408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron

Squadron standard

Badge

Description

Argent a Canada goose volant proper.

Significance

The Canada goose is at home in Canada, England and Scotland. Its speed and power of flight are indicative of the operational functions of the squadron.

Motto

FOR FREEDOM

Battle honours

The Second World War

ENGLISH CHANNEL AND NORTH SEA, 1941-1943; BALTIC, 1941-1943; FORTRESS EUROPE, 1941-1944; FRANCE AND GERMANY, 1944-1945; Biscay Ports, 1941-1944; Ruhr, 1941-1945; Berlin, 1943-1944; German Ports, 1941-1945; Normandy, 1944; Rhine; BISCAY, 1942-1943.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

• Authorized as '408 (Bomber) Squadron' 15 June 1941.^{Footnote 1}
• Disbanded 30 September 1945.^{Footnote 2}
• Reformed as '408 (Photographic) Squadron' 1 April 1949.^{Footnote 3}
• Redesignated '408 (Reconnaissance) Squadron' 18 July 1957.^{Footnote 4}
• Redesignated '408 Tactical Support and Area Reconnaissance Squadron' 1 May 1964.^{Footnote 5}
• Redesignated '408 Tactical Support and Reconnaissance Squadron' 19 September 1967.^{Footnote 6}
• Redesignated ‘408 Tactical Fighter Squadron’ 3 October 1968.^{Footnote 7}
• Disbanded 1 April 1970.^{Footnote 8}
• Reformed as ‘408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron’ 27 November 1970.^{Footnote 9}
• Designated ‘408e Escadron tactique d’hélicoptères’ in French 27 June 1978.^{Footnote 10}

Operational history

The Second World War

The squadron flew on bombing operations in Great Britain under 'Bomber Command'.^{Footnote 11}

South-West Asia

408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron reinforced various Air Force units and formations as part of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, Air Wing, between 2001 and 2014. ^{Footnote 12}