416 Maritime Patrol Squadron

Squadron standard

Badge

Description

Argent in front of a maple leaf Or a lynx proper leaping downwards.

Significance

The lynx is a fierce and dangerous animal, indigenous to Canada.

Motto

AD SALTUM PARATUS (Ready for the leap)

Battle honours

The Second World War

DEFENCE OF BRITAIN, 1942-1944; ENGLISH CHANNEL AND NORTH SEA, 1943; FORTRESS EUROPE, 1942-1944; Dieppe; FRANCE AND GERMANY, 1944-1945; Normandy, 1944; Arnhem; Rhine.

Honorary Distinction

The Gulf War honorary distinction emblazoned on the squadron Standard.

Lineage

• Authorized as '416 (Fighter) Squadron' 22 November 1941.^{Footnote 1}
• Disbanded 15 March 1946.^{Footnote 2}
• Reformed 8 January 1951.^{Footnote 3}
• Redesignated ‘416 All Weather Fighter Squadron’ 1 February 1957.^{Footnote 4}
• Disbanded 1 September 1961.^{Footnote 5}
• Reformed 31 December 1961.^{Footnote 6}
• Disbanded 31 March 1985.^{Footnote 8}
• Reformed as ‘416 Tactical Fighter Squadron’ 1 June 1988.^{Footnote 9}

Operational history

The Second World War

The squadron flew on fighter operations in Great Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands under 'Fighter Command' and '2nd Tactical Air Force'. It remained in Germany after the war with the 'British Air Forces of Occupation (Germany)'.^{Footnote 10}

The Gulf War

The Squadron significantly reinforced the Canadian tactical fighter force that fought in the United Nations' action against Iraq.^{Footnote 11}

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