately before and during the Second World War.
After becoming obsolete in the army co-operation role, the aircraft's ...
, stocks of which were left behind when No. 110 Squadron was posted overseas. The squadron was likewise sent to Europe on 30 June 1940 with the intention to have No. 112 Squadron become part of the
British Expeditionary Force but the decision was made that Army Co-operation squadrons were not needed in France, and the squadron was re-deployed to coastal defence duties in England.
On 11 December 1940, the squadron was re-designated
No. 2 Squadron RCAF and equipped with the
Hawker Hurricane Mk. I. Finally, in March 1941, while stationed at
RAF Digby
Royal Air Force Digby otherwise known as RAF Digby is a Royal Air Force station located near Scopwick and south east of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Lincoln, in Lincolnshire, England. The station is home to the tri-service Joint Service Signals Organi ...
, Lincolnshire, England the squadron was renumbered as No. 402 Squadron RCAF to comply with Article XV and re-equipped with the
Hurricane Mk. II the following May and then Hurricane Mk.IIBs in June. With these, it began training to become the first "Hurribomber" unit, commencing operations in this role in November 1941, carrying pairs of 250 lb bombs beneath the wings.
In March 1942, the Squadron resumed its fighter role moving to
RAF Colerne
Royal Air Force Colerne or more simply RAF Colerne is a former Royal Air Force station which was on the outskirts of the village of Colerne in Wiltshire, England, and was in use from 1939 to 1976.
The site is now known as Azimghur Barracks and ...
and converting to
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Grif ...
Mk.Vbs. Cross-Channel Ramrod and Rodeo
sortie
A sortie (from the French word meaning ''exit'' or from Latin root ''surgere'' meaning to "rise up") is a deployment or dispatch of one military unit, be it an aircraft, ship, or troops, from a strongpoint. The term originated in siege warfare. ...
s from various bases followed, notably
RAF Kenley
The former Royal Air Force Station Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley was an airfield station of the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War and the RAF in the Second World War. It played a significant role during the Battle of Britain ...
and
RAF Redhill
Redhill Aerodrome is an operational general aviation aerodrome located south-east of Redhill, Surrey, England, in green belt land.
Redhill Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P421) that allows flights for the public transport of p ...
, until August when it received
Spitfire Mk.IXs, employing these over
Dieppe
Dieppe (; Norman: ''Dgieppe'') is a coastal commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region of northern France.
Dieppe is a seaport on the English Channel at the mouth of the river Arques. A regular ferry service runs to Newha ...
on 19 August 1942.
A move to
RAF Digby
Royal Air Force Digby otherwise known as RAF Digby is a Royal Air Force station located near Scopwick and south east of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Lincoln, in Lincolnshire, England. The station is home to the tri-service Joint Service Signals Organi ...
in March 1943, brought a return to Spitfire Mk.Vs, which were flown from a variety of airfields right up to and during the
Battle of Normandy
Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 (D-Day) with the Norma ...
, when it operated from a temporary airfield at
Horne, Westhampnett (now
Chichester/Goodwood Airport
Chichester/Goodwood Airport , normally referred to as Goodwood Airfield or Goodwood Aerodrome is located north northeast of Chichester, West Sussex, England.
Chichester (Goodwood) Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P781) that allow ...
) and
RAF Merston
Royal Air Force Merston or more simply RAF Merston is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located in West Sussex, England.
History
RAF Merston was built In May 1941, as a grass airfield satellite to the neighbouring RAF Tangmere. The si ...
. For
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allies of World War II, Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Front (World War II), Western Europe during World War II. The operat ...
(the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944) it operated as part of
Air Defence of Great Britain
The Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB) was a RAF command comprising substantial army and RAF elements responsible for the air defence of the British Isles. It lasted from 1925, following recommendations that the RAF take control of homeland air ...
, though under the operational control of
RAF Second Tactical Air Force
The RAF Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF) was one of three tactical air forces within the Royal Air Force (RAF) during and after the Second World War. It was made up of squadrons and personnel from the RAF, other British Commonwealth air forces, ...
mainly in a
fighter-bomber
A fighter-bomber is a fighter aircraft that has been modified, or used primarily, as a light bomber or attack aircraft. It differs from bomber and attack aircraft primarily in its origins, as a fighter that has been adapted into other roles, wh ...
role. Spitfire Mk.IXs were again received in July, but their stay was brief, as in early August 1944, a move was made to
Hawkinge
Hawkinge ( ) is a town and civil parish in the Folkestone and Hythe district of Kent, England. The original village of Hawkinge is actually just less than a mile (c. 1.3 km) due east of the present village centre; the village of Hawkinge wa ...
where the Squadron re-equipped with the
Griffon-engine Spitfire Mk. XIVs and operations against the
V-1 flying bomb
The V-1 flying bomb (german: Vergeltungswaffe 1 "Vengeance Weapon 1") was an early cruise missile. Its official Ministry of Aviation (Nazi Germany), Reich Aviation Ministry () designation was Fi 103. It was also known to the Allies as the buz ...
s were commenced, with five victories confirmed.
