No. 419 Squadron RCAF
| 419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active |
|
| Country |
 Canada
|
| Branch | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Role | Tactical fighter training |
| Part of | 15 Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | CFB Cold Lake |
| Motto(s) |
Moosa aswayita (Cree language) ("Beware of the moose") |
| Battle honours |
|
| Website | rcaf-arc |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron badge | Argent a moose attacking proper |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | |
| Fighter | CF-100 Canuck |
| Trainer | |
419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (French: 419e Escadron d'entraînement à l'appui tactique) is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron was originally formed during the Second World War and is currently based at CFB Cold Lake. It is responsible for advanced tactical fighter training for pilots of the RCAF and as part of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program using nine CT-155 Hawk trainers.
No. 419 Bomber Squadron formed at RAF Mildenhall, England in 1941 as part of No. 3 Group, Bomber Command. The squadron moved to RAF Middleton St. George when it became a constituent of 6 Group, Bomber Command, and remained in England until 1945. The squadron operated Vickers Wellington, then Handley Page Halifax and finally Avro Lancaster bombers during this period. It was the third RCAF bomber unit to be formed in England. It started operations in January 1942, converting almost immediately to Wellington Mk IIIs and moving north to Leeming as part of the new 6 Group in August 1942. Here in November it was re-equipped with Halifax Mk IIs, which it flew for the next 18 months on the night offensive against Germany. After three quick moves it settled at Middleton St. George in November and stayed there for the rest of its service in Bomber Command. In April 1944 the squadron began to convert to Avro Lancasters, using the Mk X which was produced in Canada and flown across the Atlantic. The squadron remained continuously on the offensive until 25 April 1945, when it flew its last sortie. Squadron personnel flew a total of 4,325 operational sorties during the war from Mannheim to Nuremberg, Milan to Berlin and Munich to Hanover, inflicting heavy damage on the enemy. As a result of its wartime record, 419 Squadron became one of the most decorated units under the RCAF during the war. Over a span of roughly three-and-a-quarter years it logged 400 operational missions (342 bombing missions, 53 mining excursions, 3 leaflet raids and 1 "spoof") involving 4,325 sorties. One hundred and twenty nine aircraft were lost on these operations.
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Wikipedia