21 Squadron, flying Blenheim IVs, played a prominent part in No. [15][2] In May 1940, during the Battle of France it began daylight attacks on advancing German columns in the Low Countries and France, flying its first mission of the campaign on 11 May, when 11 Blenheims attacked a bridge at Maastricht for no result except for two Blenheims shot down and eight damaged. Return to footnote 1 referrer. Toujours à propos. Second Tactical Air Force: No. 21 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1915 and was disbanded for the last time in 1979. No. 1 Squadron moves to Calgary, Alberta, as part of Western Air Command. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Royal_Canadian_Air_Force_squadrons Once qualified, he was posted to 21 Aerospace Control & Warning Squadron (21 AC&W Sqn) at 22 Wing as both a Weapons Director (WD) and a Senior Director (SD). The naming of DK186 - "L" London (From official 427 RCAF Squadron Log) 13/5/43. Croft, Yorks. No. During the early part of the war, No. No.21 Squadron, S.A.A.F., was formed in Kenya on 8 May 1941, where it received its Martin Marylands. However, due the BE12s poor performance the squadron still continued to carry out bombing … 17 (RCAF) Sector (21 Apr 44, disbanded 13 Jul 44), No. 413 Squadron. Middleton St. George, Durham. 211 Squadron RAF in two world wars, as recorded at the time and as later recalled by surviving members. No. In 2013, with the launch of the Sapphire satellite (Canada’s first military satellite), members of 21 AC&W Sqn  commenced staffing of the Sensor System Operations Centre tracking, identifying and cataloguing objects in space including satellites and debris within a range of 5,500 km to 55,000 km contributing millions of observations to the US Space Surveillance Network. Today, it is the operational unit performing the Canadian Aerospace Control and Warning mission using the Battle Control System Fixed system. No. It flew its first operational mission using the Ventura, a low-level attack by three aircraft on railway lines near Hengelo in the Netherlands, on 3 November. [2] On one day, 7 June 1917, at the beginning of the Battle of Messines, its artillery spotting was responsible for putting 72 German batteries out of action. A 21 Squadron navigator in 1941 was Sergeant Phillip Felton who wrote to Colin Waugh about his career in the RAF and involvement in raids of the period; “I joined… Posted in 1941, 21 Squadron, memories | Leave a comment. In April 1918, 21 Squadron were based at Saint Inglevert. [12][17] Back in Norfolk the squadron began regular low-level attacks on enemy shipping. It was disbanded following defence cuts on 31 March 1976. In 1963, it became part of the Semi-Automated Ground Environment system and became North Bay's Alternate Command Post and Automated Back-up Interceptor Control Unit. It moved to Kenya in September that year, being based at RAF Eastleigh, Nairobi. 6 (RCAF) Group, Dalton, Yorks. The elephant head represents the squadron’s operations from Ceylon, while the motto suggests its functions. In April 1946, the squadron relocated to RAAF Base Amberley and in December 1947, No. 1 Wing Air Reserve Flight; 2 Wing Bagotville May 29th Z-DK140 – Wuppertal. At the end of 1941 the squadron moved to Malta to attack Italian shipping. You could also do it yourself at any point in time. The squadron operated army cooperation aircraft from 1935, and upon the outbreak of World War II was selected for overseas duty. Wing, and would retain this identity for the next few years. A history of No. Higher Formations and Squadron Locations. No. August 1938: No. Higher Formations and Squadron Locations. [13] On 1 January 1939, the squadron rejoined 2 Group, and moved to RAF Watton in Norfolk on 2 March 1939.[14]. Air Defence Great Britain: No. 23. No. Bomber Command: No. 4 Group, Leeming, Yorks. just outside Toronto on 1 October 1950. [16] From June to October 1940 the squadron operated from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland to attack German shipping off the coast of Norway and to deter any German invasion across the North Sea. With the withdrawal of British forces from Aden the squadron was disbanded on 9 September 1967. [23][24][a], The squadron's last formation was on 3 February 1969, when the Western Communications Squadron was re-designated at RAF Andover. 