No. 436 Squadron

Badge: An elephant’s head couped car­rying a log
Motto: Onus portamus (We carry the load)
Authority: King George VI, May 1945

The squadron operated as a transport unit from a base in India and adopts this badge and motto to symbolize its functions.

Formed at Gujrat, Punjab, India on 20 August 1944 (1) as the RCAF’s 33rd – second Transport, first of two in India – squadron formed overseas, the unit flew Dakota aircraft in support of the British Fourteenth Army in northern Burma. After hostilities, the squadron moved to England and provided transport service to Canadian units on the Continent until disbanded at Odiham, Hampshire, England on 22 June 1946.

Brief Chronology: Formed at Gujrat, Punjab, India 20 Aug 44. Disbanded at Odiham, Hants., Eng. 22 Jun 46.

Title or Nickname: “Elephant” (2)

Commanders

• W/C R.A. Gordon, DSO, DFC 26 oct 44 – 30 Jul 45, OTE
• W/C R.L. Denison, DFC 31 Jul 45 – 22 Jun 46.

Higher Formations and Squadron Locations

South East Asia Command:

No. 229 Group,

No. 341 Wing,

• Gujrat, Punjab, India 20 Aug 44 – 13 Jan 45.
• Kanglatongbi, Assam, India 14 Jan 45 – 16 Mar 45.

No. 232 Group,

No. 342 Wing,

• Mawnubyin, Akyab, Burma 17 Mar 45 – 14 May 45.
• Kyaukpyu, Ramree Island, Burma 15 May 45 – 9 Sep 45.
• 16 aircraft, Kinmagan, Burma 13-21 Aug 45. (3)
• En route to England (4) 24 Aug 45 – 15 Sep 45.

Transport Command:

No. 46 Group,

No. 120 (RCAF) Wing,

• Down Ampney, Glos. 29 Aug 45 – 3 Apr 46.
• 7 aircraft, Biggin Hill, Kent 9 Dec 45 – 14 Apr 46.
• Odiham, Hants. 4 Apr 46 – 22 Jun 46.

Representative Aircraft

Douglas Dakota Mk.III & IV (India, Oct 44 – Sep 45 (5), no Unit Code)

• KG755 Q KG790 P KG794 N KG855 K KJ763 L KJ820 A KJ821 U KJ841 F KF845 V KJ858 H KJ887 J KJ956 G KJ964 T KK107 M KK113 B KK126 D

Douglas Dakota Mk.III & IV (England, Sep 45 – Jun 46, Unit Code ODN)

• FZ665 X FZ678 K KG320 C KG400 T KG403 M KG448 F KG455 G KG580 J KG635 P KG659 Q

Operational History: First Mission 15 January 1945, 7 Dakotas from Kangla airlifted 59 tons of supplies for 33 Corps at Shwebo (17.5 para dropped, 3.7 free dropped, 37.8 landed at airstrip). Note: One previous mission was flown before the squadron became fully operational. On 10 December 1944, 16 Dakotas were employed in an emergency airlift of No. 177 (F) Squadron RAF from Bikramganj to a forward area at Hathazari.

Last Mission Burma: 31 August 1945, 5 Dakotas from Kyaukpyu – 7 sorties to airlift 14.7 tons of freight, 1 ton of mail and 7 passengers. (2 aircraft collected mail at Chittagong for Meiktila, Toungoo and Mingaladon; 2 aircraft on deliveries to Kin­magan, Comilla and Alipore; 1 aircraft with freight from Comilla for Mingaladon).

First Mission, England: 9 September 1945, 3 Dakotas from Down Ampney – airlift to Paris, France.

Last Mission: 16 June 1946, Dakota KG587 ODN-L with F/L Nicholls and crew – special flight from Brussels, Belgium to Odiham with 3 passengers and 1.5 tons of freight.

Summary, India/Burma Sorties: 9806.

• Operational/Non-operational Flying Hours: 31,798/4561.
• Airlifted: 29,000 tons of supplies, 15,000 troops, passengers and casualties.
• Casualties:
  • Operational: 3 aircraft; 4 air­crew killed.
  • Non-operational: 1 aircraft; 1 killed, 2 died of natural causes.

England

• Operational/Non-operational Fly­ing Hours: 6983/2597.
• Airlifted: 296.9 tons of mail, 1486.2 freight, 13,063 passengers and 3156 casualties.
• Casualties:
  • Operational: nil.
  • Non-operational: 1 aircraft; 4 aircrew killed.

Honours and Awards: 1 DSO, 26 DFC’s, 1 AFM, 3 BEM’s, 11 MiD’s.

Battle Honours: Burma 1945.

(1) Although it officially came into being on this date, the unit did not receive its personnel from Canada until 9 October.
(2) In Burma, a nickname, “Canucks Unlimited,” was painted on the squadron’s aircraft.
(3) These aircraft were involved in airlifting the headquarters and squadron personnel of No. 244 Group and No. 910 Wing to Rangoon.
(4) First aircraft left Burma on 24 August and the last arrived in England on 15 September. Personnel from India and Burma were repatriated and replaced by crews newly arrived from Canada.
(5) The squadron exchanged Dakotas with its relief. No. 48 Squadron RAF, and carried personnel of No. 529 Squadron RAF back to England.