No. 439 Squadron

Badge: In front of a fountain a sabre­toothed tiger’s head erased

Motto: Fangs of death

Authority: Queen Elizabeth II, May 1954

This unit adopted the sabre-toothed tiger’s head and became known as the sabre-toothed squadron. The fountain is indicative of the fact that the unit was the first squadron to fly Sabre aircraft direct from Canada to the United Kingdom.

Formed as a Fighter unit at Uplands (Ottawa), Ontario on 1 September 1951 with Sabre aircraft, the squadron joined No. 1 (Fighter) Wing at North Luffenham, Nottingham­shire, England in June 1952. In doing so, it initiated the first of four Operations “Leapfrog” – mass transatlantic flights by Sabre-equipped units to No. 1 Air Division Europe. Despite bad weather throughout the move, the 21 aircraft made the 3560-mile trip without mishap, to complete the formation of No. 1 Wing. Early in 1955, the unit moved with the wing to its French base at Marville. Selected as one of eight squadrons of No. 1 Air Division Europe to be re-equipped with CF-104 Starfighter aircraft, it was deactivated on 1 November 1963 and reactivated as Strike Reconnaissance on 2 March 1964. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 439 (F) Sqn, Uplands, Ont. 1 Sep 51. Deactivated at Marville, Fr. 1 Nov 63. Reactivated as No. 439 (STIR) Sqn 1 Mar 64 .. lntegrated in­to CAF at Lahr, Ger. 1 Feb 68.

Nickname: “Sabre-Toothed Tiger”

Commanders

• S/L C.D. Bricker, Jr., DFC, CD 1 Sep 51 – 12 Jul 53.
• S/L K.J.H.M. Belleau, CD 13 Jul 53 – 23 Apr 56.
• S/L D.J. Bullock, CD 27 Apr 56 – 30 Jan 57.
• S/L A.W. Fisher, CD 31 Jan 57 – 30 Jun 57.
• S/L R.Y. Cannon, CD 1 Jul 57 – 31 May 59.
• S/L C.J. Day, CD 1 Jun 59 – 17 Jul 59 died.
• W/C J. MacKay, DFC and Bar, CD 19 Oct 59 – 30 Jun 60.
• W/C J.P. Bell, CD 1 Jul 60 – 11 Dec 62.
• W/C P.B. St. Louis, MBE, CD 3 Jan 63 – 1 Nov 63.

Squadron inactive

• S/L J.L. Frazer, CD 2 Mar 64 – 8 Nov 66.
• W/C S.P. Gulyus, CD 9 Nov 66 – 31 Jan 68.

Higher Formations and Squadron Locations

Air Defence Command:

• Uplands, Ont. 1 Sep 51 – 29 May 52.
• En route overseas (Operation “Leapfrog I”) 30 May 52 – 14 Jun 52.

No. 1 Air Division Europe:

No. 1 (Fighter) Wing,

• North Luffenham, Notts., Eng (1). 15 Jun 52 – 31 Mar 55.
• Marville, Fr. 1 Apr 55 – 30 Nov 63.

Squadron inactive

No. 1 Wing,

• Marville, Fr. 2 Mar 64 – 31 Mar 67.
• Lahr, Ger. 1 Apr 67 – 31 Jan 68.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code 1951-58 IG)

Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Mar 55 – Jul 56)

• 23336   23357   23360

Canadair Sabre Mk.6 (Jul 56 – Oct 63)

• 23581   23549

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Mar 64 – Jan 68)

(1) Under the operational control of RAF Fighter Command through its No. 11 Group.