No. 1 Squadron RCAF

No. 1 Squadron RCAF
Active	21 September 1937 - 1 March 1941
Country	Canada
Branch	Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force
Nickname	"City of Westmount"
Battle honours	Battle of Britain 1940, Defence of Britain 1940 - 1944
Commanders
Notable commanders	Sqn Ldr E A McNab DFC

No. 1 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force was formed as a fighter unit at Trenton, Ontario on 21 September 1937 with Siskin aircraft. The squadron was formed from the Fighter Flight of No. 3 (Bomber) Squadron. In August 1938, the squadron moved to Calgary, Alberta and was re-equipped with Hawker Hurricane aircraft in February 1939. While stationed in Calgary, the squadron was commanded by S/L Elmer Garfield Fullerton. It was mobilized at Saint-Hubert, Quebec on 10 September 1939, and on 5 November 1939 it moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.^[1]

1940

On 28 May 1940, before going overseas, it absorbed No. 115 (Fighter) Squadron of the Auxiliary from Montreal. The Squadron was posted to Middle Wallop in June 1940, before in July moving to Croydon.

On 26 August 1940, the unit had its first encounter with German aircraft, and was the first squadron of the RCAF to engage the enemy, score victories, suffer combat casualties and to win gallantry awards. During the battle the squadron flew 1,694 sorties (1,569 Operational hours and 1,201 non-operational) losing 10 aircraft, 3 pilots killed in action and 2 killed in accidents. Claims totalled 30 destroyed, 9 probable and 34 damaged. Sqn Ldr E.A. McNab claimed 4 1/3, Flt Lt G.R. McGregor 4, Fg Off B.D. "Dal" Russel 3, Fg Off J.W. Kerwin 3, and Fg Off A.D. Nesbit 3. Three Distinguished Flying Crosses were awarded. The Squadron was withdrawn to Scotland during October 1940.

1941–1945

The Squadron was renumbered No. 401 (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Driffield, Yorkshire, England on 1 March 1941, and in May 401 received the new Hurricane Mark II. By September the unit had Spitfire Mk IIs, and the Mark V a month later, moving to Biggin Hill for cross channel operations.

In July 1942 some of the very first Mark IX Spitfires reached the Squadron, allowing 401 to take on the FW-190 on more equal terms.

1. ^ "No. 1 Squadron". Wings for Freedom - The History & Heritage of Canada Air Force. http://www.rcaf.com/Squadrons/squadronDetail.php?No.-1-Squadron-1. Retrieved 20 January 2010.