No. 409 Squadron RCAF

The 409 Nighthawk Squadron is an air force unit of the Canadian Forces. Operating the CF-18 Hornet at CFB Cold Lake.

History

Formed in England on June 17, 1941 as a dedicated night fighter squadron. Equipped with the Boulton Paul Defiant and later the de Havilland Mosquito it was disbanded on July 1, 1945.

Re-established at RCAF Station Comox on November 1, 1954 providing air defence for Canada's west coast as part of NORAD. Initially equipped with the Canadian designed Avro CF-100 they converted to the CF-101 Voodoo. The squadron transferred to CFB Cold Lake in 1984 to convert to the CF-18 and then deployed to CFB Baden-Soellingen as part of Canada's NATO commitment. The squadron was then disbanded in 1991 with the withdrawal of Canadian Forces from Europe.

The squadron was briefly reformed back at Comox as a Combat Support Squadron (without aircraft) but was disbanded again.

409 Tactical Fighter Squadron has been re-formed from the consolidation of 416 and 441 Tactical Fighter Squadrons on July 6th 2006 at CFB Cold Lake.

Badge

The cross-bow in front of the dark cloak represents a weapon used under cover of darkness to denote the squadron's original role as a night fighter squadron. The badge was officially approved in March 1944.

Motto

MEDIA NOX MERIDES NOSTER(Midnight is our noon)

Battle Honours

* Defence of Britain 1941-44
* Fortress Europe 1942-44
* Normandy 1944
* France and Germany 1944-45
* Rhine 1945

Aircraft

* Boulton Paul Defiant
* Bristol Beaufighter
* de Havilland Mosquito
* Avro CF-100 Canuck
* Canadair (Lockheed) CT-33 Silver Star
* McDonnell Douglas CF-101 Voodoo
* McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet

Badges

References

* Nighthawk! A History of 409 (Night Fighter) Squadron 1941 - 1977

External links

* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/4wing/news/releases_e.asp?cat=92&id=1228 Air Force merges two fighter squadrons into one at 4 Wing Cold Lake]
* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/hist/409sqn_e.asp DND - History of 409 Squadron]
* [http://www.rcaf.com/squadrons/400series/409squadron.php 409 Squadron - rcaf.com]
* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/4wing/squadron/409_e.asp 4 Wing - 409 Squadron]
* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/4wing/squadron/409hist441_e.asp DND - History of 441 Squadron]
* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/4wing/squadron/409hist416_e.asp DND - History of 416 Squadron]