78 Squadron in Aden renumbered as No. With its complement of approximately 200 personnel that includes Regular, Reserve and United States Air Force personnel, the Squadron maintains air sovereignty over Canadian airspace, monitors Canada's surveillance assets and controls assigned aircraft. No. Would you like Wikipedia to always look as professional and up-to-date? Footnote 2. Formed at Dalton on 7th November, 1942, 428 “Ghost” Squadron became a unit of No. No. 13 Aug 42 – 17 Aug 42. That's it. [10][11] The squadron moved to RAF Lympne in Kent in November 1936. Disbanded on 14 March 1942. The following day, 22nd January, 401 squadron, RCAF had one last party at Kenley before their move to Catterick.. "All ranks participated in a Squadron dinner in the new Airmen's Mess. On the outbreak of war 21 Squadron was based at Watton, Norfolk. 6 (RCAF) Group, No. No. Date Events in 1939; 17 February: A detachment from No. 411 Squadron was reformed as an auxiliary fighter squadron at RCAF Station Downsview Ont. 22. 4 Group, Dalton, Yorks. 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (CH-146 Griffon) (at Saint-Hubert, Que.) It initially operated in the Army role, which involved bombing and long range reconnaissance, but in August the demand for fighter squadrons saw 21 re-equipping with BE12s for this role. Bomber Command: No. 17 Wing Winnipeg : Comprises three squadrons and six schools. 21 Squadron RAAF is a Royal Australian Air Force general reserve squadron. On the same day a new 21 Squadron was formed at RAF Bodney, still with the Blenheim, but re-equipped a few months later with the Lockheed Ventura. 21 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1915 and was disbanded for the last time in 1979. Formation again on 1 May 1959 at RAF Benson saw a completely different role for the squadron: it was equipped with the Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer as a light transport squadron. Like many bomber squadrons it had a quiet start to the war, but that ended in May 1940 with the German invasion of the Low Countries. In July the squadron moved to Egypt, where in mid-September it joined Nos.12 and 24 Squadrons, S.A.A.F., in No.261 Wing. Jack McQueen Update to KB754 The F/L Harry Cave Crew in Photos ADDED in May 2020 Flirting With Disaster ADDED in April 2020 F/O Bruce D.Croxton DFC Updates to Halifax JD971 ADDED in March 2020 Future 419 … 2 Group on 1 August that year but transferred again, this time to No. It was known as “RCAF” to distinguish itself from the RAF’s No. [2] The main role for its R.E.7s was reconnaissance,[2] while it also operated small numbers of Bristol Scout Ds[3] and a single Martinsyde G.100 as escort fighters. 115 Squadron (Auxiliary), arrived at its first base in the UK, Middle Wallop, on 21 June 1940. On 21 September 1953 the Squadron was reformed at RAF Scampton as a bomber unit with the English Electric Canberra. It is equipped with Armstrong Whitworth Siskin aircraft. In 1954 the squadron was reformed as 428 All-Weather (Fighter) Squadron … Quite the same Wikipedia. See 406 Squadron. During the invasion the Squadron was flying night intruder attacks against German targets. 18 Aug 42 – 30 Sep 42. 403 Squadron. Badge: A wolfs head erased Motto: Stalk and strike Authority: King George VI, October 1943 The wolf is a fierce and powerful antagonist, indigenous to most parts of Canada. 4 Group. PDF version, 33.8 KB. 21 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed at Netheravon on 23 July 1915, equipped with the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7. No. British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), Historical Orders, Medals and Decorations, Wing Administration and Technical Services Branch, Identify Air Traffic (over 200,000 flights a year), Provide command and control of special air sovereignty incidents, Assist law enforcement agencies with any suspected tracks into North America, Support international defence, domestic operations, and peacekeeping commitments. [10] By August 1938 it began to receive the more modern Bristol Blenheim monoplane and moved to RAF Eastchurch, also in Kent. The squadron was disbanded in Malta on 14 March 1942. [6] In February 1917, the Squadron re-equipped again, receiving the R.E.8, and gave a good account of itself in the Corps Reconnaissance role. An aircraft was lost at Amberley on 19 February 1948, killing all 16 people on board. 