401 Tactical Fighter Squadron

Squadron standard

Badge

Description

Argent a rocky mountain sheep's head Sable horned Or caboshed.

Significance

The mountain sheep, indigenous to many parts of Canada, is known for its great stamina and fighting power.

Motto

MORS CELERRIMA HOSTIBUS (Very swift death for the enemy)

Battle honours

The Second World War

BATTLE OF BRITAIN, 1940; DEFENCE OF BRITAIN, 1940-1944; ENGLISH CHANNEL AND NORTH SEA, 1942; FORTRESS EUROPE, 1941-1944; Dieppe; FRANCE AND GERMANY, 1944-1945; Normandy, 1944; Arnhem; Rhine.

Lineage

• Authorized as '1 Squadron, CAF' from '81 Squadron (Canadian), RAF' about 20 November 1918.^{Footnote 1}
• Disbanded 28 January 1920.^{Footnote 2}
• Reformed as 'No.1 (Operations) Squadron' 1 April 1925.^{Footnote 3}
• Redesignated 'No.1 Squadron (Training)' 1 April 1927.^{Footnote 4}
• Disbanded 1 July 1927 on transfer to the non-military Directorate of Civil Government Air Operations.^{Footnote 5}
• Reformed as 'No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron' 1 November 1935.^{Footnote 6}
• Redesignated 'Fighter Flight' under '3 (Bomber) Squadron' in 1935.^{Footnote 7}
• Redesignated '1 Fighter Squadron' 1 March 1937.^{Footnote 8}
• Redesignated 'No.401 Squadron' 1 March 1941.^{Footnote 9}
• Disbanded 23 June 1945.^{Footnote 10}
• Reformed as '401 (Fighter) Squadron' 15 April 1946.^{Footnote 11}
• Redesignated '401 "City of Westmount" (Fighter) Squadron' 4 September 1952.^{Footnote 12}
• Redesignated '401 Squadron' 1 November 1958.^{Footnote 13}
• Redesignated '401 Squadron (Auxiliary)'22 February 1964.^{Footnote 14}
• Redesignated '401 Air Reserve Squadron' 1 January 1969.^{Footnote 15}
• Redesignated '401 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron' 22 October 1991.^{Footnote 17}
• Disbanded 1 January 1998.^{Footnote 18}

Operational history

The Second World War

The squadron flew in western Canada on air defence operations under 'Western Air Command'. After transfer overseas, it flew on fighter operations under 'Fighter Command' and the '2nd Tactical Air Force'. It was the first Canadian squadron to engage in combat against the Luftwaffe.^{Footnote 19}

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