No. 416 Squadron

Badge: In front of the maple leaf a lynx leaping down
Motto: Ad saltum paratus (Ready for the leap)
Authority: King George VI, September 1944

The lynx is a fierce and dangerous opponent, indigenous to Canada.

Formed as a Fighter unit at Uplands (Ottawa), Ontario on 8 January 1951 with Mustang and, later, Sabre aircraft, the squadron joined No. 2 (Fighter) Wing at Grostenquin, France in September 1952. 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. 423 AW(F) Squadron arrived from Canada, No. 416 was deactivated on 31 January 1957 and reactivated as All­ Weather (Fighter) at St Hubert (Montreal), Quebec on 1 February, and flew CF-100 aircraft on North American air defence. Pending re-equipment with CF-101 aircraft, the unit was again deactivated on 1 September 1961. Reac­tivated at Bagotville, Quebec on 1 January 1962, it subsequently moved to Chatham, New Brunswick in November. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 416 (F) Sqn, Uplands, Ont. 8 Jan 51. Deactivated at Grostenquin, Fr. 31 Jan 57. Reactivated as No. 416 AW (F) Sqn, St Hubert, Que. 1 Feb 57. Deactivated 1 Sep 61. Reactivated at Bagotville, Que. 1 Jan 62. Integrated into CAF at Chatham, N.B. 1 Feb 68.

Nickname: “Black Lynx”

Commanders

• S/L D.C. Laubman, DFC and Bar 8 Jan 51 – 17 Mar 52.
• S/L J. MacKay, DFC and Bar 18 Mar 52 – 25 Aug 54. (1)
• S/L K.C. Lett 22 Oct 54 – 25 Mar 56.
• S/L J.L.A. Roussell, DFC 26 Mar 56 -31 Jan 57.

Squadron inactive.

• W/C W.L. Drake, CD 7 Mar 57 – 19 Aug 59.
• W/C R.B. West, DFC, AFC, CD 20 Aug 59 – 30 Nov 59.
• W/C W.J. Buzza, CD 17 Feb 60 – 12 Dec 60.
• S/L D.J. Gagnon 13 Dec 60 – 1 Sep 61.

Squadron inactive.

• W/C E.D. Kelly, CD 1 Jan 62 – 9 Oct 64.
• W/C J.C. Henry, CD 13 Oct 64 – 29 Dec 67.
• W/C S.A. Miller, CD 30 Dec 67 – 31 Jan 68.

Higher Formations and Squadron locations

Air Defence Command:

• Uplands, Ont. 8 Jan 51 – 27 Sep 52.
• En route overseas (Operation “leapfrog II”) 28 Sep 52 – 10 Oct 52.

No. 1 Air Division:

No. 2 (Fighter) Wing,

• Grostenquin, Fr. 11 Oct 52 – 31 Jan 57.

North American Air Defence Command,

RCAF Air Defence Command:

• St Hubert, Que. 1 Feb 57 – 1 Sep 61.

Squadron inactive

• Bagotville, Que. 1 Jan. 62 – 4 Feb 62.
• Namao, Alta. (conversion to CF-101 under No. 425 AW(F) Sqn) 2-31 Jan 62.
• Uplands, Ont. 5 Feb 62 – 3 Jul 62.
• Bagotville, Que. 4 Jul 62 – 15 Nov 62.
• Chatham, N.B. 16 Nov 62 – 31 Jan 68.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code AS)

North American Mustang Mk.IV (Jan 51 – Mar 52)

• 9240 to 9245   9247 to 9251

Canadair Sabre Mk.2 (Mar 52 – Mar 54)

• 19226   19317   19338   19382

Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Mar 54 – May 55)

• 23077   23082   23099   23237

Canadair Sabre Mk.6 (Apr 55 – Jan 57)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk.5 (Feb 57 – Aug 61)

• 18567   18586   18606   18750

McDonnell CF-1018 Voodoo (Feb 62 – Jan 68)

• 17470   17477

(1) Served in Korea on exchange duty with the USAF from March to September 1953.