No. 401 “City of Westmount” Squadron (Auxiliary)

Badge: A Rocky Mountain sheep’s head caboshed

Motto: Mors celerrima hostbus ( Very swift death for the enemy)

Authority: King George VI, September 1944

Formed at Montreal, Quebec on 15 April 1946, the squadron flew Vampire 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. On 5 May 1962 it received a Squadron Standard for 25 years service as No. 1 and 401 Squadron. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces as No. 401 “City of West­mount” Air Reserve Squadron.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 401 (F) Sqn (Aux), Mon­treal, Que. 15 Apr 46. Titled No. 401 “City of Westmount” (F) Sqn (Aux) 4 Sep 52. Redesignated No. 401 “City of Westmount” Sqn (Aux) 1 Nov 58. Integrated into CAF as No. 401 “City of Westmount” Air Res Sqn 1 Feb 68.

Title: “City of Westmount”

Nickname: “Ram”

Commanders

• W/C F.G. Grant, DSO, DFC 10 Oct 47 – 23 Aug 48 ret.
• W/C J.W. Reid, DFC 24 Aug 48 – 14 Dec 51.
• W/C H.J. Everard, DFC, CD 15 Dec 51 – 13 Jan 55.
• W/C J.M. Grisdale 15 Sep 55 – 15 Sep 57 ret.
• W/C A.J. Edwards, CD 1 Apr 58 – 31 Mar 61 ret.
• G/C H.J. Everard, DFC, CD 1 Apr 61 – 31 Sep 61.
• W/C T. Bowie, CD 1 Nov 61 – 31 Sep 65 ret.
• W/C G.D. Adkins, CD 1 Oct 65 – 31 Jan 68.

Higher Formations and Squadron Location

Training Command,

Air Defence Command (1 Jun 51),

No. 1 Group (Auxiliary),

Air Transport Command (1 Apr 61):

No. 11 Wing (Auxiliary) (1 Sep 61),

• St Hubert, Que. 15 Apr 46 – 31 Jan 68.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code 1947-51 AB, 1951-58 QT)

North American Harvard Mk.II (Sep 46 – Sep 58)

• 2680   3046   3300   3832

de Havilland Vampire Mk.Ill (Mar 48 – Feb 56)

• 17061   17017   17024   17039

Canadair Silver Star Mk.3 (Dec 54 – Oct 58)

• 21437   21439

Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Oct 56 – Oct 58)

• 23152   23340   23346

Beechcraft Expeditor Mk.3 (Sep 58 – Oct 66)

• HB112   1386   1418   2331

de Havilland Otter (Oct 60 – Jan 68)

• 9409   9426   9689   9692

Honours and Awards: Squadron Standard (5 May 1962)