No. 410 Squadron

Badge: In front of a decrescent, a cougar’s face
Motto: Noctivaga (Wandering by night)
Authority: King George VI, May 1945

The cougar is a Canadian animal noted for its speed and power in striking down its prey. The waning moon indicates the squadron’s night operations.

Formed in a Fighter role at St Hubert (Montreal), Quebec on 1 December 1948, the squadron was the first post-war Regular Force fighter unit, the first to fly Vampire and Sabre aircraft, and the first to join No. 1 (Fighter) Wing of No. 1 Air Division Europe. In 1956, it was decided to replace one Sabre squadron in each of the Air Division’s four wings with an all-weather fighter unit. When No. 445 AW(F) Squadron arrived from Canada, No. 410 was deac­tivated at Marville, France on 1 October 1956 and reac­tivated as All-Weather (Fighter) at Uplands (Ottawa), On­tario on 1 November. The squadron flew CF-100 and CF-101 aircraft on North American air defence until disbanded on 1 April 1964.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 410 (F) Sqn, St Hubert, Que. 1 Dec 48. Deactivated at Marville, Fr. 1 Oct 56. Reac­tivated as No. 410 AW(F) Sqn, Uplands, Ont. 1 Nov 56. Disbanded 1 Apr 64.

Nickname: “Cougar”

Commanders

• S/L R.A. Kipp, DSO, DFC and Bar 4 Jan 49 – 25 Jul 49 KIFA. (1)
• S/L L.A. Hall 24 Dec 49 – 15 Apr 52.
• S/L D. Warren, DFC 27 May 52 – 3 Aug 54. (2)
• S/L AW. Fisher, CD 15 Aug 54 – 1 Oct 56.

Squadron inactive

• S/L H.E. Bodien, DSO, DFC 1 Nov 56 – 14 Jun 58.
• S/L E.W. Garrett, DFC, CD 15 Jun 58 – 17 Mar 59.
• S/L J.W. Whiteley, CD 18 Mar 59 – 31 Aug 59.
• W/C J.E. McClure, DFC, CD 1 Sep 59 – 30 May 61.
• W/C M.F. Doyle, CD 1 Jun 61 -13 Jul 61.
• W/C K.W. MacDonald, CD 14 Jul 61 -1 Apr 64.

Higher Formations and Squadron Locations

Air Defence Command:

• St Hubert, Que. 1 Dec 48 – 28 Oct 51.
• En route overseas aboard HMCS Magnificent 19 Oct 51 -13 Nov 51.

No. 1 Air Division:

No. 1 (Fighter) Wing, (3)

• North Luffenham, Notts., Eng. 15 Nov 51 – 14 Nov 54.

No. 4 (Fighter) Wing, (4)

• Baden-Soellingen, Ger. 15 Nov 54 – 18 Apr 55.

No. 1 (Fighter) Wing,

• Marville, Fr. 19 Apr 55 – 1 Oct 56.

Squadron inactive

North American Air Defence Command,

RCAF Air Defence Command:

• Uplands, Ont. 1 Nov 56 – 1 Apr 64.
• Namao, Alta. (conversion to CF-101 under No. 425 AW(F) Sqn) 11 Nov – 21 Dec 61.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code 1948-56 AM 1956-58 AN)

de Havilland Vampire Mk.III (Dec 48 – May 51)

• 17050   17067   17076   17084

Canadair Sabre Mk.2 (May 51 – Nov 54)

• 19102 AM-N   19128 AM-H   19129 AM-Q   19144 AM-T

Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Nov 54 – Sep 56)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk.5 (Nov 56 – Nov 61)

• 18533   18591   18607   18748

McDonnell CF-101B Voodoo (Nov 61 – Mar 64)

• 17395   17398   17402   17450

(1) Killed during an aerobic display at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto flying vampire 17084.

(2) Served in Korea on exchange duty with the USAF from July to December 1953.

(3) While in England, under the operational control of RAF Fighter command through its No. 11 group.

(4) A temporary arrangement while No. 1 (F) Wing was moving from North Luffenham to Marville.