8: The R.E.8", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=No._21_Squadron_RAF&oldid=999631401, Military units and formations established in 1915, Military units and formations disestablished in 1979, 1915 establishments in the United Kingdom, Articles with dead external links from February 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking in-text citations from April 2009, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 11 January 2021, at 04:28. The squadron is famous for Operation Jericho on 18 February 1944, when the crews of Mosquitoes breached the walls of a Gestapo prison at Amiens, France, allowing members of the French Resistance to escape. This "do" officially began at 2000 hrs. 1 (RCAF) Squadron, whose pilots were from both a regular force unit and an auxiliary unit, became operational on August 17, 1940. 21 Squadron RAF. Rawlings states that the Kenya-based squadron was disbanded and No. In the following month No.261 was renumbered as No.3 (S.A.A.F.) 4 Jun 43 – 30 May 45. 21) Basil "Black" Mossing 22) Fred "Knobby" Clarke 23) Jack Godfrey 24) Jack Amos 25) Charles "Smokey" Stover 26) Capt. S/L C.D. GO 166/37. [2] It moved to RAF Abbotsinch, Glasgow on 22 July 1936 and transferred to No. Their job is to monitor all radar feeds of air traffic approaching Canadian airspace. The squadron flew on communications, target towing and rescue operations under 'Eastern Air Command'. No lineal connection with '21 Squadron' of 1951-72. 21 as "the best artillery squadron in France".[6]. [22] The squadron turned to night raids on continental Europe; it also carried out precision daylight raids including a notable attack on Gestapo headquarters in Denmark, and involvement in Operation Jericho. It was disbanded on 30 June 1957 at RAF Waddington. In 2005, he moved to Geilenkirchen, Germany, to serve with both 1 Squadron and 2 Squadron at the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) Force E3A Component. 8 Feb 44 – 17 Mar 44. Following the advancing troops the squadron was soon based in Germany until it was disbanded at Utersen on 21 March 1946. We strive to be the best command and control organization – forward looking, ever evolving, and ever present. This website was launched on Easter Sunday 2001, the 60th anniversary of the Squadron’s most unfortunate operation in Greece.. Major additions came to a natural close in 2016 with the 70th and 75th Anniversary updates of March and April. RCAF Patch 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron Escadron ACWS Royal Canadian Air Force Crest Patch Queens Crown 1989 CFB North Bay Embroidered on twill merrowed edge 101mm by 75mm four inches by two and fifteen sixteenth inches. The largest training Wing in the Canadian Forces, 16 Wing's schools offer air force technical training and professional development. [9] After the end of the war the squadron handed over its aircraft to 13 Squadron and was disbanded on 1 October 1919. In Memory of Stan Instone -May 21 2020 In Memory of Albert Wallace -May 30 2020 In Memory of James Eddy January 2020 In Memory of Walter Loucks 2019 F/O Walter "Jock" Smith DFC Sgt. 2 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron was a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) squadron active during the late 1930s. The source code for the WIKI 2 extension is being checked by specialists of the Mozilla Foundation, Google, and Apple. No. 83 (Composite) Group, No. 21 Squadron began to replace its Liberators with Avro Lincoln bombers. It provided courier services between Blackbushe and Nuremberg in support of the Nuremberg Trials before it was disbanded on 7 November 1947. However, a shortage of aircraft forced its disbandment in late 1939 to reinforce two other squadrons. The squadron moved to Aden in June 1965, taking over the Twin Pioneers of No.78 Squadron and supplementing them with Douglas Dakotas and Hawker Siddeley Andovers. It provided transport for senior officers in the western part of the United Kingdom using the Devon and Pembroke. The "Birthplace of the RCAF." It operated in support of the British Army, the King's African Rifles and the Kenyan Police. 