No. 405 Squadron
Badge: An eagle’s head erased faced to the sinister and holding in the beak a sprig of maple
Motto: Ducimus (we lead)
Authority: King George VI, September 1946
Formed as a Maritime Reconnaissance unit at Greenwood, Nova Scotia on 31 March 1950, and redesignated Maritime Patrol on 17 July 1956, the squadron was the first of four formed in Maritime Air Command, and the first to fly Lancaster, Neptune and Argus aircraft on East Coast maritime duty. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces.
Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 405 (MR) Sqn, Greenwood, N.S. 31 Mar 50 (1). Redesignated No. 405 (MP) Sqn 17 Jul 56. Integrated into CAF 1 Feb 68.
Nickname: “Eagle” (2)
Commanders
- W/C D.T. French, DFC 31 Mar 50 – 31 Jul 50 KIFA (3).
- W/C A.G. Kenyon, CD 18 Aug 51 – 2 Oct 51.
- W/C W.P. Pleasance, DFC and Bar, CD 28 Jan 52 – 29 Jun 52.
- W/C J.E. Creeper, DFC, CD 30 Jun 52 – 14 Aug 54.
- W/C E.J. Smith, CD 15 Aug 54 – 14 Jan 56.
- W/C J.C. Mulvihill, AFC, CD 21 Jan 56 – 16 Jul 58.
- W/C C. Torontow, AFC, CD 17 Jul 58 – 14 Jul 61.
- W/C J.F. Drake, AFC, CD 15 Jul 61 – 8 Sep 64.
- W/C A. Lehn, CD 2 Dec 64 – 4 Aug 66.
- W/C W.M. Houser, CD 5 Aug 66 – 31 Jan 68.
Higher Formations and Squadron Location
Maritime Air Command,
Canadian Forces Maritime Command (17 Jan 66):
- Greenwood, N.S. 31 Mar 50 – 31 Jan 68.
Representative Aircraft (Unit Code 1946-51 AG, 1951-58 VN)
Avro Lancaster Mk.X (Apr SO – Nov 55)
- FM173 AF-F FM213 AG-J FM223 AF-O FM229 AG-R KB857 AG-N KB868 AG-S KB920 AF-A KB929 AG-B KB946 AG-D KB950 AG-L KB964 AG-H KB997 AG-M
Lockheed Neptune (Mar 55 – 1958)
- 24112 24119 24121 24123
Canadair CP-107 Argus Mk.1 & 2 (Aug 58 – Jan 68)
- 20713 20717 20728 20741
(1) An order for the formation of a No. 405 (Bomber reconnaissance) Squadron was issued on 1 April 1947, then amended to 1 October 1947, then cancelled
(2) Also adopted by No. 423 AW(F) Squadron
(3) Killed while on a resupply mission to Alert, Northwest Territories, in Lancaster KB965.
