No. 414 Squadron

Badge: none

Unofficially formed as No. 14 (Photographic) Squadron at Rockcliffe (Ottawa), Ontario on 12 June 1944 (1),  and officially renumbered No. 414 on 1 April 1947, the squadron flew Dakota aircraft on vertical photographic duty until disbanded on 1 November 1950.

Brief Chronology: Unofficially formed as No. 14 (P) Sqn, Rockcliffe, Ont. 12 Jun 44. Renumbered No. 414 (P) Sqn 1 Apr 47. Disbanded 1 Nov 50.

Commanders

• S/L R.F. Milne, DFC 1 Apr 47 – 19 Dec 48.
• W/C W.B.M. Millar 20 Dec 48 – 1 Nov 50.

Higher Formations and Squadron Location

Air Transport Command:

No. 22 (Photographic) Wing,

• Rockcliffe, Ont. 1 Apr 47 – 1 Nov 50.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code AQ)

Douglas Dakota Mk.IIIP & IVP (Apr 47 – Oct 50)

• KG635   KN278  984   989

(1) See No. 14 (Photographic) Squadron for details.

Badge: Over a cloud a knight on a charger
Motto: Totis viribus (With all our might)
Authority: Queen Elizabeth II, June 1960

The squadron became unofficially known as the Black Knight Squadron. The knight connotes fair but mortal
combat. The cloud indicates that the fighting is in the air. Black is the customary garb of the night fighter,
coupled with the white horse and red trimmings it gives the squadron tricolours.

Formed as a Fighter unit at Bagotville, Quebec on 1 November 1952 with Sabre aircraft, the squadron joined No. 4 (Fighter) Wing at Baden-Soellingen, Germany in August 1953. In 1956, it was decided to replace one Sabre squadron in each of No. 1 Air Division Europe’s four wings with an all-weather fighter unit. When No. 419 AW(F) Squadron arrived from Canada, No. 414 was deactivated on 14 July 1957 and reactivated as All-Weather (Fighter) at North Bay, Ontario on 5 August. The squadron flew CF-100 and CF-101 aircraft on North American air defence until disbanded on 30 June 1964.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 414 (F) Sqn, Bagotville, Que. 1 Nov 52. Deactivated, Baden-Soellingen, Ger. 14 Jul 57. Reactivated as No. 414 AW(F) Sqn, North Bay, Ont. 5 Aug 57. Disbanded 30 Jun 64.

Nickname: “Black Knight”

Commanders

• W/C J.F. Allan, CD 12 Nov 52 – 1 Feb 54.
• S/L J.R. Ritch, CD 15 May 54 – 8 Apr 56.

Squadron inactive

• W/C E. Wilson, CD 7 Apr 58 – 30 Jun 59.
• W/C C.D.L. Hare, DFC, AFC, CD 1 Jul 59 – 14 Nov 60 KIFA.
• W/C H.A. McKay, DFC, CD 1 Feb 61 – 31 Jul 61.
• W/C E.G. Smith, DFC, CD 1 Aug 61 – 11 Oct 62.
• W/C K.F. Lowe, CD 12 Oct 62 – 30 Jun 64.

Higher Formations and Squadron Locations

Air Defence Command:

• Bagotville, Que. 1 Nov 52 – 23 Aug 53.
• En route overseas (Operation “Leapfrog lV”) 24 Aug 53 – 3 Sep 53.

No. 1 Air Division Europe:

No. 4 (Fighter) Wing,

• Baden-Soellingen, Ger. 4 Sep 53 – 14 Jul 57.

Squadron inactive.

North American Air Defence Command,

RCAF Air Defence Command:

• North Bay, Ont. 5 Aug 57 – 30 Jun 64.
• Namao, Alta. (conversion to CF-101 under No. 425 AW(F) Sqn) 19 Mar – 19 Apr 62.
• Uplands, Ont. (North Bay runways under repair for CF-101) 28 Apr – 4 Oct 62.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code AQ)

Canadair Sabre Mk.4 (Nov 52 – Nov 53) (1)

• 19453   19585   19606   19675

Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Nov 53 – Aug 55)

• 23008   23031  23249   23345

Canadair Sabre Mk.6 (Jul 55 – Jul 57)

• 23416   23441   23468   23498

Avro CF-100 Canuck MK. 5 (Aug 57 – Feb 62)

• 18515   18645   18665   18770

McDonnell CF-1018 Voodoo (Feb 62 – Jun 64)

• 17983   17403   17407

(1) Turned over to the Royal Air Force under the Mutual Aid Plan.

Formed as the Electronic Warfare Unit at St Hubert (Mon­treal), Quebec on 1 April 1959 with CF-100 aircraft, and redesignated No. 414 (Electronic Warfare) Squadron on 15 September 1967, the unit provided Air Defence Command ground control radar personnel and airborne interceptor crews with training and experiences in combating radar jamming. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces.

Brief Chronology: Formed as EWU at St Hubert, Que. 1 Apr 59. Redesignated No. 414 (EW) Sqn 15 Sep 67. In­tegrated into CAF 1 Feb 68.

Nickname: “Black Knight”

Commanders

• W/C P.B. St. Louis, MBE, CD 15 Sep 67 – 31 Jan 68.

Higher Formation and Squadron Location

Air Defence Command :

• St Hubert, Que. 15 Sep 67 – 31 Jan 68.

Representative Aircraft

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk.5 (Sep 67 – Jan 68)