No. 425 Squadron RCAF

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cleanup = September 2008
notability = September 2008
unreferenced = September 2008

No. 425 Squadron RCAF (now 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron Canadian Armed Forces), also known as Alouette ("French" – Skylark) Squadron, is a unit flying the CF-18 Hornet aircraft from CFB Bagotville, Quebec, Canada.

History

The squadron was formed 22nd June 1942 as the first French Canadian squadron at Dishforth in Yorkshire, England as a bomber unit flying Vickers Wellingtons. On the night of the 5th/6th October 1942 the squadron went into action for the first time bombing Aachen with a small number of aircraft. In 1943 the squadron flew to Kairouan, Tunisia and from there conducted operations against Italy and Sicily, returning to the UK in November of the same year. In December they were re-equiped with Handley Page Halifax's and flew their first mission with their new mounts in February 1944. Their final operation took place on the 25th April 1945 when they bombed gun batteries on the tiny Frisian island of Wangerooge. Following the end of the war in Europe, in May 1945 425 Squadron re-equipped again, this time with Avro Lancaster Mk X's. In June they flew back to Canada to prepare for their role in Tiger Force for the continuing war against Japan. The use of atomic bombs precluded the need for Tiger Force and 425 disbanded on 5th September 1945 at RCAF base Debert less than three weeks after the Japanese Surrender.

The Squadron was reformed at RCAF station St Hubert in October 1954 flying CF-100 Canucks as an all weather fighter squadron. After re-equiping with the CF-101 Voodoo 425 became the RCAF Operational Training Unit for this aircraft type at Namao in late 1961 before transferring to it's current base at Bagotville, Quebec a few months later. From 1982 the Canadian Armed Forces started to acquire CF-18 Hornets and 425 was one of the units to receive these in 1985, [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca] aircraft which they still fly. [http://www.RCAF.com] In 2005, No. 433 Squadron RCAF was merged into 425 Squadron.

Badge and Motto

A Lark Volant - a hovering skylark, said to represent a bomber poised over the enemy. The motto is "Je te plumerai", French for "I shall pluck you", and comes from the song Alouette.

Battle honours

English Channel and North Sea 1942-43
Fortress Europe 1942-44
France and Germany 1944-45
Biscay Ports 1943-44
Ruhr 1942-45
Berlin 1944
German Ports 1942-45
Normandy 1944
Rhine Biscay 1942-43
Sicily 1943
Italy 1943
Salerno

Equipment

* Vickers Wellington
* Handley Page Halifax
* Avro Lancaster
* Avro Canada CF-100 Cannuck
* McDonnell Douglas CF-101 Voodoo
* McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet

Afiliation

425 (Aldridge) Squadron, Air Training Corps [http://www.425atc.co.uk]

References