Following a change back to operations over Europe on 25 August 1944, including reconnaissance and bomber escort, 402 continued to see regular action against
Luftwaffe
The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
aircraft; 19 victories being claimed in April 1945 alone.
At the end of September 1944, the Squadron was posted to the
2nd Tactical Air Force
The RAF Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF) was one of three tactical air forces within the Royal Air Force (RAF) during and after the Second World War. It was made up of squadrons and personnel from the RAF, other British Commonwealth air forces, ...
(TAF) in
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
, joining
No. 125 Wing RCAF. A move to
Grave
A grave is a location where a dead body (typically that of a human, although sometimes that of an animal) is buried or interred after a funeral. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as grave ...
in the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
followed where the first victories were claimed over
Nijmegen
Nijmegen (;; Spanish and it, Nimega. Nijmeegs: ''Nimwèège'' ) is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland and tenth largest of the Netherlands as a whole, located on the Waal river close to the German border. It is about 6 ...
on 6 October 1944. In December, the Squadron joined
No. 126 Wing RCAF
No. 126 Wing RCAF is a former Royal Canadian Air Force Wing (military unit), wing that was operational during the World War II, Second World War.
Second World War
No. 126 (RCAF) (Fighter) Wing RAF was formed on 12 May 1944 at RAF Tangmere within ...
to fly alongside the Wing's Spitfire Mk. IXs. The ending of the hostilities found the unit on German soil at
Wunstorf
Wunstorf () is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approximately 22 km west of Hanover. The following localities belong to the town of Wunstorf: Blumenau (with Liethe), Bokeloh, Großenheidorn, Idensen ...
with total victories for the war of 49½ aircraft. The code letters carried by the Squadron during this period were "AE". The Squadron disbanded at
RAF Fassberg Fassberg or Faßberg may refer to
* Faßberg – a municipality in the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany
* RAF Fassberg – a Royal Air Force air base between 1945 and 1957 in the vicinity of Faßberg
* Faßberg Air Base
Faßberg Air Ba ...
, Germany on 10 July 1945.
Wartime aircraft
* Hurricane Mk.I (April 1941 – May 1941)
* Hurricane Mk.IIa (May 1941 – April 1942)
* Hurricane Mk.IIb (June 1941 – April 1942)
* Spitfire Mk.Vb (April 1942 – May 1942)
* Spitfire Mk.IXc (May 1942 – April 1943)
* Spitfire Mk.Vc (April 1943 – June 1944)
* Spitfire Mk.IXc (July 1944 – August 1944)
* Spitfire Mk.XIVe (August 1944 – June 1945)
*
Spitfire XVI (June 1945 – July 1945)
Spitfire XIX E (Kill recorded by S/Lt K.S. Sleep Feb 8 1945 over Coesfeld, Germany)
The Cold War
The squadron was re-formed as 402 (Fighter Bomber) Squadron on 15 April 1946,
North American Harvard
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air forces ...
Mk. II trainers initially in preparation for a transition to a new role. For two years, parading two nights each week and on weekends, in addition to ground training on a variety of subjects, including lectures on jet aircraft and engines, 402 carried out air training on Harvards. For a short period, the
de Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito is a British twin-engined, shoulder-winged, multirole combat aircraft, introduced during the Second World War. Unusual in that its frame was constructed mostly of wood, it was nicknamed the "Wooden Wonder", or ...
was considered as the squadron's new aircraft, but eventually 402 converted to a fighter role on 1 March 1947, equipped with
de Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland Vampire is a British jet fighter which was developed and manufactured by the de Havilland, de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was the second jet fighter to be operated by the Royal Air Force, RAF, after the Gloster Meteor, and ...
F.3s. With the arrival of the Vampire, in addition to interception and tactical training exercises, 402 Squadron took part in many air shows. On 18 September 1950, the title "City of Winnipeg" was added to the squadron name.
During the early postwar years, a large part of 402 Squadron's training was conducted in the form of summer camps held throughout western Canada. In 1951, it was converted to a fighter-bomber squadron, the squadron receiving the
North American Mustang Mk. IV (P-51D series). November 1954 saw the delivery of the first
Canadair
Canadair Ltd. was a civil and military aircraft manufacturer in Canada. In 1986, its assets were acquired by Bombardier Aerospace, the aviation division of Canadian transport conglomerate Bombardier Inc.
