No. 430 Squadron

Badge: In front of a sun in splendour a Gyrfalcon’s head erased

Motto: Celeriter certoque (Swiftly and surely)

Authority: Queen Elizabeth II, August 1955

The gyrfalcon, found in Northern Canada, is noted for its exceptional and alert fighting ability. The sun in splendour is used to depict the squadron’s original role of fighter reconnaissance; (the bringing of light or information to the troops).

Formed as a Fighter unit at North Bay, Ontario on 1 November 1951 with Sabre aircraft, the squadron joined No. 2 (Fighter) Wing at Grostenquin, France in September 1952. Selected as one of eight squadrons in No. 1 Air Divi­sion Europe to be re-equipped with CF-104 aircraft for a nuclear strike role, it was deactivated on 1 June 1963 and reactivated as Strike Attack on 30 September. When No. 2 Wing was disbanded on 24 February 1964, the squadron moved to No. 3 Wing at Zweibrucken, Germany. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Cana­dian Armed Forces.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 430 (F) Sqn, North Bay, Ont. 1 Nov 51. Deactivated at Grostenquin, Fr. 1 Jun 63. Reactivated as No. 430 (ST/ A) Sqn 30 Sep 63. Integrated into CAF at Zweibrucken, Ger. 1 Feb 68.

Nickname: “Silver Falcon”

Commanders

• W/C J.F. Edwards, DFC and.Bar, DFM 1 Nov 51 – 26 Jan 53.
• S/L P.L. Gibbs, DFC, AFC, CD 27 Jan 53 – 17 Jan 55.
• W/C C.D. Barnett, DFC, CD 18 Jan 55 – 17 Mar 55.
• S/L W.S. Harvey, CD 18 Mar 55 – 28 Oct 55.
• S/L C. W. White, CD 29 Oct 55 – 2 Mar 58.
• S/L R.V. Virr, CD 3 Mar 58 – 18 Dec 60.
• W/C J.T. Mullen, CD 19 Dec 60 – 1 Jun 63.

Squadron inactive

• W/C H.R. Knight, CD 30 Sep 63 – 31 Jan 64.
• W/C A.J. Bauer, CD 24 Feb 64 – 2 Jul 66.
• W/C W.G. Paisley 3 Jul 66 – ll Oct 66.
• W!C J.W. Whitley, CD 15 Nov 66 – 31 Jan 68.

Higher Formations and Squadron Locations

Air Defence Command:

• North Bay, Ont., 1 Nov 51 – 27 Sep 52.
• En route overseas (Operation “Leapfrog II”) 28 Sep 52 – 10 Oct 52.

No. 1 Air Division Europe:

No. 2 (Fighter) Wing,

• Grostenquin, Fr. ll Oct 52 – 31 May 63.

Squadron inactive

No. 2 Wing,

• Grostenquin, Fr. 30 Sep 63 – 23 Feb 64.

No. 3 Wing,

• Zweibrucken, Ger. 24 Feb 64 – 31 Jan 68.
• No. 1 Wing, Marville, Fr. (Zweibrucken runways being resurfaced) 1 Jul – 15 Sep 66.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code 1951-58 BH)

Canadair Sabre Mk.2 (Nov 51 – Jun 53)

• 19318   19373   19397   19406

Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Jun 53 – Jun 57)

• 23139   23201   23310

Canadair Sabre Mk.6 (May 57 – May 63)

• 23586

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Sept 63 – Jan 68)

• 12853