No. 444 Squadron
Badge: none
Formed as an Air Observation Post unit at the Canadian Joint Air Training Centre at Rivers, Manitoba on 1 October 1947, the squadron flew Chipmunk and Auster aircraft in training army pilots in ranging and directing artillery fire. When this function was transferred to the Light Aircraft School, the squadron was disbanded on 1 April 1949.
Brief Chronology: Formed at CJA TC, Rivers, Man. 1 Oct 47. Disbanded 1 Apr 49.
Commanders
- Maj N.W. Reilander 1 Oct 47 – 1 Apr 49.
Higher Formations and Squadron Location
North West Air Command:
- Canadian Joint Air Training Centre, Rivers, Man. 1 Oct 47 – 1 Apr 49.
Representative Aircraft
de Havilland Chipmunk (May 48 – Mar 49)
Auster A.O.P. Mk.VI (May 48 – Mar 49)
- 16652 to 16656 16661 16665
No. 444 Squadron, Re-formed
Badge: A Cobra ready to strike
Motto: Strike swift, strike sure
Authority: Queen Elizabeth II, November 1954
This unit adopted the cobra in a position to strike as being indicative of the role of a fighter squadron.
Formed as a Fighter unit at St Hubert (Montreal), Quebec on 1 March 1953 with Sabre aircraft – the last of twelve units for No. 1 Air Division Europe – the squadron joined No. 4 (Fighter) Wing at Baden-Soellingen, Germany in September. Selected as one of eight squadrons of the Air Division to be re-equipped with CF-104 Starfighter aircraft for a nuclear strike role, it was deactivated on 1 March 1963 and reactivated as Strike Attack on 27 May. When the Air Division was reduced to six squadrons, the squadron was once more deactivated on 1 April 1967 (1).
Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 444 (F) Sqn, St Hubert, Que. 1 Mar 53. Deactivated at Baden-Soellingen, Ger. 1 Mar 63. Reactivated as No. 444 (ST/ A) Sqn 27 May 63. Deactivated 1 Apr 67.
Nickname: “Cobra”
Commanders
- S/L E.R. Heggtveit, CD 2 Mar 53 – 22 Jul 53.
- S/L J. MacKay, DFC and Bar 23 Jul 53 – 8 Sep 53.
- W/C H.F. Darragh, AFC 16 Jan 54 – 15 Mar 54 KIFA.
- S/L J.B. Lawrence, CD 15 May 54 – 30 Jun 57.
- S/L D.F. Archer, CD 1 Jul 57 – 4 Jan 59.
- S/L E. Garry, CD 5 Jan 59 – 5 Sep 60.
- W/C R.V. Smith, CD 6 Sep 60 – 23 Feb 61 died.
- W/C J.L.A. Roussell, DFC, CD 10 Aug 61 – 1 Mar 63.
Squadron inactive
- W/C K.J. Thorneycroft, CD 27 May 63 – 20 Jan 66.
- W/C R.H. Annis, CD 1 Aug 66 – 1 Apr 67.
Higher Formations and Squadron Locations
Air Defence Command:
- St Hubert, Que. 1 Mar 53 – 26 Aug 53.
- En route overseas (Operation “Leapfrog IV”) 27 Aug 53 – 3 Sep 53.
No. 1 Air Division Europe:
No. 4 (Fighter) Wing,
- Baden-Soellingen, Ger. 4 Sep 53 – 1 Mar 63.
Squadron inactive
No. 4 Wing, Baden-Soellingen, Ger. 27 May 63 – 1 Apr 67.
Representative Aircraft (Unit Code 1953-58 VH)
Canadair Sabre Mk.4 (Mar 53 – Mar 54) (2)
- 19575 19677 19691 19702
Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Feb 54 – Jan 57)
- 23020 23078 23109 23150
Canadair Sabre Mk.6 (Apr 55 – Feb 63)
- 23390 23455 23479 23868
Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (May 63 – Mar 67)
- 12717 12839 12876 12890
(1) Reactivated as a Tactical Helicopter unit in 1970.
(2) Turned over to the Royal Air Force under the Mutual Aid Plan.
