No. 443 “City of New Westminster” Squadron (Auxiliary)
Badge: A hornet affronte
Motto: Our sting is death
Authority: King George VI, February 1946.
This unit was known as the Hornet Squadron.
Formed at Vancouver, British Columbia on 15 September 1951, 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 Expeditor and Otter aircraft. A reduction of the Auxiliary Force resulted in the squadron being disbanded on 1 April 1964.
Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 443 (F) Sqn (Aux), Vancouver, B.C. 1 Sep 51. Titled No. 443 “City of New Westminster” (F) Sqn (Aux) 3 Sep 52. Redesignated No 443 “City of New Westminster” Sqn (Aux) 1 Sep 58. Disbanded 1 Apr 64.
Title: “City of New Westminster”
Nickname: “Hornet”
Commanders
- W/C R.B. Barker, DFC, CD 1 Dec 51 – 31 Aug 56.
- W/C R.O. Hetherington 1 Sep 56 – 31 Aug 58 ret.
- W/C J.D. Fisher 1 Sep 58 – 31 Aug 61 ret.
- W/C C.O.P. Smith, DFC, CD 1 Sep 61 – 1 Apr 64.
Higher Formations and Squadron Location
Air Defence Command,
Air Transport Command (1 Apr 61):
No. 19 Wing (Auxiliary),
- Sea Island, B.C. 1 Sep 51 – 1 Apr 64.
Representative Aircraft (Unit Code PF)
North American Harvard Mk.II (Dec 51 – Sep 58)
- 2569 2831
North American Mustang Mk.IV (Nov 52 – Oct 56)
- 9226 9275 9293 9297
Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Aug 56 – Aug 58)
- 23115 23167 23311
Beechcraft Expeditor Mk.3 (Aug 58 – Mar 64)
- HB143 HB210 1396 1488
de Havilland Otter (Oct 60 – Mar 64)
