No. 442 “City of Vancouver” Squadron (Auxiliary)
Badge: A representation of Haietlik or Lightning Snake
Motto: Un dieu, une reine, un coeur (One God, one Queen, one heart)
Authority: Queen Elizabeth II, March 1957
According to legend of the Nootka Tribe Indians, Haietlik was dispatched to kill its enemies.
Formed at Vancouver, British Columbia on 15 April 1946, the squadron flew Vampire, Mustang 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. A reduction of the Auxiliary Force resulted in the squadron being disbanded on 1 April 1964.
Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 442 (F) Sqn (Aux), Vancouver, B.C. 15 Apr 46. Titled No. 442 “City of Vancouver” (F) Sqn (Aux) 3 Sep 52. Redesignated No. 442 “City of Vancouver” Sqn (Aux) 1 Sep 58. Disbanded 1 Apr 64.
Title: “City of Vancouver”
Nickname: “Caribou”
Commanders:
- W/C R.F. Begg 1 May 46 – 14 Jul 47 ret.
- W/C J.W. Reid, DFC 15 Jul 47 – 23 Oct 47.
- W/C D.C. MacDonald, DFC, CD 8 Dec 47 – 2 Dec 48 ret.
- W/C G.W. Northcott, DSO, DFC and Bar 3 Dec 48 – 3 Jan 51.
- W/C E.A. Alexander, AFC 4 Jan 51 – 31 Dec 53.
- W/C G.M. Smith, DFC 1 Jan 54 – 31 Dec 54 ret.
- W/C D.C. Cameron, CD 1 Jan 55 – 7 May 58.
- W/C D.F.R. Aitken, CD 8 May 58 – 8 May 61 ret.
- W/C J.L.T. Edwards, CD 9 May 61 – 1 Apr 64.
Higher Formations and Squadron Locations
North West Air Command,
Air Defence Command (1 Jul 51),
Air Transport Command (1 Apr 61):
No. 19 Wing (Auxiliary) (1 Oct 50),
- Vancouver, B.C. 15 Apr 46 – 8 Nov 48.
- Sea Island, B.C. 9 Nov 48 – 1 Apr 64.
Representative Aircraft (Unit Codes BU, SL)
North American Harvard Mk.II (Jul 46 – Sep 58)
de Havilland Vampire Mk.III (Apr 48 – Oct 56)
- 17074 BU-X 17075 BU-Y 17076 BU-W
North American Mustang Mk.IV (Nov 50 – Oct 56)
- 9266 9277 9595 9598
Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Aug 56 – Aug 58)
- 23088
Beechcraft Expeditor Mk.3 (Oct 58 – Mar 64)
- 1401 1411 1477 1541
de Havilland Otter (Oct 60 – Mar 64)
- 9410 9420
