Historical Aircraft

443 Squadron

 

No. 443 “City of New Westminster” Squadron (Auxiliary)

Badge: A hornet affronte

Motto: Our sting is death

Authority: King George VI, February 1946.

This unit was known as the Hornet Squadron.

Formed at Vancouver, British Columbia on 15 September 1951, 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 Expeditor and Otter aircraft. A reduction of the Auxiliary Force resulted in the squadron being disbanded on 1 April 1964.

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 443 (F) Sqn (Aux), Van­couver, B.C. 1 Sep 51. Titled No. 443 “City of New Westminster” (F) Sqn (Aux) 3 Sep 52. Redesignated No 443 “City of New Westminster” Sqn (Aux) 1 Sep 58. Disbanded 1 Apr 64.

Title: “City of New Westminster”

Nickname: “Hornet”

Commanders

  • W/C R.B. Barker, DFC, CD 1 Dec 51 – 31 Aug 56.
  • W/C R.O. Hetherington 1 Sep 56 – 31 Aug 58 ret.
  • W/C J.D. Fisher 1 Sep 58 – 31 Aug 61 ret.
  • W/C C.O.P. Smith, DFC, CD 1 Sep 61 – 1 Apr 64.

Higher Formations and Squadron Location

Air Defence Command,

Air Transport Command (1 Apr 61):

No. 19 Wing (Auxiliary),

  • Sea Island, B.C. 1 Sep 51 – 1 Apr 64.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code PF)

North American Harvard Mk.II (Dec 51 – Sep 58)

  • 2569   2831

North American Mustang Mk.IV (Nov 52 – Oct 56)

  • 9226   9275   9293   9297

Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Aug 56 – Aug 58)

  • 23115  23167   23311

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

  • HB143   HB210   1396   1488

de Havilland Otter (Oct 60 – Mar 64)