No. 408 Squadron RAF
| 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1941–1945, 1949–present |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Role | Tactical helicopter |
| Part of | 1 Wing Kingston |
| Garrison/HQ | CFB Edmonton |
| Motto(s) | For freedom |
| Battle honours |
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| Website | www |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
Canada goose in profile |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Transport | CH-146 Griffon |
408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (French: 408e Escadron tactique d'hélicoptères) is a unit of 1 Wing, Kingston. It is co-located with 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Edmonton.
Equipped with 16 CH-146 Griffon helicopters, it rotates a high combat-readiness level with 400 Squadron (CFB Borden, Ontario) and 430 Squadron (CFB Valcartier, Quebec). Its primary role is in support of contingency operations and vanguard brigades requiring tactical helicopter resources.
No. 408 Squadron's mandate also includes supporting United Nations and NATO peacekeeping operations, land force training, and support to other government departments. For example, 408 Squadron's eight Griffons were assigned to support the Canadian contingent in the Balkans in 1999. Their job was to ferry small teams of paratroopers, infantrymen, and tankers to certain areas to check out water reservoirs, power grids, suspected weapons caches, minefields, and mass grave sites.
Given the rough terrain in Bosnia, the squadron proved invaluable for conducting aerial reconnaissance, observation, and transportation.
No. 408 Squadron's history dates back to June 24, 1941, when RAF Bomber Command's directive called for the formation of 408 Squadron as part of No. 5 Group RAF. It was to be the second Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) bomber squadron formed overseas. Goose Squadron, as it was to become known, was initially based at RAF Lindholme in Yorkshire, England, and equipped with Handley Page Hampdens. During the war, the Goose Squadron converted aircraft several times. No. 408 would change from Hampden aircraft to the Halifax, and then to the Lancaster in August 1943 after moving to RAF Linton-on-Ouse and becoming part of No. 6 Group.
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