Canadair's origins lie in the establishm ...
Silver Star Mk. III to 402 Squadron in anticipation of a switch to this type which could be operated as an armed version of the standard trainer. The Mustang, However, was retained until its retirement in 1957.
In 1957, the squadron changed from a fighter-bomber role to become 402 "City of Winnipeg" (Transport) Squadron, initially equipped with eight
Beech CT-128 (C-45) Expeditors. In April 1960, the Squadron was equipped with two
de Havilland Canada CSR-123 (DHC-3 Otter) aircraft. The Otter proved to be a highly versatile aircraft and greatly increased the scope of squadron operations. On 1 April 1961, 402 Squadron was transferred to Air Transport Command. This change brought the additional responsibility of the provision of regular service flights from Winnipeg, west to
Saskatoon
Saskatoon () is the largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It straddles a bend in the South Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province. It is located along the Trans-Canada Hig ...
, Saskatchewan, as well as to many northern points. By 1964, two additional Otters had been added to the Squadron inventory.
Unification
The squadron's name was changed in 1969 to 402 Air Reserve Squadron based at
CFB Winnipeg
Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg , (CFB Winnipeg) is a Royal Canadian Air Force base located within the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Co-located at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, CFB Winnipeg is home to many flight opera ...
. By that point, a further two Otters had joined the fleet for a total of six. Tragically, in early summer 1974, an Otter was lost in a fatal crash, that claimed the life of Captain Jack Reeve. The following year, the Squadron traded their Otters for
Douglas CC-129 Dakotas (C-47A/B Skytrain). Initially receiving five out of storage; by 1980, the squadron would be operating nine examples of the venerable Dakota in the light transport,
search and rescue
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
operations, support for the Canadian Forces
SkyHawks Parachute Team
The SkyHawks are the Canadian Forces Parachute Demonstration Team. Based at CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario, they are a sub-unit of the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre (CAAWC).
The team consists of both permanent members and temporary me ...
,
Air Cadet familiarization and
VIP
A very important person or personage (VIP or V.I.P.) is a person who is accorded special privileges due to their high social status, influence or importance. The term was not common until sometime after World War 2 by RAF pilots.
Examples incl ...
transport roles, becoming the last unit in the Canadian Forces to fly the type.
The present
In the late 1980s, the name changed to 402 "City of Winnipeg" Transport and Training Sqn. with the
de Havilland Canada CC/CT-142 Dash 8 used to provide light transport and training for the Canadian Forces Air Navigation School (CFANS). In 2000, the two CC-142 Dash 8 light transport aircraft were retired and sold into the private sector in 2002, leaving 402 operating only the CT-142 Dash 8s, affectionately nicknamed "Gonzo" operating in the air navigation training role.
[McNorgan 2007, p. 192.] By June 2009, and the changing demands of air forces worldwide, the training was adapted to include AESOPs (Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators) as well as Air Navigators now being called ACSOs (Air Combat Systems Officers). With the change in the trade name, CFANS became 1 Canadian Forces Flight Training School (1CFFTS). 402 Sqn and 1CFFTS continued to work together to provide ab-initio training. In 2014, 1CFFTS was amalgamated into 402 Sqn, who took over the full training syllabus alongside the aircraft maintenance and pilot employment. 402 Sqn. continues the long tradition of training Commonwealth partners from the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, as well as NATO allies from Germany and Norway. The program has further expanded to include, among others, Singapore and South Korea.
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
* Butt, Bob. ''The Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Forces Dakota: 1943 – From Debutante to Matriarch''. Winnipeg: Media One Productions, 1989. (bilingual)
* Delve, Ken. ''D-Day: The Air Battle''. London: Arms & Armour Press, 1994. .
* Kostenuk, Samuel and Griffin, John. ''RCAF Squadron Histories and Aircraft: 1924–1968.'' Toronto: Samuel Stevens, Hakkert & Company, 1977. .
* Krall, Dean. ''402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron History: 60th Anniversary''. Winnipeg: CFB Winnipeg, 1992.
* McNorgan, Pat, ed. ''402 'City of Winnipeg' Squadron History''. Winnipeg: 402 Squadron Association, 2007. .
* McNorgan, Pat and Patrick, Robert W. ''402 City of Winnipeg Squadron History 70th Anniversary 1932–2002''. Winnipeg: 402 Squadron, 2002.
* Zwickel, R.A. ''City of Winnipeg 402 Squadron 1932–1974''. Winnipeg: 402 Air Reserve Squadron, 1974.
External links
*
Squadron lineageSquadron history from canadianwings.com
{{RCAF Squadrons
Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons
Military units and formations of Canada in World War II
Canadian Article XV squadrons of World War II