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No. 412 Squadron RCAF

412 Transport Squadron
Canadian Forces CC-144 Challenger
Canadian Forces CC-144 Challenger
Active 1941–present
Country Canada
Branch Royal Canadian Air Force
Role VIP transport and general duties
Part of 8 Wing Trenton
Home station CFB Trenton, Ontario
Motto(s) Promptus Ad Vindictam
("Swift to avenge")
Battle honours
  • Defence of Britain 1941–44
  • English Channel and North Sea 1942–43
  • Fortress Europe 1941–44
  • Dieppe
  • France and Germany 1944–45
  • Normandy 1944
  • Arnhem
  • Rhine
Insignia
Squadron Badge A falcon volant
Aircraft flown
Transport CC-144 Challenger

No. 412 Transport Squadron is one of three Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) transport squadrons attached to CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. This squadron, however, is based out of Ottawa, Ontario. It had formerly been attached to CFB Ottawa, which closed in 1994. The squadron operates with a strength of about 29 out of the Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr. Annex. The Annex officially opened on January 11, 1995.

No. 412 Squadron began as a unit of the RCAF during the Second World War.

No. 412 (Transport) Squadron was formed in 1949, but traces its history back to two separate squadrons: Number 12 Communications Flight at RCAF Station Ottawa and 412 (Fighter) Squadron, which was formed at RAF Digby, England on June 30, 1941.

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.

No. 412 Squadron (squadron code 'VZ') was equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire Vb and served at a number of RAF Stations in the United Kingdom In October 1943, the squadron joined RCAF 126 Wing, part of the RAF Second Tactical Air Force. It was re-equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire IXb in November and began operating over northern France in preparation for the Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings. It was during late 1943 that the ace George "Screwball" Beurling scored his last air victory while serving with the squadron.


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