Movatterモバイル変換

Badge **

Motto:    Percussuri vigiles (On the watch to strike)

Squadron Codes used: -

[Aircraft & Markings |Commanding Officers]

For details of this squadron's post war service -click here

It operated from Northolt until October 1940 when it moved to Prestwick in Scotland, moving south again in stages until February 1941 when it arrived at Digby.  It was here in 1 March that No 1 Squadron RCAF was re-numbered No 401.  Operating from Digby until October 1941, it saw little action, but it then moved south to Biggin Hill and remained in No 11 Group carrying out offensive operations until January 1943.

Moving to Catterick the squadron was mainly involved in training as well as coastal patrols for four months before returning to action .  The Squadron had replaced its Hurricanes with Spitfires in September 1941, first Mk IIs and then Mk Vs and later Mk IXs.   Returning south in May 1943 the squadron joined No 83 Group of the 2nd Tactical Air Force in June, still equipped with Spitfire Vbs.  In October it received Spitfire IXs again and began escorting attacks against V-1 sites, as well as training for and conducting sweeps in preparation forOperation Overlord.

From 18 June 1944, the squadron was operating from France, conducting ground attack missions and armed recces.  On 5 October, a squadron patrol met a Messerschmitt Me262 jet and shot it down, the first victory over this type credited to either the RAF or RCAF.  Operations were restricted in the early part of 1945 due to bad weather, but from the end of February it was heavily involved in the offensive until the end of the war.  The squadron received a few Spitfire XIVs in May 1945 but Mk XVIs became standard equipment until the squadron disbanded at Fassberg on 3 July 1945.

Badge **

Motto:    Mors celerrima hostibus (Very swift death for the enemy)

Squadron Codes used: -

[Aircraft & Markings |Commanding Officers]

For details of this squadron's post war service -click here

Equipped with Hurricanes, the squadron became operational at the end of February 1941 and on the first day of March was re-numbered No 402 Squadron, inline with other 'Article XV' units.  Initially it carried out patrols along the East Coast from its base at Digby, moving to Martlesham Heath in June but the following month it was posted to Ayr in Scotland.  Returning to the Rochford in August, it now joined in the offensive over the continent.

During this period the squadron was involved in bomb carrying trials on its Hurricanes and in November began operations in this new role.  In March 1942 the squadron reverted back to the fighter role when it converted to Spitfire VBs and in August Mk IXs.  In March 1943 the squadron returned to Digby, loosing its Mk IXs in the process and for a while trained for possible deployment overseas from a carrier, but this was cancelled. 

Returning south in May 1944 the squadron supported the D-Day landings and received Spitfire IXs in July.  From August the squadron was involved in 'anti-Diver' operations against the V-1 flying bombs, but in September with the threat reduced, the squadron moved to the continent carrying out armed recces and dive-bombing operations until the end of the war.  The squadron disbanded at Fassburg on 2 July 1945.

Motto:    We stand on guard

Squadron Codes used: -

[Aircraft & Markings |Commanding Officers]

For details of this squadron's post war service -click here

Squadron Codes used: -

[Aircraft & Markings |Commanding Officers]

For details of this squadron's post war service -click here

Squadron Codes used: -

[Aircraft & Markings |Commanding Officers]

For details of this squadron's post war service -click here

Squadron Codes used: -

[Aircraft & Markings |Commanding Officers]

For details of this squadron's post war service -click here

Squadron Codes used: -

[Aircraft & Markings |Commanding Officers]

For details of this squadron's post war service -click here

Squadron Codes used: -

[Aircraft & Markings |Commanding Officers]

For details of this squadron's post war service -click here

Squadron Codes used: -

Photographs of the wreck of Hampden AE433 (EQ-D) 0f No 408 Sqn, which crashed at Limburg Holland after being shot down on the night of 8/9 Nov 1941.  Its crew, who were all taken prisoner, being : - P/O E L Houghton RNZAF, P/O J C Monkhouse RCAF, Sgt A J Gallan, Sgt J E Woodward.

[Aircraft & Markings |Commanding Officers]

For details of this squadron's post war service -click here

Squadron Codes used: -

[Aircraft & Markings |Commanding Officers]

For details of this squadron's post war service -click here

Squadron Codes used: -

[Aircraft & Markings |Commanding Officers]

For details of this squadron's post war service -click here

This page was last updated on 17/03/25^©

Organisational Index                                                    Sqns 411 - 420