Historical Aircraft

444 Squadron

 

No. 444 Squadron

Badge: none

Formed as an Air Observation Post unit at the Canadian Joint Air Training Centre at Rivers, Manitoba on 1 October 1947, the squadron flew Chipmunk and Auster aircraft in training army pilots in ranging and directing artillery fire. When this function was transferred to the Light Aircraft School, the squadron was disbanded on 1 April 1949.

Brief Chronology: Formed at CJA TC, Rivers, Man. 1 Oct 47. Disbanded 1 Apr 49.

Commanders

Higher Formations and Squadron Location

North West Air Command:

  • Canadian Joint Air Training Centre, Rivers, Man. 1 Oct 47 – 1 Apr 49.

Representative Aircraft

de Havilland Chipmunk (May 48 – Mar 49)

Auster A.O.P. Mk.VI (May 48 – Mar 49)

  • 16652 to 16656   16661   16665

No. 444 Squadron, Re-formed

Badge: A Cobra ready to strike

Motto: Strike swift, strike sure

Authority: Queen Elizabeth II, November 1954

This unit adopted the cobra in a position to strike as being indicative of the role of a fighter squadron.

Formed as a Fighter unit at St Hubert (Montreal), Quebec on 1 March 1953 with Sabre aircraft – the last of twelve units for No. 1 Air Division Europe – the squadron joined No. 4 (Fighter) Wing at Baden-Soellingen, Germany in September. Selected as one of eight squadrons of the Air Division to be re-equipped with CF-104 Star­fighter aircraft for a nuclear strike role, it was deactivated on 1 March 1963 and reactivated as Strike Attack on 27 May. When the Air Division was reduced to six squadrons, the squadron was once more deactivated on 1 April 1967 (1).

Brief Chronology: Formed as No. 444 (F) Sqn, St Hubert, Que. 1 Mar 53. Deactivated at Baden-Soellingen, Ger. 1 Mar 63. Reactivated as No. 444 (ST/ A) Sqn 27 May 63. Deactivated 1 Apr 67.

Nickname: “Cobra”

Commanders

  • S/L E.R. Heggtveit, CD 2 Mar 53 – 22 Jul 53.
  • S/L J. MacKay, DFC and Bar 23 Jul 53 – 8 Sep 53.
  • W/C H.F. Darragh, AFC 16 Jan 54 – 15 Mar 54 KIFA.
  • S/L J.B. Lawrence, CD 15 May 54 – 30 Jun 57.
  • S/L D.F. Archer, CD 1 Jul 57 – 4 Jan 59.
  • S/L E. Garry, CD 5 Jan 59 – 5 Sep 60.
  • W/C R.V. Smith, CD 6 Sep 60 – 23 Feb 61 died.
  • W/C J.L.A. Roussell, DFC, CD 10 Aug 61 – 1 Mar 63.

Squadron inactive

Higher Formations and Squadron Locations

Air Defence Command:

  • St Hubert, Que. 1 Mar 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 – 1 Mar 63.

Squadron inactive

No. 4 Wing, Baden-Soellingen, Ger. 27 May 63 – 1 Apr 67.

Representative Aircraft (Unit Code 1953-58 VH)

Canadair Sabre Mk.4 (Mar 53 – Mar 54) (2)

  • 19575   19677   19691   19702

Canadair Sabre Mk.5 (Feb 54 – Jan 57)

  • 23020   23078   23109   23150

Canadair Sabre Mk.6 (Apr 55 – Feb 63)

  • 23390   23455   23479   23868

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (May 63 – Mar 67)

  • 12717   12839   12876   12890

(1) Reactivated as a Tactical Helicopter unit in 1970.
(2) Turned over to the Royal Air Force under the Mutual Aid Plan.