1 Squadron forms at Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Station Trenton, Ontario, as a fighter unit. Forming at Netheravon on 23 July 1915, No 21 moved across to France with its RE7s in January 1916. Formed in the mid-1930s as a unit of the part-time Citizen Air Force, it was mobilised for service during World War II, when it saw action against the Japanese as a fighter unit in the Malayan campaign, a dive bomber unit in the New Guinea campaign, and a heavy bomber unit in the Borneo campaign. 10 Nov 42 – 31 Dec 42. It was involved in many overseas detachments and was part of the forces involved in the Suez operation of 1956. 401 Squadron RCAF; Active: 21 September 1937 – 1 March 1941 (as No. 21 Aerospace Control & Warning Squadron (21 AC&W Sqn) was activated at St.Margarets, NB in 1953 with the signing of the Pinetree Agreement. 2 Group's offensive against shipping in the English Channel and the North Sea, and "fringe" targets on the Continent. No. Wing Commander K. L.B. W/C D. Smith: 21 February 1943 – 14 September 1943 (POW)W/C W. Suggitt: 15 September 1943 – 30 October 1943 W/C D. French: 31 October 1943 – 8 May 1944 W/C W. McLeish: 9 May 1944 – 7 August 1944 W/C A. List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "HISTORIC MILITARY AIRCRAFT: No. At the start of the Second World War No.21 Squadron was a light bomber squadron, equipped with newly arrived Blenheim IVs. Badge: In front of a maple leaf an elephant’s head affronte Motto: Ad vigilamus undis (We watch the waves) Authority: King George VI, October 1943. Return to footnote 2 referrer. Hull: 8 August 1944 – 1 January 1945 W/C M. Gall: 2 January 1945 – 2 June 1945. No. When the tests were completed the squadron disbanded on 15 January 1959. The squadron is also staffed by one flight of administration and training personnel (CADS Operations Flight). Two more aircraft tested today. 21 September 1937: No. 144 (RCAF) Wing, Holmsley South, Hants. The squadron was reformed on 3 December 1935 at RAF Bircham Newton as a light bomber squadron equipped with the Hawker Hind biplane. Knobs (O'Reilly's #2) & (Army Liason Officer) Major O'Reilly's dog "Tommie" or "Mustang" (Different memories remember differently, but, it's also possible the dog's name was changed after the squadron got their Mustangs) (a) Was from another RCAF Sq. 428 Squadron RCAF, also known as 428 Bomber Squadron, and 428 Ghost Squadron, was first a night bomber squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force engaged in strategic bombing during World War II, as based in Yorkshire. 21 Squadron. We are indebted to Scott P. M. Godefroy for this wonderful photo of No.401 Squadron RCAF at RAF Kenley on 21st January, 1943. June 11th – Dusseldorf. It had brought its own Hurricanes from Canada, and as these were not fully up to UK standard, the squadron was non-operational until mid-August when it moved to RAF Northolt . After being briefly renamed No. [18][19] It was the first RAF squadron to use the Ventura, moving to RAF Methwold on 1 November. Personnel of 21 AC&W Sqn staff the "nerve center" of the Canadian Air Defence Sector (CADS) from the Sergeant David L. Pitcher building, a 22 Wing state of the art 2-story above ground complex, that was officially opened in October, 2006. No. Just better. To install click the Add extension button. GO 65/37. [12] The Munich crisis saw the squadron mobilise in preparation for war with Germany. 18 Mar 44 – 26 Mar 44. Footnote 3. [19][21] The aircraft was never really suitable for the squadron's activities and they were replaced by October 1943 with the de Havilland Mosquito. How to transfigure the Wikipedia . 21 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1915 and was disbanded for the last time in 1979. In 1988 the unit was disbanded and reformed in North Bay. No. 64 (RCAF) Base, Moved in December 1941 to Malta. [2][25], Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force. [19][20] On 6 December it took part in Operation Oyster, a large-scale attack by 2 Group on the Philips works at Eindhoven, with three of its aircraft being lost. Topcliffe, Yorks. 1 Group on 6 October. A Royal Canadian Air Force squadron fought during the Battle; No. It also provides support to the Central Flying School. 64 (RCAF) Base, Middleton St. George, Yorks. The unit began as a permanent peacetime unit which, augmented by personnel from RCAF No. En route to Canada 31 May 45 – 2 Jun 45. The squadron is famous for Operation Jericho: on 18 February 1944, the crews of de Havilland Mosquitoes breached the walls of a Gestapo prison at Amiens, France, allowing members of the French Resistance to escape. 