No. 422 Squadron

Badge: A cubit arm holding in the hand a tomahawk

Motto: This arm shall do it

Authority: King George VI, October 1943

The painted arm indicates that the Red Indian brave is at war. The motto, from Shakespeare, refers to the squadron’s striking power.

Formed as a Fighter unit at Uplands (Ottawa), Ontario on 1 January 1953 with Sabre aircraft, the squadron joined No. 4 (Fighter) Wing at Baden-Soellingen, Germany in August. Selected as one of eight Sabre units in No. 1 Air Division Europe to be re-equipped with CF-104 Starfighter aircraft for a nuclear strike role, it was deactivated on 15 April 1963 and reactivated as Strike Attack on 15 July. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 422 (F) Sqn, Uplands, Ont. 1 Jan 53. Deactivated at Baden-Soellingen, Ger. 15 Apr 63. Reactivated as No. 422 (ST/A) Sqn 15 Jul 63. Integrated into CAF 1 Feb 68.

Nickname: “Tomahawk”

Commanders

• S/L W.J.Buzza, CD 1 Jan 53 – 7 Jun 55.
• W/C C.C. Lee, CD 14 Jul 55 – 5 Jan 56.
• S/L C.C. Magee, DFC, CD 6 Jan 56 – 9 Dec 56.
• W/C G.G. Wright, AFC, CD 10 Dec 56 – 15 Jul 59.
• S/L R.G. Murray, AFC, CD 16 Jul 59 – 31 Aug 60.
• W/C F .J. Kaufman, CD 1 Sep 60 – 28 Feb 63.
• W/C P.J.S. Higgs, CD 1 Mar 63 – 15 Apr 63.

Squadron inactive

• W/C W.H.F. Bliss, CD 15 Jul 63 – 31 Jul 66.
• W/C W.J. Stacey, CD 1 Aug 66 – 31 Jul 67.
• W/C R.K. Scott, CD 1 Aug 67 – 31 Jan 68.

Higher Formations and Squadron Locations

Air Defence Command:

• Uplands, Ont. 1 Jan 53 – 26 Aug 53.
• En route overseas (Operation “Leapfrog IV”) 27 Aug 53 – 3 Sep 53.

No. 1 Air Division Europe:

No. 4 (Fighter) Wing,

• Baden-Soellingen, Ger. 4 Sep 53 – 15 Apr 63.

Squadron inactive

No. 4 Wing,

• Baden-Soellingen, Ger. 15 Jul 63 – 31 Jan 68.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code TF)

Canadair Sabre Mk.2 (Jan – May 53)

• 19210

Canadair Sabre Mk.4 (Apr 53 – Dec 54) (1)

• 19601   19642   19664   19686

Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Jan 55 – Sep 55)

•   23043   23179   23233   23300

Canadair Sabre Mk.6 (Sep 55 – Apr 63)

•   23383   23431   23493   23500

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Jul 63 – Jan 68)

• 12844   12879   12884   12885

(1) Turned over to the Royal Air Force under the Mutual Aid Plan.