Historical Aircraft

442 Squadron

 

No. 442 “City of Vancouver” Squadron (Auxiliary)

Badge: A representation of Haietlik or Lightning Snake
Motto: Un dieu, une reine, un coeur (One God, one Queen, one heart)
Authority: Queen Elizabeth II, March 1957

According to legend of the Nootka Tribe Indians, Haietlik was dis­patched to kill its enemies.

Formed at Vancouver, British Colum­bia on 15 April 1946, the squadron flew Vampire, Mustang 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 Expediter and Otter aircraft. A reduction of the Auxiliary Force resulted in the squadron being disbanded on 1 April 1964.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 442 (F) Sqn (Aux), Van­couver, B.C. 15 Apr 46. Titled No. 442 “City of Vancouver” (F) Sqn (Aux) 3 Sep 52. Redesignated No. 442 “City of Vancouver” Sqn (Aux) 1 Sep 58. Disbanded 1 Apr 64.

Title: “City of Vancouver”

Nickname: “Caribou”

Commanders:

  • W/C R.F. Begg 1 May 46 – 14 Jul 47 ret.
  • W/C J.W. Reid, DFC 15 Jul 47 – 23 Oct 47.
  • W/C D.C. MacDonald, DFC, CD 8 Dec 47 – 2 Dec 48 ret.
  • W/C G.W. Northcott, DSO, DFC and Bar 3 Dec 48 – 3 Jan 51.
  • W/C E.A. Alexander, AFC 4 Jan 51 – 31 Dec 53.
  • W/C G.M. Smith, DFC 1 Jan 54 – 31 Dec 54 ret.
  • W/C D.C. Cameron, CD 1 Jan 55 – 7 May 58.
  • W/C D.F.R. Aitken, CD 8 May 58 – 8 May 61 ret.
  • W/C J.L.T. Edwards, CD 9 May 61 – 1 Apr 64.

Higher Formations and Squadron Locations

North West Air Command,

Air Defence Command (1 Jul 51),

Air Transport Command (1 Apr 61):

No. 19 Wing (Auxiliary) (1 Oct 50),

  • Vancouver, B.C. 15 Apr 46 – 8 Nov 48.
  • Sea Island, B.C. 9 Nov 48 – 1 Apr 64.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Codes BU, SL)

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

de Havilland Vampire Mk.III (Apr 48 – Oct 56)

  • 17074 BU-X   17075 BU-Y   17076 BU-W

North American Mustang Mk.IV (Nov 50 – Oct 56)

  • 9266   9277   9595   9598

Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Aug 56 – Aug 58)

  • 23088

Beechcraft Expeditor Mk.3 (Oct 58 – Mar 64)

  • 1401   1411   1477   1541

de Havilland Otter (Oct 60 – Mar 64)

  • 9410   9420