21. It was known as the 'County of York' squadron, the county in which Toronto was at the time located. [4] Although the R.E.7 was badly underpowered, 21 Squadron used its R.E.7s as bombers during the Battle of the Somme,[5] being the first Squadron to drop 336 lb (153 kg bombs. No. One in particular "L" London has had an emblem painted on the side, depicting a winged lion dropping a bomb. On 1 October 1958, 542 Squadron was re-numbered as 21 Squadron with the Canberra B6, and was detached to Australia in support of trials of nuclear weapons. On the outbreak of the Second World War, the squadron was converting to the Blenheim IV and so was not fully operational, mainly flying reconnaissance missions. 7 Nov 42 – 31 Dec 42. At the end of the war the squadron moved to Nova Scotia before being disbanded in September 1945. 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (CH-146 Griffon) (at Petawawa, Ont.) [6], It discarded its R.E.7s in August 1916, replacing them by single seat Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12s. Footnote 6. Provide surveillance, identification, warning and control of Canadian aerospace, through the use of our national sensor network and airborne assets. After the war, the squadron … Footnotes Footnote 1. After six months of training, the squadron was sent to the France in January 1916. 22 (RCAF) Sector, No. 1 Squadron but in February 1941 it was designated 401 Squadron. 21 Aerospace Control & Warning Squadron (21 AC&W Sqn) was activated at St.Margarets, NB in 1953 with the signing of the Pinetree Agreement. [7] These were used as bombers, and despite being almost useless at the role,[2] as fighters. No 21 Squadron. 1 Oct 42 – 9 Nov 42. Sgt George A. Dvorjetz – Observer In Wing Commander Partridge’s crew, lost on Rotterdam Raid 16th July 1941. Higher Formations and Squadron Locations. Hodson DFC is … 401 Squadron still proves to be made of good mixers, and all agreed it was the best feed for a long time. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron RAAF is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) general reserve squadron. No. The squadron temporarily joined 2 Group on 27 September and moved to RAF Cottesmore, before the end of the crisis on 8 October saw the squadron return to 1 Group and Eastchurch. No.21 Squadron took part in the costly attacks on the advancing Germany columns, before at the end of May moving to Lossiemouth, to join Coastal … 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (CH-147F Chinook) (at Petawawa, Ont.) 12 Group, Digby, Lines. As part of the NORAD team, perform air sovereignty and counter air missions – always ready and able to defend against any and all air threats in the defence of Canada and North America. No. 1 Jan 43 – 3 Jun 43. [8] This led General Trenchard, the commander of the Royal Flying Corps in France, to describe No. June 12th – "L" DK186 – Bochum. In April 1941 the squadron moved to Gander NF but returned to Dartmouth in November 1942 where it was the first RCAF squadron convert to the new Very Long Range Consolidated B-24 Liberators. Within two (2) minutes, they must identify the track through a number of means, including electronic interrogation, flight plan correlation, track behaviour, visual recognition or information from other agencies, ultimately LIVE intercept may have to be conducted. Bricker, DFC 18 Sep 45 – 21 Mar 46. 3 Group, Mildenhall, Suffolk 21 Dec 41 – 12 Aug 42. Operational history The Second World War. 21 Squadron veterans marching in the 2009 Anzac Day march. 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (CH-146 Griffon) (at Valcartier, Que.) 10 (BR) returned to Gander NF on 8 May 1943 where it played an instrumental role in the defeat of the German U-boats. Three members of No. No. Two main duty crews, which include aerospace controllers (AEC) and aerospace control operators (AC Op), conduct operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The Squadron moved to RAF Gutersloh in December 1945. In 1963, it became part of the Semi-Automated Ground Environment system and became North Bay's Alternate Command Post and Automated Back-up Interceptor Control Unit. We will be the right people, in the right place, at the right time – Intruder Beware!