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| 412 Transport Squadron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1941–present |
| Country |  Canada |
| Branch |  Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Role | VIP transport and general duties |
| Home station | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Mottos | Promptus Ad Vindictam ("Swift to avenge") |
| Battle honours |
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| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | A falcon volant |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Transport | CC-144 Challenger |
No. 412 Transport Squadron is one of threeRoyal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) transport squadrons attached toOttawa,Ontario. The squadron operates with a strength of about 29 out of thePilot OfficerJohn Gillespie Magee, Jr. Annex.The Annex officially opened on January 11, 1995.[1]
No. 412 Squadron began as a unit of the RCAF during theSecond World War.
No. 412 (Transport) Squadron was formed in 1949, but traces its history back to two separate squadrons: Number 12 Communications Flight atRCAF Station Ottawa and 412 (Fighter) Squadron, which was formed atRAF Digby,England on 30 June 1941.[2]
John Gillespie Magee, the author of the famous aviation poem,High Flight, was serving with 412 Squadron when he was killed in a mid-air collision in his Spitfire in 1941.[3]
No. 412 Squadron (squadron code 'VZ'[4]) was equipped with theSupermarine Spitfire Vb and served at a number of RAF Stations in the United Kingdom[4] In October 1943, the squadron joined RCAF 126 Wing, part of theRAF Second Tactical Air Force. It was re-equipped with theSupermarine Spitfire IXb in November and began operating over northern France in preparation forOperation Overlord, theD-Day landings. It was during late 1943 that the aceGeorge "Screwball" Beurling scored his last air victory while serving with the squadron.[5] On July 17, 1944, 412 Squadron pilotCharley Fox seriously injuredField MarshalErwin Rommel during astrafing run.[6]
The squadron was moved to France in June 1944, days after the Allied landings and operated on continental Europe for the remainder of the war. The squadron was based atWunstorf, Germany when the war ended in May 1945,[4] disbanding on 15 March 1946 while atB 174 Utersen,Schleswig-Holstein,Germany.[7]
After the Second World War, Number 12 Communications Flight was reassigned as 412 Squadron on 1 April 1947, and renamed 412 (Composite) Squadron based atRockcliffe. In 1955, the 412 moved toUplands. In the late 1970s a sub-unit was established atCFB Lahr inWest Germany. This operation closed in 1993.
In 1994, CFB Ottawa (Uplands) closed and 412's fleet was moved to a civilian hangar atOttawa International Airport. All aircraft are maintained byTransport Canada on behalf of theCanadian Forces.
Today, 412 (Transport) Squadron provides executive transport for the Office of the Governor General, members of Parliament, high-level government officials, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and foreign VIPs while they are inCanada. 412 (T) Sqn also provides aeromedical evacuation and transport.
Aircraft previously used by 412:
Aircraft currently used by 412:
45°19′21″N075°40′09″W / 45.32250°N 75.66917°W /45.32250; -75.66917 (CYOW)
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1Aircraft administered and serviced by the RCAF but crewed by theRoyal Canadian Artillery. 2 Non-standard code as unit using OW added L. Letters normally denoted parent Command, aircraft type (LLiberator transport, DDakota etc), unit, and individual aircraft. 3 VC .svg) XXA where VC was the civil code used by the RCAF replacing CF-, XX was the unit code and A was the aircraft ID letter4 XX nnn where XX was the unit code and nnn was the last 3 digits of the serial number. Unit code was replaced with "RCAF" in 1958 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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