No. 412 Squadron

Badge: A falcon volant

Motto: Promptus ad vindictam (Swift to avenge)

Authority: King George VI, September 1944

The falcon is indigenous to all parts of Canada. Known for its skill and aggressiveness in dealing with its enemies, it has been used for hunting from an early date in history.

Formed as No. 12 (Communications) Squadron at Rockcliffe (Ottawa), Ontario on 30 August 1940 (1), the unit was redesignated No. 412 (Composite) (2) Squadron on 1 April 1947, then No. 412 (Transport) Squadron on 1 April 1949. Throughout its history it was known as the “VIP” squadron because its chief responsibility was the transport­ation of “Very Important Persons”, including British royalty and Canadian prime ministers. On 25 September 1964 the unit received its Squadron Standard for 25 years service as No. 12 and 412 Squadron. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 12 (Comm) Sqn, Rockcliffe, Ont. 30 Aug 40. Redesignated No. 412 (K) (2) Sqn 1 Apr 47. Redesignated No. 412 (T) Sqn 1 Apr 49. Inte­grated into CAF 1 Feb 68.

Nickname: “Falcon”

Ancestry: No. 7 (General Purpose) Squadron

Commanders

• W/C W.H. Swetman, DSO, DFC 1 Apr 47 – 12 Aug 49.
• W/C B.H. Moffitt, DFC, AFC 13 Aug 49 – 26 Aug 50.
• W/C R.I. Trickett, DFC 6 Sep 50 – 11 Feb 52.
• W/C H.A. Morrison, DSO, DFC, AFC, CD 12 Feb 52 – 7 Jan 55.
• W/C W.G.S. Miller, CD 8 Jan 55 – 2 Mar 58.
• W/C W.K. Carr, DFC, CD 3 Mar 58 – 3 Aug 60.
• W/C J.W. Borden, DFC, CD 4 Aug 60 – 22 Aug 63.
• W/C M.G. Bryan, CD 23 Aug 63 – 14 Jun 66.
• W/C D.C. MacKenzie, CD 15 Jan 66 – 31 Jan 68.

Higher Formation and Squadron Locations

Air Transport Command:

• Rockcliffe, Ont. 1 Apr 47 – 31 Aug 55.
• Uplands, Ont. 1 Sep 55 – 31 Jan 68.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code AO)

Consolidated Liberator G.R.Mk. VIT (Apr – Nov 47)

• 570 to 574   3729   11101

Douglas Dakota Mk.III & IV (Apr 47 – Feb 68)

Beechcraft Expeditor Mk.3 (Apr 47 – 1968)

• 1534 AO-N

Canadair North Star (Apr 49 – Apr 62)

• 17518   17520

Canadair C-5 (Aug 50 – Apr 66)

• 10000

Grumman Goose Mk.II (1953)

• 386

de Havilland Comet Mk.lA (May 53 – Jul 65)

• 5301   5302

North American Mitchell Mk.III (Sep 56 – Nov 60)

• 5220   5248

Canadair CC-109 Cosmopolitan (Jul 59 – Feb 68)

• 11151 to 11153   11157 to 11163

Canadair CC-106 Yukon (1962 – Feb 68)

• 15929   15932

Honours and Awards: Squadron Standard (25 September 1964).

(1) From AFHQ Communications Flight, itself formed from the Communica­tions Flight of No. 7 (GP) Squadron, which had been disbanded on 10 September 1939.

(2) Officially abbreviated “K”, this term covered air transport and providing practice flying for staff personnel. The latter ceased to be a role of No. 412 Squadron in December 1947, when an AFHQ Practice Flight was formed .