Historical Aircraft

435 Squadron

 

No. 435 Squadron

Badge A chinthe on a plinth

Motto Certi provehendi (Determined on delivery)

Authority King George VI, August 1946.

The chinthe is a legendary monster which guards the temples in Burma where this squadron operated. The motto refers to the unit’s activities as a transport squadron.

Formed as a Transport unit at Edmonton, Alberta on 1 August 1946 from the Edmonton portion of No. 164 (Transport) Squadron, the squadron flew Dakota and C-119 aircraft on western Canada transport duty and parachute training at Rivers, Manitoba. From November 1956 to January 1957, it airlifted members of the United Nations Emergency Force from Italy to Egypt. In 1960, it was re-equipped with C-130 Hercules aircraft and, during the 1962-63 conversion of No. 1 Air Division Europe squadrons from Sabre to Starfighter aircraft, ferried 137 CF-104 aircraft from Canada to Europe. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces.

Brief Chronology: Formed at Edmonton, Alta. 1 Aug 46. Integrated into CAF 1 Feb 68.

Nickname: “Chinthe”

Commanders

  • W/C P.J. Grant 16 Aug 46 – 30 Aug 48.
  • W/C W.F. Parks, DFC 31 Aug 48 – 10 Jul 50.
  • W/C M.E. Pollard, DSO, DFC, AFC, CD 11 Jul 50 – 15 Aug 52.
  • W/C G.J.J. Edwards, DFC, CD 16 Aug 52 – 26 Mar 54.
  • W/C W.C. Klassen, DFC, CD 27 Mar 54 – 7 Jul 57.
  • W/C C.C.W. Marshall, DFC, CD 23 Sep 57 – 11 May 61.
  • W/C E.E. Hurlburt, DFC, CD 4 Aug 61 – 16 Jul 65.
  • W/C J.P. O’Callaghan, CD 26 Jul 65 – 17 Jul 67.
  • W/C K.C. Lee, CD 18 Jul 67 – 31 Jan 68.

Higher Formation and Squadron Locations

Air Transport Command:

  • Edmonton, Alta. 1 Aug 46 – 13 Sep 55.
  • Namao, Alta. 14 Sep 55 – 31 Jan 68.

United Nations Emergency Force: No. 114 (RCAF) Air Transport Unit, Naples (Capodichino), Italy 20 Nov 56 – 22 Jan 57. (4 aircraft remained until the spring of 1958).

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code 1947-51 BN, 1951-58 ET)

Douglas Dakota Mk.IV (Aug 46 – Oct 60)

  • KG936   KN278   983   991

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Sep 52 – Jun 65)

  • 22101 to 22111   22123   22135

Lockheed C-130B Hercules (1960 – 1966)

  • 10301   10317

Lockheed C-130E Hercules (1966 – 1968)

  • 10307   10312   10313   10314   10316   10318   1032036