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 at Peterhead, Aberdeen, Scotland on 22 November 1941 as the RCAF’s 15th – sixth Fighter – squadron formed overseas, the unit flew Spitfire aircraft on offensive and defensive air operations; and in support of ground forces in North-West Europe. After hostilities in Europe, the squadron served as one of four RCAF day fighter units with the British Air Forces of Occupation (Germany), until disbanded at Utersen, Germany on 21 March 1946.

Brief Chronology: Formed at Peterhead, Aber., Scot. 22 Nov 41. Disbanded at Utersen, Ger. 21 Mar 46.

Title or Nickname: “City of Oshawa”

Adoption: City of Oshawa, Ont. (October 1942).

Commanders

• S/L P.C. Webb 22 Nov 41 – 8 Mar 42.
• S/L L.V. Chadburn, DFC 9 Mar 42 – 7 Jan 43.
• S/L F.H. Boulton, DFC 8 Jan 43 – 13 May 43 POW.
• S/L R.W. McNair, DFC 17 May 43 – 18 Jun 43.
• S/L F.E. Grant 19 Jun 43 – 27 Aug 43.
• S/L R.H. Walker 29 Aug 43 – 19 Oct 43.
• S/L F.E. Green, DFC 20 Oct 43 – 29 Jun 44.
• S/L J.F. McElroy, DFC 30 Jun 44 – 31 Oct 44 OTE.
• S/L J.D. Mitchner, DFC and Bar 1 Nov 44 – 15 Jan 46 repat.
• F/L S.H. Straub 16 Jan 46 – 21 Mar 46.

Higher Formations and Squadron Locations

Fighter Command:

No. 14 Group,

• Peterhead, Aber., Scot 22 Nov 41 – 13 Mar 42.
• Dyce, Aber., Scot. 14 Mar 42 – 2 Apr 42.
• “B” Flight Montrose, Scot. 14-27 Mar 42.
• Peterhead 28 Mar – 2 Apr 42.
• Peterhead, Aber., Scot. 3 Apr 42 – 16 Jul 42.
• “A” Flight remained at Dyce until 25 Jun.

No. 11 Group,

• Martlesham Heath, Suffolk 17 Jul 42 – 22 Sep 42.
• Canadian Kenley Wing,
  • Redhill, Surrey 23 Sep 42 – 31 Jan 43.
  • Kenley, Surrey 1 Feb 43 – 28 May 43.

No. 12 Group, Canadian Digby Wing,

• Wellingore, Lines. 29 May 43 – 6 Jun 43.
• Digby, Lines. 7 Jun 43 – 8 Aug 43.

No. 11 Group,

• Merston, Sussex 9 Aug 43 – 18 Sep 43.

No. 12 Group; Canadian Digby Wing,

• Wellingore, Lines. 19 Sep 43 – 1 Oct 43.
• Digby, Lines. 2 Oct 43 – 11 Feb 44.

Second Tactical Air Force;

No. 83 (Composite) Group,

No. 17 (RCAF) Sector (disbanded 13 Jul 44),

No. 127 (RCAF) Wing,

• Kenley, Surrey 12 Feb 44 – 16 Apr 44.
• Tangmere, Sussex 17 Apr 44 – 15 Jun 44.
• B.(Base) 2 Bazenville, Fr. 16 Jun 44 – 27 Aug 44.
• B.26 Illiers l’Eveque, Fr. 28 Aug 44 – 21 Sep 44.
• B.68 Le Culot, Bel. 22 Sep 44 – 29 Sep 44.
• B.82 Grave, Neth. 30 Sep 44 – 21 Oct 44.
• B.58 Melsbroek, Bel. 22 Oct 44 – 3 Nov 44.
• B.56 Evere, Bel. 4 Nov 44 – 2 Mar 45.
• B.90 Petit-Brogel, Bel. 3 Mar 45 – 30 Mar 45.
• B.78 Eindhoven, Neth. 31 Mar 45 – 11 Apr 45.
• B.100 Coch, Ger. 12 Apr 45 – 13 Apr 45.
• B.114 Diepholz, Ger. 14 Apr 45 – 25 Apr 45.
• B.154 Soltau, Ger. 26 Apr 45 – 1 Jul 45

British Air Forces of Occupation (Germany):

No. 83 (Composite) Group,

No. 126 (RCAF) Wing,

• B.152 Fassberg, Ger. 2 Jul 45 – 4 Jul 45.
• B.174 Utersen, Ger. 5 Jul 45 – 21 Mar 46.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code ON)

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.HA & IIB (Nov 41 – Mar 42)

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VB (Mar 42 – Mar 43)

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX (Mar – May 43)

• BS430 N (1)

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VB & VC (May 43 – Feb 44)

• EN950 P

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXB (Jan – Dec 44)

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI (Dec 44 – Sep 45)

• SM191 T SM200 N SM397 V SM466 Y SM470 R SM503 D TB272 W TB377 G TB392 B TB616 P TB756 H TB905 K TD129 J TD187 S TD251 F

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIVE (Sep 45 – Mar 46)

Operational History: First Mission 1 February 1942, 1 Spit­fire IIA from Peterhead – uneventful scramble.

First Vic­tory: 27 May 1942, FS J. Moul in Spitfire VB BL887 from Peterhead – scrambled, credited with a He.111 damaged northeast of Peterhead. 18 July 1942, F/L P.L.I. Archer in Spitfire VB EP113 from Martlesham Heath – convoy patrol, credited with a Do.217 destroyed 15 miles east of Orford Ness. This was Archer’s fifth victory.

First Offen­sive Mission: 19 August 1942, 12 Spitfire VB’s from Merston – four missions in support of the Dieppe Raid. The first and fourth missions were uneventful; during the second, the squadron made several attacks on enemy aircraft without results; and on the third, engaged 15 Fw.190’s, claimed 3 destroyed, 1 probably destroyed, 7 damaged without loss.

Last Mission: 7 May 1945, 4 Spitfire XVl’s from Eindhoven – escort of a Mosquito carrying VIP (very important person) from Copenhagen to Kastrup.

Summary Sorties: 10,263.

• Operational/Non-operational Flying Hours: l5,109/17,971.
• Victories:
  • Aircraft: 75 destroyed, 3 probably destroyed, 37 damaged.
  • Ground: dropped 65 tons of bombs; destroyed 286 motor vehicles, 28 horsedrawn transport, 13 locomotives and 14 miscellaneous targets; damaged 600-plus targets.
• Casualties:
  • Operational: 42 air­craft; 35 pilots, of whom 19 killed or missing, 13 POW (1 escaped), 1 evaded capture, 2 proved safe.
  • Non-opera­tional: 5 aircraft; 7 personnel killed.

Squadron Aces: F/L D.E. Noonan, DFC 5½-0-0. S/L F.H. Boulton, DFC 5-1-3.

Honours and Awards: 1 bar to DFC, 11 DFC’s, 1 DFM, 1 DFC(USA), 1 Flying Cross (Neth.).

Battle Honours:

• Defence of Britain 1942-1944.
• English Channel and North Sea 1943.
• Fortress Europe 1942-1944: Dieppe. France and Germany 1944-1945: Normandy 1944, Arnhem, Rhine.

(1) Presentation aircraft named “Canadian Pacific” and flown by S/L Boulton on 18 sorties. He was credited with 1 Bf.109 and 3 Fw.190’s destroyed while flying this aircraft.