No. 407 Squadron

Badge; A winged trident piercing the shank of an anchor
Motto: To hold on high
Authority: King George VI, March 1943

The badge represents the blows struck against enemy shipping by the Demon squadron.

Formed as a Maritime Reconnaissance unit at Comox, British Columbia on 1 July 1952, and redesignated Maritime Patrol on 17 July 1956, the squadron was the third of four – the only West Coast – unit formed in Maritime Command and flew Lancaster and Neptune air­craft. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 407 (MR) Sqn, Com ox, B.C. 1 Jul 52. Redesignated No. 407 (MP) Sqn 17 Jul 56. Integrated into CAF 1 Feb 68.

Nickname: “Demon”

Commanders

• W/C C.W. McNeill, CD 1 Jul 52 – 8 Sep 54.
• W/C W. McLeod, CD 9 Sep 54 – 1.2 Jul 55.
• W/C W.D. Foster, DFC, CD 13 Jul 55 – 21 May 59.
• W/C J.C. McCarthy, DSO, DFC, CD 22 May 59 – 4 Jul 62.
• W/C L.H. Croft, CD 5 Jul 62 – 22 Jun 64.
• W/C K.O. Moore, DSO, CD 23 Jun 64 – 22 Dec 65.
• W/C H.E Smale, CD 23 Dec 65 – 31 Jan 68.

Higher Formations and Squadron Location

Maritime Command (Pacific),

Canadian Forces Maritime Command (Pacific) 17 Jan 66):

• Comox, B.C. 1 Jul 52 – 31 Jan 68.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code 1951-58 RX) (1)

Avro Lancaster Mk.X (Jul 52 – May 59)

• FM136   FM210   KB975   KB996

Lockheed Neptune (May 58 – Jan 68)

• 24102   24111   24123   24125

(1) Neptune aircraft received from greenwood often carried the previous codes of Nos. 404 and 405 Squadrons (SP and VN) until repainted.