No. 433 Squadron

Badge: In front of a hurt a porcupine

Motto: Qui s’y frotte s’y pique (Who opposes it gets hurt)

Authority: King George VI, December 1945

This squadron was adopted by the Porcupine District of Northern On­tario. The hurt or blue disc symbolizes the “hurt” done to the enemy and the sky through which the unit operates. The motto refers to the squadron and its nickname.

Formed at Skipton-on-Swale, Yorkshire, England on 25 September 1943 as the RCAF’s 32nd – 14th and last Bomber (1) squadron formed overseas, the unit flew Halifax and Lancaster aircraft on strategic and tactical bombing operations. After hostilities in Europe, it remained in England as part of Bomber Command’s strike force, under which it lifted prisoners of war back to England. The squadron was disbanded on 15 October 1945.

Brief Chronology: Formed at Skipton-on-Swale, Yorks.,. Eng. 25 Sep 43. Disbanded 15 Oct 45.

Title or nickname: “Porcupine”

Adoption: Porcupine district of northern Ontario

Commanders

• W/C C.B. Sinton, DFC 9 Nov 43 – 30 May 44 OTE.
• W/C A.J. Lewington 31 May 44 – 5 Nov 44 OTE.
• W/C G.A. Tambling 6 Nov 44 – 1 Aug 45.
• W/C C.E. Lewis, DFC 25 Sep 45 – 15 Oct 45.

Higher Formations and Squadron Location

Bomber Command:

No. 6 (RCAF) Group,

No. 63 (RCAF) Base,

• Skipton-on-Swale, Yorks. 25 Sep 43 – 30 Aug 45.

No. 1 Group,

• Skipton-on-Swale, Yorks. 31 Aug 45 – 15 Oct 45.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code BM)

Handley Page Halifax B.Mk.III (Nov 43 – Jan 45)

• HX280 0 HX281 H HX282 K HX283 R HX284 B HX285 E HX287 U HX288 F HX289 T HX290 V HX291 W HX292 G L V842 D L V911 I LW368 L MZ807 C MZ808 P MZ857 N MZ872 Q MZ883 S MZ905 J MZ944 M NR120 A NR136 R

Avro Lancaster B.Mk.I & III (Jan – Oct 45)

• ME375 D ME457 U NG232 H NG233 E NG441 L NG459 K NG460 A NG496 N NG497 E NG498 T NN779 J NP930 W PA219 M PA337 X PB893 G PB903 F PB908 C RA505 R RA506 0 RA509 P RA511 Q RA512 S RA513 Y SW273 V

Operational History: First Mission 2/3 January 1944, 4 Halifax Ill’s from Skipton-on-Swale despatched to lay mines in the “Nectarines” (Frisian Islands) area; 3 were successful, 1 aborted.

First Mission, Bombing: 18/19 January 1944, 8 Halifax Ill’s from Skipton-on-Swale despatched to bomb Berlin; 6 bombed the primary target, 1 bombed Kiel, 1 returned early.

Last Mission: 25 April 1945, 10 Lancaster I/III’ s from Skipton-on-Swale bombed gun positions on the Island of Wangerooge.

Summary Missions/Sorties: 209/2316 (54 missions were minelaying).

• Operational/Non­-operational Flying Hours: 12,488/6059.
• Bombs dropped: 7486 tons.
• Victories: Aircraft: 5 destroyed, 3 probably destroyed, 2 damaged.
• Casualties:
  • Operational: 38 air­craft; 241 aircrew, of whom 56 were killed, 96 presumed dead, 56 POW, 33 missing (of whom 9 captured or proved safe).
  • Non-operational: 15 personnel killed.

Honours and Awards: 2 bars to DFC, 132 DFC’s, 9 DFM’s, 1 BEM, 14 MiD’s, 1 Air Medal (USA).

Battle Honours:

• English Channel and North Sea 1944-1945.
• Baltic 1944-1945.
• Fortress Europe 1944.
• France and Germany 1944-1945: Biscay Ports 1944, Ruhr 1944-1945, Berlin 1944, German Ports 1944-1945, Normandy 1944, Rhine. Biscay 1944.

(1) Although this was the last RCAF bomber squadron formed overseas, an existing torpedo bomber squadron (No. 415) was redesignated bomber on
12 July 1944.

J39981 F/O Ferguson, A.E.

C35376 F/O Simpson, W.G.R.