- 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
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427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron 
427 Squadron badgeActive 1944-1946
1952-1970
1971-presentCountry Canada Type Special Operations helicopter squadron Part of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Garrison/HQ CFB Petawawa Nickname Lion Squadron Motto Ferte Manus Certas - "Strike with a Sure Hand" Engagements World War II
Operation Deliverance
War In AfghanistanDecorations Distinguished Service Order
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
Distinguished Flying Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (427 SOAS) is a tactical helicopter unit that provides aviation support to Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. The squadron is based at CFB Petawawa, Ontario with a fleet of Bell CH-146 Griffon helicopters.[1] It was originally founded as No. 427 Squadron RCAF.
Contents
History
427 Squadron started as a bomber squadron formed at Croft, England on 7 November 1942 and spent its wartime entirely in England as a part of No. 6 Group RCAF, RAF Bomber Command. 427 flew Vickers Wellington Mk IIIs and Mk Xs from its first operational mission on 14 December 1942, a minelaying sortie to the Frisian Islands, until May 1943 when it was relocated to Leeming, North Yorkshire. Re-equipped with Handley Page Halifax Mk V aircraft, the squadron flew intensely until early 1944 when it replaced its inventory with Halifax Mk III aircraft. This fleet saw the greatest number of missions and in slightly more than a year's time they were then replaced by Avro Lancaster bombers prior to the end of WWII. The Lancasters were used for Prisoner of War repatriation until the end of May 1946. 427 was stood down on 1 June 1946.[2]
The squadron was reformed on 1 August 1952 at RCAF Station St Hubert (a suburb of modern day Montreal, Quebec, Canada) as 427 Fighter Squadron, flying Canadair Sabres, and was transferred to No. 3 (Fighter) Wing at Zweibrücken in March 1953. Selected as the first European RCAF squadron to receive the CF-104 Starfighter in the nuclear strike role, the squadron was stood down from its day-fighter role on 15 December 1962 and reformed as 427 (Strike-Attack) Squadron two days later.[3]
On 1 February 1968, unification integrated 427 into the new Canadian Forces. The squadron was again disbanded on 1 July 1970.[3]
427 came back into existence as 427 Tactical Helicopter Squadron at CFB Petawawa, where it remains today.[4]
1 February 2006 saw command of 427 transferred to Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, as it took on a full-time role of special operations aviation support. Shortly thereafter, it was renamed as, "427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (SOAS)."[1] Unlike the 160th SOAR (US Army), there are no specialized standards (in the "Special Operations context") for any 427 SOAS members unlike the other units in CANSOFCOM - JTF 2, CSOR and CJIRU and entrance into 427 SOAS requires only "negotiations through Career Managers and losing units."[5]
Aircraft flown by 427 Squadron
Historic
- Vickers Wellington III (November 1942 - April 1943)
- Vickers Wellington X (February 1942 - May 1943)
- Handley Page Halifax V (May 1943 - February 1944)
- Handley Page Halifax III (January 1944 - March 1945)
- Avro Lancaster I/III (April 1945 - May 1946)
- Canadair Sabre
- CF-104 Starfighter
- L-19 Bird Dog
- CH-135 Twin Huey
- CH-136 Kiowa
Current
Battle honours
427 Squadron was awarded the following battle honours, which are carried on their standard:[4]
- English Channel and North Sea 1943-1945
- Baltic 1944-1945
- Fortress Europe 1943-1944
- France and Germany 1944-1945
- Biscay 1944
- Biscay Ports 1943-1944
- Ruhr 1943-1945
- Berlin 1943-1944
- German Ports 1943-1945
- Normandy 1944
- Rhine
See also
- Canadian Forces (CF)
- Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM)
- Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2)
- Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR)
- List of Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons
- U.S. 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment - Night Stalkers (160th SOAR)
- Italian 26th R.E.O.S. Special Operations Helicopter Unit
- Australian 171st Aviation Squadron
- British Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
- French 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment
References
- ^ a b Canadian Forces (December 2008). "427 Squadron". http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/1w-1e/sqns-escs/page-eng.asp?id=378. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ Canadian Forces (December 2008). "427 Squadron History World War II". http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/1w-1e/sqns-escs/page-eng.asp?id=392. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ a b Canadian Forces (December 2008). "427 Squadron History Re-Activated as Fighter Squadron". http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/1w-1e/sqns-escs/page-eng.asp?id=399. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ a b Canadian Forces (December 2008). "427 Squadron History Tactical Helicopter Squadron". http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/1w-1e/sqns-escs/page-eng.asp?id=400. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ Morehen, Travis A. (Winter 2010). "The Proposed Canadian Model for Special Forces Aviation Part II". The Canadian Air Force Journal. http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/CFAWC/eLibrary/Journal/Vol3-2010/Iss1-Winter/Sections/05-The_Proposed_Canadian_Model_for_Special_Operations_Forces_Aviation-Part_2_e.pdf. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
External links
Wings Squadrons Categories:- Canadian Special Operations Force Command
- Military history of Canada
- Canadian Forces aircraft squadrons
- Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons
- Article XV squadrons of World War II
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