No. 408 Squadron

Badge: A Canada goose volant

Motto: For Freedom

Authority: King George VI, October 1942

The Canada goose is at home in Canada, England and Scotland; its speed and power of flight are indicative of the operational functions of the Squadron.

Formed as a Photographic unit at Rockcliffe (Ottawa), On­tario on 10 January 1949, the squadron flew modified Lan­caster aircraft equipped with shoran (1) for geodetic control in aerial photography in the far north and Arctic regions of Canada, and Canso, Norseman, Otter and Dakota aircraft to fly in and maintain the ground stations associated with shoran. When this programme was completed, the unit was redesignated Reconnaissance on 18 July 1957 and flew Lan­caster aircraft on Arctic surveillance patrols. In April 1964 it moved to Rivers, Manitoba, was redesignated Transport Support and Area Reconnaissance, and re-equipped with C-119 and Silver Star aircraft. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 408 (P) Sqn, Rockcliffe, Ont. 10 Jan 49. Redesignated No. 408 (R) Sqn 18 Jul 57. Redesignated No. 408 (TS & AR) Sqn, Rivers, Man. 1 May 64. Redesignated No. 408 (TacS & AR) Sqn 15 Mar 66. Integrated into CAF 1 Feb 68.

Nickname: “Goose”

Commanders

• W/C C.L. Olsson, DFC 10 Jan 49 – 19 Nov 50.
• W/C D.J.G. Jackson, CD 20 Nov 50 – 22 Sep 51.
• W/C H.M. Smith, DFC, CD 23 Sep 51 – 2 Apr 54.
• W/ J.C. Showier, AFC, CD 3 Apr 54 – 14 Jul 57.
• W/C J.F. Mitchell, DFC, AFC, CD 15 Jul 57 – 20 Aug 58.
• W/C F.W.H. MacDonnell, CD 21 Aug 58 – 2 Oct 61.
• W/C S.F. Cowan, CD 3 Oct 61 – 25 Jul 63.
• W/C R.G. Orpen, CD 26 Jul 63 – 22 Aug 65.
• S/L P. Bissky, CD 23 Aug 65 – 1 May 66.
• W/C H.A. McKay, DFC, CD 2 May 66 – 31 Jan 68.

Higher Formations and Squadron Locations

Air Transport Command:

• Rockcliffe, Ont. 10 Jan 49 – 31 Mar 64.
• Rivers, Man. 1 Apr 64 – 14 Mar 66.

Canadian Forces Mobile Command:

No. 10 Tactical Air Group,

• Rivers, Man. 15 Mar 66 – 31 Jan 68.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code 1949-51 AK, 1951-58 MN)

Avro Lancaster Mk.X (Jan 49 – Mar 64)

• FM120   FM199   FM207   KB961

Consolidated Canso A (Jan 49 – Sep 59)

• 9815   11091   11093   11094

Noorduyn Norseman Mk.VI (May 51 – Sep 53)

• 366   368

de Havilland Otter (Feb 53 – Sep 57)

• 3661   3666   3672   3684

Avro Lancaster Mk.X (Dec 53 – Mar 64)

• KB882   KB976

Douglas Dakota Mk.Ill & IV (Jan 55 – Nov 66)

• KG256   KG345   KG389   KG423

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Apr 64 – May 65)

• 22115   22117   22119   22132

Canadair Silver Star Mk.3 (Apr 64 – Jan 68)

• Armament: 21118   21555   21580   21582
• Photo: 21556   21557   21565   21633
• Trainer: 21566

Lockheed C- 130B Hercules (Apr 65 – Mar 66)

• 10301   10302   10303   10304

(1) A short-range navigational device developed during the war.