410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron
| 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron | |
|---|---|
410 Squadron banner
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| Active |
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| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Type | Tactical fighter operational training |
| Size | One squadron |
| Part of | 4 Wing Cold Lake |
| Garrison/HQ | Cold Lake, Alberta |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Noctivaga (Wandering by night) |
| Battle honours |
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| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Colonel St-Amand J.P.J., CD |
| Insignia | |
| Emblem |  |
| Shoulder Patch |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | CF-18 Hornet |
410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron (French: 410e Escadron d'entraînement opérationnel à l'appui tactique), nicknamed the "Cougars", is a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft squadron currently located at Canada's primary training base for the CF-18 (Canadian Forces version of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet), at Cold Lake, Alberta. The squadron was formed during the Second World War as an RCAF squadron under the Royal Air Force (RAF), at RAF Ayr, near Prestwick, in Scotland.
The first official sortie of No. 410 Squadron was from RAF Drem, East Lothian, Scotland, on the night of 4 June 1942, when twelve Beaufighter crews took off, and it went on to become the top-scoring night fighter squadron in the RAF Second Tactical Air Force during the period between D-Day and VE-Day.
No. 410 Squadron supported the Allied forces during the Normandy Landings and the Battle of the Bulge, flew nightly patrols during this time and many of its pilots gained ace status. Two members of No. 410 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant (F/L) Currie and Flying Officer (F/O) Rose, were the first members of the RCAF to see the German V-2 rocket in flight.
The squadron was disbanded in 1964 but reformed again in 1968.
As No. 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron, the squadron usually trains between 20 and 22 pilots a year on the CF-18, more than any other RCAF squadron. The Canadian documentary television series Jetstream was filmed with the squadron in 2007 and showed what trainees must endure to become fighter pilots.
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Wikipedia