No. 400 “City of Toronto” Squadron (Auxiliary)

Badge: In front of two tomahawks in saltire an eagle’s head erased
Motto: Percussuri vigiles (On the watch to strike).
Authority: King George VI, September 1942.

Formed at Toronto, Ontario on 15 April 1946, the squad­ron flew Vampire and Sabre aircraft in a fighter role until October 1958 when it was reassigned to a light transport and emergency rescue role and re-equipped with Expediter and Otter aircraft. On 10 June 1961 it became the first RCAF unit to receive a Squadron Standard for 25 years service as No. 110 and 400 Squadron. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces as No. 400 “City of Toronto” Air Reserve Squadron.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 400 (FB) Sqn (Aux), Toronto, Ont. 15 Apr 46. Redesignated No. 400 (F) Sqn (Aux) 1 Feb 47. Titled No. 400 “City of Toronto” (F) Sqn (Aux) 6 Nov 52. Redesignated No. 400 “City of Toronto” Sqn (Aux) 1 Oct 58. Integrated into CAF as No. 400 “City of Toronto” Air Res Sqn 1 Feb 68.

Title: “City of Toronto”

Commanders

• W/C G. W. Gooderham, AFC 8 Feb 47 – 31 Oct 48 ret.
• W/C C.A. James, AFC 1 Nov 48 – 7 May 51.
• W/C A.E. Fleming 8 May 51 – 8 Mar 52 KIFA.
• W/C R.H. Rehmer, DFC 9 Mar 52 – 5 Sep 52.
• W/C W.N. Stowe, DFC 6 Sep 52 – 6 May 54 ret.
• S/L C.I.M. Ettles 7 May 54 – 30 Jun 55.
• S/L W.A. Curtis, Jr. 1 Jul 55 – 2 May 57 ret.
• W/C H.B. Davis 3 May 57 – 31 Dec 59.
• W/C B.A. Howard, CD 1 Jan 60 – 2 Oct 63.
• W/C G.E. Gilroy, CD 3 Oct 63 – 31 Dec 66.
• W/C G.M. Georgas, CD 1 Jan 67 – 31 Jan 68.

Higher Formations and Squadron Locations

Training Command,

Air Defence Command (1 Aug 51),

No. 2 Group (Auxiliary) (15 Jan 51 – 1 Mar 57),

Air Transport Command (1 Oct 58):

No. 14 Wing (Auxiliary) (1 Oct 50),

• Malton, Ont. 15 Apr 46 – 17 Oct 47.
• Downsview (1), Ont. 19 Oct 46 – 31 Jan 68.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code 1947-51 AA, 1951-58 GW)

North American Harvard Mk.II (Jul 46 – Sep 58)

• 3125 AA-F   3165 AA-H   3329 AA-M

de Havilland Vampire Mk.III (Mar 48 – May 55)

• 17002   17020   17036   17051 AA-P

Canadair Silver Star Mk.3 (Apr 55 – Oct 58)

• 21318   21445   21467   21505

Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Oct 56 – Oct 58)

• 23104   23227   23312   23364

Beechcraft Expeditor Mk. 3 (Oct 58 – Oct 66)

• 1442   1516   1559   2343

de Havilland Otter (Oct 60 – Jan 68)

• 3663   3685   3745   9416

Honours and Awards: Squadron Standard (10 June 1961)

(1) Known as De Havilland Aerodrome until February 1947.